What thermostats do you use and recommend?

I'm looking to get a thermostat for one or both of my racks and was wondering what everyone here uses. I'm looking at a few of them, mostly proportional, because the racks all use heat tape. I've seen Johnson's and Ranco's mentioned, but they are on/off thermostats, which I was told wasn't as good for heat tape. I'm looking for the most reliable, safest stat I can get to (hopefully) run both racks.

What are your experiences/opinions on these ones?

Big Apple Herp Power Proportional - $119.95 w/included night drop

Habitat Control Systems 4 Zone model - $249 w/lots and lots of features and FOUR controls, but only 250w per

Spyder HerpStat II - $239 Looks like lots of bling, but only two controls of 700w each and hasn't been on the market for long

Helix DBS-1000 - $129.99 one control at 500w, but LLLReptile says they're the best on the market

Thanks for all your help

Well I have been using the Reptimed 500r's for a few years with no problems. I recently however just ordered a Johnson from Matt with a built in power stip. Should be a step up for myself. If I were you I'd go with the Helix though! I'm sometimes a cheap scate. Still have thousands of dollars worth of animals in Hovabators!

The 500Rs are just a 2 outlet rheostat, not a thermostat. I'm not knocking them (I still have several in use), but one has to be aware of the problems - Mainly, the fact that variations in room temp will impact cage temps. If it is a temp controlled room, you'lll be ok, otherwise you need to readjust them to keep consistent temps.

You could always go with the original HerpStat. proportional, 3 outllets, 500 watt capacity...for about $20-25 less than a Helix. I have a couple of these, and plan on purchasing a fw more soon.

The only one on your list that I have personally used is the Helix. So I can not comment on the others.

With that being said I am really happy with the Helix. I use it on my incubator and have never had a problem in any way with it.

I have Rancos on all of my enclosures and racks. Except a couple of aquariums which are still on Alifes.

i dont have any of those ones or any one yet, but from what ive heard from alot of people is that herpstat and helix are the best ones out there right now

Helix DBS-1000

I have proven to myself, beyond any doubt whatsoever, that Helix DBS-1000 thermostats are the best on the market. I own seven of them at this time.

i use

i use ranco and helix, i would recommend either one...i've been using them for years and they are both very reliable
price wise rancos are a bit cheaper than helix

-jon

I am using three of the four you mention. Here is my opinion for what it’s worth.

Big Apple Herp Power Proportional – I currently control a Boaphile “Ball Room Rack” with it and it does a fine job. I have used it off and on for a couple years in other cages without a problem. I have used the night drop feature and it works well, you have to calibrate the night drop knob because there are no markings. The only drawback (IMO) is that the dial is analog and you could accidentally bump the knob and turn the heat up or down without knowing. The main dial is calibrated pretty close but not nearly as accurate as a digital controller (Helix, Johnson, etc). Night drop cord include free.

Habitat Control Systems 4 Zone Model – I have the model with the photocell for night drop, more on that later. I control four Boaphile 321D cages and it has worked flawlessly for the past year and a half. I have a Habitat System on order with the clock for night drop to replace the photocell model I have now. If you have four cages or racks stacked together and can use this controller I recommend the controller. I’m assuming the clocked version works as well as the photocell version they look the same. The 250w isn’t an issue for me because I don’t control more than one rack or one cage per controller. I never wanted the heat to turn off with my lights so I didn’t use the photo-night drop, I turned the power off to the entire unit and that seemed to work ok for me.

Helix DBS-1000 – I control two shoebox racks and an incubator with DBS-1000’s, not the same one but three different ones. These IMO are the best. They set easy, are digital and continually show the temperature. The controller will turn off the heat if there is a problem with the probe or controller. The night drop cord is $30 so if you plan on getting very many it would cost you a few bucks. I have access to a telephone cord crimp tool so I would buy one night drop cord and make the rest.

I control a Boaphile Poly Rack with a Ranco and it has been working fine for a couple years. I don’t think I have over a few degree fluctuations in temperature. I don’t know why on/off isn’t any good for heat tape.

I control my snake room with a Johnson controller and it does a great job for the $75 or so it cost. So if you’re looking for a room controller try the Johnson, it will control 1500w.


Since you only want to get one or two units I suggest going with the Helix DBS-1000, it is the Cadillac of controllers. I’m betting the majority will recommend the Helix. If you do have four cages or racks within probes reach of each other I’m sure you would be happy with the Habitat, plus you would save around $260 over four DBS-1000’s.

The 500Rs are just a 2 outlet rheostat, not a thermostat. I'm not knocking them (I still have several in use), but one has to be aware of the problems

Click to expand...

Ah the 500 I am talking about had a temperature probe and functioned in conjunction with digital thermometers extremely well! I never had a problem with big temp flucts or anything in my racks.

Big Apple

I use a Big Apple for my Green Tree Python and it does an awesome job. Quality unit at a great price with nightdrop, which also works well. I feel you will get everything you need in the Big Apple.

Just my 2 cents

I have two big apple herp proportional therms - flawless. The Ron Popil of thermostats "Set it and forget it . . . "

They are for sale . . . since I'm getting rid of my racks . . .

Blazin said:

Ah the 500 I am talking about had a temperature probe and functioned in conjunction with digital thermometers extremely well! I never had a problem with big temp flucts or anything in my racks.

Click to expand...

Ooops! guess I messed up on that one - sorry all. I have used the ones you are talking about in the past (probably 10 years ago). they are an on/off 'stat, that should be okay for some applications. Unlike you, I personally never had good luck with them - they only lasted about 6 months, tops, before they fried. The problem there (aside from having to have replacements on hand) was that they frequently did so in the "on" cycle. matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I have 1-2 of them in a box downstairs...how sad is that, lol. Actually, they were put away with a bunch of other stuff and, when I found myself getting back into this, I just pulled out the boxes and grabbed what I needed. I never sorted it all out. Yet another project for a snowy day (obviously not a real high priority for me).

hhmoore said:

The 500Rs are just a 2 outlet rheostat, not a thermostat. I'm not knocking them (I still have several in use), but one has to be aware of the problems - Mainly, the fact that variations in room temp will impact cage temps. If it is a temp controlled room, you'lll be ok, otherwise you need to readjust them to keep consistent temps.

You could always go with the original HerpStat. proportional, 3 outllets, 500 watt capacity...for about $20-25 less than a Helix. I have a couple of these, and plan on purchasing a fw more soon.

Click to expand...

They are not reostats, they are thermostats. They do not depend on the ambient temperature remaining constant.

wcreptiles said:

Helix DBS-1000 – I control two shoebox racks and an incubator with DBS-1000’s, not the same one but three different ones. These IMO are the best. They set easy, are digital and continually show the temperature. The controller will turn off the heat if there is a problem with the probe or controller. The night drop cord is $30 so if you plan on getting very many it would cost you a few bucks. I have access to a telephone cord crimp tool so I would buy one night drop cord and make the rest.

Click to expand...

Thanks to everyone for your input. It sounds like they're all pretty nice units, but I ended up getting a DBS-1000 today from LLL down in Oceanside ($129.99). At first glance, it looks awesome. I just hooked it up and it seems to be working great. I've just got to get everyone transfered over to the new rack now. There's going to be some really happy geckos here since we're doubling their living space with the new rack from Steve.

Don, thanks for the great, detailed post. I'm curious about your mention of a telephone cord crimp tool...can you make your own night drop cords? If so, I have a crimp tool as well and would be interested in this. I'll probably get a night drop at the Anaheim show since Helix will be there. Does anyone know how much they sell these systems for at shows?

Herpcam said:

Don, thanks for the great, detailed post. I'm curious about your mention of a telephone cord crimp tool...can you make your own night drop cords? If so, I have a crimp tool as well and would be interested in this. I'll probably get a night drop at the Anaheim show since Helix will be there. Does anyone know how much they sell these systems for at shows?

Click to expand...

The night drop cord appears to be nothing more than a standard 110V AC plug used to plug into the timer and a four conductor standard telephone modular base cord. It would be easy to make if you knew which pins are used to activate the night drop. You wouldn't need a crimp tool if the DBS-1000 used the center two conductors because you could use any standard telephone base cord. I personally would like to see a Helix manufactured night drop cord before I attempted to make one.

I'm confused should I get this one??? HerpStat II

http://www.mgreptiles.com/HERPSTATII.html

or this one??? Helix DBS-1000


http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...x-dbs1000-night-drop-cord-and-temp-gun-combo/

SHOOT! I don't know I'm gonna have 4 cages on a 1/2x4'x8' birch ply wood and the flex watt and lamps are going to be connected to each other...

A good thing about the HerpII is I don't have to do anything. The bad, is that it will eat a hole through my pocket!

The Helix DBS-1000 is much cheaper but then again it doesn't have the features and stuff that the HerpStatII has.

AHHHH!!! If anyone can help me decide please let me know!

Don't know enough about your setup to make a recommendation...but I would initially question the appropriateness of wiring the heat tape with the lighting. Whether or not the tape itself is enough to meet your heating needs will depend on your setup and what you are housing.

I have it in my Basement and I know it isn't enough b/c its kinda cool down there.... Will need enough wattage for 16 ft of flexwatt and a light for each cage as well as some expansion wattage

Each cage is 4' long 2' wide and 2' tall...

on the top of stained wood I have a 2'x4' sheet of .08 thick plexi glaz so the snakes can be shielded from the flex watt (not even sure it that is safe or not)

but yeah thats just the basic's of the cages

I have a question...

For the thermos that have dual outputs (that means you can hook up two seperate racks, or two different incubators..right? I'm a girl not very mechanical sauvy) can you set them to two different temps? Or do they need to be the same? Basically can i run a female incubator and a male incubator using the same thermo?

raiquee said:

I have a question...

For the thermos that have dual outputs (that means you can hook up two seperate racks, or two different incubators..right? I'm a girl not very mechanical sauvy) can you set them to two different temps? Or do they need to be the same? Basically can i run a female incubator and a male incubator using the same thermo?

Click to expand...

Yes, you can run two different temps/incubators. My main question was how reliable, safe and accurate are they? The Herpstat II and Habitat control systems are the only ones I found with two/four outputs, though. You'll run a little over $100 more for the Herpstat II than a Helix, and it's pretty new, so who knows how good they are? I went with the Helix for it's widely recognized reliability. I like it so far.