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It is my understanding that these thermostats are both the on / off type and are not appropriate for heat tape applications....if I am wrong about this...please share info so that I can be educated...
I was told to use proportional for heat tapes as it does not allow for spikes in the tape and makes them safer...Is that true? I use the Johnson for heating my room for the oil filled heaters...I love the Johnson quality and ease of use. Thanks for any help. Andy Federico

I use rancos and so does Jeff Ronne. I have never used anything else so I have nothing to compare them to. Look on the Boaphile website and Jeff has an article that will tell you all about them.

Shot

New Boaphile airing out

Thanks Shot....I will check the write up. They are a great thermostat for the money ...so if they won't burn up the heat tape by starting and stoping all the time...then I will try them. thanks Andy

They are correct it is better to use a proportional controller in the heat tape setup because it does allow the little changes vs on/off. I use Ranco's in my heat tape setup so I dodn't believe they are unsafe and they work wonderfully. I have started using dimmers on a few cages and may switch completely to that setup it works just as well and is cheaper. I will
still use the Ranco's but as safety circuit cutoff if it gets to hot.

The heat tape in these cages are controlled with dimmers! They don't allow for the set it and forget it advantage with proportionals or the Ranco. But I don't forget my snakes anyways daily heat checks is the name of the game.

My 2 cents
Jeremy

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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow Red Tailed Boas -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino Red Tailed Boa -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

...

Thanks for the added advice!! I also use dimmers, but some have said that when the power fails.,..when it kicks back on the dimmers are at full high position.
I have never verified this, but I am like you checking heat temps continuously. I am going to try the Rancos...or the Johnsons for heat tapes...Does anyone recomend one over the other?

Got to say I love those cages!!! Do they have sliding glass ?? Or better yet can you show any pics of the finished set-ups?

Thanks again, Andy

They are correct it is better to use a proportional controller in the heat tape setup because it does allow the little changes vs on/off. I use Ranco's in my heat tape setup so I dodn't believe they are unsafe and they work wonderfully. I have started using dimmers on a few cages and may switch completely to that setup it works just as well and is cheaper. I will
still use the Ranco's but as safety circuit cutoff if it gets to hot.

The heat tape in these cages are controlled with dimmers! They don't allow for the set it and forget it advantage with proportionals or the Ranco. But I don't forget my snakes anyways daily heat checks is the name of the game.

I'll work on those pics send me your email I will send you them when I get a chance. Yes they have sliding glass like all my cages.
Thanks for the compliment!
Jeremy
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow Red Tailed Boas -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino Red Tailed Boa -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

I once ordered Flex-watt by the foot for my quarantine bins.
The manual for installation and use recommended to use a thermostat, and to NOT use the on/off type. It said only the proportional thermostats would work properly with the flex watt.

You might want to check out Herpstat Thermostat made by Spyder Robotics. I have three of them, and use them for my 421D Boaphiles. They are a little cheaper than the Helix DBS1000, allow you to check high and low temps, and has a night drop feature available.

I think the Helix is a little better, the Herpstats carry temperatures out to the tenths place and I have noticed a change in temperature. I like the Herpstat for my larger boas since the probe gets wet when they deficate, it is metal, and easily replaceable (unplug the probe and plug in a new one). I still think the Helix DBS1000 is the best, and use them for my racks. (and will use them when I get Freedom Breeders this year)

I have never used Ranco or Johnsons so I can not campare them.

I know where you got the papers for the install and what is says but to be perfectly it is just not true. The manufacure(calorique) will tell you the same thing. Flexwatt is made for underfloor heating among other things and the household thermostats are on/off..lol.. When the company you buy your flexwatt from wants you to buy a certian thermostat from the then they will say things like that.. Here are the emails I received from Jim @ Calorique

"You can use an analog thermostat with the flexwatt reptile heat. There are some effeciency advantages with proportional t-stats . I've here of people using dimmer switches also but I don't recommend them .
Jim O'Dowd
Calorique"

As for the difference in the 2(JC and Ranco) the only things are the JC's are smaller and have a green LED light to let you know if the power is on or off. The Rancos have a plastic probe and the JC's have a metal probe.
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www.MGReptiles.com
Professional Reptile Heating Supplies

When i bought my heat panals from Pro Products, the thermostat they recomended was the johnson a419abc-1c