Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Folks,
I was going to post this in the heating section, but that place is not active at all.

I need to get a thermostat. I have found them online starting at about $60 or 70 and up plus shipping. I'd like to see if I could find one in my area at the local heating and air conditioning supply houses so I don't have to pay shipping.

What I'd like to know is what are these thermostats used for outside the reptile world? If I was to walk into the supply house, what type of thermostat do I ask for?
Thanks for any advice,
Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-Ziggy
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn--Cozmo
0.1 Creamscicle corn--Wanda
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine - Spazz
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Gomer

I don't think you'll find the kind of thermostats used for reptile setups at an HVAC or heating/air supply house. I don't know for sure but I'd imagine that you could find something that would do pretty much the same thing but by the time you get thru modifying it you'll have spent some time on it & quite possibly more money than a reptile thermostat would cost.

Here's a link to a website I stumbled across a year or so ago. I don't know anything about this company, their reputation, etc... Judging from their website I'll most likely give them a try here in about month when I got order one, if their prices are compatible.
www.mgreptiles.com/THERMOCOMPARE.html

Post a little more info so someone with more knowledge can better help you out.

What are you going to use it for?
Will you be controlling more than one cage?
What type of heat source will you be using it with?

I'm sorry I'm not of more help than that.

Take care!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I think he is referring to the Johnson Control A419 thermostat that is popular in the reptile hobby but is designed for the HVAC industry and can be found at many HVAC suppliers. Be prepared, if you purchase it through a local supplier, you only get the t-stat in "raw" form. If you want a cord and multi-outlet with it, you will need to wire it yourself. Can be a bit intimidating if you have no electrical experience.

Good luck,
Bart

Thanks Bart!
Does that Johnson model come with a sensor or are sensors traditionally seperate units with HVAC T-stats? The reason I ask is because I've looked at some T-stats in the DIY stores but most, if not all that I saw, didn't have sensors.

Thanks, again, for filling me in.

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

The Johnson A419 comes with a probe and you can buy replacement probes for them. Most t-stats found in your local hardware store do not come with probes and are typically not designed to be used with probes. If you have a local HVAC supplier, they may carry the A419 or be able to order it in, but I doubt you will find it at the average hardware store.

There are several online sites that carry these raw units, or wired to your needs, and can get it to you in a matter of days.....but just so you know, the link you provided ain't one I would choose.

Bart

Thanks for the information, all of it (wink).

Take care!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Google Johnson Control A419. you'll find many sources and much information. I looked as several and they are all around $80. You may as well just get one from a reptile supplier and have one set up and ready for reptile enclosures.
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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents

> > > "Google Johnson Control A419. you'll find many sources and much information."

Heh, I did just that this mornin' and read some good things on a few other forums & websites. Now, we're at the "reputation" stage, trying to be good a steward of my money. Oh, how I wish I could go back & edit my first post accordingly, remove that link (thanks for the "Heads up!" I got from a few).

Since I'm hoping to be ordering a few T-stats in about a month I decided to try to help railrider find the right supplier, a trustworthy one.

I saved the link to the Google search I did this mornin' so I can go back and check out more of the links it provided. I got about 3/4 the way down the first page.

Wish I had the time to start a complete reptile review website with reviews of products & dealers. Maybe one of these days.

Thanks!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Herpstat Pro, I recently bought another two from Beanfarm and they were $630 shipped. Four completely seperate, fully programable channels each with it's own very long probe (I believe they're 12') and built in night drop. Adjustable to within 0.1 degree. I have four and love them. Price works out to right around the same $80 per channel for a plug and play Thermostat with all the bells and whistles.

>>Google Johnson Control A419. you'll find many sources and much information. I looked as several and they are all around $80. You may as well just get one from a reptile supplier and have one set up and ready for reptile enclosures.
>>-----
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Dave,
The Herpstat Pro has 4 outputs where the Herpstat II only has 2? If they both only have 2 outputs, what was the seeling point you used to choose the Pro over the II?

Thanks!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Never mind, I just went back and slowed down while reading the product details & saw that the Pro has 4 outputs. Good deal. However, I've got another Q for ya: Does it come with the nightdrop cable or will I need to order one for each cage I want to use it on?

Thanks, again!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

There is no "night drop cable", the night drop feature is built in. There is only one night drop setting for the system so all four will go on and off night drop at the same time. Each channel (x4) is individually programmed for amount of night drop. 0 - 20 degrees F. In 0.1 degree increments. So one channel can have zero night drop or be set at the same temp 24/7 while another chanel can have 5 degrees night drop. The remaining two channels can also be set for anything you want independant of the others.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks!

I saw that "night drop" was built in but didn't know for sure what that meant. Looks like you've convinced me to go with the Herpstat Pro.

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I wasn't thinking about that. I'd be using it to control UTH in a rack type enclosure. Or to control the UTH's for a few aquarium tanks. I don't need the night drop, but it would be nice I guess.

I'm pretty much just trying to find a way to get the thermostat that is offered online, here in town.

HH, Thanks for the link. I saw that site before, but couldn't remember what their name.

Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-Ziggy
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn--Cozmo
0.1 Creamscicle corn--Wanda
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine - Spazz
1.0 Eastern King-Ozy
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Gomer

You're welcome for the link. I think bsharrah was more help for ya, and to me, too. Now that I think about it, I think I've seen units similar to the Johnson he mentioned, which is also on that website, used on walk-in coolers.

If you do a good job of getting yours rigged up I'll let you come rig mine up in about a month. I won't even charge you for your getting the experience. Ha!

Later!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American