Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello again,
I was wondering what the difference is between a Rheostat and a Thermostat? I ask because I have found a few models online, but they range between $16 and $100. I know you get what you pay for.... so, should I opt for a more costly model?

Here's the rheostat I was looking at:
http://www.bigappleherp.com/bigappleherp.filereader?3f41e219002ef380271d424d361a0625 EN/products/923100

And one of the thermostats:
http://reptiledirect.com/product.asp?3=607

And, the expensive one:
http://www.bigappleherp.com/bigappleherp.filereader?3f41e219002ef380271d424d361a0625 EN/products/921100

It will be to control a heating pad.

Many thanks for any advice you can offer.
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...So many snakes, so little time...
Don't litter ~ Please spay and neuter your cats and dogs!

I may have just figured it out. Looks like thermostats will shut off and on to control the temp, whereas a rheostat will only cause the unit to stay at one set temp?

So, in a room where the temp fluctuates and sometimes no heating element is needed, a thermostat sounds like what I need?

In that case, I think I'll go with this one I listed before..

>>http://reptiledirect.com/product.asp?3=607

Sound ok?

Thanks
-----
...So many snakes, so little time...
Don't litter ~ Please spay and neuter your cats and dogs!

I think you should take a look around in the caging forum. Some good opinions are often posted there. A thermostat is a better idea in conditions where the atmosphere outside of the enclosure fluctuates. If your house/rooms are controlled to be kept within a few degrees 24/7 then a rheostat is fine. Rheostats limit the level of energy to flow through to the device, like a dimmer. So you can adjust it to set the perfect level of current to go through to your heat pad and it will be perfect. Until a cold or warm day comes by, then it will be too hot or cold. The ESU thermostat you're looking at is fine, I use a similar model by A-life. If anything it's just a little better because the on/off cycles are a little closer together. Check out www.lllreptile.com they've got great deals on thermostats.

I personally feel that all the thermostats on the market for reptiles aren't quite enough. I'm working on improving on them.

>>I think you should take a look around in the caging forum. Some good opinions are often posted there. A thermostat is a better idea in conditions where the atmosphere outside of the enclosure fluctuates. If your house/rooms are controlled to be kept within a few degrees 24/7 then a rheostat is fine. Rheostats limit the level of energy to flow through to the device, like a dimmer. So you can adjust it to set the perfect level of current to go through to your heat pad and it will be perfect. Until a cold or warm day comes by, then it will be too hot or cold. The ESU thermostat you're looking at is fine, I use a similar model by A-life. If anything it's just a little better because the on/off cycles are a little closer together. Check out www.lllreptile.com they've got great deals on thermostats.
>>
>>I personally feel that all the thermostats on the market for reptiles aren't quite enough. I'm working on improving on them.