Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've decided to upgrade on my thermostats. I'm currently using the cheaper $30 thermostats, but I've heard so many good things about accuracy and relability of the more expensive models.
The 3 units I'm considering include the following:
Helix, Ranco, and the Big Apple Proportional Thermostat
Which do you use? Why do you prefer it over the others? If anyone has experience with several of these units, please let me know which one is a better unit?
Thanks,
Peter F.

Ive got a great temp controll unit from Gene at GCS reptiles. It has 4 outlets, each able to handle 250 watts. It has a night drop built in, and 4 seperate temp sensors. I controll a number of racks with one unit, but each can be set at different settings. It has a built in alarm, and can be hooked up to work with a computer. This thing has it all.

The buttons on it take a bit of getting used to, but the performance is top notch.

Mickey Hinkle
The Lizard King Reptiles
http://www.kingsnake.com/gcsreptiles/

As far as the three thermostats that you inquired about I currently am using "a" as in singular big apple and the rest are on helix controls. Personally I favor the helix system better. I have found that the temps are held more precisely then on the big apple through temp gunning. Also I favor the digital read out rather then the old crank of the big apple. Though there is not direct problem on that system I really do like the helix proportional better. As for the Ranco, I personally don't own any of these but there is one obvious improvement on this system, that of the dual temp probs. This allows for a back up or safety net if you will. The other two system only have the single prob and with that come room for failure. I temp gun my cages religiously to make sure the temps are right with them(out of habit more then fear) Hope this helps in your decision!

Justin Higgs
ECTOTHERMZ...