Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been currently using the on/off themostats with CHE's on boa enclosures. I'm making the switch to Pro heat panels soon, and I'm also building melamime rack frames and will be using 3"flex-watt strips for the neonate racks. Although I've never had problems with the thermostats that I've been using for the last 10 years, I've been reading enough about other peoples mishaps to cause a concern for my house and family.
I'm looking for websites that sell varieties of thermostats, and would like to hear pros/cons of different models.
I'm also looking for info on why the use of a dimmer when you already have a thermostat in regards to using flex-watt. I've never used it before, but I've been reading as much as I could find.
It's just nice to hear opinions from people who are NOT trying to sell me there product. I'm interested in info on Johnson, Helix, and any other models in the same catagoy- I think it's spell (proportional heat)or something like that.

Thanks, thanks, thanks in advance for your response, David

First the Johnson controllers that i know of are not proportional there straight on/off .

Here is feed back from just what I have used and how it was/ is set up.

Ranco - on / off thermostat

PROS-Nice thermostat works very well and is reliable to use with no worries
Cons- ( not really a con but notable ) it is large and bulky

Jonhson controls - On / off thermostat

Pros - Same basic design as the ranco but 1/2 the size , can use multiple probes ( upto 4 ) it averages the temps between the 4 probes. It also has a green LED that lets you look at it and know its in the heating /cooling mode
Cons- hmm there are none that i have yet become aware of lol

cheapy pet shop thermo stats- DO NOT BOTHER i have usedthem before going digital and lost a het albino het stripe boa because the cheap stat failed in the on position and cooked my snake!

Dimmer useage -
I use a dimmer on all my Flexwatt , this allows me to dial in the desired heat on the flexwatt and also prevents the thermostats from clicking on/off alot becuase you have the ability to dial the heat to a set hi point which means it sholdnt go over that limit and if the dimmer goes bad the thermostats will function as normal and controll the temps of the flexwatt when they get to hot . i ALWAYS suggest a dimmer in conjunction with flexwatt of any size just makes sense to me .

The pulse proportionals stats i cant comment on and have nevere used them myself im sure others have though.
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Buisnesses come and go everyday, what keeps you here is how you treated the customer the day before....My Boa Can Kick Your Boas _ss!www.cheapcages.com
Visit the new website while the Jungle gets made over.

If using non-light-emitting heaters (like Flexwatt, CHEs and Heat Panels) there is no better approach than proportional contollers. Period. The end.

Helix makes nice ones. So does Big Apple Herpetological. And there is one company offering a 4-channel proportional. I think they are on the classifieds in the Cages/Supplies section.

ON/OFF thermostats are really meant for overheat protection or else for systems where you can't use proportional control - i.e. for air conditioners and such that have moving parts.

Proportional control acts kind of like a dimmer that automatically adjusts iteself while still offering the protection of a thermostat. It is better than putting a dimmer in-line with an ON/OFF thermostat however. Much better.
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Mark G
Collection:
Beautiful San Felipe rosies
Some CA rosies
Some Ariz mtn kings

I've been looking for prop controller also but will wait till after the holidays. Have only found 4 basically for herps. Big Apple Herp and Helix as mentioned. GCSreptiles has the digital 4 cage controller starting at $259 with tons of features and even more upgrade options. Another is herpstat by spyder robotics for $99.