Looking to buy some new thermostats and was just wondering what all of you had to say about Ranco, Helix, Herpstat, and any others that I left out. Thanks!
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Question about thermostats.
gone_balls_crazy
Feb 21, 2005 11:52 PM
Replies (4)
oddballpythons
Feb 22, 2005 12:19 PM
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glkherp
Feb 22, 2005 07:41 PM
The cheaper $40 thermostats have no display and use a dial to adjust temperature. Requires a additional thermometer to keep track of actual temperatures. No internal transformer so probe wires are not separated from the mains. Also they are non-proportional.
Helix DBS1000. Proportional. LED Display limited to whole degree adjustments. Night drop feature available with optional cable. Non Removable probe. No user settable features other than the temperature. Around $130.
Herpstat. LED Display allows setting and display in tenths of a degree. Proportional with essential features for incubator, cage, rack use. No additional thermometer necessary since the Herpstat tracks and displays the High / Low temps. Also allows the consumer to calibrate the sensor digitally if necessary. Special power matching mode allows consumer to change out power output curve to match the enclosures efficiency. Can be
used for 120vac emergency cooling fans instead of heating. Upgradeable with optional night drop cable. $109.
Inline Double Thermostats:
Double thermostats inline (such as the Ranco) cannot be done with a proportional thermostat and only solves 50% of the problem. That is if one fails in the on position the other will regulate the heat. However, if one blows a fuse or fails in the off position you have no heat which is preferable to overheat. So the only way to really avoid a bad situation is to use double thermostats inline and a second heating coil with double thermostats which is just ridiculous. And once again non-proportional thermostats are generally not used for incubators.
Typically in both cases your best bet is to buy a good proportional thermostat, and if you are worried buy a second and keep it on the side in
case of failure.
Double Thermostats Standard:
There may be some double thermostats that are simply just that. Two thermostats in one box. Two cages, racks, ect or in some cases you may monitor a hotspot with one of the probes and your cool area with the other.
reiding@nettally
Feb 22, 2005 10:01 PM
Personally I have been using the Helix DBS1000 and am very happy with it. I use them in my racks and incubators. They are accurate and easy to use and set. I also use the night drop cord on a timer with my racks. They are not the cheapest but well worth the money as far as I'm concerned.
Rob Reiding.
bristen
Feb 23, 2005 08:24 AM
>>Personally I have been using the Helix DBS1000 and am very happy with it. I use them in my racks and incubators. They are accurate and easy to use and set. I also use the night drop cord on a timer with my racks. They are not the cheapest but well worth the money as far as I'm concerned.
>>
>>Rob Reiding.
one thing about the DBS1000, is that Helix has a proven track record... they have become the standard in the industry over the years... However, the HerpStat is a very attractive device in my opinion, and it will most likely be the next thermostat I purchase...
Later,
Bristen.
