Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am looking for a thermostat for a heating pad any suggestions???

I use lamp dimmers. They are available at hardware stores for around $10.

I don't recommend thermometers because of the inherent danger of the system. They must rely on a sensor to detect the temperature, and the thermostat's electronics adjusts accordingly. It is far too easy for the center to get knocked loose or left out which will make the thermostat run wide open until the temperature requirements are satisfied. Of course with the sensor out of place, the temperature will never be satisfied, and many animals get cooked. A rheostat (light dimmer) is much better in that it has one simple control that adjust the voltage going to the heater. It will take some time to adjust it, but once you do you run a large piece of tape across the dial to keep it from getting moved, and you never have to worry about baking your animals. Rheostats are also much cheaper than most thermostats, and because they have less parts they are less likely to break down.
-----
Virginia Herping
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaHS
Virginia Herpetological Society
http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS

If there is a just God, how humanity would writhe in its attempt to justify its treatment of animals. - Isaac Asimov