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ryancbj22
Moderator
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 725
Location: Columbus Ohio
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 Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:19 am Post subject: Thermosats |
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There are two different kinds of t-stats one is proportional and the other is non proportional. The difference is the non proportional works by measuring the temps and when they get to the set temp it shuts the uth or heating device off and when it drops it turns it back on. The proportional t-stats such as the helix, measure the temps and regulate the amount of power that goes into the heating device and keeps the temps right at what you set them at with a degree or two of variance. A lot of people have had good luck with the non proportional ones but I had a lot of trouble one day it would say 85-90 the next it would be 100 and so on I finally got sick of them and bought the helix and my temps are exactly what I set them at and haven't changed. The web-site below is has the helix t-stat. You have to get a thermometer right away your only measuring the ambient air temps not where the snake is lying we all have probes that are buried or taped to the hottest part of the tank right above the uth. You can purchase one at the pet store for $15 or home-depot has them for the same the one from home depot will cover your whole tank hot side and cool side.
http://reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html
This is the thermometer that I purchased from home-depot
http://www.iaqsource.com/product.php/acu-rite/00891/?product=110790
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1317
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Skoalbasher wrote: | | Ist here anything that works almost as well but doesn't cost as much? |
Look for something along these lines:
http://www.bigappleherp.com/BAH-1000-Thermostat?sc=2&category=15
Make sure of the following:
- It should have a remote probe (rather than no probe at all).
- It should be rated to handle as much wattage as you're going to plug into it.
- If it has a dial, it should have visible positions representing desired temperature settings. Don't get one of those thermostats where the dial just has a little graphic indicator showing warmer vs. cooler, because with that you won't be able to target specific temperatures and it will all just be a crapshoot.
Good luck.
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6732
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Skoalbasher wrote: | Hey, thanks for the great information! That helix looks expensive, but not as expensive as the vet bill I imagine. Ist here anything that works almost as well but doesn't cost as much? If not, that's what I'll get.
So should the helix and a digi thermometer be enough? Just have those two?
Thanks guys and gals for all the good information. Vincent Vega is going to have a good life! |
Some people use the Alife with no problems: http://www.rcreptiles.com/forum/about2076-0-asc-0.html
I still use a few, but have switched to Johnson controls for the most part and as I get more organized will eventually have all the racks on Johnson controls.
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ryancbj22
Moderator
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 725
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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Yes that should be enough the nice thing about the helix is if you do buy another uth to stick next to the other one that you have the helix has three recepticles that you can plug into to monitor more than just one heat source just make sure your under the maxium wattage allowed for the helix I beleive it's 500watts which shouldn't be a problem with just two uth's. The thermometer I showed you there will monitor temps at the cool end and the hot end. Take the probe and place under the substrate (I taped mine down because he would burrow and move them around) and place the actual unit itself on the cool side and your set plus it measures humidity which is very important to the health of your snake. Like Buck said don't skimp on your t-stat because it will cost you a lot more in the long run not only money but the health of your snake i'm lucky there wasn't any harm to my snakes while I was using them, a lot more than if you just purchased the right one to start with. I'm the type of person that learns the hard way lol I bought two of the non-proportional t-stats $50 a piece and probably $20 in shipping and they were junk just a huge headache and the price I paid for those equals up to one Helix so now I have this one that works perfect and two that I wouldn't trust if I was sitting there 24hours a day watching......I had mine overnighted for an extra $40 thats how worried I was about the t-stats that I was using at the time.....
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Skoalbasher
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Buck_99 wrote: | | Skoalbasher wrote: | | Ist here anything that works almost as well but doesn't cost as much? |
Look for something along these lines:
http://www.bigappleherp.com/BAH-1000-Thermostat?sc=2&category=15
Make sure of the following:
- It should have a remote probe (rather than no probe at all).
- It should be rated to handle as much wattage as you're going to plug into it.
- If it has a dial, it should have visible positions representing desired temperature settings. Don't get one of those thermostats where the dial just has a little graphic indicator showing warmer vs. cooler, because with that you won't be able to target specific temperatures and it will all just be a crapshoot.
Good luck. |
That looks really nice, and pretty close to my price range. Again, thank you all for your input, lots of good stuff here. Makes me feel bad I didn't buy my snake from Ron. I will next time for sure.
Anyway, That BAH-1000 looks good, but if I have two UTHs, can I use this model with both? It only has 1 probe. Should I just keep the probe at the hottest point and then just use a thermometer for the other uth on the cool side? Or should I spend the extra $40 and get two units?
Thanks
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ryancbj22
Moderator
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 725
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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You can plug more than one uth into that unit and where ever you place the probe is where is will measure the temp so the t-stat will know when to turn on and off. The probe for the thermometer is is completly different it double checks to make sure your t-stat is working properly.
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Jluke85
Joined: 04 Nov 2007
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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How can that thermometer you bought at home depot monitor the cool side and the hot side if it only has 1 probe???
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2014
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Jluke85 wrote: | | How can that thermometer you bought at home depot monitor the cool side and the hot side if it only has 1 probe??? |
It's able to measure inside and outside temperatures. The inside temperature gauge is on the unit itself and the probe has a long chord attached to measure the outside temps.
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Jluke85
Joined: 04 Nov 2007
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| RonCrawford wrote: | | Jluke85 wrote: | | How can that thermometer you bought at home depot monitor the cool side and the hot side if it only has 1 probe??? |
It's able to measure inside and outside temperatures. The inside temperature gauge is on the unit itself and the probe has a long chord attached to measure the outside temps. |
So your saying that the unit will measure one side and all you have to do is take the cord and put on the other side??? What is your opinion on this thermometer Ron???
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2014
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:06 am Post subject: |
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| Jluke85 wrote: | | RonCrawford wrote: | | Jluke85 wrote: | | How can that thermometer you bought at home depot monitor the cool side and the hot side if it only has 1 probe??? |
It's able to measure inside and outside temperatures. The inside temperature gauge is on the unit itself and the probe has a long chord attached to measure the outside temps. |
So your saying that the unit will measure one side and all you have to do is take the cord and put on the other side??? What is your opinion on this thermometer Ron??? |
We use digital therms from Wal-Mart and they work fine. 
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Jluke85
Joined: 04 Nov 2007
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:52 am Post subject: |
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 So your saying that the unit will measure one side and all you have to do is take the cord and put it on the other side??? What is your opinion on this thermometer Ron???
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2014
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:41 am Post subject: |
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| Jluke85 wrote: | | So your saying that the unit will measure one side and all you have to do is take the cord and put it on the other side??? What is your opinion on this thermometer Ron??? |
Did you post this same question again by mistake?
Your question was answered above, "It's able to measure inside and outside temperatures. The inside temperature gauge is on the unit itself and the probe has a long chord attached to measure the outside temps."
Simply place the gauge near the cool end and the probe at the hot end like ryancbj22 said, "buried or taped to the hottest part of the tank right above the uth" and that's it. Any decent digital thermometer will do, check Wal-Mart or any store that sells digital thermometers. If I'm not mistaken, they only carry acu-rite thermometers and they work fine. We use them in our incubators with no problems.
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BP_Lover
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 159
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:35 am Post subject: |
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what is the diff between a ground helix and not grounded??? and can i use this to contoll temp of two tanks??
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laurmann2000
Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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Think I need a trip to wal-mart. 
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NickMyers03
Moderator
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 1899
Location: fredericksburg va
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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| BP_Lover wrote: | | what is the diff between a ground helix and not grounded??? and can i use this to contoll temp of two tanks?? |
Grounded helix is used for metal racks
you can use it on two racks IF and only IF they are the same rack using the exact same wattage cable/flexwatt and same size, i would still take percautions doing this
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