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Making or Buying a Thermostat
- Thread starter Jordan32
- Start date
Plissken
Crazy Snail Lady
Making one (or a rheostat, can't remember which) is certainly MUCH cheaper than buying one, but personally I would feel happier buying one. You know what you're getting with a shop one (mostly.)
So it's really down to a choice between money, and whether you trust your own constructions
So it's really down to a choice between money, and whether you trust your own constructions
Zoo Med 500R Thermostat 22.99 plus shipping. I've got 3 of these running and getting another soon.
http://www.reptiledirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=112
http://www.reptiledirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=112
i was thinking about making one of these
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168&page=1&pp=10
and i was wondering if anyone knows how the temperature ranges at which you can contron this rheostat?
thanks
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168&page=1&pp=10
and i was wondering if anyone knows how the temperature ranges at which you can contron this rheostat?
thanks
WEll, that's a rheostat not a thermostat, and I also doubt it could handle 1000 watts as shown in that thread.
I haven't made one of those, I just bought a lamp dimmer premade at Walmart for like $8 - $9/ At the lowest setting its just a couple degrees above room temp. That would probably depend more on your heat source though.
I haven't made one of those, I just bought a lamp dimmer premade at Walmart for like $8 - $9/ At the lowest setting its just a couple degrees above room temp. That would probably depend more on your heat source though.
A rheostat is just basically a lamp dimmer, it lowers the voltage going to the heat pad or lamp and that lowers the heat output. If your room gets hotter, the temps in the tank will also get hotter with a rheostat and so it has to be checked and adjusted often.
A thermostat basically checks the temp for you. it turns on the heat until it reaches a set temperature, in my case 85 and then it shuts off the heat. as the temp drops below 85, usually by 3-5 degrees, the thermostat kicks the heat back on until it hits the max point again. With a thermostat you can just set the thing and not worry about it much. I still check the temps occasionally, but you don't have to monitor it like you would a rheostat.
A thermostat basically checks the temp for you. it turns on the heat until it reaches a set temperature, in my case 85 and then it shuts off the heat. as the temp drops below 85, usually by 3-5 degrees, the thermostat kicks the heat back on until it hits the max point again. With a thermostat you can just set the thing and not worry about it much. I still check the temps occasionally, but you don't have to monitor it like you would a rheostat.
The more expensive thermostats are what they call "proportional" and instead of cycling the heat on and off, it will gradually raise or lower the power to the heat source to get a finely controlled exact temperature. This type of thermostat is fairly expensive though, like the helix for $129. For corn snakes I've found the cheaper on/off type works quite well.
BeckyG
Making it up as I go
Frankly, unless your room temps fluctuate wildly, a dimmer is all you need. I have the plug in lamp dimmers from Wal-mart on all my corn tanks, and for most of the year, I seldom need to adjust them. It is ok to let your tank temps fluctuate by a few degrees. You just want to avoid extremes.
Now, in the winter time, when it can be 20 one day and 80 the next, I do have to keep a closer eye on my temps. But as short as winter is here, it is not worth it to me to spend the money on a thermostat. Other people feel differently, but you have to do what works best in your situation.
Now, in the winter time, when it can be 20 one day and 80 the next, I do have to keep a closer eye on my temps. But as short as winter is here, it is not worth it to me to spend the money on a thermostat. Other people feel differently, but you have to do what works best in your situation.