Which Thermostat do I use?
People are often confused with the different types of thermostat and their application, so I’ll try and explain them here,
A thermostat does two things, it keeps the Vivarium or terrarium at a specific temperature via a heating source, and it is a safety device ensuring that the heater does not overheat and possibly catch fire.
When keeping Reptiles, amphibians, tarantulas we need to keep them at species specific temperatures this is where thermostats come in. We heat the vivariums in basically 4 ways bulbs, ceramic heaters, heat mats (including tube heaters) and aquarium heaters for turtle’s salamanders and some other amphibians.
Aquarium heaters mostly come as a heater thermostat combined so we will not discuss this as our main interest is in the dry thermostats.
At ValueAquatics we offer Thermostats by Komodo and Habistat. They are both well known and respected companies and have been making high quality products for many years.
What type of thermostat do I need?
Simply it depends on the heating source so we will start with the most popular the Heat mat. ValueAquatics recommend the Habistat Mat Stat (maximum load 100w) or the Komodo (maximum load 300w) habitat thermostats. Both are typically an on/off switch type and will control the temperature of the heat mat. Both calibrated in Fahrenheit and Celsius. Setting them up is very simple just follow the instructions that come with them. With heat mats lay or fix the thermostat probe on top and in the centre of the heat mat then put the substrate on the top, no more than about an inch thick.
Also used with greenhouse tube heaters and cable heaters.
For heating with bulbs (incandescent and infra red) use a Dimmer type thermostat, that is one that slowly turns up and down rather than on or off. Similar to the light dimmers or rheostats in your home. This prolongs the life of the bulbs element and controls the heating ability of bulbs much better.
The Habistat dimming thermostat comes in two types a standard dimming and a day/night dimming thermostat. The Habistat dimming thermostat requires a minimum load of 40watts but a maximum of 600watts /230volts.
The Habistat Day/Night Dimming Thermostat is the same as the standard dimming thermostat but will allow for a drop the night-time temperature when attached to a timer.
Heating with ceramics use Habistat pulse proportional thermostat this supplies the power to the ceramic heater in regulated pulses giving a very accurate temperature. They greatly improve the life of the element as the heater rarely needs to run at full power. Controls heaters up to 600watts
Calibrated in Fahrenheit and Celsius
Habistat also do a Habistat Day/Night pulse proportional thermostat works in the same way as the standard pulse proportional thermostat but will allow for a drop the night-time temperature when attached to a timer.
ValueAquatics offer two other Habistat thermostats the Habistat Temperature Thermostat which is a standard on/off type for heat mats, tube heaters, cables with a maximum load of 300w.
The Habistat Twin Thermostat is simply two on/off thermostats in one box. It is perfect for controlling two heaters separately to give a specific temperature gradient… For heat mats, tube heaters, cables where the maximum load is 300w on each heater.
John