Radiant heat panels

[P. Novak]

I'm switching over to these as a heating source for all my herps, and was wondering where would be the best place to order thermostats? Also, can one thermo be used for multiple cages, or to each their own?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Red Eyes]

I have been using a Herpstat ND for about a year and a half, haven't had any issues with it at all. http://spyderrobotics.com/products/index.html. There is the
Herpstat II (dual outputs) and Herpstat Pro (four outputs) that have seperate channels.

 

[P. Novak]

I have been using a Herpstat ND for about a year and a half, haven't had any issues with it at all. http://spyderrobotics.com/products/index.html. There is the
Herpstat II (dual outputs) and Herpstat Pro (four outputs) that have seperate channels.

Thanks! Those are more expensive then the other ones I've seen like Ranco/Johnson thermos. Are the ones I mentioned as reliable?

Also, I take it, it's one per cage; unless I get the dual or pro right? Sorry, I've never used thermostats before.

 

[Red Eyes]

Your more than welcome. The Ranco/Johnson thermostats are non-proportional (they supply 100% power to reach the set point and then turn off once they reach that point) the Herpstat thermostats are proportional (constantly monitoring and adjusting power to reach set-point and there is also the non-proportional function too if you want). When I check my thermostat it is usually around the 30% power consumption mark and it only varies by a few tenths of a degree (there's a function that shows the "HI temperature" and the "Low temperature, I just checked mine and the HI temp was 93.8 and the Low 93.5 so it has varied by 0.3 of a degree). I also use a PE-1 temp gun to monitor the temperature inside the cage.

As for the one per cage, no you don't need to. The Herpstat ND that I use is rated for 600 watts so if I am using all the same size heat mats/ heat panels
I can (in theory) plug in 6 heat mats / heat panels that each consume 100 watts and the thermostat will be able to control them all (same set-point). I personally wouldn't push these limits but I know that some people use these to control their rack systems. I've never had any problems with the Herpstat ND I have. Sorry for being so long winded but hopefully this helps to answer some of your questions.

 

[UrbanJungles]

If you get the right sized panel you will not need a thermostat...Radiant heat panels aren't supposed to heat the enclosure but instead provide a vertical heat gradient for your reptiles to bask under....

I have over 15 heat panels and not a single on on thermostat all year long.

 

[P. Novak]

And the heat panels are safe to put inside the cages right?

 

[UrbanJungles]

Yeh, lol- That's where they belong.

 

[P. Novak]

Yeh, lol- That's where they belong.

:wall: That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure. Thanks a ton!