Which type of thermostat is best?

[eeji]

Thermostats are an essential piece of equipment for ANY reptile enclosure that uses a heat source. Their function is to stop the heat source from becoming too hot which can cause illness, burns or even brain damage to the animal.

There are several different types of thermostat on the market, and each type has its own uses. Use of the wrong type can result in damaged equipment, stressed animals, and in the worst case scenario - fires.
When choosing a thermostat always use the correct type for your heating setup. Also check you have a thermostat of the correct power rating to prevent any electrical overloads.

The 3 main types of thermostat are:

On/Off thermostats (Mat-stats)

These are usually the cheapest of the different types. They work by cutting out at the temperature you set on the dial, then as the temperature drops they switch power back on to your heat mat. As the temperature rises back to the set level the power will cut out again.

Use for: Heat mats
Do not use for: Light bulbs

Pros: Cheap and available in wattages as low as 100w for use with heat mats
Cons: Temperature fluctuations as the heater is turned on and off. Can't be used with lights - these will cause the bulb to switch on and off constantly causing stress to your reptile. If used with Ceramic heaters the constant switching considerably shortens the ceramics lifespan.

Pulse thermostats

Pulse thermostats give constant power to your heater until the desired temperature is reached. It then sends out a pulse to keep the temperature constant. If the temperature is exceeded (eg. on a hot day) the power is cut until it falls to the set temperature when the pulse resumes to keep the temperature constant again.

Use for: Heat mats and Ceramic Heaters
Do not use for: Light bulbs

Pros: A constant temperature is maintained, essential for some species. The pulse prolongs the life of ceramic heaters. Available in larger power ratings for use with bigger heaters.
Cons: Can't be used with lights - the pulsed power supply will cause the lamp to flicker, again causing stress.

Dimmer thermostats

Dimmer thermostats work on a variable power supply. As the required temperature is reached the thermostat reduces power to the heat lamp causing it to gradually get dimmer. If more heat is required, the thermostat increases power which brightens the lamp.
This is the only type of thermostat that can be used with heat lamps.

Use with: Heat lamps, Ceramic heaters
Do not use with: Heat mats

Pros: Can be used with lights. Gives a constant light level. Can be used with ceramic heaters
Cons: Requires a minimum load for the power to switch on making them unsuitable for heat mats.


Other types of thermostat:

Cooling thermostat

Cooling thermostats work in the opposite way to a traditional thermostat. If the temperature gets too high, power is switched on instead of off. These are connected to fans or even refridgeration units to lower the temperature.

Day/night thermostats

The day/night function can be incorporated into any type of thermostat. It uses a light detector to switch between two different temperature settings, so you can set a lower temperature for night time.

[SpecialCorns Johan]

I use for the hatchlings Pulse thermostats and in the other racks Pro control ll That one control a lot and you can put im more tha one temp on diffrent time's :wink:

[Pinkabulous]

So would a pulse be the recommended for a corn snake viv with no light in it then? Is there any one brand that would be recommended over any others? (setting up a tank on my own for the first time is HARD! Haha)

[eeji]

a pulse stat will work fine with either a heat mat or ceramic heater. I've always used microclimate but its all down to personal preference and experiences.

[amber_phoenix]

I use habistat dimmer stats for my bearded dragon basking lights (we use these on heat lights at the shop too) and use pulse stats for my dragons tubular heaters and my corn's mat though I've got a on/off as a spare (bought while waiting for a pulse to be delivered). In the short time I used the on/off stat, I wasn't happy with the temperature fluctuations and wouldn't recommend them unless you really can't afford a pulse stat.

I've got Habistats on the Dragons and a Microclimate on my corn but I prefer the habistats. I've found that there is very slightly more temperature fluctuations using the microclimate and I personally prefer the dial for setting the temperature on the habistats which makes calibrating it easier. We use a couple of Komodo pulse stats at the shop (as well as habistats) which are essentially just microclimates under a different name and perform the same as the microclimate. The fluctuation between the habistat and microlimate/komodo isn't all that significant though and could be down to the individual thermostats/location (rather than the actual brand as a whole) so it really boils down to personal preference. I've not had any experience with any of the other brands however so can't comment on them. It would be interesting to to test and compare the abilities of these stats to keep a constant temperature though, perhaps I'll run a little experiment when I find some free time (although I'm sure someone is bound to have done this already).