|
Post by snailcrazy on Sept 10, 2009 8:57:18 GMT
Can anyone recommend a thermostat. I recently acuired one from ebay but had loads of trouble with it not working correctly and the seller won't refund.
Been looking at the habistat ones, are they good for heatmat use. They switch the heatmat off if it gets too hot, (if i've done my reading correctly) or are the dimming ones better. Got my tanks in the kitechen (as it's the only room big enough and we get the sun till early afternoon in there so it's warm).
There are a few different makes and I really don't know which is the best.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks Jo
|
|
|
Post by feebix on Sept 10, 2009 11:54:04 GMT
Lodge a complaint and get your money back from Paypal, don`t just roll over, Paypal are very helpful and Ebay can be when the mood takes them too. I use Habistat thermostats, can`t fault them.... There`s another make that`s good too, hmmm... nope! It`s gone..
|
|
|
Post by snailcrazy on Sept 10, 2009 14:05:58 GMT
We did but the seller said it was working when they sent it and paypal won't do anything about it. That's the first thing I did. That's one of the reasons we sacked paypal because they are rubbish to pu it politely.
|
|
|
Post by feebix on Sept 10, 2009 14:58:30 GMT
Oh that`s no good?! I`ve got broken thermostats, but i won`t go and sell broken stuff ! I take it you`ve changed the fuse?
|
|
|
Post by snailcrazy on Sept 10, 2009 18:17:44 GMT
Yep my oh tried everything, changing fuses and re-wiring the plug but nothing, got his circuit tester on it and it didn't pick up anything. Going to buy a new one, you have more comeback if it doesn't work.
|
|
|
Post by infiltraitor on Oct 15, 2009 9:27:50 GMT
If you're looking at getting a thermostat for a heat mat, avoid the more expensive pulse proportional ones. I've read they're designed for ceramic heaters, and will burn out a heat mat if used with one Also, the dimming ones are meant to be used with lamps, I think the basic ones are best for heat mats.
|
|
|
Post by AlienSnail on Oct 15, 2009 10:14:14 GMT
Thanks for the advise, I knew you had to use a pulse for ceramic heaters, but didn't know that you couldn't use them for mats too.
|
|
|
Post by infiltraitor on Oct 15, 2009 10:25:11 GMT
They'll work okay for a time, but the constant on/off switching will seriously shorten the life of the mat, apparently.
|
|
|
Post by snailcrazy on Oct 15, 2009 16:45:54 GMT
Thanks for the info. Haven't got one yet as know it's cooler I don't have the problem of the tanks getting too warm. I did at one point move them into the utility room next to the garage which is always cold and that helped. ;D
|
|
|
Post by AlienSnail on Oct 17, 2009 17:51:21 GMT
Talking of Thermostats I have a question - does anyone use on-off type stats with their Tiger snails? I have one on my Margie tank, which is fine for them, but it varies between 32 and 24oC, depending whether it's on or off, and I understand Tigers don't like their environment to vary with regards heat? At the moment they are in their own tank, but I have a choice as to where they will eventually go - with the margies or with jadatzis, zanzibaricas, retics and A.Papyracae (Lagos). I was going to put them with the jadatzis, retics etc but the Tigers are such big and heavy bulldozers that their room-mates may not appreciate them being there!
Thanks
|
|
|
Post by Rachel on Oct 17, 2009 18:39:26 GMT
I don't use thermostats much, the probes tend to get slimed on or are a pain in some other way (like getting them through big thick lids to the tank), I find that the only thing most of my snails like is to have one on once the temp drops to a certain point, and thats it. If one gets switched off then on again at intervals they sulk majorly, and the tigers are no exception. I work by once the tank feels a bit to cool in the tank I switch the mat on, and in winter they are always on. Different watts make a lot of difference in heatmats, the fulis only need a twelve watt normally, whereas the margie tank has a 36 watt one on. Occasionally I use a habistat, I had another brand but it was awful, can't remember what it was called now...
|
|
|
Post by AlienSnail on Oct 17, 2009 18:51:46 GMT
Thanks Rachel. I only have one stat and that's with the margies. When I bought it I didn't realise just how large the temperature difference would be. I might as well just remove it. I have the heatmats on pretty much all year to be honest. We have quite a cold house and it would drop too low otherwise, even in Summer. Thanks again Rachel. I think I'll remove the stat.
|
|