Thermostat help

[Summer]

What brands are you all using for thermostats? I have tried the Zoo med 1000 watt thermostat for my under the tank heater and it didn't have a temp control just a cool or warm. I didn't like it because It let the tank drop to 82 before it would kick on. I would get the heat up to 90, then adjust it to shut off. I didn't like how low the thermostat allowed the temperature to drop before kicking back on.
Now I have the zilla 500 watt on both tanks and it has an actual temp I can set it to but it does not seem accurate from day to day. I have them set on 90 one day and the temp could stay at 85 or I can set it to 85 and it will keep the temps at 90. yesterday I had it set to 85 and the temp went up to 92 which freaked me out. I don't use heat lamps. I keep both tanks upstairs where there are no drafts and the rooms are warm, like in the 70s. I use vinyl for the bottom of these ten gallon tanks. My husband installs flooring so I can really switch that to whatever we have in the garage. I have zoo med digital thermometers and the probes aren't moved around. Is this never an exact science or am I doing something wrong here? Thank you for reading and I apologize for my ignorance.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

You sure you have thermostats and not a rheostat? Thermostats are supposed to cut the power to the UTH when they go above a certain temperature. If yours isn't doing that, it's likely a rheostat, which is nothing but a light dimmer.

Anyways an affordable non-proportional thermostat is Hydrofarm thermostat, search it on Amazon. It's got great reviews and works very well for the price range it's at (around $30).

 

[Summer]

thank you. You get awesome points! That is exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[acpart]

I use thermostats that have been marketed at various times as "ESU", "Alife" and "Zilla". They are $30 thermostats and are not exact but are adequate for controlling the UTH's. 92 should not be a concern; it's the recommended floor temp for the leopard gecko hot side. The more expensive proportional thermostats will do a better job but I have not found the temp variation to be a big problem.

Aliza

 

[Summer]

I have the zilla but I just don't like how much the temp fluctuates. Just now I checked it and I have it set on 95 and the temp was at 86. To me that seems too far apart but I could just be OCD. I maybe have defective units or maybe my thermometers suck.

 

[Snowyleo]

I have the zilla but I just don't like how much the temp fluctuates. Just now I checked it and I have it set on 95 and the temp was at 86. To me that seems too far apart but I could just be OCD. I maybe have defective units or maybe my thermometers suck.

I too use the Zilla thermostat and I actually have fairly steady temps. It could possibly fluctuate due to where the probe is laying and what type of substrate is over the heat pad. I just stopped relying on what the actually unit was set to and checked the floor temps with an IR thermometer. It keeps my slate tiles on the warm side within 2-3 degrees throughout the day (89-92) but the unit is set at 95. The dial on the unit is not very precise so I wouldn't rely on that for temps. Best to check throughout the day. I'm happy with it

 

[Summer]

I too use the Zilla thermostat and I actually have fairly steady temps. It could possibly fluctuate due to where the probe is laying and what type of substrate is over the heat pad. I just stopped relying on what the actually unit was set to and checked the floor temps with an IR thermometer. It keeps my slate tiles on the warm side within 2-3 degrees throughout the day (89-92) but the unit is set at 95. The dial on the unit is not very precise so I wouldn't rely on that for temps. Best to check throughout the day. I'm happy with it

Some days I think it works great but some days It doesn't. Does yours let the temp drop really low before it kicks on? I found too that the temp display is off off off. I don't even go by that anymore, but I don't want to crank it up to 100 incase it really does it. lol

Oh stress.. it makes me think things need to be perfecto. I am taking my nursing board tomorrow. I'm freaking out about too many stupid things. I may try that other thermostat though. The reviews were pretty good.

 

[Summer]

Omgosh Snowyleo! We are both from MN! Where we finally sorta just got summer!! I live by the border though so maybe it is colder here.

 

[Snowyleo]

Omgosh Snowyleo! We are both from MN! Where we finally sorta just got summer!! I live by the border though so maybe it is colder here.

Hey! It's been WET down here! rainy and 50-60 degrees so far. I can count on one hand the days it's been over 70! 72 and sunny today! Just perfect!

 

[Summer]

I just wanted to say that I did get the hydrofarm thermostat and it is amazingly better. When i checked on the lizards severals days ago and saw one cage was at 99 degrees while I had the thermostat set on 75 and the other cage wasn't even at 70 and the thermostat set at 90 I had to get rid of them. I am just tired of playing around with them. I would think i had everything perfect then the next day they would go all wonky. I even tried unplugging them for awhile thinking they would reset somehow. I don't know if I just got bad units or what but the hydrofarm is keeping everything at 92 and when it drops below 90 it kicks the heaters back on. I hope i'm not celebrating too soon but so far it is much better.