reostats vd. termostats

[crazyboy]

ok say i have a reostat set up and the temp in my house drops in turn will this make the temp in my enclosure drop because no matter what the reostat would still stay at that constant setting

would a thermostat be able to recoverfrom a temp. drop fast or will it to keep the temp. lower


thnxx

[Lisa]

A rheostat just provides a constant voltage/current to the heater. If the ambiant temp goes up the temp of the heater will go up too. Rheostats are good when you can control the ambiant and you just want to provide a hot spot.

[crazyboy]

ok thanks

[Big Mike]

Yes, a thermostat should compensate for changes in room temperature. It should measure the temp (preferably with a probe) and turn on or off depending on what temp range it is set up to maintain.

Even better than an on/off thermostat is a proportional thermostat which will not turn on & off but will pulse the current to the heater to maintain a much more constant temperature.

[crazyboy]

ok thanks


btw what is a good hceap thermostat

[Jeff_Favelle]

btw what is a good hceap thermostat


Those 2 things (good and cheap) don't go hand in hand.

[crazyboy]

well not cheap but not really expensivre

[Jeff_Favelle]

The 500W - capacity Helix is your best bet then. Bean far, has them for a hundred bucks or so. Simply and easy to use.

[Snakecharm]

Is the Helix programmable as far as being able to set different temps for day and night? Or does Helix make a separate component that would allow for that?

Hm, interesting find, this appears to be Helix's website, and it is a few dollars cheaper direct from them.

http://helixcontrols.com/pricelist.htm