Cage Automation Questions

[Cornelsworld]

Does anyone here know how I could controll my heating of my cages from my computer. I would probably need to make a probe, but other than that I don't know what I would have to do. The lighting and misting would probably be controlled by x10 software and peripherals. Thanks for any help you can give. I want to make things as easy as possible.

Greg

[fade2black]

Using your computer would be overkill for controlling your heating and probably too expensive to make it worth while. Just use a good thermostat :)

Fade

[Jeff_Favelle]

Do thermostats come with probes? How can they measure the temp. INSIDE the cage??

[Cornelsworld]

Ihave a Helis Super system that I think I will use, but I can never seem to keep the temperature high enough. I am going to try higher wattage bulbs to see if that would help. I wanted the automation so that I could mimic the seasons and normal temps that they would live in in Austrailia. I knew it would be expensive. Maybe on the next cage i build. I will post pics once I am done.

[fade2black]

I have a thermostat from zoomed (I think) that has temp probe on it to measure the temp inside the cage. I can turn on and off up to two appliances also. It was only like $27US.

Fade

[Jeff_Favelle]

Was the thermostat made for reptiles or is it just a household item? Can I get one at the hardware store?

And keep in mind $27 US is like a grand Canadian!

[fade2black]

LOL, it is made for reptiles. I got it at www.herpsupplies.com

[Brian Petersen]

Hi´
I have used a household thermostat where the wireing i going uot the back of the enclosure. And here is a pic of it. Dont mind the black wire thats just a themometer, to see if the thermostat is set right.

Kind regards

Brian
Denmark

[obeligz]

It is possible to control temps, humidity, daylight seasonal cyclescycles with a PC.
PC-cards (peripherials?) with probes can be bought and shouldn't be too expensive. Unfortunately I don't know where you can order them from. Haven't come around to that part yet. But I know that the hardware (with probes) is available (to those who find out where they can order. :D

The PC itself would be my main concern.. Suppose your PC crashes and kills off your animals. I have never seen a stable windows platform. I thought about using a Linux platform for my PC-terarium controlling system but I haven't begun the project yet..
Good luck and keep us posted on the progress if you descide to go through with it. :)
regards
obeligz

[Cornelsworld]

I think im goign to stick with my Helix Super System for now. I wanted the hardware that you would program on the computer and upload it to the device and. or devices and they would keep it all in memory. A little too expensive for me right now, but maybe in the future.

[wonder_chunky]

dude..that'd be so cool...what would you have to buy to do that?...and how much would it all cost?