Hydrofarm temperature data -- because I don't procrastinate enough already!

insignia100 · 03-05-12, 11:05 PM

So instead of studying, I decided to get the enclosure for my new BRB that I will hopefully be receiving next week. Since our house is cold in the winter due to poor insulation, I decided to put a heater on the warm AND the cool side of the tank. Since the warm side is most important, it will be controlled by a progressive Herpstat that I ordered today. The cold side will be controlled by the on/off style Hydrofarm thermostat since a little variation on that side isn't as critical.

The thermostat was set to 75 degrees F. The ambient room temperature was 66.4 degrees F. There is no substrate in the tub to act as an insulator and no water to hold warmth. Max temperature was 76.1 degrees F, and minimum was 72.6. The thermostat kicked off at exactly 75 and turned on at 72.8. Maximum variation was 3.5 degrees F. Average was about 74.5 degrees F.

All in all, I think that's pretty decent for a $35 thermostat. I expect slightly better numbers once I have everything set up.

Skumbo · 03-05-12, 11:41 PM

I just got two of these, and they're set up to automatically click off at 2 degrees above and back on 2 degrees below the set temperature, apparently, no way to change it *shrug*

I have adjustable heat mats, and i found setting them on low instead of medium (they crank on high) allowed the heat to rise slower, and so it remained in the "set" range longer. that said, 4 degree differential is perfectly acceptable :P

insignia100 · 03-05-12, 11:49 PM

Hmm... interesting. Mine clicks off at whatever it is set to, not 2 degrees above it.

Skumbo · 03-06-12, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by insignia100

Hmm... interesting. Mine clicks off at whatever it is set to, not 2 degrees above it.

Ill have to pay attention to when it clicks, might be clicked off but still heats up a bit cause of the pad still being hot

insignia100 · 03-06-12, 12:05 AM

Yup, mine will heat up an extra 1.2 degrees. I guess it takes that long for the heat to be transfered through the bottom of the cage, meaning it may act differently with different cage materials.

Skumbo · 03-06-12, 12:29 AM

yup it clicks off at the temp set, i have mine under a plastic tub atm, so i'm sure the heat transfers pretty easily and will keep heating up (its not touching the tub)