Buying a Thermostat

Will · 01-23-04, 06:40 PM

I was down at Home Depot the other day looking at Thermostats to put together an incubator for this year. I was just wondering if there is anything specific I am looking for,or is the 20 dollar base model adequate. I mean I know it would be cool if my Incubator could tell me when my furnace's air filter needs replaced or maybe there's one that'll do my taxes right now that could come in handy, who knows...? But I don't want to shell out more than I need to. I noticed some said Two-wire installation or something to that effect, some didn't mention that at all. Are they all the same as far as usfullness...? Anything else I should look for...?

Scales Zoo · 01-23-04, 06:52 PM

I looked at those kind of thermostats as well. They do make 120 volt ones meant for electrical heat like baseboard heaters.

Those don't offer very tight control, meaning they might let the temperature fall from 90, to 85 before the heat cuts in again, and drives the heat back to 90.

For a simple thermostat with on off control, I'm not sure that you ca beat the wafer thermostats meant to be replacement parts for hovabator. They are available at www.berryhill.com.

Ryan

Will · 01-23-04, 07:12 PM

Thanks Ryan,

So I'm looking for a 120V one then...?

I clicked your link to check it out, but the site's not loading.

JDouglas · 01-23-04, 08:02 PM

I have a proportional 120/240V baseboard thermostat like Ryan mentioned but mine is accurate to 0.5F. It keeps my snake room right at 80F. Here is a link to where it was purchased...
http://www.thermostatshop.com/th102.shtml
Like most home thermostats it can't be used for a incubator thermostat because it has a 250 watt minimum and the entire thermostat would have to be inside your incubator! I would definitely go with the wafer thermostat!

JD

Will · 01-25-04, 08:52 PM

So I came across Berry Hill Limited, which I think is the link Ryan was trying to give me, and the only wafer thermostat thingy I came across was THIS thing. I am no expert(by far), but that thing doesn't look like it can, in and of itself, act as a thermostst. Is that what I am looking for, and if so, what do I do with it...? I recognize it from Ryan's picture here , but is that it...?

Oh wait, Is it just a coil that adjusts to the temperature(you should see the lights slowly flickering on in my head as I type this message

) without the 'fancy' thermostat box in a house thermostat...? Actually I think I 'get' it now, just wanna make sure.

Edit: I assume I've gotta get the assembly with that too, right...? THIS thing...?

Thanks,
Will

Scales Zoo · 01-25-04, 11:07 PM

Here is the link to the full thermostat $28.99

http://www.berryhilllimited.com/b-c...id=TS115&cat=C4

JD, thanks for that link on the proportional 120 volt programmable thermostat. I've got a couple of second hand car warmers that would work well, wired to that thing, to heat some of our reptile rooms.

Helix also makes a programmable proportional thermostat that can be used with heat tape for incubators. These units cost about 130 - 150 cdn, but I am seriously considering getting one or two to experiment with.

Ryan

MouseKilla · 01-28-04, 03:16 PM

Are there really no readily available (as in at Can. Tire or HD) thermostats that can be used in an incubator? I don't really care for the idea of having one shipped over the border...