Heat control problems

[ChaosCat]

Recently we had a brownout... and shortly after, 50% of my heat controllers are no longer functioning like they should.

I have 3 Ranco thermostats.

#1 is hooked up to two 7 high AP racks (heated by heat cable), and 4 ultratherm heat mats. It is functioning normally.

#2 is hooked up to 2 AP cages (heated by heat cable), one ultratherm heat mat, and another 7 high AP rack (heated by heat cable). It is set to 90F. The bottom AP cage is empty for now, so I put the probe over the heat cable. Unfortunately, if I put it directly over the heat cable spot, it gets too cold. If I don't, it shoots up to 112F!!! The rack varies between 88F and 93F and I don't know why. I piled up tons of newspaper over the hot spot, hopefully it doesn't get too cold.

#3 is hooked up to 6 Ultratherm heat mats. It is set to 90F. The probe is on the middle heat pad. The upper heat pad registers at 96F! The 2nd one down is 96F, the third one down (that the probe is on) is at 91F, the 4th is at 90F, the fifth is at 88F and the last at 86F. I would say #3 Ranco is not functioning normally. If I place the probe on the top pad, the bottom pad goes to the 70s. If I place the probe on the bottom pad, the upper pad goes into the 100s.

I also have 3 ESU cheapo thermostats.

The two upstairs are functioning normally.

The one downstairs apparently thinks 90F is supposed to be 93F, and if I set it any lower than 90F, it sits in the mid 80s.

Maybe I am missing something here? I had every cage and every rack set up BEFORE I put animals in them, and they have been fine until the brownout we had a few days ago thanks to a windstorm. This is yet another problem I really don't want to have happen right now.

I don't want my snakes to get too cold, OR to get thermal burns :(

[alexhue]

Hey Cat...thats actually very normal for any thermostat being used on multiple stacked enclosures. I typically place my thermostat sensor somewhere near the middle of the stack, too high up in the stack...the lower stacks get cold, too low down in the stack...the top ones get hot.

Other things that must be taken into consideration is...if the heat pads/cables are of varying wattage, if you're using extensions to get to your pads/cables, and whether or not the racks/enclosures are placed on an "outside wall". all of these things will effect how the temps. are interpretated.

For example...the rack that is plugged in closest to thermostat without an extension will be the hottest because its receiving most of the power first. While the one one plugged furthest away with the use of the extension will be the coolest because some of the power is lost while being routed to that rack.

Hope that helps a little...I dont think you can really get it to be perfect...I have that problem with every single rack unit we use, whether it be a freedom breeder, boaphile plastics, or snake shack. The best way to live with it is to place your hotter species into the racks/spots that are registering hotter and your cooler species into the racks/spots that are registering cooler.

[ChaosCat]

well, the weird part is, each one has been fine so far. Ever since the brownout (which happened several times I've been told) the settings were off on the Rancos and the smaller, cheaper controllers went batty. One of them I can only use one plug on now, because the other two are constantly on "high".

I tried to reset the Rancos... seem to have gotten them in an ok spot. I do think I'm going to stop using the heat cable though, I don't like those overly high spots. When I originally bought the cages, I was told the heat would radiate through the plastic-but when I measured it, it staggers 75-85-95-110-95-110-95-110 and back down again. I don't want my snakes sitting on a 110 degree spot. I think I'm going to switch everyone on heat cable to flexwatt.

Thanks for letting me know the Ranco problems aren't just my settings. I just had to send back two Johnson thermostats because neither one was working-one wouldn't even turn on.

We're getting into the storm season here... hopefully there aren't anymore brownouts!

[alexhue]

Hey Cat....one more thing...after a "brown out" or any loss of power...it typically takes 24-36 hours before your original temps will stabilize. Nest time you pull a plug or when the power goes out...look at the Ranco for 5-10 minutes and you'll notice it cycle on and off continuously trying to get back on track.

[ChaosCat]

Nice. Would have been nice if I knew that before. I'm starting to think I should have gone with Helix...

[sputnik]

I also have 3 ESU cheapo thermostats.


Not trying to sound critical, but these are a disaster waiting to happen!

They are cheap, perform bably and often malfunction. When they malfunction they fail to switch off the heat source.. end result. ESU, Alife 1000 etc hits desired turn off temp, clicks and the lights or heat tape or heat source don't switch off as they should.

Often results in dead, cooked reptiles.

[ChaosCat]

I keep a close eye on the ESUs I had, but I've had them for a year without any problems until our power went out-on-out-on. The others I bought when the two Johnson controls weren't working to stand in until the new controls get here.

Everything hooked up to an ESU has a thermometer hooked up to it. I don't trust them either. Unfortunately, it was those or lamp dimmers that obviously don't work. I'm pretty limited here on what I can buy locally.

[justcage]

ESU is scary!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/justcage/CHEAP2.jpg