Choosing The Correct Thermostat

Which Reptile thermostat do I need?  It’s a common question, well more a plea for help, and if you find it confusing you are not alone.  It can seem quite daunting, Dimming, Pulse, Temperature, High range, Digital or Analogue, which is the one you need?

We will walk you through thermostat selection and help you to choose the correct one for your heat source. At the end of each section we have included a handy graphic so you can quickly determine the suitability of that thermostat for your heat source.

No matter which heat source you use you need a quality reliable thermostat and we recommend the Habistat range.  We use these thermostats ourselves and have been for as long as Habistat has been available to the hobby.  Our own experience is that we find them robust, reliable and easy to use.

Not only do we recommend them but Habistat offer a 5 year manufacturers warranty on all of their Classic analogue reptile thermostat range. That should also give you an indication of their quality and reliability.

Habistat thermostats are our thermostat of choice and the thermostats we always recommend.  In fact we don’t sell any other make of thermostat as we are so confident in them!

So without further delay let’s move on to the various thermostats options.

Digital Thermostats

Digital Dimming Thermostat

Let’s begin with the Habistat Digital Dimming Thermostat with Day and Night Timer.  This is a top of the range digital reptile thermostat which is suitable for most applications.

This model will provide a continual temperature rather than a hot/cold cycle. It is rated 600 Watts meaning that the maximum load this thermostat is designed to deal with is the combined total watts of the devices plugged into it. That’s a lot but you should not exceed this load.

You simply set your required daytime temperature and night time temperatures with a few button presses and cycle through the options on the display. You can set both upper and lower temperature limits in 0.1 increments and the readout also measures to 0.1°c.  The LED display provides you with a continual readout of both the current temperature and time. A coloured icon flashes to indicate the function that is presently in use.

It has a revolutionary power meter which continually displays the percentage of power at the heater.  Why is this important?  Well, if you find that your power meter is always running at 99% or in other words it’s constantly running at full power then you need to review your set up as this is telling you that you may need to upgrade the heat source as it’s struggling to achieve your settings.  That in turn will save you some money on electricity and extend the life of your heat source.

The Digital dimming thermostat has a separate timed circuit to turn separate heaters, lighting fans or spray systems on and off twice in any 24 hour period.  This means it comes with 2 sockets so that you plug a heat source into one and the other is for plugging in your spray system or lighting system or fan.

The sensor itself is low voltage, waterproof and sits on the end of a 3 meter long cable.  It’s a very handy length of cable so doesn’t restrict where you place your thermostat.

It comes with an alarm function which you can fully adjust to give both a visual and audible warning when temperature goes above or below the temperature parameters you have set. Should you wish you can also disable the alarm fully if it is not required.

This Digital Habistat thermostat comes with a 12 months manufacturers warranty.

What is our own experience of this thermostat? 

We have been using this thermostat since it was launched several years ago.  The first versions of it did suffer with a fading LED screen but that issue has long been resolved.

We have 40+ of these units operating and running heat sources including reptile radiators and heat mats as well as LED lighting in our vivariums. It is also the thermostat of choice to run our Green Tree Python incubators due to the precise temperature control, alarm function and ability to control fans and heat sources simultaneously.

Habistat Digital Dimming Day and Night with Timer Thermostat

Digital Temperature Thermostats

Next in the digital range we have two models of Digital Temperature Thermostats which are both suitable for almost all applications. We say almost as they are not suitable for use with heat bulbs.

The two models are Digital Temperature Thermostat with Timer and Digital Temperature Thermostat Day / Night with Timer.

These models are On/Off thermostats and will provide a continual readout of both temperature and time. They are rated 600 Watts meaning that the maximum load they are designed to deal with is the combined total watts of the devices plugged into it. You should not exceed this load!

You simply set your required temperatures with a few button presses and cycle through the options on the display. The LED display provides you with a continual readout of both the current temperature and time. A coloured icon flashes to indicate the function that is presently in use.

Both models have a timer and have a separate timed circuit to turn separate heaters, lighting fans or spray systems on and off once in any 24 hour period.  This means they comes with 2 sockets so that you plug a heat source into one and the other is for plugging in your spray system or lighting system or fan.  They can be used in heat or cool modes.

The Day/Night + Timer model allows you to set separate Day and Night Temperature settings (No surprise there!) and a secondary timed circuit to control separate heaters, lighting fans or spray systems.

The sensor itself is low voltage, waterproof and sits on the end of a 3 meter long cable.

Both models have an alarm function which you can fully adjust to give both a visual and audible warning when temperature goes above or below the temperature parameters you have set. Should you wish you can also disable the alarm fully if it is not required.

The HabiStat Digital Temperature Thermostats come with a 12 months manufacturers warranty.

Habistat Digital Temperature Thermostat Range
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Analogue Thermostats

Dimming Thermostats

Dimming thermostats have been designed specifically for controlling light bulbs. The dimming thermostat is one of the most accurate methods of temperature control.

This is the only thermostat recommended for use with incandescent light bulbs. Whilst it is the perfect thermostat for controlling light bulbs, it can be used on almost any heaters.

Unlike other Habistat thermostats, the Dimming Thermostat does require a minimum load of 40 Watts. It has a maximum capacity of 600 Watts. The dial is calibrated for both Centigrade and Fahrenheit.

It uses the latest technology and operates in a manner similar to the Pulse proportional thermostat.  However instead of pulses of power being supplied to the heater, it is supplied with a continuous variable supply of power or voltage.  In principle this has a similar effect to light dimmers or rheostats in your home.

There are 2 models available,  Standard Dimming and High Range Dimming and both models come in black or white.

The high range model is for uses when you wish to control temperatures in the range of 26 – 40 Celsius.

Download HabiStat Dimming Thermostat Instructions

Download HabiStat Dimming High Range Instructions

What is our own experience of this thermostat? 

We have been using this model of thermostat for decades.  It is our go to Thermostat for the control of any incandescent light bulbs.

Habistat Dimming Thermostat | Reptile Thermostats | Black and White | Standard and High Range
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Pulse Proportional Thermostats

Pulse thermostats are sophisticated pieces of kit that are perfect for controlling higher power ceramic heaters and for heat mats and heat cables.

The functioning of this thermostat is far more sophisticated than the simpler on/off  switching thermostat devices.  Pulse stats very accurately control heaters.

So how does it work?  As it’s name would suggest pulse proportional thermostats pulse electricity to the heater all of the time.  The result is a constant, very accurately managed warmth.

As the temperature in the enclosure nears the temperature you have set  on the dial the unit cuts the power down to pulses.

The degree of pulse (i.e. the amount of time the heater is on and the amount of time it is off) is dependent on the enclosure temperature.

In the early stages of approaching the set temperature the ‘on’ pulses will be long and the ‘off’ time will be short.  You can see the pulse in action by the flashing red light on the from of the unit.

When the enclosure is correctly set up and the desired temperature is neared, the ‘on’ pulses become shorter until the cycle levels at approximately 50% on and 50% off.

For enclosures where the heater is of the correct capacity, the cycle should remain at this point.  This is important as a common problem we encounter with keepers is under specifying the heat source and then thinking the thermostat isn’t doing its job. Or in other words trying to heat an enclosure with a heat source that is never going to be able to achieve the desired temperature and the thermostat is then running constantly as the temperature at the probe sensor never reaches the set point!  The red flashing lights wont flash in this case but remain on constantly.

If the heater is of the correct capacity it is only powered enough to maintain the temperature you have set set. It does not have to continually start the heater from cold.  This vastly improves heater element life and is far safer for the animals as the heater rarely, if ever, needs to run at full power.

There are 2 models available, Pulse and Pulse High Range and available in both Black and White versions.

The high range model is for uses when you wish to control temperatures in the range of 26 – 40 Celsius and is ideal for controlling the temperature at hot spots.

Instructions Downloads

Download HabiStat Pulse Stat Instructions

Download HabiStat Pulse High Range Instructions

Habistat Pulse Proportional Thermostat | Reptile Thermostats | Black and White | Standard and High Range
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Temperature Thermostats

Temperature thermostats are an On/Off thermostat that are ideal for controlling the temperature of heat mats and other lower powered heaters up to a maximum load of 600 watts.

This thermostat switches the heater on full power until the set temperature is achieved.  It then switches the heater off compelltey until the temperature drops below the set value.  The cycle then starts again.

With an accurate dial which is calibrated in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.

This is a very easy to use and popular thermostat.

This thermostat is not suitable for controlling light bulbs. The constant turning on and off of the light bulb would not only distress your animals, but would cause frequent failure of the light bulbs and in turn the thermostat is more likely to also fail.

For light emitting heat sources use a HabiStat Dimming Thermostat.

Download HabiStat Temperature Thermostat Instructions

Habistat Temperature Thermostat | Reptile Thermostats | Black and White
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Mat Stat Thermostats

The HabiStat Mat Stat Reptile Thermostat is an on/off thermostat that is ideal for controlling the temperature of heat mats and other low powered heaters up to a maximum load of 300 watts.

A remote waterproof sensor probe on a long lead monitors the temperature in your reptile’s enclosure, and sends signals to the heat mat to either increase or decrease the intensity of the heat mats output and this maintains a steady temperature.

When switched on the power indicator will shine and when the heat source is switched on the heat indicator will shine. 

Please Note: This thermostat is not suitable for controlling light bulbs or ceramic heat lamps.  The constant turning on and off of the light bulb would not only distress your animals but would cause frequent failure of the lamps. This, in turn, is very likely to make your thermostat fail. For light emitting heat sources use a HabiStat Dimming thermostat.

The HabiStat Mat Stat is available in black or white and easy to use,

Download HabiStat Mat Stat Thermostat Instructions

Habistat Mat Stat Thermostat | Reptile Thermostats | Black and White
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