Dream Thermostat

[Zeusy]

If you could have a thermostat do anything (enclosure control related only please, thermostats won't ever pour you a beer), what would you have them do/control etc?


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[shamat]

Not fail

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[MesseNoire]

What else could a thermostat control without being defined as something else?

 

[Jacknife]

Thermo - means heat, or transfer of energy, from a hotter body to a colder one.
If a thermostat controlled anything else it wouldn't be a thermostat, it would be something with a thermostat in it...

 

[saximus]

Be expandable, preferably wirelessly so that you could have a single monitor but control multiple enclosures individually

 

[AllThingsReptile]

^Wireless thermostats would be awesome,
Basically a normal thermometer with a transmitter on it, when it gets to specified temperature sends a signal to the actual thermostat to turn off/on

 

[andynic07]

Wow guys , find it hard to believe that a couple of intelligent people like yourselves couldn't work out the intent of the posters question.

Saying that I am pretty happy with them just controlling temperature but as saximus said one microprocessor being able to control multiple enclosures at multiple temperatures with a day night function.


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[RedFox]

To be honest I've sort of moved away from thermostats. Only one of my enclosures has a thermostat. My tubs and other enclosure don't. Living where I do I only use heat cords though, that I an change the distance of the zigzags to raise or lower temps. If I lived down south I would probably use different wattage light bulb to the same effect.

Thermostats that never failed would pretty much be the dream. Wireless while nice, wouldn't really make a huge difference. One thermostat can already control multiple enclosures if a powerboard is used. The risk would still exist of the thermostat failing and nuking all the enclosures. JMO of course.

 

[Zeusy]

ok, fair point Fractal_man and Badsville. Thermostat isn't the right word. Enclosure controller then. Obviously lighting and heat are the go. I guess things like humidity with a fogging machine for those with GTP's possibly. Selectable outputs (on/off, pulse or dimmer). Easily replaceable parts like contactors that control the on/off heat control which are often what "stick on". 240vac (for standard incandescent bulbs) and 12-24vdc (for led's) output for the lights including a "dimming control" to simulate sunrise and sunset.. I suppose i've thought about this more than anyone else.

Also, interesting this got moved to chit chat. I would have thought, at least DIY but what do i know.

 

[Rogue5861]

Expandable with remote probs would be great, even for it to be controlled by a headunit and possibly a computer.


Rick

 

[Zeusy]

I should add temperature logging also. Hourly or the like so you can check on it the next day. Ensure everything is running right.
Expandable with one main controller, wireless or a simple 2 wire type canbus linking system would be great.


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[cagey]

Sensiitive to increases in ambient temperature inside the enclosure to switch on chiller to control temperature at cool end on hot days. You owe me three plus the chillers if you commercialise this idea.

 

[Zeusy]

Haha I've already built a chiller using a Peltier cooling plate. Not sure if it would work though. Was going to install it at the cold end vent so air is sucked across the heat sink (or coolsink in this case) when temps got to high in that end. I'll probably connect it up one day before summer returns and see how it goes.


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[butters]

You can already get these for aquarium use and they can be modified to work for reptile applications. You just plug your appliance into the wireless receiver and when the probe/sensor sends the information to the controller it alters whatever is needed.
You can log everything and even have information sent to your phone, some systems even allow manipulation from your phone.
You can set alarm parameters which can also send your phone an alert.

The cost in most cases far exceeds the benefit and they can still fail. These are predominantly used for marine aquaria purely because the dollar investment in livestock etc can be huge but that could be said for some reptile collections too.

- - - Updated - - -

Most of the newer small commercially available incubators work on a Peltier system to provide for heating and cooling.
If you could insulate your enclosure it could work but the system works better without a continuous addition of new air. Because of the need for good ventilation for most reptiles there may be severe limitations in applying it to a reptile enclosure. It works fine for an incubator but it may not work as well on a reptile enclosure.

Benefit would be that you could provide heating and cooling if set up correctly.