The Helix DBS-1000 is what is called a "proportional" thermostat. Helix Controls was one of the pioneers in reptile thermostats using this technology and Helix Thermostats have been around for many years now. "proportional" refers to the gradual adjustment (up and down) of power output until the set temperature is maintained. Other, non proportional thermostats use an "on/off" approach and usually have a 1 or 2 degree (or more in cheaper ones) "slop". They turn on 100% when the temperature falls a degree or two below the set point and they stay on until the temperature gets a degree or two above the set point. This means that if you set your thermostat at 80 degrees your actual temps can vary between as low as 76-78 degrees and as high as 82-84 degrees. A roller coaster ride for your animals. You can think of the proportional thermostat more like a light dimmer with a brain constantly adjusting itself to maintain a much more precise temperature. The "slop" in proportional thermostats is usually measured in 1/10 degrees. Proportional models also offer a very easy to use "Night Drop" capability. This makes it super easy to cycle your animals during breeding season without controlling the temperature of the whole room.

Proportional thermostats are just about required if you are using it for an incubator. The "slop" in on/off models can be a real problem. Especially in cheaper, less accurate models. We prefer them for all of our animals though the on/off models will work well if used for supplemental basking areas or in situations where economy is key. Just remember, like with anything else, you get what you pay for. DON'T make the mistake of keeping your multi thousand dollar high end herp collection on heat controlled by a cheap thermostat. Just about any "old timer" in the reptile business can tell you a story about "cooking" some prized animals. We are also strong advocates of "back up" thermostats used in line with your primary unit set just a few degrees higher. An important note in that application: You can't use a proportional thermostat to back up a proportional thermostat. Set up your proportional unit as the primary thermostat and use the on/off model to back it up.

Both the Ranco and the 500R are on/off style thermostats, so what is the difference? First, the Ranco has a digital readout rather than a "tweak and find out" setting. This can be helpful in getting your temps set a lot quicker and more conveniently. The Ranco probe also doubles as a thermometer wherever you place it. Another big difference is the power capacity. The 500R is good for up to 500 watts of heating element and the Ranco is good for about 1500 watts. Three times the 500R. The quality and reliability of the unit is also a consideration. The Ranco is a much heavier duty, well constructed unit. From a purely practical standpoint, in most cases you will have more money (animals) riding on the performance of your thermostat than you will in the thermostat itself. As the value of your collection grows we strongly urge you to invest in the best thermostat available to you. We also urge you to invest in a "backup" thermostat to protect your investment and your animals from harm. Both of these on/off thermostats can work well as a backup.

No matter how much you spend or what model you get your thermostat CAN FAIL! A number of things can lead to this happening: power surges, children, overloading, rat chewing on a poorly placed probe, bad luck or karma, etc. BE READY, you can use a simple, much less expensive thermostat as a back up. Odds of both failing at the same time are much, much less! We use Helix DBS-1000's as our primary and the Ranco ETC as the back up. To do this we set up the Ranco then plug the Helix into the Ranco. All of the heat tape then gets plugged into the Helix. We set the Ranco at 92, then set the Helix to our desired temp. When the system has had a few hours to warm up and stabilize we adjust the Ranco up or down, if needed, to where it remains on all the time, but just barely. With this setup, should the temperature rise significantly above our Helix setting the Ranco will sense it and completely cut off the power until the temperature drops back down. You do want to be careful not to set your Ranco too close to the Helix setting or you will be cutting off the the Helix unecesarrily and you may never reach your desired temperature. Spend a little time getting it just right. It will pay off.

If you have a question we didn't cover here, just send us an email, we will be glad to help!