Heaters sticking on

[aldiaz33]

^^^lol @ gravel not failing.

Agreed...all equipment will eventually fail...it's just a matter of time.

Running the controller gives you an added safeguard....you set the heaters internal thermostat to say 86F, and set the controller to the temperature you actually desire so that if the controller fails in the on position, the heaters internal thermostat is still there to shut it down at 86F.

I like the idea of running two heaters, but the problem with running multiple heaters (without a centralized controller) is that they are all inevitably going to be calibrated just a bit differently, resulting in one heater doing most of the work, most of the time...that overworked heater will almost always be the first to fail. With a controller, they are work in unison so they all cycle on and off equally.

 

[skjl47]

^^^lol @ gravel not failing.

Agreed...all equipment will eventually fail...it's just a matter of time.

Running the controller gives you an added safeguard....you set the heaters internal thermostat to say 86F, and set the controller to the temperature you actually desire so that if the controller fails in the on position, the heaters internal thermostat is still there to shut it down at 86F.

I like the idea of running two heaters, but the problem with running multiple heaters (without a centralized controller) is that they are all inevitably going to be calibrated just a bit differently, resulting in one heater doing most of the work, most of the time...that overworked heater will almost always be the first to fail. With a controller, they are work in unison so they all cycle on and off equally.

Hello; I agree with one heater working more than the other. That has been my observation. They can be adjusted to work fairly close to each other but there has been a difference. During moderate seasons one will seem to be on more than the other. With heaters on opposing ends of a tank, as the room temp grows cooler during the winter the heat loss from the other end of the tank seems to pretty much even out the run time of the heaters.

I suppose the thermostat settings can be changed from time to time to even out the run time of the heaters. I have not tried this. I have allowed the more worked heater to run until failure and then replaced it. At times the underworked heater has failed first for me.
The controller setup described will resolve the issue. I have not checked into one and am curious as to how much extra cost is involved? Does the controller come with it's own thermostat, chords and sites to plug in the heaters. I guess the amount of extra expense would be the deciding factor.

 

[aldiaz33]

The controller setup described will resolve the issue. I have not checked into one and am curious as to how much extra cost is involved? Does the controller come with it's own thermostat, chords and sites to plug in the heaters. I guess the amount of extra expense would be the deciding factor.

A prewired controller, complete with one receptacle, plug and temperature sensor is $77 at Jehmco: http://www.jehmco.com/html/temperature_controller.html

Jehmco appears to rebrand them as they are in reality Ranco ETC Commercial Temperature Controls:http://www.etcsupply.com/index.php

These controllers are used for all sorts of industrial applications and from what I have read they are very reliable. I think of it as a $77 insurance policy with the added bonus of making my heaters work more effectively.

I use one even though I seem to be one of the few (lucky) people that's been in the hobby for a while (15+ years) that has never had a heater fail.

 

[skjl47]

A prewired controller, complete with one receptacle, plug and temperature sensor is $77 at Jehmco: http://www.jehmco.com/html/temperature_controller.html

Jehmco appears to rebrand them as they are in reality Ranco ETC Commercial Temperature Controls:http://www.etcsupply.com/index.php

These controllers are used for all sorts of industrial applications and from what I have read they are very reliable. I think of it as a $77 insurance policy with the added bonus of making my heaters work more effectively.

I use one even though I seem to be one of the few (lucky) people that's been in the hobby for a while (15+ years) that has never had a heater fail.

Hello; Thanks.