I managed to terrify myself with stories about broken thermostats. So basically… I discovered that the lighting I was using was not a good match with the thermostat I bought… Because I really don’t want to mess up again (first viv), I need a little help.
I’m using a flood bulb and a ceramic heat emitter, alongside an Arcadia UVA/B light. I DO have digital thermometers inside the enclosure that alert me via my devices if something goes under or over certain temps or humidity levels, but they have no power over the lamps, obviously. So I would have to be awake and at home to actually take action… I keep reading that certain thermostats turn bulbs on/off nonstop, and cause them to break randomly… so what should I have in place for an “emergency shutoff” if something were to cause the temps to get too cold or hot? There are so many types of thermostats, and so many sources online saying different things…
In summary: I just need something to shut down the heating devices (CHE and PAR38 flood bulb) if something should go haywire… but that won’t flicker them on and off until they break, or affect my day/night timer switch (flood bulb and Arcadia UV “tube” linear light for day, CHE for night). Also… I’m struggling a little with keeping temps up in the “ideal” range with the flood bulb… close, but not quite. What should I do to give it a “boost” enough to meet those ideal ranges?