Temperature controller for heating

[Paul Lutes]

I've had it with the sloppy thermostats that are integral to your average home style space heater, which is all I need to get me through the winter: any recommendations for a programable, reliable temperature controller with a minimal dead-band? Cost isn't too much of an issue.

[kmarch]

Some of my orchid colleagues in Michigan had thermostats similar to what you'd have in your home installed in their greenhouses.

[bloomorchidguy]

Check out Farmtek's Luxpro programmable thermostat..I've used one of these for about 3 years now. It seems to work well, I can't say really I've had any problems as of yet.

Luxpro Programmable Line Voltage Thermostat - FarmTek

[Paul Lutes]

Originally Posted by bloomorchidguy

Check out Farmtek's Luxpro programmable thermostat..I've used one of these for about 3 years now. It seems to work well, I can't say really I've had any problems as of yet.

Luxpro Programmable Line Voltage Thermostat - FarmTek

Thanks! This is real close, but I'm looking for something that plugs directly into a normal wall receptacle, and the heater then plugs into the controller, like a simple household timer.

[Ray]

Will a 3.5° dead band work?

A general comment: it is better not to use a programmable thermostat to artificially boost daytime temperatures in a greenhouse - let the sun do it. If you boost the temperature, it speeds up the metabolism and growth rate, but if the sun isn't shining, you end up with leggy, weak plants.

[Brooke]

Paul I know what you are talking about because I bought one to try to keep my sunroom above freezing for some bonsai I stored in there over winter. I must have gotten a bad one because it didn't work. I can't remember where I bought it - I think I got the info from a bonsai site.

Good luck tracking one down.

Brooke

[Paul Lutes]

Originally Posted by Ray

Will a 3.5° dead band work?

A general comment: it is better not to use a programmable thermostat to artificially boost daytime temperatures in a greenhouse - let the sun do it. If you boost the temperature, it speeds up the metabolism and growth rate, but if the sun isn't shining, you end up with leggy, weak plants.

That's it! I should have checked Grainger first thing! Winter daytime/max temps are covered with my HID lighting and the house system - it's the nighttime minimums that I need to keep from going into the 50s. Thanks Ray!