Ranco Temp Controller

[sdc19982002]

Just bought the contoller and am wondering if I should turn the stat on the heater all the way up or set it a little higher than my desired temp 80 degrees?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Manually adjust the thermostat on the heater so that it is just slightly above the Ranco's set temperature. Do not trust the numbers on the dial. In the rare event that the Ranco fails, the internal thermostat on the heater will act as a failsafe.

 

[sdc19982002]

Thats what I thought. So I will set the heater stat at 82 and the ranco at 80. Thanks..

 

[BeanAnimal]

Yup... as I mentioned don't trust the numbers on the heater dial.

Turn it all the way up and allow the Ranco to bring the tank to full temp. Unplug the heater from the Ranco and run it directly. Back the dial off until the heater turns off, then add a little bit so that it just turns back on. Plug it back into the Ranco and your set. Check it every few months to be sure

 

[Kenzy]

Where did you buy the Ranco controller from?

 

[sdc19982002]

Where did you buy the Ranco controller from?

I'm in the heating and air field. I picked it up from one of our suppliers for around 75.00 I had to wire my own male and female plugs into it, but thats not hard to do. it works great. I only got the single stage unit, just needed it for heat.

 

[therealfatman]

They are regularly sold on ebay quite cheaply. Around $25 used, or $50 never used and still in original boxes. Last one I saw was $25 for a dual.

 

[sdc19982002]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13931849#post13931849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by therealfatman
They are regularly sold on ebay quite cheaply. Around $25 used, or $50 never used and still in original boxes. Last one I saw was $25 for a dual.

For the digital controllers?

 

[45commando]

Re: Ranco Temp Controller

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13922746#post13922746 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sdc19982002
Just bought the contoller and am wondering if I should turn the stat on the heater all the way up or set it a little higher than my desired temp 80 degrees?

I definately wouldn't turn the stat all the way up.Also be sure to check the ranco against a well trusted thermometer.I have two ranco's on my tank & there is a 4 degree seperation between them.HTH

 

[BeanAnimal]

They are +/- 1 degree and only read in 1 degree increments.

So true temperature is 80. Ranco A reads 81 and Ranco B reads 79. Add a single 10th of a degree error to one or the other and you have a 4 degree display difference with logic dictating that the temperature is in between and still well within the +/- 1 degree specification.

In other words, the presence of (2) controllers simply tells you which side (+ or -) each controller errs towards.

I hope that makes sense

 

[45commando]

Bean,
I have one ranco that reads 80 while the other will read 76.So in your terms that is a lot more than a 4 degree swing,which is why I suggest to back them up with a trusted thermometer.I only use them as a redundant back up,in case my controller fails.My only point is that they are good for temperature control,but may need to be calibrated against a known temp.

 

[amstar]

can you plug more than one heater into a controller?

also does it matter what type of heater you use with a ranco?

 

[kcress]

Yes, you can plug several into a Ranco.

No, It should not matter what kind of heater.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13937227#post13937227 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 45commando
Bean,
I have one ranco that reads 80 while the other will read 76.So in your terms that is a lot more than a 4 degree swing,which is why I suggest to back them up with a trusted thermometer.I only use them as a redundant back up,in case my controller fails.My only point is that they are good for temperature control,but may need to be calibrated against a known temp.

Sounds like one of them is out of whack. It is very uncommon but certainly happens. I have a small pile of them and 1 of them is off in the same manner.

 

[45commando]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13937306#post13937306 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by amstar
can you plug more than one heater into a controller?

As Kcress posted,yes you can.Just make sure the combined heater wattage doesn't exceed what is listed on the controller(I think it is about 1000 watt,but don't quote me on that).HTH

 

[amstar]

sweet. are they hard to wire so you can plug them in to 120 v

 

[45commando]

If you get the standard ranco-it comes plug & play

 

[BeanAnimal]

Actually they come barebones. You can get them pre-wired from some vendors