Ranco Controller?

catman78 · 04/26/2012, 03:38 PM

Hi all,

Can a single Ranco control two 300watt heaters?
I was going to wire an outlet strip into controller and plug the heaters into strip.

Sad thing is I can't get one decent review of a good heater

thanks

bob1968 · 04/26/2012, 03:48 PM

Yes you can

catman78 · 04/26/2012, 03:58 PM

thanks, just wanted to make sure.

BeanAnimal · 04/26/2012, 04:48 PM

There is no such thing as a good aquarium heater.... that is why you are using the Ranco.

If you set the internal thermostat (not by number, but by actual touch) to the point just above the setpoint of the RANCO, then the internal thermostat will NOT cycle on and off during normal operation. The RANCO will do the work and the integral thermostat on the heater will act as a fairly reliabe failsafe.

catman78 · 04/26/2012, 05:11 PM

Thanks Bean,
The internal thermostats are worthless and every brand I've owned.
bookmarked

milkman55 · 04/26/2012, 05:35 PM

I have three 200w Ehiem Jäger heaters plugged into a heavy duty extension cord. I then cut the extension cord at the best placement for the Ranco and wired the Ranco into the extension cord. Works great! Jäger heaters are very good, just set the internal thermostat as BeanAnimal suggested as a backup to the Ranco. The Jager's have an adjustable set point which makes ths easy.

kcress · 04/26/2012, 09:11 PM

I recently got one with an electronic controller. The $&#)$W*^!!! thing doesn't remember the temperature you've set it too. So after a power blink it resets itself to 79F instead of 73F where I want it. PAH thet tick!

Make sure you don't try to run one like this thru a Ranco.

BTW: There is nothing anywhere on the packaging that tells you this will happen. I suspect most 'electronic' ones will pull this cheap trick.

04/26/2012, 03:38 PM	#1
catman78 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: LI N.Y. Posts: 687	Ranco Controller? Hi all, Can a single Ranco control two 300watt heaters? I was going to wire an outlet strip into controller and plug the heaters into strip. Sad thing is I can't get one decent review of a good heater thanks

04/26/2012, 03:48 PM	#2
bob1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: bristol,pa. Posts: 216	Yes you can

04/26/2012, 03:58 PM	#3
catman78 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: LI N.Y. Posts: 687	thanks, just wanted to make sure.

04/26/2012, 04:48 PM	#4
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,324	There is no such thing as a good aquarium heater.... that is why you are using the Ranco. If you set the internal thermostat (not by number, but by actual touch) to the point just above the setpoint of the RANCO, then the internal thermostat will NOT cycle on and off during normal operation. The RANCO will do the work and the integral thermostat on the heater will act as a fairly reliabe failsafe.

04/26/2012, 05:11 PM	#5
catman78 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: LI N.Y. Posts: 687	Thanks Bean, The internal thermostats are worthless and every brand I've owned. bookmarked

04/26/2012, 05:35 PM	#6
milkman55 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Parkville, MO Posts: 837	I have three 200w Ehiem Jäger heaters plugged into a heavy duty extension cord. I then cut the extension cord at the best placement for the Ranco and wired the Ranco into the extension cord. Works great! Jäger heaters are very good, just set the internal thermostat as BeanAnimal suggested as a backup to the Ranco. The Jager's have an adjustable set point which makes ths easy.

04/26/2012, 09:11 PM	#7
kcress Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central California Coast. Posts: 5,383	I recently got one with an electronic controller. The $&#)$W*^!!! thing doesn't remember the temperature you've set it too. So after a power blink it resets itself to 79F instead of 73F where I want it. PAH thet tick! Make sure you don't try to run one like this thru a Ranco. BTW: There is nothing anywhere on the packaging that tells you this will happen. I suspect most 'electronic' ones will pull this cheap trick.