Madkins007 said:As a rule of thumb, digital equipment is lighter, smaller, cheaper, and more reliable. Look at all the things that are digital now that you would not willingly go back to the mechanical versions of- phones, calculators, radios, TVs. music players...
I used to work with an old mechanical calculator (aka 'adding machine')- punch the buttons, pull the crank- the sounds were so distinctive- tika tika tika CA-CRUNCH. It is where the term 'crunching numbers' came from.
squamata said:Madkins007 said:As a rule of thumb, digital equipment is lighter, smaller, cheaper, and more reliable. Look at all the things that are digital now that you would not willingly go back to the mechanical versions of- phones, calculators, radios, TVs. music players...
I used to work with an old mechanical calculator (aka 'adding machine')- punch the buttons, pull the crank- the sounds were so distinctive- tika tika tika CA-CRUNCH. It is where the term 'crunching numbers' came from.
I have to disagree here Mark. The things you use as examples are not the controls they are the controlled devices, and none of them have to do with climate, which I believe this thread was based on. When it comes to temperature the mechanical controls (depending on manufacterer) are just as reliable as their new digital replacements, The advancement here is in accuracy, which in most cases with reptile keeping is a small advancement most applications are not so critical that a fluctuation of a few degree's matters. The bourdon tube type controls are reliable and have been proven to be for many years, the electronic controls have reduced the lag and can achieve more precise control but in most cases are the same size and wieght and have not been on the market long enough to prove thier reliability, I know of mechanical controls that have been doing the same job for twenty years now, while alot of other components on the machine have been replaced do to failure. I feel the same way about time clocks they may have become more accurate but dependable has yet to be proven. As I stated I use both, my setups all are wired to be fail safe, two thermostats wired in parrellel, one electronic and one mechanical.
Madkins007 said:squamata said:Madkins007 said:As a rule of thumb, digital equipment is lighter, smaller, cheaper, and more reliable. Look at all the things that are digital now that you would not willingly go back to the mechanical versions of- phones, calculators, radios, TVs. music players...
I used to work with an old mechanical calculator (aka 'adding machine')- punch the buttons, pull the crank- the sounds were so distinctive- tika tika tika CA-CRUNCH. It is where the term 'crunching numbers' came from.
I have to disagree here Mark. The things you use as examples are not the controls they are the controlled devices, and none of them have to do with climate, which I believe this thread was based on. When it comes to temperature the mechanical controls (depending on manufacterer) are just as reliable as their new digital replacements, The advancement here is in accuracy, which in most cases with reptile keeping is a small advancement most applications are not so critical that a fluctuation of a few degree's matters. The bourdon tube type controls are reliable and have been proven to be for many years, the electronic controls have reduced the lag and can achieve more precise control but in most cases are the same size and wieght and have not been on the market long enough to prove thier reliability, I know of mechanical controls that have been doing the same job for twenty years now, while alot of other components on the machine have been replaced do to failure. I feel the same way about time clocks they may have become more accurate but dependable has yet to be proven. As I stated I use both, my setups all are wired to be fail safe, two thermostats wired in parrellel, one electronic and one mechanical.
There are always going to be exceptions. Musicians prefer mechanical/analog/tubed amps over the digital versions and a lot of music lovers prefer vinyl over CD.
But, speaking of controllers, I really like my household, digital, programmable rheostat, and I appreciate that my digital habitat light timers have been more reliable than the mechanicals that were always getting bumped, dropping pins, getting stuck on a given time, etc. My digital ZooMed thermostat is still rocking along after some 4 years, and for the cost of it, I could not have touched a mechanical version.
HOWEVER- a big part of the answer in a given situation is going to be 'what is available to you in your price range for the job you are doing?'
squamata said:Hey Mark what kind of household heat do you have that would require the use of a rheostat? I've never used any controls sold by zoo med or any other reptile product distributor for that matter, most of the stuff is made by companys I deal with and zoo med or whoever slaps their name on it and marks up the price. plus they are usually way behind or sell the cheapest made products so they can have a greater mark up. I prefer to go to the source and purchase higher quality equipment at the same price.As far as time clocks go I have always used the type commonly used for hot water heaters, without any trouble a pair of pliers works well to tighten the pins so they don't drop