What Heater with Ranco Controller?

[starrfish]

I have two Ranco controllers. One is off-line. I'd like to set it up as a back-up. I've checked a few different on-line vendors and all of their heaters have built-in controllers. Where can I purchase (on-line) a heater without a controller that I can plug into my Ranco?

Thanks,
Daire

 

[Liam]

i like the stealths daire.
they have a built in controller(in the element,not a separate controller) but you just set it 2 degrees higher than your ranco.This gives you a failsafe.
And believe it or not i did have a ranco fail on me

 

[delta]

Premium Aquatic sells Finnex Titanium tubes seperately

 

[starrfish]

Thanks guys. Liam, it was one of your posts about the Ranco failing that prompted me to think about using it as a backup. I was going to sell it, but decided to keep it after I read your post.

 

[Sherri]

I use won heating tubes with my Ranco ... no separate controller.

 

[starrfish]

Thanks Sherri. As I looked at the Premium Aquatics site, I think Won is the kind that I have on my other Ranco controller. I think all of them will work. I just have to make a decision.

Thanks for the info everyone.

 

[marco67]

I've been using the Jali titanium tubes (custom aquatics) for about 5 years now.
I used to be able to say "never had one fail" but that changed this fall.
a 500w and the Ranco controller it was on craped out.
I'm not sure if the heater took out the controller, vise versa, voltage spike or just age?
FWIW Ranco fails with an E2

And believe it or not i did have a ranco fail on me

 

[Sherri]

How old were the Ranco's that failed? Is there any commonality in the situations where they failed? Does Ranco have any info on that?

 

[Dave]

E2 is an error code for the settings not stored correctly. You could try to reprogram it.

 

[marco67]

E2 is an error code for the settings not stored correctly. You could try to reprogram it.

Yes but it needs it everyday
Thats why I suspect either an incoming power surge.

FWIW
This is one of about 6 that I have with no other problems.

 

[Liam]

mine was a relay problem i believe. the relay started cutting on and off a lot and then that was that.

 

[mhe]

Yes but it needs it everyday
Thats why I suspect either an incoming power surge.

FWIW
This is one of about 6 that I have with no other problems.

I'm having the E2 problem all the time too - very disappointed as I'd hoped this unit would be more reliable - it's about a year old - not sure what, if anything, I can do other than put it in the "should fix someday" pile (it's a pretty large pile!)

- Michael

 

[Sherri]

Wow -- I thought I was getting something reliable. How disappointing to hear this. So far so good though -- but will keep a closer eye on it.