Hypothetical question on dimmers...

[Skittles1101]

Can you use a dimmer for a heating pad? I know with the big expensive thermostats you can monitor and time heat, but can you use a dimmer with a heating pad to use max heat during the day and lower it a little at night? I just wasn't sure if it worked the same way as it does with a light.

Thanks for any input

[jason79]

Yes dimmers will work with the heat pad. The will work on any resistive load.

[Skittles1101]

Why thank you, it seems like a cheaper idea to control temps without using lights than the thermostats...especially if it's only for a few snakes. Thank you.

[Wh00h0069]

Why thank you, it seems like a cheaper idea to control temps without using lights than the thermostats...especially if it's only for a few snakes. Thank you.

It is, however there is a downfall to using a dimmer, it is hard to keep the temp at a constant degree. You have to monitor the temps often, and change the dimmer as needed. With a digital thermostat, you set it to a specific degree, make sure the probe is positioned correctly, and not worry about it again.

[mpkeelee]

invest in a thermostat, its worth it, trust me. with a dimmer you have a good chance of temp spikes for extended amounts of time which can burn or even cook your snake. which will result in vet bills and a lot of stress. with a dimmer you wont ever have the heat pad turned all the way up because they can reach 120+

[Adam Chandler]

You can use dimmers but you just have to be careful as they don't compensate for raising/falling ambient room temperatures.
What is a appropriate heating pad dimmer setting in a cool room can quickly get too hot as the room warms up.

A On/Off style thermostat will not only give you convenience it will also protect your animals.

[Skittles1101]

Yeah that's true too. Now while I have you all here, heat pad vs. flex watt. WITH a thermostat...it would be for like 4 cages...

[mpkeelee]

flex watt just cuz its thinner and easier. better for getting heat into the enclosure, and flexwatt doesnt have the sticky bottom. i made a quick temmporary rack with UTH's but once i got the flexwatt it was much better

[llovelace]

Yeah that's true too. Now while I have you all here, heat pad vs. flex watt. WITH a thermostat...it would be for like 4 cages...

Either heat pad or flewatt they both need a thermostat. Look into the hydrodarm thermostat it's about $25-$28, it's an on/off thermostat

[SlitherinSisters]

My advice to anyone considering a cheap thermostat is to get a dimmer instead. BUT they can only be used by someone who is responsible, if you don't check temps every day, sometimes twice a day will be needed depending on your house temps, a dimmer isn't for you. The issue with cheap thermostats is that they are prone to failing and when they fail, they run at full power, when a dimmer fails, it cuts the power. The only reason I'm still in the hobby is because I had a dimmer as a back up to a cheap stat in the beginning-thanks to a friend's advice. A cheap thermostat IMO is anything less than a Ranco or Johnson.

As for your question about flexwatt, it would only work if the tanks were all exactly the same.