flex watt/lightdimmer problem..
so i have a question..
can u use ducttape or electrical tape to put the clips on? and can u use just a cheap home depot light dimmer? and how would it work? is there a plug that plugs into the heat tape? i am confused..
Re: flex watt/lightdimmer problem..
To use a dimmer switch from Home Depot, you would get a plug cord. Wire nut the neutral from the cord to the neutral side of the flexwatt. Then wire nut the hot from the cord to the line side of the dimmer. The hot of the flexwatt wires to the load side of the dimmer.
Plug it in, turn the switch on, and use a temp sensor or something accurate to measure the spot temp, and figure out (through adjusting the switch) where it needs to be set to be the right temp.
Hope that makes sense. It definitely is cheaper than a t-stat. It just takes more adjusting and messing with it to get it set right.
Also, you'll want to check that temp often to make sure it doesn't spike or turn off, or anything else.
Re: flex watt/lightdimmer problem..
Get a thermostat, you wont be sorry, dimmers suck.
The room temp rises and so does the tank/enclosures temperature.
The room temperature drops and so does the snakes home.
Ten bucks more and you can have a thermostat and way less worries.
Flexwatt is very easy to wire up.
A $2 extension cord, cut off the non plug in end and put the clips on the wire and clamp the clips onto the flexwatt and plug it into the thermostat.
Make sure you have a probed thermometer for reading the flexwatts temperature directly on the hot spot inside of the tank.
Re: flex watt/lightdimmer problem..
They are closer to $30 shipped unless you can find local.
Dimmers are such a pain in the arse, you will kick yourself for wasting $$ on one.