Using a dimmer switch to control uth temp...

has anyone used one before to control uth temperature ; and have you had any problems with excessive wear and tear on the uth? I have a 40 gallon breeder tank that has a brand new under the tank heater that has been attached permanently(owner before me) and was wondering whether to remove it to place a thermostat probe between the uth and glass, or to use a a dimmer switch. Thank you for taking the time to read.

I have, it works best if the room/enclosure ambient temp is constant. If the ambient temperature swings at all, e.g. drops at night and rises during the day, the UTH will swing with it if it's on a dimmer. The dimmer doesn't ensure the UTH emits a constant temp, it just dials it back so it will be a certain amount over ambient.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I have, it works best if the room/enclosure ambient temp is constant. If the ambient temperature swings at all, e.g. drops at night and rises during the day, the UTH will swing with it if it's on a dimmer. The dimmer doesn't ensure the UTH emits a constant temp, it just dials it back so it will be a certain amount over ambient.

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Thank you!

They are a stop gap at best for UTH. If the UTH fails on, it can get a bad hotspot despite being on a dimmer. Also, the dimmer can't control the heat output, just the electrical input. Since the UTH puts heat in your tank, if the rate heat is going out of your tank changes, your tank can get too hot or to cold if you aren't watching it constantly. Only a thermostat with a probe can keep your tank on autopilot. See this thread for recommendations http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-you-recommend

David

I've used a dimmer on a UTH without any issues. It's not as accurate as a thermostat, but it works.

I use a rheostat, which is virtually the same thing. Works fine for me.


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