Heating Pads

I would always recommend a good quality thermostat, but if it's not in your budget right now, try a rheostat. They're 20$ at petsmart, it works in the same way as a thermostat as it controls the heating element by how much juice gets through to it. Like a dimmer.

I have never used one, and don't know anything about dependibility, but it's worth a try. I know there are quite a few people out there that use these without problems that I've heard of.

You can get a safer rheostat at Home Depot for $11. The brand name is Lutron, type is Credenza. They just plug into the wall, you plug in the heat pad or light, and dial it down. Very simple and no wiring. They are rated for 300 watts I think.

keep in mind that the rheostat does not control temp in the same way as a thermostat. Rheostats only control the amount of current (amps) sent to the heating pad. The actual heat output is influenced by ambient temperature when using a rheostat, and must constantly be adjusted manually. A thermostat gives you the ability to set a temp and let the hardware do the "work" for you.

I have come to realize that a thermostat is the way to go. If you just stick a heating pad on the bottom of a tank it will get way too hot and could burn your baby. And once you stick that heat pad to the tank you will never get it off. I found that I can get a pretty consistant temprature with no burn hazard by keeping the heat pad about a quarter of an inch beneath the glass. I just prop it up on a piece of cardboard until it is very close, but not touching, the glass. I just turn on the light during the day and shut the light off at night. Temps and humidity stay perfect but it's a pain in the butt to set up each time I clean the tank. As soon as I can afford a good thermostat I'm going to buy one.

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Originally Posted by Jenn

I have come to realize that a thermostat is the way to go. If you just stick a heating pad on the bottom of a tank it will get way too hot and could burn your baby. And once you stick that heat pad to the tank you will never get it off. I found that I can get a pretty consistant temprature with no burn hazard by keeping the heat pad about a quarter of an inch beneath the glass. I just prop it up on a piece of cardboard until it is very close, but not touching, the glass. I just turn on the light during the day and shut the light off at night. Temps and humidity stay perfect but it's a pain in the butt to set up each time I clean the tank. As soon as I can afford a good thermostat I'm going to buy one.

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I hope your using a thermostat while you have the heat pad on the cardboard? And also, are you talking about human heating pads or UTH? The uth heaters should be directly on the glass with the thermostat probe on either the UTH or the glass to maintain the temps.

My UTH got to at least 120 degrees before I got a Tstat, even if there's space that will still cook your BP.