Before you buy a rheostat, read this.

Just to add here that if you don't put a reostat or a thermostat on flexwatt you can over heat it and not only burn your snake but also burn your house down. Flexwatt isn't stuff to mess around with without some sort of temp regulator. There have been a lot of homes lost due to flexwatt being used incorrectly.


Chuck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Street Killer

they're worthless!

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That is a very blanket statement. As another poster mentioned, in a fairly stable environment, they work very well for what they were designed to do, to provide a consistent amount of power to a device that requires power.

With that said, I have used a rheostat on my Cornsnakes for three years now, and have never had a problem. I also use a rheostat on my Kenyan Sand Boas, for slightly over a year, and have not had a problem there either. A well thought out and educated decision needs to be made when picking devices to control temperatures in an enclosure for a live animal. There are many ways to heat an enclosure, and more than one way to heat each enclosure properly. So, please refrain from saying that something is worthless, just because it did not work in your scenario.

Ah yes, good point there Muddoc. I should have added that I, to, use rheostats on my cornsnakes with very little trouble. Since I live in a place where the temps tend to surprise you, I just hook up every rheo I use to a timer and that works like a charm.

With herps that need high, solid temps like BPs, you really do need a proper thermostat to regulate whatever heat element you have. Dimmer types are only good for the 'meantime' until you can get the t-stat.

Hotshot: No, sadly you cannot get thermostats at any simple place like Walmart or Home Depot. The sort of stat needed to properly control these heating devices is only really found online. ReptileBasics.com is the greatest, with good prices and excellent service. Cost normally runs $75 for Ranco or Johnson and @$130 for Helix.

I wouldnt say they are worthless...Temps do fluctuate a lot tho. I still kept one for "just in case". :gj:

I have been using rheostats for years now. So I guess my snakes should be dead by now, huh? :)
I keep the temperature in my snake room Consistent. All year. I do not let outside temperatures influence my snakes at all. Sure, if you use a rheostat improperly, and expect it to regulate hugely fluctuation temperatures; nope, it is not going to work. If used properly, they make great regulating devices. If someone expects one to keep nice stable temperatures in a room that fluctuates 10-20 degrees, they are in for a not-so-nice surprise.