Helix/Herpstat vs Ranco/Johnson

Wanna bet? ;) I've done it when I needed to and it worked fine.

Plug your thermostat into the wall as normal, plug in the hot side flexwatt or whatever you're using and set the temp. Place the probe somewhere where it won't get moved(tape it to the heat pad or flexwatt). THEN get a dimmer, and plug it into the thermostat, and plug your cool side heat into the dimmer. Dial it down about 3/4-1/2 power and see what temps are at. They should stay pretty constant. Remember to dial the dimmer to full power for a bit so the cool side heat can actually heat up a bit. Then you can dial it down.

Even if the dimmer fails, the snake won't perish in the couple hours it might take for you to notice there's a problem. I've had a couple Lutron Credenza dimmers running for 2-3 years and they are fine.

Yep, it works.

Wow! :rolleye2:
I'd just get a Herpstat II and simplify ;)
Oh wait; I did!! :D

So did I :) And a Helix, two Johnsons and a Herpstat.. But why not? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Wanna bet? ;) I've done it when I needed to and it worked fine.

Plug your thermostat into the wall as normal, plug in the hot side flexwatt or whatever you're using and set the temp. Place the probe somewhere where it won't get moved(tape it to the heat pad or flexwatt). THEN get a dimmer, and plug it into the thermostat, and plug your cool side heat into the dimmer. Dial it down about 3/4-1/2 power and see what temps are at. They should stay pretty constant. Remember to dial the dimmer to full power for a bit so the cool side heat can actually heat up a bit. Then you can dial it down.

Even if the dimmer fails, the snake won't perish in the couple hours it might take for you to notice there's a problem. I've had a couple Lutron Credenza dimmers running for 2-3 years and they are fine.

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That is a really cool idea, I never thought of that! Kudos for creativity, both of you! :gj: