What should i use to controll the flexwatt?

I am getting an '05 Hogg island boa and a 4x2x15 T10 cage for him, and i chose the 11" flexwatt as the choice for heating the enclosure. I dont want to go and spend 60-100 bucks on a ranco thermostat, so what kind of rheostat could i use to controll the flexwatt? will a cheap one from home depot work? I just need something to control the temperature of the flexwatt to the desired low to mid 80's *F.

OR should i just go simpler and use a Zoomed UTH of the right size, but still use a dimmer?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bamf64

I am getting an '05 Hogg island boa and a 4x2x15 T10 cage for him, and i chose the 11" flexwatt as the choice for heating the enclosure. I dont want to go and spend 60-100 bucks on a ranco thermostat, so what kind of rheostat could i use to controll the flexwatt? will a cheap one from home depot work? I just need something to control the temperature of the flexwatt to the desired low to mid 80's *F.

---

cant with wrong with a herpstat i use helix, ranco and herpstat and its my fav by far, it has the best features and they can control up 2 4 diff temp zones
http://spyderrobotics.com/products/index.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 771subliminal

cant with wrong with a herpstat i use helix, ranco and herpstat and its my fav by far, it has the best features and they can control up 2 4 diff temp zones
http://spyderrobotics.com/products/index.html

---

did you read the post? i DONT want a rely expensive thermostat! i am wondering if i can use a cheap lamp dimmer to control my heating elements!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bamf64

did you read the post? i DONT want a rely expensive thermostat! i am wondering if i can use a cheap lamp dimmer to control my heating elements!

---

Temporarily, not permanently.

He's saying that you will need to get an expensive thermostat eventually. They are part of the price and responsibility of the animal.
I have a Ranco from reptile basics. I got mine for $80.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-e...pre-wired.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Temporarily, not permanently.

He's saying that you will need to get an expensive thermostat eventually. They are part of the price and responsibility of the animal.
I have a Ranco from reptile basics. I got mine for $80.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-e...pre-wired.html

---

but im like really tight on money and i cant afford to get a ranco right now. it would be around august. but can i get a lamp dimmer until then?

I just don't trust flexwatt on anything other than pricey thermostats.

You can try it but you run risks. You REALLY have to monitor temps with both a digital thermometer and an IR thermometer often to be safe.

I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but no one is going to tell you that a dimmer is 'just fine' to run flexwatt.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mainbutter

I just don't trust flexwatt on anything other than pricey thermostats.

You can try it but you run risks. You REALLY have to monitor temps with both a digital thermometer and an IR thermometer often to be safe.

I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but no one is going to tell you that a dimmer is 'just fine' to run flexwatt.

---

ah crap lol.

would it be ok to run with a heat pad?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mainbutter

I just don't trust flexwatt on anything other than pricey thermostats.

You can try it but you run risks.

---

THIS.

if you celebrate the holidays coming up, perhaps you can ask for a thermostat for Christmas?

What is best for your animals isn't always best for your wallet. There are heavy decisions you have to weigh when owning animals who rely on their environments and you for everything. And this may come off ass rude (which I don't mean for it to be) but i am wondering why you are getting an animal you can't afford to care for? If you don't have money for a thermostat.. do you have money for vet visits? Perhaps a payment plan would be a better option if its available? It would give you more time to prepare for your animal. Building cages is usually way less expensive than buying them. Thats a great way to cut costs.

I tried cheap "thermostats" i replaced mine in less than 3 weeks because it wasn't safe for my snake. The zoomedReptitemp500R i had would leave the INSIDE of my enclosures hot spot at 114 degrees F and that was when it was regulating! I sold that thing and got a Johnson Controls and haven't looked back since.

I understand you're looking for an inexpensive alternative but there are other areas where you can cut corners. (caging sometimes, hides, decor, etc) Heating is not one of them. IF you absolutely need to go the cutting corners route, don't use flexwatt. Everything I have ever read and seen about flex says it NEEDS a reliable thermostat. Flexwatt was not originally manufactured for reptiles, it was made as underfloor heating if memory serves me correctly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bamf64

did you read the post? i DONT want a rely expensive thermostat! i am wondering if i can use a cheap lamp dimmer to control my heating elements!

---

ill be honest i did read the post but most of skipped over the line you said your price point in, but the answer is still the same. when it comes down to how much you have invested in your hogg you want to have a thermostat that you can trust. you can spend $40 on a reo that "could" work but id rather spend the 70-80 on at least a ranco that i KNOW will work.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 771subliminal

ill be honest i did read the post but most of skipped over the line you said your price point in, but the answer is still the same. when it comes down to how much you have invested in your hogg you want to have a thermostat that you can trust. you can spend $40 on a reo that "could" work but id rather spend the 70-80 on at least a ranco that i KNOW will work.

---

good point

I've tried the repti-temp and the one from big apple herps. The application was controlling 4" flexwatt for heat for feeder insects. I went through 2 repti- temps and two big apple herps thermostats. Each failed within 3 weeks. Both of the repti-temps and one of the big apple herps t-stats failed open, and one of the bah t-stats failed closed, which cooked about 200 crickets in a glass aquarium.
I have used dimmers in a pinch, but not for more than a couple of days. You have to monitor temps and tweak constantly. It isn't practical long term.
The very least I would use on snakes is a Johnson controls or a Ranco. I have a couple Johnson controls I use on my gecko enclosures that have been in constant use for years and never had a problem. I'm using herpstat pros on my snake racks, but for one snake, you are going to have to spend about $60 bucks on a decent t-stat at the least.

you can use a lamp dimmer switch,it is better THAN nothing,that being said you do have to keep an eye on your temps everyday. i've been doing it for a while, i'm in the same boat as you money was good when i got my critters but things happen. just up grade when you can.

p.s. i've also got bah 1000 from big apple not impressed wait till you can go to a better unit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bamf64

did you read the post? i DONT want a rely expensive thermostat! i am wondering if i can use a cheap lamp dimmer to control my heating elements!

---

If you did not want to spend the money to properly care for a snake, then why did you get one? If you are running flexwatt, you need a digital thermostat. Rheostats often fail, and flexwatt gets extremly hot and will cook you snake.

I had a 500R controlling my BPs tank but I had to fiddle with the stupid thing twice a day to keep the temperature right. I have a herpstat now controlling a full rack of boas and I seriously cannot recommend it enough. Set it and go. Also you should have a temp gun to make SURE it is working properly.