Hypothetical question on dimmers...

Can you use a dimmer for a heating pad? I know with the big expensive thermostats you can monitor and time heat, but can you use a dimmer with a heating pad to use max heat during the day and lower it a little at night? I just wasn't sure if it worked the same way as it does with a light.

Thanks for any input :)

Yes dimmers will work with the heat pad. The will work on any resistive load.

Why thank you, it seems like a cheaper idea to control temps without using lights than the thermostats...especially if it's only for a few snakes. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Why thank you, it seems like a cheaper idea to control temps without using lights than the thermostats...especially if it's only for a few snakes. Thank you.

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It is, however there is a downfall to using a dimmer, it is hard to keep the temp at a constant degree. You have to monitor the temps often, and change the dimmer as needed. With a digital thermostat, you set it to a specific degree, make sure the probe is positioned correctly, and not worry about it again.

invest in a thermostat, its worth it, trust me. with a dimmer you have a good chance of temp spikes for extended amounts of time which can burn or even cook your snake. which will result in vet bills and a lot of stress. with a dimmer you wont ever have the heat pad turned all the way up because they can reach 120+

You can use dimmers but you just have to be careful as they don't compensate for raising/falling ambient room temperatures.
What is a appropriate heating pad dimmer setting in a cool room can quickly get too hot as the room warms up.

A On/Off style thermostat will not only give you convenience it will also protect your animals.

Yeah that's true too. Now while I have you all here, heat pad vs. flex watt. WITH a thermostat...it would be for like 4 cages...

flex watt just cuz its thinner and easier. better for getting heat into the enclosure, and flexwatt doesnt have the sticky bottom. i made a quick temmporary rack with UTH's but once i got the flexwatt it was much better

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Yeah that's true too. Now while I have you all here, heat pad vs. flex watt. WITH a thermostat...it would be for like 4 cages...

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Either heat pad or flewatt they both need a thermostat. Look into the hydrodarm thermostat it's about $25-$28, it's an on/off thermostat

My advice to anyone considering a cheap thermostat is to get a dimmer instead. BUT they can only be used by someone who is responsible, if you don't check temps every day, sometimes twice a day will be needed depending on your house temps, a dimmer isn't for you. The issue with cheap thermostats is that they are prone to failing and when they fail, they run at full power, when a dimmer fails, it cuts the power. The only reason I'm still in the hobby is because I had a dimmer as a back up to a cheap stat in the beginning-thanks to a friend's advice. A cheap thermostat IMO is anything less than a Ranco or Johnson.

As for your question about flexwatt, it would only work if the tanks were all exactly the same.

I personally use dimmers on my cages because I'm generally doing something every day (changing water, looking to spot clean, etc.) and it doesn't take much to check the temps and adjust appropriately. With only two ball pythons it isn't a hassle, but if I'm not home for a few days or something I usually have to teach whoever's babysitting to do that at least once a day before I go.

As soon as I decide I want to expand to a rack I'll be getting a proportional thermostat, but for now it's not a necessary thing

A dimmer or rheostat is fine as long as you do check your temps frequently. With the changing seasons it is just something to be aware of.

I have a dimmer for my lights right now, but I was looking to use only heating pads. I do check the temps regularly because I do use the dimmer with my light. Thank you :)

now even with my rack i have to use a light sometimes to keep ambient temps up because the heat in the room drops. once we buy our house ill have my own room for reptiles. if you do switch to flexwatt or UTH's you will prolly still have to use lights for ambient temps unless you keep the room around 80-83