zoo med heat pads

ive heard that zoo med heat pads get TOO HOT and that we need to use thermostats. do i need to use a thermostat?? or can i use a lamp dimmer for a cheap fix???:confusd:

you NEED a thermostat. my zoo med gets super hot and I have to put it on the lowest setting possible.

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Originally Posted by dillymann

ive heard that zoo med heat pads get TOO HOT and that we need to use thermostats. do i need to use a thermostat?? or can i use a lamp dimmer for a cheap fix???:confusd:

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Yes, you can use a lamp dimmer for a cheap temporary fix. In the long run, though, dimmers are unreliable as they do not account for changes in room temperature. All under tank heaters need a thermostat though for the safest control of belly heat. While not the most reliable available, here is a good cheap option that's 1000 times better than either nothing at all or a lamp dimmer - http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...arm+thermostat.

I have the Hydrofarm its my "better than nothing" thermostat. Once I get all of my AP T8s built and stacked I plan on upgrading.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

I have the Hydrofarm its my "better than nothing" thermostat. Once I get all of my AP T8s built and stacked I plan on upgrading.

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Not to derail this thread, but "all of my AP T8s"? What do you have planned?!?! :D

Well we are doing some work on our garage and once thats done the snakes are going down there...I am getting some metro racks with casters on the bottom and plan on stacking the t8s on it that way they will all be mobile...I also plan on using our 3d printer at work to layout a box to house the theromostats and other gauges, LED controls, etc and have everything just enclosed and clean no wires hanging out... im still in the purchasing stage but will have a pic heavy post once I get started :)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 4

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dillymann

ive heard that zoo med heat pads get TOO HOT and that we need to use thermostats. do i need to use a thermostat?? or can i use a lamp dimmer for a cheap fix???:confusd:

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They run about 20 degrees warmer than room temp, which if your ambient home or reptile room temp is 80 degrees (like now, in the summer), will be close to 100 degrees. That's a bit too warm for what most people need, and a thermostat helps with that. :)

-Jen

i just checked the room temp and the heat pad temp room tamp was between 73-75 and heat pad temp was 100-105:colbert:

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Originally Posted by dillymann

i just checked the room temp and the heat pad temp room tamp was between 73-75 and heat pad temp was 100-105:colbert:

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Then use a thermostat ;)

-Jen

i would but i cant afford one i have it hooked up to a dimmer for now

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Originally Posted by dillymann

i would but i cant afford one i have it hooked up to a dimmer for now

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Even the cheap analog, on/off t-stats aren't bad. They don't last like the nice digital one though. A dimmer works fine, though. Just remember to check temps whenever the temp in the house changes much. I've used dimmers mosrly for a long time, but it is a real pain to have to constantly adjust them. Just use your dimmer now and save for a thermostat. PS Despite what ZooMed says, I've measured a temp as high as 120F when they run wide open.