flex watt/lightdimmer problem..

[davidyun]

so i have a question..
can u use ducttape or electrical tape to put the clips on? and can u use just a cheap home depot light dimmer? and how would it work? is there a plug that plugs into the heat tape? i am confused..

[ClarkT]

You have to make a good connection to the electrical parts, or you'll have loose connections. Loose electrical connections cause fires.

You either clamp/pinch on the connectors, or you can solder them to the electrical strips. However, don't try soldering if you have no idea about doing that.

By duct tape, do you mean to cover the clips after they're connected? If so, it would probably work...but electrical tape would be a little better.

If you want to use a Home depot dimmer, you need to wire it in. If you don't know how, you probably shouldn't attempt it.

I did the above, as I"m an electrician and HVAC service man. It was simple for me. But I wouldn't recommend anyone to do that unless they have experience with soldering wires and wiring switches...not that it's complicated... just that poor connections cause fires, and mis-wired flexwatt/dimmer switches, can cause problems (shocks, though it most likely wouldn't kill you...) Anyway...just get the flexwatt already assembled, or buy the complete kit to do so.

[davidyun]

im not so worried about the flext watt..
its just the thermostat.. wiring? what does that mean?
is there another easy source i can use to control the temp? i just dont have enough to buy a legit reptile thermostat

[ClarkT]

To use a dimmer switch from Home Depot, you would get a plug cord. Wire nut the neutral from the cord to the neutral side of the flexwatt. Then wire nut the hot from the cord to the line side of the dimmer. The hot of the flexwatt wires to the load side of the dimmer.

Plug it in, turn the switch on, and use a temp sensor or something accurate to measure the spot temp, and figure out (through adjusting the switch) where it needs to be set to be the right temp.

Hope that makes sense. It definitely is cheaper than a t-stat. It just takes more adjusting and messing with it to get it set right.

Also, you'll want to check that temp often to make sure it doesn't spike or turn off, or anything else.

[snakesRkewl]

Get a thermostat, you wont be sorry, dimmers suck.
The room temp rises and so does the tank/enclosures temperature.
The room temperature drops and so does the snakes home.
Ten bucks more and you can have a thermostat and way less worries.

Flexwatt is very easy to wire up.
A $2 extension cord, cut off the non plug in end and put the clips on the wire and clamp the clips onto the flexwatt and plug it into the thermostat.

Make sure you have a probed thermometer for reading the flexwatts temperature directly on the hot spot inside of the tank.

[davidyun]

how much is a cheap thermostat?
the most i can spend is like 20..

[snakesRkewl]

They are closer to $30 shipped unless you can find local.
Dimmers are such a pain in the arse, you will kick yourself for wasting $$ on one.

[Sarin]

Get a thermostat... I just don't understand why people cheap out on the most important husbandry item....

Please take no offense.. But if you can't afford something as important as a thermostat what will you do if the snake gets an RI or internal parasites and requires medical treatment? Feeders can be quite expensive too depending on where you get them from...

Again no offense.. I guess I am just ranting out loud...

But anyway... I would save up and get a decent inexpensive thermostat. They only run $30-50. Dimmers could work but they aren't as reliable and you contantly need to check up on them. I only use electrical tape when sealing the exposed parts of flexwatt. I use aluminum tape for anything else.

Good luck...