Thermostat Advice (not sure if posted in right section)

[baxtor_lex]

hi guys! i brought my ball python a theromstat for his heatmat (he's this years hatchling) but where i live is quite cold most the time...
so i had a heatbulb on in the day (guarded) and then a moon light 35w (guarded) at night. The heat bulb blew this morning (faulty plug) so iv had to sort the plug and put a 75w indecent (i think thats how you spell it) just to keep the temps up until next week, now iv found that the bulb is kicking out alot higher temps, can i use a double plug and plug the bulb and the heatmat into the thermostat, or shall i just put the bulb in or what? or shall i take the heatmat away and just use the bulbs? im waiting until he's bigger to get a bigger viv and then ill be using ceramics??

thanks guys

[baxtor_lex]

http://www.spyireland.ie/images/GSM%...%20Adapter.jpg

using one of these??

[TheWinWizard]

Try plugging them both into the thermostat, if not keep the heatmat.

[baxtor_lex]

plugged them both, fiddled with the thermostat, it turns them both off if it gets too hot, thanks for that!!!! feel more relaxed :-)

[dr del]

Hi,

As you found out plugging them both in messes with the temps as they are different wattages.

Your best bet is a red incandecent light bulb attatched to a dimmer switch instead. This can be left on 24/7 without disturbing the snake.

That way you can dial down the bulb to get the cool end temps right and rely on the thermostat on the UTH keeping that at the right temp.

This will also extend the lifetime of the bulb as constantly turning on and off ( if used on your thermostat ) will shorten it drastically.

It also drove me nuts when I tried it - lightbulbs are best used with proportional thermostats rather than on/ off types. And pulse proportional will literally drive you insane with the on and off flashing.


dr del