Advise for how to heat my tank

[specialk01510]

Not exactly true.

What I used for my old 20L tank, since I had to use two UTHs was:
I got a Repti temp 500r and two Lutron 300W dimmers. Plug UTHs into dimmers, set temps to 95 and 85 for warm and cool side, respectively. Plug dimmers into thermostat and set dial to appropriate level. This way, both a warm temp of 93ish and cool of 83ish are maintained.

I plan on using a ReptiTemp 500r but I dont understand why I would need two dimmers. The ReptiTemp will regulate the temps, isnt that the point? I am going to have a thermometer with a probe and a thermometer inside the reading (its the same one most people here use with the digital display).

[dr del]

Hi,

I think he is using the dimmers as a safety feature in that example.

They are inline between the thermostat and the heatmats.

So the thermostat is set to keep the temps at the hot end at 93f.

But the dimmers were originally set when the heatmats were connected directly to the power and dialed down to give a maximum temp of 95f at the warm end and 85f at the cool end.

This should mean that if the thermostat suffers a failure that runs the heaters at full power they still cannot get hot enough to hurt the snake.

Kind of a belt and braces approach.

Someone correct me if I've got that wrong?


dr del

[mrshawt]

Yes, that's correct.

But, I also used the dimmers to get two DIFFERENT temperatures off the same thermostat. The 500r will only regulate one temperature, usually a warm side temp via UTH. But for those using two UTHs and have only one thermostat, you need to use the dimmers to achieve the separate temperature zones. When both UTHs are plugged into the thermostat with the dimmers, the warm side will maintain 93 and the cool side about 83.

[dr del]

Hi,

Just to point out the temp variation is possible with only one dimmer but that obviously means there is no safety measure if the thermostat fails.


dr del

[mrshawt]

Hi,

Just to point out the temp variation is possible with only one dimmer but that obviously means there is no safety measure if the thermostat fails.


dr del

True. However, I recommend backing up any thermostat (even a Herpstat) with a rheostat of some sort - the Lutron 300W is perfect.

[specialk01510]

Haha, damn. I wish I would have seen this before ordering all my supplies. I guess I will jsut go to homedepot and buy dimmer switches. I guess I like the idea of having a backup.

Is there anything I need to look for when finding a dimmer? (rating or wattage or anything?)

[mrshawt]

Haha, damn. I wish I would have seen this before ordering all my supplies. I guess I will jsut go to homedepot and buy dimmer switches. I guess I like the idea of having a backup.

Is there anything I need to look for when finding a dimmer? (rating or wattage or anything?)

This is the exact one you want.

[Patricia]

It is rather difficult to remove a stuck UTH but there is a sticky on this site about how to remove one.

Here ya go!

I added that to my Faves, as I'll be adding this thread. Brilliant info here re. 2 dimmers into 1 ReptiTemp!

[specialk01510]

Thanks everybody. I will be doing the reptitemp with two dimmers.