The tabletop lamp dimmers are great, you just plug your UTH into it and then plug the dimmer into the wall. The one I have has a slide switch that you can adjust to control the electrical output which also controls the temperature. This prevents the bottom of the tank from getting too hot which could lead to a burn. This is why a quality thermometer is so very important because the cheap dial type are not accurate. The heat lamp is not necessarily dangerous, just unnecessary (unless the room your tank is in gets cold as previously stated) and it will deplete your humidity quicker than a UTH. Getting an accurate thermometer and a dimmer to control your temperature should be top priorities to prevent injury to your ball. Hope this helps and good luck!