Is This a Rheostat?

[BWyant]

So, did I get the right thing?

Mission for today was pretty much accomplished. Got a UTH and that device there to hopefully keep it controlled, a second probe-thermometer to keep track of both the hot and cold side, and an Accurite digital hygro/thermo combo.

Tomorrow is food, chlorhexidine and new hides.

As far as that device goes, it's rated for 120 watts and my head pad is 8 watts, so I'm hoping someone with some experience can tell me what to expect when I go to plug that thing in for Monty tonight after I get off work.

[Skittles1101]

That is a plug-in lamp dimmer...and really only okay as a temporary temperature controller...

[BWyant]

Alrighty...

When you say temporary, you mean like 5 minutes temporary or 5 months temporary?

What the difference between what I have there and a rheostat? I went to two different Lowe's stores, a Wal-Mart and a Home Depot. Nobody had the vaguest clue as to what I was talking about and to be honest, I really didn't either. This was the closest thing that I could find.

If I plug my heat pad into this thing, I'm not going to burn my house down or anything like that, am I?

[Mike41793]

I would buy a thermostat, skip the rheostat.

[ballpythonluvr]

That lamp dimmer is fine until you can get an actual theromstat for the UTH.

[BWyant]

That lamp dimmer is fine until you can get an actual theromstat for the UTH.

Alright, cool. Thank you.

That's basically what I wanted to know since I didn't have 100+ bucks right this minute to just run out and buy a high-quality digital thermostat.

Poor little (he really ain't little) Monty has been living without a UTH for a while at my buddy's place anyway, so I'm hoping he'll think it's an upgrade just to have that going on until I can get him something nicer and maybe even a ladyfriend before breeding season is over.

[Skittles1101]

^^^ what both of them said. I only use mine for as long as it takes for the thermostat to come in the mail. You won't find thermostats at any store I'm sure. Here is a cheap thermostat that works pretty well.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...ords=hydrofarm

[The Serpent Merchant]

A lamp dimmer is a rheostat, but rheostats are less than ideal as they have to be manually adjusted.

Here is a good cheap thermostat that is much better: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZZG3S

[BWyant]

^^^ what both of them said. I only use mine for as long as it takes for the thermostat to come in the mail. You won't find thermostats at any store I'm sure. Here is a cheap thermostat that works pretty well.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...ords=hydrofarm

Thanks.

Once I've got the money, I'll probably just buy something high-end that can control at least two devices (Know of any like that? Something like a VE-200 or so? I'll do my own research, don't worry about it.), one being the heat pad, and the other being the rack that I'ma' inevitably end up getting to increase my intake for this new addiction.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Thanks.

Once I've got the money, I'll probably just buy something high-end that can control at least two devices (Know of any like that? Something like a VE-200 or so? I'll do my own research, don't worry about it.), one being the heat pad, and the other being the rack that I'ma' inevitably end up getting to increase my intake for this new addiction.

The VE200 can only control 1 heat source what you want is a Herpstat 2 (can control 2 heat sources) the Herpstat 4 (can control 4 heat sources) or the VE300 x2 (can control 2 heat sources. Personally I think theat you get more for your money with the herpstat line of thermostats.

Here is one of my Herpstat 4's