Quote Originally Posted by kitedemon View Post
Yes UTH=under tank heater
Flexwatt = carbon heating element

These are all carbon heat elements in different configurations. The base tech is all the same however.

Example of a UTH http://beanfarm.com/product_info.php?products_id=5577

Regulators,

Dimmer (rheostat) they type used for home lighting. The simplest type they need absolutely stable room temps to work if the room varies the temp does too.

Thermostats vary the heat based on a reading from a probe (thermal sensor) that is placed on or near the heat source. they come in two basic varieties.

On/off type this is a dead basic type. It will run full power until the probe is over the temp set on the thermostat and shut down the heat until the probe cools below the set point then it starts over again. They do best in reasonably stable rooms temps with low power heating elements (like an ultratherm that do not get too hot too quickly) and heavy enclosures (that do not heat or cool quickly) The should be used in conjunction with a good or know accuracy thermometer as they have poor accuracy on their own. (viv electronics, johnson, ranco are the best there are many others of poorer quality)

Proportional thermostats these in basic function keep the probe at the point programmed into the thermostat. The method they use varies but basically they if set to 90ºF they heater stays basically at 90ºF all the time never going cold or hot. Constant even heat. They have accurate probe temps so lesser quality thermometers or unknown ones can be used and checked against the probe reading for accuracy. They are the best on the market. There are a number some with the most basic function (Viv, electronics and helix) and some with advanced control and reporting (ecozone and herpkeeper) and the most safety features and best price (Herpstat my personal recommendation the safest and cheapest on the market...)

ALL HEAT SOUCES NEED TO BE REGULATED!!!!
Okay, thank you for all the info!

I've been keeping her in a 20 gallon tank with an undertank heater. She has a thermometer, but I didn't know a thermostat was important as well. ._.;; I just looked at the tutorial on how to set up a storage tub for a snake. Seems easy enough so I will try that. I hope PetCo sells thermostats, otherwise I will order online.