THG Heat tape. Dimmer question

[JLC]

Wow wow wow....

Ok...let ME break this down and make it very simple to you. But first let me apologize for commenting in reply to a point you had made and then adding my own thoughts afterward. That must have been exceedingly confusing.

My original quote is in blue...my explanation of my words in black.

I've been using the same on/off thermostat for years without any issues. They won't "burn out" after a few month's usage...at least, not if it's a quality t-stat.

This was a response to this statement made by you:

You understand that if I use a traditional thermostat (on/off only). It is going to be turning the heat tape on and off every half hour or so.
A few months of that and I'd probably burn out my thermostat from clicking on and off 48 times a day.

Your argument that the t-stat would turn on and off so frequently to maintain proper temps pretty much cancels out your argument that your ambient temps stay steady and therefore a dimmer switch should work. Both of those situations can't be true.

I do concede that this was worded poorly, but was hardly call for such a snarky, back-handed response from you. I was trying to be helpful. If the ambient temperatures in your home are as steady as you seem to think they are, then the t-stat will not have to switch on and off as often, and then you would have less of a "wear and tear" issue with it. (Not that I think that is a real issue, as noted above, but you seem to think it is.)

I've lived in a LOT of different houses of all styles and environments...and NONE of them ever kept ambient temps in a range precise enough to support using a dimmer switch to maintain critical temps in a reptile enclosure.

The ambient temperatures in whatever room you keep your enclosures is directly related to the ambient temperatures within the enclosures themselves...which is directly related to how efficiently your heating elements run. Even you pointed out that your own home fluctuates as much as seven degrees throughout the day. And unless you live in a cave, anytime the weather changes, your home temperatures will swing with the weather until you adjust your house t-stat.

ALL that is trying to point out is that a dimmer switch is in no way a suitable method for maintaining consistent temps on heat tape UNLESS you have a closed room with its own ambient heating/cooling source that maintains room temperatures within 2-3 degrees, at most.

A quality thermostat (on/off OR proportional) is the BEST investment you'll ever make for your reptiles.

Of course I know you already have a t-stat. I was simply reiterating the fact that a quality t-stat (one you don't have to fear will burn out after just a short few months of usage!) really is THE BEST investment you can make for keeping your reptiles healthy and safe. Rather than trust them to the ambivalence of a dimmer switch, I would much rather invest my money in a t-stat that I am sure will do the job that I want done. My apologies for trying to say that with too few words.

Obviously, you'll do whatever you wish to do. And frankly, I don't really care what you choose to do. I'm a bit perplexed about why you brought it up in the first place if you didn't want to hear any other options, but not surprised. People do that all the time. Maybe you're just in a mood for an argument or something. I don't know.

Go....take care of your snakes however you think is best. I hope they stay warm and safe, no matter what.