Using a Dimmer with heat tape

[cletus]

I don't use the dimmer to 'zero in' the temp, that's the thermostat's job, the dimmer is just there to make sure that a fire starting amount of power doesn't flow through the cord unchecked.

mmm I must be misunderstanding the reason for a dimmer. Do you mean that the dimmer regulates the voltage going into the heat tape so it never gets hotter than the temp you set in the thermostat? In the event of a surge in voltage when getting up to temp? I thought the dimmer just lets you fine tune the voltage going to the heat tape. Kind of like what it does to a light bulb but instead of light, its temp.