New Ball Python Owner....?

[Bloodsong]

If you put both tanks side by side, put a divider in there so that they can't see each other through the tank walls. Not sure if you are using glass tanks or not but I put two side by side on a bookcase a few years back and woke up one night to some noise in the living room. They were trying to fight each other through the glass! I was afraid for a while that one or the other may cause itself an injury before I could put a book between them. Later that day I went into the kids' supplies and taped construction paper around the sides of the tank.

Bloodsong

[displacedinbc]

Ok all:

I have picked up a couple of dimmer switches to use with the UTH's. My big question now is that when I cut and hook up the dimmer switch ( 3 wires) inline to the 2 wire power cord of the UTH, do I have to hook up the green ground wire from the dimmer switch and how and where....or can I just disregard it. I know little about electrical wiring so I don't want to cut the 2 wire UTH cord (lose warranty) and short the UTH out without even using it.

thanks again....

[Bloodsong]

It isn't ideal, but there is no real risk if you have a breaker connected to the room, which if your house was built after around 1969, you likely have breakers rather than fuses, so no worries. Just cut the green short and seal the end with electrical tape then tuck it away to where no copper can touch anything.

Bloodsong

[Kaorte]

Ok all:

I have picked up a couple of dimmer switches to use with the UTH's. My big question now is that when I cut and hook up the dimmer switch ( 3 wires) inline to the 2 wire power cord of the UTH, do I have to hook up the green ground wire from the dimmer switch and how and where....or can I just disregard it. I know little about electrical wiring so I don't want to cut the 2 wire UTH cord (lose warranty) and short the UTH out without even using it.

thanks again....

They sell piggy back dimmers that you can just plug the uth into. No wiring involved. They look like this:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...10000003+90401

Also, when you get a thermostat, you only need one. Even the cheaper ones come with two plugs so you can control both tanks with the same unit. The more expensive units have space for up to 6 heating elements.

[Egapal]

Ok all:

I have picked up a couple of dimmer switches to use with the UTH's. My big question now is that when I cut and hook up the dimmer switch ( 3 wires) inline to the 2 wire power cord of the UTH, do I have to hook up the green ground wire from the dimmer switch and how and where....or can I just disregard it. I know little about electrical wiring so I don't want to cut the 2 wire UTH cord (lose warranty) and short the UTH out without even using it.

thanks again....

No no no. Here is what you do. Go to a hardware store or Walmart. Buy an outlet for a wall. Right next to that they should sell a box that goes in the wall and holds an outlet or switch.

Buy one that is two wide. Put an outlet on one side and the dimmer on the other. Then cut the end that you plug something into off. Then you wire that all up so that you have a cord you can plug into the wall going to a box the extension cord goes in the back and wires up to the dimmer and outlet. Then you can plug both UTH's into the outlet. Message me if you need more info, I can post pictures.

[Kaorte]

No no no. Here is what you do. Go to a hardware store or Walmart. Buy an outlet for a wall. Right next to that they should sell a box that goes in the wall and holds an outlet or switch.

Buy one that is two wide. Put an outlet on one side and the dimmer on the other. Then cut the end that you plug something into off. Then you wire that all up so that you have a cord you can plug into the wall going to a box the extension cord goes in the back and wires up to the dimmer and outlet. Then you can plug both UTH's into the outlet. Message me if you need more info, I can post pictures.

Why would you want to wire a whole dimmer outlet when you can just buy one for $10 that does the exact same thing, sans wiring?

[displacedinbc]

Ok:

Wow! Thanks very much for the help. I'll stop after work today and see if I can find a couple of the tabletop lamp dimmers and return the others before I get into any cutting of the wires on the UTH's. That's always good for warranty purposes plus way less work I would think. That would be the best plan if I can find them. Either way though, it will be done quickly.

I have a day off starting this afternoon so I should be able to finally get to sorting the tanks out later today and tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it goes, thanks again.

[Egapal]

Why would you want to wire a whole dimmer outlet when you can just buy one for $10 that does the exact same thing, sans wiring?

Well there are a few reasons. The first reason I can think of is if you have already purchased a standard dimmer switch that is normally put in the wall and you are considering cutting the cords off your UTH's like the original poster was. I would much rather spend 2 more dollars on a box and outlet and wire it up. Not everyone is comfortable wiring though and you can certainly get a pre wired dimmer and hook it up to a power strip for pretty close to the same price. Personally I did it because I work in IT (have access to surplus computer power cables), have an electrician tool bag in my hall closet, had a box with some spare outlets, switches, dimmer switch and wall boxes in my basement. It was just easier for me to wire one up when I needed it.

[Kaorte]

Well there are a few reasons. The first reason I can think of is if you have already purchased a standard dimmer switch that is normally put in the wall and you are considering cutting the cords off your UTH's like the original poster was. I would much rather spend 2 more dollars on a box and outlet and wire it up. Not everyone is comfortable wiring though and you can certainly get a pre wired dimmer and hook it up to a power strip for pretty close to the same price. Personally I did it because I work in IT (have access to surplus computer power cables), have an electrician tool bag in my hall closet, had a box with some spare outlets, switches, dimmer switch and wall boxes in my basement. It was just easier for me to wire one up when I needed it.

A dimmer should be a quick fix for controlling the UTH heat. Really, the OP should get a thermostat, so why waste time wiring up a dimmer that will only be temporary. If it easy and convenient for you, then have at it, but the OP had no idea what to do. Rather than make his life harder, I provided him with the simplest solution.

[Egapal]

A dimmer should be a quick fix for controlling the UTH heat. Really, the OP should get a thermostat, so why waste time wiring up a dimmer that will only be temporary. If it easy and convenient for you, then have at it, but the OP had no idea what to do. Rather than make his life harder, I provided him with the simplest solution.

Sure the OP should get a thermostat.
Wiring up a dimmer takes about 10 minutes. I would rather waste ten minutes on a patch then have my snake not have heat or have to much heat.
The OP had no idea what to do. Now the OP has a couple options.
You provided what you consider to be the simplest solution. You and I have no idea what other factors are at play for the OP.
The OP bought dimmer switches and was asking how to wire them. I was not making the OP's life harder. I was answer a direct question. You know....like we do here...on the forum.