Flexwatt Question

[liljenn]

Okay, I have read a lot of info about the Flexwatt and everything says to use a rheostat or proportional type thermostat. I have a small rack and if fully wired would be 12 ft of 4" flexwatt (96W). I have a dimmer and have had great success with it keeping temps between 88-92 with the small heat cable I am running only for one tub.

Here's my question - Can I connect the Flexwatt (once fully wired on the rack) to a dimmer to control the temps AND then plug it into a thermostat (I already have a ZooMed ReptiTemp 500R) and set it to turn off at 95 degrees - just as a safety precaution?? I read that you can plug your proportional thermostat to a back-up on/off safety thermostat. Would this work the same way?

 

[Ipsl]

I would say yes Apparently people used to do that prior to the fancy therostats we have nowadays.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Actually, no. A dimmer will 'dim' the amount of power flowing through it. So, if the thermo stat is running half power, and you have the dimmer at half power, you will only be sending 1/4 of the power to the heat tape. I was thinking it would be a great fail-safe, and I tried it, but it doesn't work.

 

[liljenn]

I don't understand your explanation.

The Thermostat would have full power to it (it is plugged into the socket) and the dimmer would have full power to it (plugged into the thermostat, which would be "on" as long as it doesn't reach the "high" temp of 95). The heat tape would be plugged into the dimmer, which could then be adjusted to regulate the heat to the desired temps (88-92). If the heat goes too high (95), then the thermostat would cut power to the dimmer & heat tape and not turn back on until it is below 95 degrees.

Does this make sense to anyone else? Or am I just thinking too much - and trying to be cheap!!:main_huh:

 

[Ccrashca069]

Basicly to make it simple, if you adjust it with the dimmer the Thermostat can't regualate the heat.

Forgive my spelling. I can cook, bake, build and fix computer but my spelling sucks lol

 

[David Loftin]

You most definetley can do this.

I used to run the same exact situation at home and at my old job.

Set up rack with Heat Tape wire it and then plug it into or wire it into a dimmer. Set the temperatures with the dimmer. I would suggest not having any animals on the rack at this time. Once you are satisfied with the temperatures you can plug the dimmer into a thermostat. The particular thermostat that Jenn is talking about is an On/Off thermostat. You would want to set the thermostat probe on the warm side of the cage maybe 5 degrees warmer than you would like it to get.. and you are set.

My only gripe with this situation is the fact that the Reptitemp 500R and other similar Thermostats is that they are not accurate at all.

I currently just use dimmers on all of my racks/cages. I do not have problems with this method of heating my animals. When I have some money saved up.. I will be purchasing some of the Proportional Thermostats. Rather than being an on/off thermostat like the Repitemp 500r and its kin, Proportional Thermostats constantly regulate the amount of heat necessary to attain the temperatures you need.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

I had HUGE problems when I was doing the Thermostat BEFORE the dimmer. Here is the situation I have the problem with:

 

[David Loftin]

That type of situation should work just fine.

I can see why you would have a heap of problems with the Thermostat before the dimmer.

Also.. What kind of Thermostat were you using?

 

[Ipsl]

Well I can see that your wireing is not parralell circuts like the heat tape suggest. Thats something I see.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

OK the Reptitemp 500 is a rheostat which is basically a facny dimmer so itsntot much goood for back up heat

but if run 1 whole piece (20 = 200 watts (unless you have 6watts thens its 72 watts) not 96.


anyway Im rambleing again, for back up heat ou can run a dimmer set at 91-92 then a propertional set at 92-94 so that if the dimmer fails the propertional thermostat will kick in and not allow them temps to go above 94.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

It is wired in parallel. I am using a Johnson.

 

[liljenn]

OK the Reptitemp 500 is a rheostat which is basically a facny dimmer so itsntot much goood for back up heat

but if run 1 whole piece (20 = 200 watts (unless you have 6watts thens its 72 watts) not 96.


anyway Im rambleing again, for back up heat ou can run a dimmer set at 91-92 then a propertional set at 92-94 so that if the dimmer fails the propertional thermostat will kick in and not allow them temps to go above 94.

Okay, first, the ZooMed ReptiTemp 500R is NOT a rheostat. It is an inexpensive On/Off style Thermostat and needs a digital thermometer to be calibrated (still is not very accurate but stays within 4 degrees of where I set it!)

Second, you should NOT use a proportional Thermostat as a backup, ONLY an On/Off style Thermostat. This is very important. For more info on safety, see http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostat-FAQ-sp-10.html.

(Also, I am not sure what you mean about the wattage. The 4" heat tape I am looking at is 8 watts per foot. 4 rows at 3 feet per row is 12 ft of heat tape. 8 Watts per foot X 12 feet is 96 watts.)

 

[liljenn]

You most definetley can do this.

I used to run the same exact situation at home and at my old job.

Set up rack with Heat Tape wire it and then plug it into or wire it into a dimmer. Set the temperatures with the dimmer. I would suggest not having any animals on the rack at this time. Once you are satisfied with the temperatures you can plug the dimmer into a thermostat. The particular thermostat that Jenn is talking about is an On/Off thermostat. You would want to set the thermostat probe on the warm side of the cage maybe 5 degrees warmer than you would like it to get.. and you are set.

My only gripe with this situation is the fact that the Reptitemp 500R and other similar Thermostats is that they are not accurate at all.

I currently just use dimmers on all of my racks/cages. I do not have problems with this method of heating my animals. When I have some money saved up.. I will be purchasing some of the Proportional Thermostats. Rather than being an on/off thermostat like the Repitemp 500r and its kin, Proportional Thermostats constantly regulate the amount of heat necessary to attain the temperatures you need.

Okay, I just ran this gave this scenario to my husband (licensed electrician of 20 years) & father-in-law (licensed HVAC of over 40 years). After showing them the products we're all talking about, here is what they said: ABSOLUTELY WILL WORK, JUST AS DAVID SAID ABOVE!

They said make sure you're using the proper wattages and wire it just as David said above (socket - thermostat - dimmer - heat tape). Also, the better more accurate thermostats (ie Johnson or Ranco) would be best to use. Then my husband, said to me - stop trying to be so cheap and get the proportional thermostat! And I said "extra $ = more Geckos!"

.... But of course, my main priority is to care for them the best I can. The stories I've read about heat tape over heating and proportional thermostat failing scare me. SO, if anyone else has experience with this type of set up, I'd love to hear pros & cons.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

but the repti500r is not proportional so it acts like a rheostat cuttin on and off

 

[David Loftin]

A rheostat controls the amount of electricity that is alowed to pass to the device that it is plugged/wired into. The Repitemp 500r has a probe that goes inside the cage. When you have successfully set it up it turns on once it reaches a certain temperature. It doesn't control the amount of electricity that is put through to the heating unit. It just turns it on/off accordingly. So.. you are correct it is not a Proportional Thermostat. It is however still a Thermostat and not a Rheostat.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

true, a dimmer is a on off type, kidt ludt likr s a cheapo ( thermostat ) if you want to even call it that, a true is an on off type thrtmodtst is no betterr than you alife (esu etc, at least they have a temo dial0, a true thermostat is propertional.