Which brand UTH do you use?

[Phil]

Ok great.. Ill hook up my uth with a dimmer.. I'm a electrician so I'll be ok to set this up thanks!

 

[TokayKeeper]

Phil...forego the dimmer and invest in an actual thermostat with a digital readout. I tried the dimmer thing over a decade ago and was not pleased with the fluctuations in temperatures. I came home from school one day back then to find my digital indoor/outdoor thermometers reading over 105°F. The digital thermostats are pricey, but I'd rather go that route than have a cooked gecko or burnt down house because a dimmer crapped out.*


*Thermostats can crap out too.

 

[Phil]

Yea u made ur point. Unless u put 2 dimmer or 2 thermostats back to back (in series) your never safe. A dimmer or a thermostat can crap out after a while.. I bought the Lutron dimmer that PhatSprinter was talking about on page 3.. I'll give u my impression soon..!

 

[Dog Shrink]

I have used a rheostat for the last year with my leo and it's been amazingly acurate. Altho it's a bit more industrial than a simple light dimmer.

 

[Phil]

Finally I do not need a dimmer/thermostat. Temp is at 94-95f with the power at max.

Phil

 

[5HiddenLizards]

Nevertried a dimmer or rheotstat/thermostat. Been using ZooMed UTHs & they stay between 93-100, depending on the house temperature. But during the winter,couldn't get them past 88, BUT that was understandable cuz the house was freezing cold.



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[Dog Shrink]

I've had my rheostat in place for over a year with no crapping out... yet (knock wood). I got one that was rated for a very high wattage/voltage, like I mentioned kinda industrial.

For Michelle... that's why I use an ultratherm cobra heat mat. It operates at a constant consistant 100 degrees F. We have no problems making temps in the winter here in North western Pa, even on the coldest days. I never had any luck with zoomed or exo terra being able to perform THAT well.

 

[5HiddenLizards]

I'll have to check those out. If not for my current ones, then for upgrades eventually. But as of right now I've been using heat lamps to bump up the temps these past winters.



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[Jusselin]

I have used a rheostat for the last year with my leo and it's been amazingly acurate. Altho it's a bit more industrial than a simple light dimmer.

what is this?

 

[Dog Shrink]

A rheostat is similar to a light dimmer where it regulates the amount of wattage/voltage going into your element rather than a set temperature like a thermostat does. My rheostat being more "industrial" simply means its more heavy duty intended for higher wattage/voltage applications so making minute adjustments to raise or lower a degree or 2 is unreasonable as the wattage for such a minute change is not something this rheo does well since you'd only be adjusting it down a half watt/volt or a watt/volt at a time, this rheo is designed to work better at higher varables of say going from 100 watts to 50 watts. A smaller rheo, say one that's only meant to control would be better

What I like best about my rheo is that is fluctates in accordance to the ambient temps of the room meaning m leo gets more of a proper daytime/nighttime heat fluctuation as in the wild granted just not as dramatic. For example I keep my rheo set so my daytime temp is 96*F (after much testing over a year I found that eros does best at this temp. Some like it hotter, some like ot cooler). In the summer after sunset I only lose maybe a degree, now that winte is setting in in NW Pa. I am seeing a temp drop of no more than 3 degrees which still puts me in optimum range with out ever having to touch the dil. I've found that most thermostats can have anywhere from a 3 to 7 degree swing in appliance reaactivity. Say you have it set to come on at 88, it might not come on till its actually 85 or 86 and same for going off. Set to go off at 96 and may not actually go off till 98 or 100. I like that rheos provide constant consistant heat at a lower wattage rather than pulsing heat like thermostats do. I think the constant on and off of your appliance kills it faster.

Hope that helps explain things for ya

 

[Dimidiata]

I was about to ask if my new Zoomed pad was worth its price, i see it is. This makes me happy. Mine has been consistant for the past week.

 

[tiedxupxinxknots]

I use ultra therms from the bean farm, those don't stick so you could remove it and put it somewhere else and they work very nicely.

 

[stager]

I use ultra therms from the bean farm, those don't stick so you could remove it and put it somewhere else and they work very nicely.

I've used quite a few and ultratherm is the best in my opinion