Lamp dimmer?

[Dragon_Slave]

Will this work as a rheostat? It's about $11 at Lowe's. I read through the ''Make Your Own Rheostat'' post but thought of this as another option for those of us who are technically impaired, lol. *coughMEcough*

http://images.lowes.com/product/027557/027557390927.jpg?wid=158&cvt=jpeg

It's a:
Lutron___300 Watt White Credenza® Lamp Dimmer With Nightlight

[Big Mike]

I bought a bunch of those from IKEA...they work great.

[reverendsterlin]

why would you use an overhead lamp on a species(as in ALL non-arboreals) that utilizes bottom heat for digestion?

[Dragon_Slave]

Reverend... sorry for any confusion! I'm NOT using an overhead light, I am using an under tank heater! I've been testing the temperatures with the UTH and they are reaching over 100 degrees... around 110 in fact! That's why I need a rheostat.

[Vanan]

I doubt that corns in the wild restrict themselves to basking on a warm road at nights or on a warm rock. I'm sure they do both (heat from above & heat from below[keep forgetting the actual terms!]) in the wild. Bottom heat would be more efficient though.

[Invictus]

Agreed, Vanan. Bottom heat is better, but using overhead heat most certainly won't restrict their digestion. A couple of my BCI utilize overhead heat, and they still digest.

Dragon_Slave, those lamp dimmers are fabulous for undertank heaters, and the best part is, because you're not mucking around with wiring, they are MUCH safer. :)

[sapphire_moon]

they should work fine. I have 2 lamp dimmers for my snakes, and they work excellent!

[sapphire_moon]

<---------------also technically impaired! lol. I would probably set fire to my house if I tried wiring up my own dimmer. lol.

[Dragon_Slave]

LOL! :)

[bailey]

It's actually very easy and I've had no problems out of mine. However I might try that dimmer one day. :)
Denise

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Hey, sorry to bud in to this topic, but it is related. Can you use those on a hot rock? I DO NOT BELIEVE IN HOT ROCKS but the only one i have(got it from some private owners) is the only one i have ever seen that does not get too hot! ITS THE ONLY ONE I WILL EVER USE. I want to know if the dimmer would work because i would probably put a lamp as another heat source(for a savannah monitor). Can you use just about any lamp dimmer? Should it be high quality? Thanks.

Chris

Again sorry for budding in.

[Invictus]

Why are you saying sorry for budding in, when this is very much a public forum? You're not "butting in (proper term)", you're participating. That's ENcouraged here, not DIScouraged. :)

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Ok, LOL, thanks Ivictus

[tai_pan1]

I use 4 or 5 of those lamp dimmers on some of my uth and they work great.

[Stockwell]

Yes, those are fine for hot rocks, under tank heaters, heating pads, Flexwatt or any resistive load.
Be aware that they may not restart after a power outage if you use them down low under 40%. Once you have them set, try plugging and unplugging several times to see if they come back on. If not you'll need to turn them up.
Only the more expensive dimmers(20 bucks and up) that usually include the phrase"full range dimming" contain the dual time constant firing circuits required for restarting at very low settings. Unfortunately these don't come prewired into a cord.

[Dragon_Slave]

Thanks for the info Stockwell! :)

[Invictus]

Wow, good info as always, Unky Roy! :D