Heating Question

[Wrath]

Okay, I'm very confused. I went on to beanfarm so that I can buy the Flexwatt and all that other stuff that I will need to get the heat going for my ball.

Easy question: how do I affix the flexwatt to the tank? I have the tank on a metal shelf, so I can just put it under there with no adhesive if I have to.

I'm so stumped on this one: do I need a thermostat or a rheostat? What the heck? Should I buy both? That's expesive! I saw them both on reptiledirect.com. I think I need these to regulate the temperature, or should I just use a regular old dimmer?

Thanks much!

[Bryan Self]

First you just need to put the heat tape under the cage you do not need to attatch it. If you wish to attatch it you would need to use a product like this. tape
Yes you do need a thermostat for heat tape.reason for a thermosat
Now you could buy a dimmer and a digital thermometer at Radio Shack. It is up to personal preference which method you want to use. I like useing a thermostat and a digital thermometer just to verify that the temps are what the thermostat reads.

[Tim_Cranwill]

As Bryan said, the Flexwatt Heat Tape gets pretty hot all by it's self. I have a thermometer and a thermostat as well. Just to be on the safe side.

[Wrath]

Got it. So I do need a thermostat. Can I just use an analog thermometer like the one I have in there now?

BUT what is a rheostat? Is that just a thermometer?

[Big Mike]

You will need to....1. control and....2. monitor the temperature.

A thermostat will control the temperature to a set temp. (Either shut off power when it hot and turn on power when it's cold or a really good one will pulse the power constantly) This is good. You may need/want an additional thermometer to monitor the temp.

A rheostat will limit the power to the heater (dimmer) which will require you to set it and check what temp results. You will need to adjust the rheostat to compensate for the ambient temp.

Got it?

It's cheeper to get a rheostat (dimmer) and just monitor the temp but it's safer to get a good thermostat that will keep the temperature constant.

Hope this helps

[Wrath]

Let me get this straight. I can either:

get a RHEOSTAT (just a dimmer) to control the amount of heat coming from the flexwatt

OR:

get a THERMOSTAT so that it sets the temperature to a specific level

but in both instances I will need a thermometer to gage the temperature

the only difference is that a thermostat adjusts itself, and a rheostat just lets me adjust based on the thermometer reading

right?:dumb:

[Bryan Self]

Got it. The only reason for the thermometer is to verify the temps.
Otherwise it might get too hot.

[Wrath]

for some reason that confused me way too much.....