This is starting to twist my mellon now...

Today I bought a Ceramic bulb and fitting to raise the temperature at night as last night it was far too cold for my Iggy (64.3°F at the basking spot).

Now I want to control the temperatures during the night and day. I use a 100w lightbulb during the day for heat and will have the ceramic on at night, or maybe during the day too. Both of these, and the UV are controlled by timers. What Habistat thermostat is right for me?

I would like an all in one unit if possible but it's so confusing. Please help.

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Get a double dimming stat . Not totally necessary for the ceramic, but a good option for the basking bulb. So a double wouldnt hurt .

Thanks mate. I was just thinking about buying a dimmer for the bulb and leaving the Ceramic on 24/7. Something like this....

http://reptilekeeping.net/shop/produ...roducts_id=318


I would have to use a pulse proportion one for the ceramic wouldn't I?

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Christ yeah do not leave the ceramic on without a stat!

I leave my basking bulb on without a stat at the moment but i need to get a dimming stat as soon as really, as with the central heating the temps are slowly creeping.

I would go for a double dimmer if you can mate, just to save hassle, but otherwise yeah dimmer for basking bulb and pulse for ceramic.

I think the ceramic will be ok without a stat, it is only a 60w one. I have the light on and the ceramic and the temp at the basking spot is 98°F. I moved the light fitting up a bit higher earlier today so the temperature isn't as high.

But I will get a 'stat just to be safe

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I'd definitely have the ceramic on a stat - they can get roasting hot without.
I'd go for a day/night dimmer stat and just have the ceramic as the sole heat source - you could just use a low wattage bulb (12w or 25w uncontrolled) for lighting.

Although a pulse proportional stat is maybe the best for a ceramic, I reckon a dimmer stat would be the best option here because you could then use it with an incandescent bulb at some point if you needed to.
A dimmer stat may not be quite as accurate as a pulse prop but (judging by my ones) you're only looking at a degree F or so difference.

As far as I know you can't get a double dimmer stat - the double Habistats are just the on/off type.
Unless they've brought out a new one?

From what I have seen you are right there...



Maybe it is the wine, but I am properly confused now, lol. I only want one probe in the Viv, but want the ceramic on all the time because that provides background and night heat, and the light comes on during the day to boost up the basking spot heat.



This is soooo confusing, keeping lizards was so much easier when I was 13 and had no money LOL

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If you get a day/night dimmer (or pulse) stat you can set it so that you get higher day time temps, then a drop at night, from just one ceramic.

If you need a light in there you'd only need a low wattage one as the ceramic would be able to provide both the day and night temps if used on a day night stat.

Thanks Mark. I made up my mind now, with the help from you guys. I am going to get the Day/Night Dimmer stat and continue to use my ceramic and light bulb, but use a timer to turn the light bulb off at night.

I found a website with some decent information on these finally as all the places were a bit tight with exactly how they worked etc. Shame my local reptile shop had every other stat in stock except for the one I wanted.

Bums...

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Just a quick point - in case you were thinking of trying it - you can't plug both the ceramic and the bulb (on timer) into one stat, because when the stat reduces the power to the heater, the timer will slow down.
You could plug both into the stat and manually switch the light bulb, that'd work ok.

You may well be setting it up another way but just thought I'd mention it.