Reptile & Amphibian Forums

WHy wont my dimmer switch dim ? I have it hooked to 4" flexwat and it won'tchange the heat. I tryed it on a light blub and is still wont dim the bulb.It does turn on and off . I have it wired in "parallel" '(attached to one wire the black one)
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"Wake me when its April"
Doug L

>>WHy wont my dimmer switch dim ? I have it hooked to 4" flexwat and it won'tchange the heat. I tryed it on a light blub and is still wont dim the bulb.It does turn on and off . I have it wired in "parallel" '(attached to one wire the black one)
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>>"Wake me when its April"
>> Doug L
>>

Assuming its a new dimmer and you have the black in and out and the return connected properly.

Than the Triac could be bad, if its an old dimmer the resistor could be shot.

Traditional dimmers are difficult to use with heat tape in that there is no visual on or off with heat tape. You push them on or off and the rotation of the knob adjusts the voltage. Without a light to determine if its on you have to turn it all the way up and press it once and wait till you either get heat or push it again.

Depending on room temps and tape length you maybe surprised how far you have to dim the tape down before you meet your temp range.

Of course the light gives you a visual indication right off.
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

Either improper hookup, or else the dimmer is damaged due to chance (bad unit as shipped) or initial improper hookup. Sometimes dimmers are bad right in the package.

Test it with a light bulb again. Here is a hookup diagram using a 2-prong zip extension cord. I offer this just in case it may help.

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Mark

thanks Mark that diagram was what I was looking for
it turns out that when I wired it wrong I blew it out.I got a new one and it works fine
Thanks again
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"Wake me when its April"

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Doug L