Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im sure this has been answered before.....

Is a thermostat required for flexwatt? and how many cords can a single thermostat hold?
-----
2.4 Columbian Boas
2.1 Central American Boas
2.2 Argentine Boas
1.1 Bredli Carpet Pythons
1.4 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.1 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Hermanni Tortoise
2.3 RES

...horses, cats, dogs...and many many rats!

Some sort of control device is required. Most use a thermostat but some use a rheostat, or dimmer switch. Personally, I would only use a quality thermostat. As far as cords, it doesn't really matter but the fewer, the better. What you need to consider is the total wattage of the flexwatt and wattage limit of the thermostat.

Don't take this the wrong way, but based on your questions, you appear to need to do a lot more research on the use of flexwatt before attempting to use it. Please ask questions and describe how you intend to use it, as well as what sizes of flexwatt you intend to use. If not wired and used properly, it can be a significant fire hazard and your homeowners or renters insurance probably won't cover you if a fire results from this stuff. It is definitely a "use at your own risk" product.

Good luck,
Bart

WEll I just recieved a bunch of enclosures from Ed Lilley at Constrictors northwest. Cages are awesome and he sent the heat as well, I just havent really ever used flexwatt, but its all put together and ready to go for me I am just trying to figure out the whole thermostat thing. I spent a good amount on these cages and I can't afford the 2-300 dollar thermostats. JUst looking for advice.
-----
2.4 Columbian Boas
2.1 Central American Boas
2.2 Argentine Boas
1.1 Bredli Carpet Pythons
1.4 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.1 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Hermanni Tortoise
2.3 RES

...horses, cats, dogs...and many many rats!

Are the cages equipped with a plug already or bare cord?

I would spend the cash on a thermostat for the reliability and ease of use. Almost anybody can get approved for a $500 CC, not the best option these days but for the benifits a thermostat provides I would make the move.

Also if all the cages are in the same room with the same type of heat and similar enclosures you can equip one enclosure with the temp probe from a cheaper Ranco and allow the one unit to control all the cages. I use this same setup for my 4 stack of AP cages. The heat probe is on the middle unit and there is very little difference in temps between the other units.
-----
Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

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 Anerthrystic

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis

They already have the cord, and it is a 5 stack all the same size.

I really want to get my boas in these cages is it okay to buy a cheaper thermostat from like lowes today, while waiting for the one i order online to arrive?
-----
."If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

>>I really want to get my boas in these cages is it okay to buy a cheaper thermostat from like lowes today, while waiting for the one i order online to arrive?

Anything is better than nothing so long as the wattage doesn't exceed that of the device your good. Most of the cheaper ones are actually rheostats, if it has a dial with a Hi low its a Rheostat...
-----
Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

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 Anerthrystic

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis

okay thank you.. i will definately use something before i turn the heat on... im thinking im going to go with a herpstat...
-----
."If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

Without knowing for sure, I'm going to guess you have about 40 Watts of Flexwatt per cage (2ft of the 20Watts/ft material per cage). For 5 cages, that is 200 Watts. Since I don't know for sure, I'll play it very safe and say you have 300 Watts of heater load.

For now, you may get two plug-in dimmers (called "table-top" dimmers). They are about $11 each and are sold anywhere lamp dimmers are sold.

You will need two of those 1-plug-to-3-outlet thingies, you know, the inexpensive molded plastic thing that you plug into an outlet and it provides three 2-prong outlets.

1. Plug dimmer into wall outlet.
2. Plug a 1-to-3 outlet thingie into the dimmer receptacle.
3. Plug up to 3 cages into the 1-to-3 outlet thingie.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the other cages and other dimmer.

The dimmers will work out fine until you get the "smarter" temperature controller.
-----
Mark