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I'm using bare flexwatt on the inside floor of a melamine lined wooden cage for corn snakes, milksnakes, small pythons, small boas.

Naked 11 inch wide flexwatt (brand name Calorique), plugged directly into the wall, produces surface temperatures of about 104, with hot spots ranging up to 118. The ambient tank temperature on the hot side is about 80.

I tried placing a 12 inch square of ceramic floor tile on top of the flexwatt. The temperature range was evened out, with the tile reaching temperatures of 108 with hot spots of 112. However, under the tile, the temperature was much higher, at about 130.

Someone told me that flexwatt could not be adjusted with a rheostat, as it was either in full-on condition, or else it failed to produce any heat at all.

Can flexwatt be run with a rheostat (ie, a light dimmer switch) so that the temperature falls from the range of 104 to 118, down to something like 80 to 90?

I understand that a rheostat will not measure nor respond to tank temperature, unlike a thermostat, but I'm working my way up the ladder toward ever more expensive solutions.

First and for most the flexwatt should not be in the cage on the floor. I but a 12" piece of 11" flexwatt on the underside of 1/2" thick melamine cages. This produces a warm spot of about 80 without a problem.

As far as a rheostat or thermostat, you should be using one. Whoever told you that is not correct. If money is an issue by a cheap $5.00 dimmer switch and box to hold it from the hardware store.

link with basic wiring
http://www.kingsnake.com/obsoleta/flexwatt.htm

` Listen to Boscoman76. Don't put flexwatt inside the cage. That is dangerous as Hell! It works great underneath, with a thermostat, then a rheostat. Set the rheotstat for the maximum temperature you want the floor to reach. Then use a thermostat to regulate the heating cycle. If the thermostat sticks on, the rheostat will not let the floor temperature get too high.

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Thanks for replying.

I've got a friend who has successfully used naked flexwatt on the inside floor of his cages, without any problems. Further, at www.arbreptiles.com, there are extensive cage building instructions, and that fellow recommends using the naked flexwatt directly on the floor of the cage. I really don't want to debate whether to use flexwatt inside or outside. I understand that this is an emotional issue upon which there can be no agreement; you are either on one side of the fence or on the other.

My specific question was more focused.

1) Does Flexwatt heat tape have the ability to be slightly warmed, or is it either full-on or full-off?

“I really don't want to debate whether to use flexwatt inside or outside. I understand that this is an emotional issue upon which there can be no agreement”

LOL. Well, among many folks there is substantial agreement about the possibility that it could become a “shocking” issue or a “burning” issue.

Be that as it may, in answer to your specific question – Yes, flexwatt-type heaters can be regulated to produce varying heat output. It is not just a case of full on or full off.

-Joan