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Supplemental heat for snake room - help.

dangerously Apr 01, 2004 07:36 PM

I currently have a Delonghi oil-filled radiator-type electric heater for supplemental heat to keep my snake room at about 80 degrees. It just has a wattage setting and a 1-6 dial on the front to set its heat output. It works, but I'd like to know if anyone has attached this type heater to a temperature control to regulate the temps a little better, or is there a better solution?

Thanks!

Replies (2)

chris_harper2 Apr 01, 2004 09:27 PM

I also use an oil-filled radiator type heater for supplemental room heat.

I have a setup I really like. I found a thermostat rated for 1500 watts at a farm supply store. I believe they called it a thermostat for "milk house heaters". It was only about $30 several years ago. But really any high wattage thermostat would work. Mine is just at the cheap end of the spectrum.

I plug a multi-strip outlet into the thermostat and then plug the heater and a large box fan into the multi-strip. Obviously what this does is cause both the heater and the fan to kick on when the thermostat cycles on, therby distributing the heat around the room. I could leave the fan running all day but prefer to use it as an audible indicator of how often my thermostat is cycling.

To be even safer I also adjust the wattage output controller on the heater. My idea being that if the thermostat fails I won't have the heater set for too high of a temp and endanger my animals. This can take some time but worth the peace of mind for me.

dangerously Apr 02, 2004 10:59 PM

NP

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