Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was sitting at my computer and I heard a pop. I turned around to see smoke coming from the top of a dimmer for my 10 hole sweaterbox rack. I quickly unplugged the unit and waited for flames but they never came. Fortunately there is a fire extinguisher in my snake room.

Everyone should have one.

Why did this happen?
Here is the setup:
I bought this unit used. It is heated with heat cable that is routed into all of the shelves. The heat cable is one long continuous piece. The heat cable is then run by a round dimmer. When I bought this thing a few months ago I didn't trust that thing so I plugged it into a ranco thermostat. So the thermostat is plugged into the wall and the dimmer is on almost the high position. The heat tape is plugged into the dimmer.
The thermostat is set to 86 with a 4 degree range. Is there a chance that the thermostat is giving too much juice to the dimmer?

Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Rudy

How many watts was the dimmer rated for? Your heat source my have been too much for the dimmer to handle. Good thing you were there, sounds like that couldv'e been a disaster. Maybe try a dimmer that can handle more wattage. And possibly use a surge protector.

well I am bypassing the dimmer and plugging straight into a thermostat.

Rudy
-----
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa adults
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa 2003
0.1 Rubber Boa
0.2 Eastern Hognose Snakes
4.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.1 Womas
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
1.1 Leopard tortoises
1 Pleco
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

why are you useing a dimmer with a ranco? make sure the heat cable is within the wattage of the ranco (i believe ranco's are rated at 1500 watts)then plug in the heat source directly into the ranco.

the unit came with a dimmer installed. Insted of re-wiring it I just plugged it into the ranco.
-----
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa adults
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa 2003
0.1 Rubber Boa
0.2 Eastern Hognose Snakes
4.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.1 Womas
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
1.1 Leopard tortoises
1 Pleco
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.