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How can you wire up a dimmer switch up to a heat pad or above/under tank heat source? Can you use switches that are for lights that you can buy at Lowes or Walmart? Please let me know how to do this, thanks

The plug in Lamp dimmers you can buy at lowes work great for this. That is what I use on most of my heat tapes. And there is no wiring involved!
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Chris Harrison

Disclaimer: NO WARRENTEE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Most libraries have home handyman books that include how to rewire a table lamp. That will help, too.

Article 4553 of rec.pets.herp:
From: seedman@IASTATE.EDU (Varanus Komodensis)
Subject: Re: My ball's got a pink belly! Help!
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1993 15:02:07 GMT

READ ALL DIRECTIONS COMPLETELY BEFORE BUYING ANY PARTS

Necessary Parts List

1 -- "Ceiling Fan Speed Control" ($5 - $10)
this looks just like a wall mounted
light dimmer switch, but is made to
handle a bigger load.

1 -- Fixture Box ($0.25)
this is the type of box that is made
for mounting light switches and outlets
inside the walls of your house.

1 -- Switch Plate ($0.25)
this is the piece of plastic that resides
around the light switches in your house.

1 -- Heavy Duty Grounded Extension Cord ($3 - $10)
they come in a variety of lengths and
colors (all bright orange 8^} )

4 -- "Wire Nuts " *
If you don't know what these are, or how
to use them, find a friend that does to
help you.

* Butt-connectors may be a better method of making a solid
connection.

Necessary Tools List

Screwdrivers (Straight and/or Phillips)
Sharp knife (Razor Blade type preferred)
Tape Measure
Wire Cutters/Strippers

Once you have the parts and tools and a friend that knows CPR,
Follow these simple steps...

Step 1 -- Decide how far you want to put the control
away from an outlet and from the cords you
want to control.

Step 2 -- Find the point in the extension cord that
is that distance from the plug end, and
(with the extension cord unplugged from the
wall) carefully cut around the cord with
a sharp knife. You only want to cut through
the tough outer 1/8 inch orange cover.

Step 3 -- Repeat Step 2 six inches toward the socket
end of the cord. You should now have a
cord in one piece, but with two nice cuts
around it about six inches apart.

Step 4 -- Place the cord on an flat surface, and cut
a straight line joining the two cuts you
made previously. Again, you only want to
cut through the outer orange layer.

Step 5 -- You should now be able to peel the orange
cover off of the six inch segment.
Underneath, you should see three wires, a
black, a green and a white.

Step 6 -- With a wire cutter cut the black wire in the
middle of the exposed six inches. The bomb
is now diffused. Then cut each of the other
wires in the same place. The extension cord
should now be completely severed into two
pieces.

Step 7 -- Using a wire stripper, strip the insulation
from the last 1/4 inch of each end of each
exposed wire. Set the cords aside.

Step 8 -- Using a screwdriver or blunt instrument,
knock out the platic tabs on the back of
the fixture box. Push the ends of the cords
with the bare wires through the holes.

Step 9 -- Reconnect the green wires together with a
"wire nut" [butt-connectors]. Repeat with the white wires.

Step 10 -- Pair one black wire from the cord with one
black wire from the "Ceiling fan control",
and connect with a "wire nut"[butt-connectors]. Repeat with
the remaining pair of black wires.

Step 11 -- Attach the "Ceiling fan control" to the
fixture box with the provided screws. Gently
pull the dial off the switch. Attach the
switch plate cover provided screws. Replace
knob.

Step 12 -- Have a friend plug it into a wall outlet.
Connect to desired heat element. Place
a thermometer on the heat element. Turn
the Control switch all the way clockwise.
Allow the element to warm up. Adjust the
control counter-clockwise to raise the
temperature to the desired level. Then mark
the position of the control with a magic
marker.

With this simple device, you can control the temperature any of the
currently available heating elements. For saftey please follow the
following guidelines.

1. Never cut, strip, attach or touch bare
wires when the cord is plugged in.

2. Do not place the device in areas of high
humidity, or where it come in contact
with water.

3. If you have small children, place the device
somewhere where they can't pull the cords
or change the setting.

4. Never ever buy a Yugo.

seedman@iastate.edu

aka John Turnipseed

Thanks, that is very useful....and hysterically funny!