Yeah I see that now, the 300 watt would never work on the radiators. I think I got it all straight now. Thanks.
Things I Do
- Thread starter Len B
- Start date
I use a temp gun to read it's temperature.
The dimmer is a rheostat. A year ago they cost $11 on Amazon the ones I recently bought for Thomas's new house cost $17. The Ace hardware store in town here are careering them now for $19.
Yes, but how do you know when it's set in the right place?
See post #42 above.
Okay, pretend I have my che on a dimmer/rheo. The temp reaches what I want. Now how do I know how much to turn the dimmer back so it stays at that temp?
@Turtulas-Len
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Exactly! That's what I've been trying to figure
A Kill-a-Watt, which is a wattage meter tells you how many watts is getting to the heat source whatever it is you are running. They make it so much easier to get the heat setting you want. Let's say you are using a che to heat a piece of slate. You want the slate to be 90 degrees. Turn the che on let it heat up having the kaw plugged in and the dimmer plugged
Monitor it for a few hours and a few days. Let it stabilize and also pay attention to room temps and fluctuations. Adjust as needed.
These questions illustrate so much. This stuff works for Len and he gets top notch results from his methods. I want to learn the details and see how I can improve what I am doing and what I can learn from him. But are new keepers going to be able to pull off what someone of Len's ability can pull off? I don't know the answer. If you two experienced tortoise keepers are having trouble understanding how to use these items, how hard will it be for a new keeper to figure out? That part concerns me, though I want to learn more about it all.
Yes... go on...
Okay, so its guessing how much to turn back and then wait a couple days or so while checking temps the whole time? On a light bulb, the bulb will dim. So I'm guessing a bulb is easier to get adjusted. If it gets to dim, it's likely going to be too dim to keep it warm enough.
To your concern about newbies. If they don't know what a rheostat is, they likely won't use it. A dimmer they may use, but it's easier for a tortoise less set up then I think it would be for a set up that already has a tortoise in it. Len probably has it down with accurate guessing. The rest of us would have to do it a few times to get it right.
I accidentally touched the post button..... Into the kaw and the heater plugged into the dimmer and after a while and it's warmer you wanted. Check the wattage and lower the wattage using the dimmer. And if it's still hotter than wanted lower the wattage a little more, if the temp dropped more than you wanted raise the wattage used and check it again until you get the temp you want. Watching the wattage helps to find the right setting and once set it should stay at that temperature. A temp gun is needed to do this and the kill a watt makes it easier but not necessary. Sorry for the delay in finishing this post things got a little busy for a few minutes.
Dimmer = rheostat.
With a che I use a wireless thermometer hanging just above the surface to read the temp. If temp starts rising above what I want I reduced the wattage and the temp reading only takes a few minutes to change. If the sending unit is laying down on the surface it will take longer to cool down. Once you get close and are looking to get an exact surface temp then lay the sending unit down and adjust from there.
Yes I got that. But calling it a rheostat a lot of people won't know what it is. Everyone I think knows what a dimmer is.
Okay great. That sounds much easier.
I personally as a newbie love to read the discussions on here just to learn whether I believe it or not.. There actually are so many intelligent people here on TFO. That includes really intelligent young people that cheered me up and steered me in the right direction. You are right 👍 we need discussion 🤗
I hope they do read as much as they can. Sadely I don't think many do. They just ask before searching. I get it, I did too way back when. I had never been on a forum though so didnt know how they worked. This thread discussion taught me I didn't have a rheostat way back when and if I ever do get one, or a dimmer for my torts, I will know how to use it lol.
So I hope Len keeps adding to it.
I hope so too. I probably won't remember all of it but I'm sure the thread will still be here to refresh my memory.🐢
Is there a portion of this site dedicated/required for beginning tortoise keepers joining the forum that includes explicit instructions with dimensioned photos/graphics of what to buy and where to place the items in a suitable habitat? In my short time here it seems that the same questions are asked weekly and if there were instructions provided you would eliminate 90% of the dialogue except for more advanced topics that require specific expertise.
This would complete the documentation required for valuable information to survive this forum. You surely wouldn't construct a building with just a conversation or the specification, you would also need drawings.
The establishment of a clear "approved" tortoise habitat baseline (at all price points) would also allow others the freedom to share unconventional things that work in their specific application and could not impact anything disastrously within that baseline.
