Timers

[LeighBear_]

Hello everyone

I am looking at buying a timer for my light and can't decide between the dial or the digital. I've been reading mixed reviews on them...I think the most positive would be the digital but not too sure haha. Does anyone have any insight/recommendations?
I was going to get these ones from Argos as I live in Scotland:

https://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/...langId=110&catalogId=10001&partNumber=9822911

If anyone has these or has used these before any reviews are welcomed!

Also sometimes I worry that my light gets too hot during the day (it's a Solar Glo MVB 125w). I have one of the pro rep digital thermometers (also have the humidity one) :



I tried to see what temp the basking spot was and it came in at like 40.2*c!! Either it's too hot or I am using the probe wrong. Any ideas as to what I can do? I tried to move the bulb up higher but it's as high as it can go.

Are you able to get such a thing as a timer which goes on and off when the temp is too hot or cold? And do you recommend me getting this?
And is it ok to use with the light timer too?

Sorry for the 20 questions!

Thank you guys xx

 

[wellington]

I would go with a digital. I have many of both kinds and the dial ones do seem to keep good time and slowly they are way off on the time they are suppose to come on and go off.
As for checking the temps instantly, get yourself a temp gun, they read instant temp. Also, the mvb lights can not go on a thermostat. They have to cool down, before they will come back on. They are not like a normal bulb that will go instantly on after being turned off. If when you get the temp gun, your temps under the light is still too high, then either get a smaller watt bulb or you may have to readjust the enclosure.
Post a pic of the enclosure and we may be able to help figure out why it's too hot.

 

[wellington]

Btw, 85-100, 110F 40.2-42 C is not a bad basking temps for most torts.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I use a dial timer. Works great and is very accurate! Plus, you can get them at the home depot for about 2$ a piece.

 

[mikeh]

Electronic timers are fine to use with self ballasted MVBs, regular basking bulbs and CHE.

They should not be used with electronic ballast fixtures such as long tube florescant UVB lights or externally ballasted MVBs, as these types of timers may leak small amount of current in the off position. This current leak damages the electronic ballast over long period of time. Use of mechanical timers is recommended with these type of lights.

 

[PMQ]

I use a dial timer. Works great and is very accurate! Plus, you can get them at the home depot for about 2$ a piece.

Link?

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-...g-Button-Timer-49810DI/203678109?N=5yc1vZc334 This one is slightly more expensive than mine (I got them on sale at Christmas time hehehe) but it's great quality and has worked for all my lights very nicely.

 

[turtlemanfla88]

i agree with yellow Turtle01 about I like dial timers. I used the 3 prong that plugs into the surge protector strip then in the wall.

 

[LeighBear_]

Sorry for the late reply! Thanks for everyone's help on this topic!! Really appreciate it.
I took some advice and I bought the temp gun and it works wonders! I've re-adjusted my lamp to different heights and tested it out using the temp gun to find a height that is perfect. So now I have a happy enclosure!

Thanks again everyone