Programmable dimmer lighting?

[DovahDad]

I've been looking into a way to make Nova's lighting cycle as natural as possible. I'd like to not only automate when they turn on and off (I have a timer that turns them on/off at sunrise/sunset, or specified times) - but also to gradually brighten and dim the lights over the course of the day. I've so far been unable to find a solution.

Ideally I'd like to fully program them so they kick on at, say, 25% power first thing in the morning, increase to 100% by noon - stay that way until about 3:00 p.m., and then taper off to 0 at the end of the day.

Obviously this would need a pretty sophisticated dimmer, and so far I haven't found one that isn't a wall switch. Does anyone have any ideas or experience with this? Also, any input on whether this is even a good idea for a beardie?

 

[Taterbug]

Some of the higher end herpstat models will do this, and so will the ecozone controllers - they aren't exactly cheep though. Depending on the model you can ask control multiple lines (for heat bulbs, uv, fans etc) If you are geeky I've seen some people make arduino controllers too.
http://www.spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html
https://www.ecozonevivarium.com

I have an ecozone and you can program it by month so I have mine set to follow the season sunrise/sunset. My basking lights dim on/off but UV bulbs can't be dimmed so they are set to come on after the basking lights are at 100%.

 

[DovahDad]

Thanks for the suggestions, Tater. Looks like the Herpstat 1 Basic will do what I want at a price point I can work with. I didn't know the UV lights couldn't be dimmed, but it makes sense. Like you said, I could just have it turn on a timer. Thanks for weighing in! It's probably not needed, but I really like the idea of the heat and light gradually rising and falling like it would in nature.

 

[Taterbug]

Thanks for the suggestions, Tater. Looks like the Herpstat 1 Basic will do what I want at a price point I can work with. I didn't know the UV lights couldn't be dimmed, but it makes sense. Like you said, I could just have it turn on a timer. Thanks for weighing in! It's probably not needed, but I really like the idea of the heat and light gradually rising and falling like it would in nature.

I do too, plenty of them do fine without vit Pepper seems less shocked about Sudden Night now that he gets a little sunset/sun rise.