Timer with temperature sensor?

[leezardo]

Next school year, I would like to take Leezardo to school and be able to leave him overnight. Problem is, I don't have control of the room temperature. Is there a timer out there that turns on and off based on air temperature? I can get a ceramic bulb for night, but I don't want to overheat the tank. He is in our finished basement, and it can get chilly and this would be helpful at home, too. Anyone know if this exists?

 

[Taterbug]

An on/off thermostat on a timer should do the job. I've done this for snakes using a jumpstart stat.
What your asking for does exist as a single unit but starts at about $100. If you have the budget I'd go that route (check out herpstat by spyder robotics).

 

[seandeangelis]

I agree with Taterbug, a lamp on a thermostat should do the trick for about $30. Here is the one I use for my leopard gecko https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491867974&sr=8-1&keywords=jumpstart+thermostat. I use it for a heat mat, but it just turns on/off, so it should work for a light too and I know people use it for ceramic heat emitters.

 

[Taterbug]

I agree with Taterbug, a lamp on a thermostat should do the trick for about $30. Here is the one I use for my leopard gecko https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491867974&sr=8-1&keywords=jumpstart+thermostat. I use it for a heat mat, but it just turns on/off, so it should work for a light too and I know people use it for ceramic heat emitters.

On/off stats are fine for CHE, heat mats and other non-light enjoying sources but shouldn't be used for lamps. Would result in the light flicking on and off

 

[seandeangelis]

Thanks for correcting me, I wasn't sure and don't want to give out bad info.

 

[kingofnobbys]

I agree with Taterbug, a lamp on a thermostat should do the trick for about $30. Here is the one I use for my leopard gecko https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491867974&sr=8-1&keywords=jumpstart+thermostat. I use it for a heat mat, but it just turns on/off, so it should work for a light too and I know people use it for ceramic heat emitters.

On/off stats are fine for CHE, heat mats and other non-light enjoying sources but shouldn't be used for lamps. Would result in the light flicking on and off

Common to use DIMMER style thermostats for CHEs and incandescent type spot lamps to manage the tank temperatures, this will NOT work with MVBs as they have internal control electronics that will shut them down until the globe is cold.

 

[Taterbug]

I agree with Taterbug, a lamp on a thermostat should do the trick for about $30. Here is the one I use for my leopard gecko https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491867974&sr=8-1&keywords=jumpstart+thermostat. I use it for a heat mat, but it just turns on/off, so it should work for a light too and I know people use it for ceramic heat emitters.

On/off stats are fine for CHE, heat mats and other non-light enjoying sources but shouldn't be used for lamps. Would result in the light flicking on and off

Common to use DIMMER style thermostats for CHEs and incandescent type spot lamps to manage the tank temperatures, this will NOT work with MVBs as they have internal control electronics that will shut them down until the globe is cold.

In my original post I was thinking OP just needed to control their night heat/ceramic heater. If they are wanting to control the basking lamps then a dimmer stat is needed. Unfortunately dimming stats start at about $100 compared to the 25-30$ for an on/off.

 

[kingofnobbys]

I agree with Taterbug, a lamp on a thermostat should do the trick for about $30. Here is the one I use for my leopard gecko https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491867974&sr=8-1&keywords=jumpstart+thermostat. I use it for a heat mat, but it just turns on/off, so it should work for a light too and I know people use it for ceramic heat emitters.

On/off stats are fine for CHE, heat mats and other non-light enjoying sources but shouldn't be used for lamps. Would result in the light flicking on and off

Common to use DIMMER style thermostats for CHEs and incandescent type spot lamps to manage the tank temperatures, this will NOT work with MVBs as they have internal control electronics that will shut them down until the globe is cold.

In my original post I was thinking OP just needed to control their night heat/ceramic heater. If they are wanting to control the basking lamps then a dimmer stat is needed. Unfortunately dimming stats start at about $100 compared to the 25-30$ for an on/off.

Stuff from petshops is usually overrated and overpriced. If you need a dimmer , any good sparky can set you up with one in next to no time , or you can buy household dimmers that will do the job fine ie http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/142025219868?chn=ps&var=441129816017

Last time I bought a (spare) 7W heatpad it came with one of these attached (inline) , they called it a thermostat ,but it's just an inline dimmer
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/321921497511?chn=ps

and Amazon sell them
https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-6250-3-Incandescent-Feed-Through-Single-Pole/dp/B000U3DTVO/ref=pd_sbs_60_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000U3DTV4&pd_rd_r=44J5ETQPSX2W6HFF70F8&pd_rd_w=6Ngxv&pd_rd_wg=iu5Sf&refRID=44J5ETQPSX2W6HFF70F8&th=1