Is it feasible to control the heat with a dimmer switch?

pronoun wrote:

Is it feasible to control the heat with a dimmer switch?

Not tried it, but I would expect it should work. Just check that your heater
element doesn't exceed the dimmer's rating.

Edwin
Bath.

"pronoun" wrote in message
...
Is it feasible to control the heat with a dimmer switch?


Thanks for the replies--sounds like it's worth a try.

"...... Is it feasible to control the heat with a dimmer switch? ....."

Should work after a fashion, but would not be able to take into account
changes in the ambient air temperature caused by sunshine etc. so you would
not be able to be very accurate.
I should think that unless you are going to use a very short cable then the
extra cost of a thermostat would pay for itself in time.

What I cant understand is why a Mechanical time clock which will switch
lights(or other appliances) on or off wont work with florescent lights.



--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

In article , David Hill david@abacus
nurseries.freeserve.co.uk writes
"...... Is it feasible to control the heat with a dimmer switch? ....."

Should work after a fashion, but would not be able to take into account
changes in the ambient air temperature caused by sunshine etc. so you would
not be able to be very accurate.
I should think that unless you are going to use a very short cable then the
extra cost of a thermostat would pay for itself in time.

What I cant understand is why a Mechanical time clock which will switch
lights(or other appliances) on or off wont work with florescent lights.

Will it not? I can vaguely understand why a dimmer switch won't work
with a fluorescent light, but we have a time switch on our aquarium to
switch from a 'daylight' fluorescent to a 'moonlight' fluorescent. And a
fluorescent bulb in one of our rooms is controlled by an elderly
mechanical ex-street light time switch. So what am I not understanding
(it wasn't me who set up the above, so I don't really know what I'm
talking about ;-) )



--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

David Hill typed:
What I cant understand is why a Mechanical time clock which will
switch lights(or other appliances) on or off wont work with
florescent lights.

It will/does work, just that the contacts in a time switch don't like the
initial current surge, and can also ark when switching off.
Which could be a fire hazard.

".....What I cant understand is why a Mechanical time clock which will
switch lights(or other appliances) on or off wont work with florescent
lights....."

".......It will/does work, just that the contacts in a time switch don't
like the initial current surge, and can also ark when switching off. ....."
Sorry but wont work , and checking the pack says "Will not work with
Florescent lights"

and I wanted it for adding light to growing plants on the propagating bench
during the winter.
Which could be a fire hazard.


--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk