Q- How to gradually turn on and off lights?

[broderp]

Aside from the expensive controllers like the Syder Robotics Herpstat, is there a more cost effective way to simulate the sunrise and sunset for my cham?

His terraruim hold heat well, so I'd like to keep it simple and just use the old school incadesant 72W bulb that holds his temp at 90-95 in the basking spot and about 70 in the lower part.

This is also his main lighting. (He has a 26W UVB buld as well, but it's not as bright in my opinion.

I would like to slowly wake him up in the morning and then slowly put him to sleep at night with a fading lamp. (At night his temps don't drop below 65 degrees)

I have a manual dimmer from Lowe's that works very well, but as it's decription, it's a manual slider.

Anyone ever use or know of such a timer device that can do what I need?

Thank you

 

[kdc5019]

I have a quad light fixture with 4 t5ho bulbs and then 3 leds. Each are on a timer. So I have it set for the LEDs to come on first then one bulb etc. It gradually increases the brightness. And then same for lights off. One bulb at a time. I know there are dimable controllers with special ballasts and bulbs but they can get expensive.

 

[pigglett79]

I just put the UVB lights and the basking lights on separate timers, that way the basking lights can come on first and go off last giving some sort of transition. I have them separated by 15 minutes.

 

[CarlC]

I have a quad T8 system that lights the whole room. That comes on first. About 10 minutes later the cages T8's and T5's come on. Thirty minutes later my basking lights come on and finally 15 minutes later the space heater comes on to bring the room temp up to the low to middle 70f's. Everything is controlled by regular digital plug in timers timer's.

Carl

 

[phyber]

Speaking from my current experience with saltwater reef tanks:

Your best bet, for a TRUE sunrise/sunset fade would be with LED's and a controller. Anything less will have a sharp contrast with the setting before it.

There are several "DIY" led set ups you could use. Obviously they won't provide our chams with anything of use, but you could at least ramp up the lights to a point where the intensity is the same as your lamp, then cut off the LEDs.

How cost effective this would be is another question...

 

[phyber]

Another tip:

My favorite reef tank toy was the Apex Neptune tank controller, it lets me automate my tanks functions and act as a safety net in the event of undesirable events. I can get texts and emails from the tank as well as check in on it at work. Even has apps for android and ios.

Obviously the application is for aquariums, but you could definately use the controller to modulate lamps and misters and etc.

 

[Carlton]

Aside from the expensive controllers like the Syder Robotics Herpstat, is there a more cost effective way to simulate the sunrise and sunset for my cham?

His terraruim hold heat well, so I'd like to keep it simple and just use the old school incadesant 72W bulb that holds his temp at 90-95 in the basking spot and about 70 in the lower part.

This is also his main lighting. (He has a 26W UVB buld as well, but it's not as bright in my opinion.

I would like to slowly wake him up in the morning and then slowly put him to sleep at night with a fading lamp. (At night his temps don't drop below 65 degrees)

I have a manual dimmer from Lowe's that works very well, but as it's decription, it's a manual slider.

Anyone ever use or know of such a timer device that can do what I need?

Thank you

As others suggested I've always had my UV tube come on first, then the basking spot that adds heat to sort of simulate daylight, increasing temperature, and then a cool down before all lights off. I haven't noticed that the more abrupt lighting on or off really affects the cham much. In the am when they are asleep they only gradually become aware of the light anyway, and in the evening if the basking heat is off they slow down and become less reactive before the complete dark arrives as well.

If you really wanted to create that low light level in morning and evening you could set up a low watt single fluorescent somewhere near the cage that runs on its own timer...starts earlier than the others and stays on later. low tech but it would probably work just fine.

 

[SMCNARY]

I do what Piggletts does except my uv lights come on first,30 minutes later the basking lights come on. At the end of the day the basking lights go out then 30 minutes later the uv lights go out. It seems more like nature,the sun comes up then it warms up and then it cools down before the sun goes down.This also seems to help them know when it's time to go to their sleeping spots. I think most of the controllers that do this are fairly costly. I use 2 different timers from Lowes at $20.00 each.