Ceramic heater with switching thermostat

[llasher]

Is it OK to use one of those ceramic heating devices with a regular switch on off thermostat? I notice on the herp trader website they say "not recommended" and I would like to use them but all my enclosures have standard IMIT thermos. DOes it shorten their life or is it dangerous? thanks

[m.punja]

Ceremic heat emiters take time to heat and then take time to cool down. So with an on/off thermostate when the enclosure has gotten too cold it'll turn on the ceremic but it will take a while for it to heat up. Chances are the enclosure will continue to cool before it starts heating again. Same problem when it reaches it's desired heat. The thermo will turn the heat emiter off but it wont instantly stop producing heat, it will take time to cool, so while the enclosure is at it's desired heat the emiter will still be giving off heat.
The heat emiters are great on a dimmer, it is nearly all i use and it keeps an even heat supply.

plus I think it may shorten it's life being switched on and off, but don't quote me on that

[Mangles]

I have been using a ceramic bulb with a regular on-off thermostat for 3 years now, and am still on the original bulb. This was my first enclosure so I just went along with what the shop told me. I should change the thermostat to a dimming one, but haven't got around to it yet.

In another enclosure with an on/off thermostat I tried a Black Light Ceramic bulb and it only lasted 6 months.