Well Rob, where should I start ? The most important thing with Ackies is a good hot spot so I suggest something like a 100 watt spot lamp 8 or 10 cm from a flat stone or a plywood basking area. They need to be able to reach anywhere up to 45-50 degrees C, some say even higher but that works for me. I don't think a timer is necessary and really neither is a dimmer. I wouldn't bother with a night time viewing light, they will get underneath something and go to sleep when it gets dark and you shouldn't be able to see them anyway and all it would do is disturb them.
I'm not sure where Karalee is but here in Brisbane I turn the lights off at night all year round so they have no artificial heat at all at night. Where they come from can get very cold at night and they are incredibly robust.
I would suggest using a Habistat or Microclimate thermostat, they are amongst the most relaible and I think are around $150 and up depending on what type you want. Have a look here
http://www.microclimate.co.uk/Stats.htm and then get in touch with Tim at Ultimate
http://www.ultimatereptiles.com.au/ultimate/
Hope this helps.
