Light dimmer/brightner- need circuit to gradually bright,dim

[evision]

Light dimmer/brightner

I need to support a local Snake park for their immediate problem. In winter the snake park is being lit by Incandescent Lamps to provide heat to the snakes. The problem is : When the Lamps are ON, all the heat is applied instantly, giving the snakes a kind of heat shock !

I need a circuit that would gradually brighten/dim the lights at a flip of a switch. The time involved is about 1/2 hour.

Pl. help. Thx.

 

[cameo_2007]

Light dimmer/brightner

would you like to go with a microcontroller?

then a basic micro and a triac should do the job.
At the start,trigger the triac a lower angle, and keep increasing the triggering angle over a period of time , say your 1/2 hour.

 

[eem2am]

Light dimmer/brightner

surely it wont harm the sankes?

snakes use heat sensors to track prey.........this is why they respond when the heat source comes on....cuzz they think theres some food about.