A B737-800 WAS DISPATCHED AT NIGHT IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE L AND R PITOT PROBE HEAT INOP IN CONFLICT WITH THE MEL. DAY VMC ONLY.

Narrative

FLT ZZZ WAS ON AN ACTIVE TXWY PREPARING FOR DISPATCH; WHEN THE AMBER 'FO PITOT HEAT' LIGHT ILLUMINATED OVERHEAD; INDICATING A LOSS OF THE HEATER TO THE PROBE. I KNEW THAT THIS REQUIRED A NO-ICE; AND MENTIONED THIS TO THE DISPATCHER; AS WE WERE BOTH ON A RADIO PATCH; AND HE INITIALLY SAID THAT WE COULDN'T GO WITH IT (AS IS NORMALLY THE CASE). I GAVE THE DISPATCHER THE MEL OF 30-00-05A; AND SAID I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE CREW RESET THE CIRCUIT BREAKER JUST TO SEE IF THAT WOULD WORK. THE CREW DID THIS; AND SAID IT WAS NO HELP. THE DISPATCHER THEN SAID THAT WE WERE OK TO USE THE MEL. I ISSUED A FLC PLACARD TO CONTINUE THE FLT; MY MISTAKE WAS NOT NOTICING THE DAY VMC REQUIREMENT OF THIS MEL (NEITHER DID THE CAPT OR THE DISPATCHER). THE CREW LATER DISCOVERED THIS ERROR; AND ELECTED TO DIVERT INTO DFW; AND NOT CONTINUE TO ABQ. I CERTAINLY REALIZE MY ERROR; DUE TO A COMBINATION OF BEING ON THE RADIO; AS WELL AS MY OWN HASTE. I WILL ENSURE TO READ ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MEL'S IN THE FUTURE.