bulb problem

roachpunk · #1 (**permalink**) 06-08-2003, 11:34 PM

im getting REALLY tired of buying $7 bulbs every week. I buy those basking spot lamps reptile bulbs from zoomed (the ones in the whie boxes with reptiles on all four sides.) and they stop working about a week or 2 later. I go to turn on a light and I hear a pop and its broke, this is getting really expensive, wat do i do? wat bulbs do u all use?
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Fatboymike · #2 (**permalink**) 06-08-2003, 11:59 PM

I get Mine at Home Depot, they say on the box that they are good for reptiles
they are a bit brighter than the zoomed bulbs but I dont think that's a problem
seeing that it is infrared. Oh by the way it says they are good for 5000 hours
on the box. This is the first one I put in after going through bulbs at an
alarming rate and so far so good it's been 2 months now

Mike
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C. hortulanus bites · #3 (**permalink**) 06-09-2003, 12:05 AM

I had the same problem with ZooMed bulbs too and gave up on them. It's ok to use regular lamp bulbs, but they are bright. I finally decided to invest in CHE's because they last for so very long. Shop online and you can usually get a deal on them. I bought all of mine for under $25 each, which definitely beats the pet store prices (they want like $40 for them). In the long run you've already spent much more than that on those crappy bulbs.
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SteveP · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2003, 12:28 AM

Check the wattage on both the bulbs and the fixture. If the fixture isn't rated for the wattage of bulb your using that could be the problem. Even if the fixture is rated for 250 w and you only put in a 75 w bulb, it'll shorten the life dramatically, so you want to be at least somewhat close to the rated wattage. You particularly don't want the bulb to be greatly higher in wattage than the fixture will handle. I've used ZooMeds in the past and had them last a long time, but the fixture and bulb gotta be compatable. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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C. hortulanus bites · #5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2003, 01:21 AM

You're probably very right Steve. I used to have the problem of exploding bulbs until I decided to move on and I thought it was just the bulbs. After reading your post I checked out the wattage of the lamp that I was using and it's rated at like 660 watts! WOW! Now I know why they exploded all the time. Here's the crappy part that makes me mad though, I bought the lamp in a 20 long combo with the thermometer & hydrometer and a heatlamp and bulb. You know, the ZooMed reptile special at most chain pet stores that comes with some of the things you're going to need for your herps. They set it up on purpose that it's going to blow the bulb it comes with and they know you're going to just replace it with a similar wattage bulb due to the size of the cage. Who's ever seen a 660 watt bulb? Or needs that much heat? It's just a way to make you spend more of your money on their supplies. There are absolutely too many reptile companies out there that are just after your money.

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Ed_r · #6 (**permalink**) 06-09-2003, 01:48 AM

Just FYI when you replace the bulbs are you touching the area thats shines the light with your fingers? I know in automotive bulbs if you touch them on the glass surface with your fingers, the oil from your fingertips collects on the bulb. The oil gets hot and causes the bulb to fail prematurely. I use Zoomed bulbs too, and noticed that they do have the shortest lifespan of all the bulbs I have used, but mine usually last 5-6 months. In comparison I have had the same CHEs for 3 years of constant use, and they are fine still. Definately worth the money if your stricly using the bulb for heat.

NOTE with CHEs they get incredibly hot!!! I have actually had instances where I have taken the CHEs out and replaced them with bulbs. After installing the bulbs they burnt up the light fixture. It seems the CHEs melt the contacts to the CHE and when you remove them it breaks the fixture. They seem to weld themselves to the contacts.
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roachpunk · #7 (**permalink**) 06-17-2003, 11:09 PM

>>I get Mine at Home Depot, they say on the box that they are good for reptiles
>>they are a bit brighter than the zoomed bulbs but I dont think that's a problem
>>seeing that it is infrared. Oh by the way it says they are good for 5000 hours
>> on the box. This is the first one I put in after going through bulbs at an
>>alarming rate and so far so good it's been 2 months now
>>
>>Mike

thanx 4 the replies evry1. I, way too poor to be spendin $25 on bulbs tho. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] whats the box look like/called. I went all up and down and never found anything that said great for reptiles, i did see these plant lights that say "mimics natural sunlight" would that work?
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SteveP · #8 (**permalink**) 06-17-2003, 11:39 PM

If you're using the bulb just for heat, you don't need the cost of a grow light. If you need it for a reptile requiring UV (i.e., lizards) they won't work because they don't supply any UV rays, despite claiming 'mimicing natural sunlight'.

660 watts!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] Holy cow Batman, that'd cook a Tyrannosaurus in short order!!! What Ed r said is true, particularly for very high watt bulbs. If you touch them with your fingers make sure you wipe off your finger prints (i.e., skin oils). Learned that the hard way years ago with a projector bulb!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
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RoYaL_619 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-18-2003, 01:44 AM

yea, i just replced my zoomed bulb. i bought about a week ago. in the past few month i prob. replaced 10 or so bulb getting costly. i went to home dopot couldn't find the right one. whats the name and brand of the bulbs you got at home dopot. i only found one that was 250 watts. to much for what i need? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
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morti · #10 (**permalink**) 06-18-2003, 03:35 AM

I generally use common, ordinary household lightbulbs for all of my reptile lighting needs. None of the "Reptile Bulbs" that you can find out there actually provide uv except for the Really expensive UV bulbs, and I only use them for species that require UV like my bearded dragon.

And as far as the wattage goes, get a higher wattage bulb (100-150 should do it) and put it on a dimmer switch. That way you can more accurately control the heat.

Have fun!

-Morti.
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onewyr1180 · #11 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 10:12 PM

Here is a little light class.

The only lights that are sensitive to the oil on your had ar halogen bulbs the oil creats a consentrated hot spot causing the bulb to fail. Normal incandecent bulbs does not matter.

Now as far as fixture and bulb wattage goes.

If the fixture says rated for 250 watts you can still use a 60 watt bulb in that fixture. Were you run into problems is when you put a 75 watt bulb into a fixture rated for 60 watts.

all the wattage rating on fixture means is that the contacts and the material are only capable of handling the heat from a bulb that is no more than the rating on the fixture.

there you go.

class dismissed

Diablo · #12 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 10:39 PM

i use Pearlco ceramic bulbs from www.beanfarm.com . and use an 18" flourecent light from W-mart. it was like 7 buck for the fixture and bulb.

Ace · #13 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 10:41 PM

also use a ceramic fixture, they burn out bulbs less and are less of a fire hazard.

onewyr1180 · #14 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 10:41 PM

the link you posted didn't work

onewyr1180 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 10:45 PM

another thing that causes bulbs to burnout quicker is turning off and on. the filament in a bulb gets week every time you turn a bulb on and off the constant heating up and cooling down is what causes them to burn out. I use infrared bulbs 24/7 and a 24 inch flouresent on a timer for acctual light . flouresent lights can withstand the constant on/off better than an incandesent

Diablo · #16 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewyr1180

the link you posted didn't work

Works Now

CheshireCat · #17 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 10:52 PM

We're swapping over to ceramics as I build new vivs. In the meantime, Ive been buying plastic coated bulbs after a couple of incidents where some regular ones exploded into tiny shards. I think they're probably made for the food industry. They cost a bit more than a regular bulb but worth it.

onewyr1180 · #18 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 10:56 PM

those are defenatly food grade bulbs and they are expensive

NicoleRussell · #19 (**permalink**) 01-18-2004, 12:37 AM

I had a problem with zoomed powersuns after sometimes spending up to $50 on one bulb (most of my cages getting two) and they burned out so much it was driving me crazy. Good news was they are guarenteed so they get replaced---still a pain going to the PO all the time...so I started recently using FSS and HighNoon...so far so good.....but it's still alll new.

thetupak · #20 (**permalink**) 01-18-2004, 01:18 AM

I get my bulbs from walmart they are 250 watts but i got a dimmer switch and the light fixture is rated at 250 and the bulb hasnt burned out iv had it for about 6 months and there only 3 dollars

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