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Lights question?
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by timberrattlesnake89 on February 20, 2008
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I have on all my snake cages heat lamps with the standard normal light bulbs. They include 60, 75, and 100 watts light bulbs. My question is if any other keepers of having the problem of replacing the light bulbs frequently as in once a month or every other month. Its been baffling me for years.
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RE: Lights question?
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by Phobos on February 20, 2008
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Hi Phillip...how ya doing?
I don't go through lights that fast be they sure do seem to have a very short life and a much higher cost. How do you have them connected? Through a timer or powerstrip? Some details please.
Al
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RE: Lights question?
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by Cro on February 21, 2008
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Phillip, I think part of the problem is that you are using mixed wattage bulbs on the same circuit.
This will cause a different demand from each bulb, and will probably stress some of the bulbs.
Try using bulbs that all have the same wattage and are the same brand, and see if that helps.
Also, you might want to try appliance bulbs that are designed for ovens. They should be more resistant to heat damage from being trapped in a heat lamp dome.
Hope this helps. Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Lights question?
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by Peter84Jenkins on February 21, 2008
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I too have this problem and some of the reasons why I think they go out early are…
On cages I have that require high humidity I notice when the moister in the air gets kicked up I can hear the bulbs click and tick. The quick change in temp causes stress on the hot bulbs. Cages that are meant to stay dry last longer on average for me.
Like Cro said it could be the combination of wattages you’re using.
Also handling the bulbs gets your body grease on them and it’s know to reduce the bulbs life. Try installing them with latex gloves (but don’t remove a hot bulb with them) I have the luxury of heating and air in my herp room so I use the compact energy saving bulbs and I have had some running for a year and still going. I use timers on most of my enclosures as well. Take care and stay safe.
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RE: Lights question?
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by 23bms on February 21, 2008
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Another issue is dome size v wattage. The 6" domes are rated for 75w but bulb life is much greater with 60w (I rarely use smaller). 100w bulbs in a 6" dome are lucky to make 2 months and also tend to destroy the socket over time. I find that all bulbs last much longer in the 8" domes that are rated for 150w. The additional air space really helps. I haven't noticed the mixed wattage issue, but that may be due to my layout, seasonal rotation schedule or whatever. I buy the 1 yr GE long life variety from Wal-Mart where they are pretty cheap and have long since resigned myself to having to keep a special trash can in the snake room for burned out bulbs.
For night lighting and heat I use Exo-Terra "Moonlight" bulbs in 75w sizes because I like the lighting effect. However, the bulbs rarely last more than 120 days and sometimes as little as 30. Also, they are hideously expensive. I should note that in the 8" domes the 75s do extremely well, often getting 12 months or more as did 100w variants from a competitor. I have a few larger cages using ceramic emitters for night heat and fluorescent strip night lights with good results but a lot of clutter.
The compact fluorescent bulbs do last much longer but they are much more expensive, the light is GHASTLY for both viewing and photography (I have yet to find a white balance permutation that properly corrects) and they have a lower heat output making them impractical in the winter. I do resign myself to using them occasionally in the summer when I can't afford a significant heat boost.
jrb
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RE: Lights question?
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by Tuttoo on February 22, 2008
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I am a residential and comercial electrician in NC. The different wattages on the various bulbs on a circuit are irrelavent. Electricity is not like water; each bulb will only pull the watts of electricity it is rated for and will not affect other bulbs on the line. The main issues here are related to heat and humidity. Moisture will absolutely kill an incandencent bulb. Don't spray directly toward a bulb - and if the enclosure needs to be humid, sorry but, expect to change the bulb more often. There is really no way around this unless you use a vapor-proof fixture like the ones used in commercial refrigeration units. The only solution I have found in high moisture situations is an increase in air circulation. IMHO the real problem is heat in most situations. The first question in this thread specified that the bulbs being used were regular incandecent bulbs rather than spotlights. Remember that the shape of a bulb is just that: a round bulb. Almost as much heat goes up into the fixture as comes down into the enclosure. A typical dome fixture will redirect quite a bit of this heat downward, but the socket itself will end up down-right smokin' hot. This heat is not good for any electric fixture and will dramatically shorten the lifespan of a bulb, regardless of the wattage of the bulb or the watt rating of the fixture. A spotlight or flood type bulb has an internal reflector that directs the heat down out of the fixture and much less will build up in the socket area. A good example of this is the typical can light found in the ceiling of many homes. You can usually use up to a 75watt flood light in these fixtures, but if you try and use a regular bulb, the internal thermal overload will most likely kill the power and shut off the light if you put in more than a 40 watt bulb. The brand and quality of fixture and bulb are also major considerations. Buy a porcelain socketed fixture with a high wattage rating (100 watts or more) with as large a dome as possible (to increase air circulation and reduce the heat) and preferably a long-life bulb rated for outdoor use (this will also help with the humidity factor). Unfortunately, most "pet shop" bulbs are poorly made, shipped and handled indifferently (banging around and dropping light bulbs is bad), and can't handle the "outdoor" situations our enclosures and terrarium environments normally present. I have worked in retail petshops for years (in years long past) and witnessed an incredible number of returned, short-lived, "bad" bulbs from even the best brands. Don't go for the cheap econo bulb, but if you pick the right bulb and fixture, your bulb should last, and you shouldn't have to pay an arm & a leg either. Good Luck,
Tuttoo
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