problems with heat lamps; a question

[JasperStreet]

hey guys,

I'm using a repti-temp 500R thermostat with an under tank heater and a heat lamp to head my 25 gallon tank, and I've gone through two moonlight bulbs in two weeks! Why are they burning out so quickly? Is it because of the thermostat?

If anyone has had this problem or has any suggestions, I'd be thankful. I don't want to buy a new bulb every week!

 

[Misstasha]

put them back in the box and take them back to where you got them - sometimes itss jus a faulty light they will return them even with out a receipt! Mine were blowing becuz my house was high in humidity, so I bought a dehumidifier and i haven't had a problem since ... except once, wen I bought a faulty bulb

 

[Amber31190]

can the lamps handle the wattages, or the outlet is allright. if that ok, i agree with misstasha, i've had the probelm once, when i first got into beardies, i went through 4 bulbs, waited a week then went back to ********, there new shipment came, it just ran out a month ago. good luck

 

[JasperStreet]

thanks for the advice, misstasha and amber31190.

so, nobody has had problems using bulbs with a thermostat? i thought they might have blown because they were switching on and off so many times.

 

[Tommy13b]

Id recomend diching the lamp, and getting an UTH(under tank heater) ive had one going for two years now, they will end up saveing you a bunch, and your leo will be more active and healthy aswell.

 

[Khrysty]

Id recomend diching the lamp, and getting an UTH(under tank heater) ive had one going for two years now, they will end up saveing you a bunch, and your leo will be more active and healthy aswell.

JasperStreet is using a UTH. Read the post more closely. I imagine the heat lamp is just being used to supplement the UTH's heat...

 

[Tony C]

Why have the light on a thermostat at all? Since it is just a supplemental heat source, if it is too hot use the next lowest wattage bulb, that should get you within an acceptable range.

 

[Khrysty]

Why have the light on a thermostat at all? Since it is just a supplemental heat source, if it is too hot use the next lowest wattage bulb, that should get you within an acceptable range.

+1 :main_thumbsup:

 

[sammer021486]

Having the light on the thermostat will cause it to blow very quickly. The repeated heating and cooling of the element causes it to burn out. I had a red bulb for heat on my gecko during the day to increase the heat in the tank and it ran fine for months. Hooked it up to the thermostat and it was burnt out in an hour.

A lamp should only be placed on a dimmer and not a thermostat.

 

[sammer021486]

Another thought that I had, if you require the lamp to achieve the proper temperatures. Have the lamp always on, then use the thermostat to turn the mat on/off when needed to keep the proper heat.

 

[JasperStreet]

Id recomend diching the lamp, and getting an UTH(under tank heater) ive had one going for two years now, they will end up saveing you a bunch, and your leo will be more active and healthy aswell.

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Actually, I'm using a UTH as well, but I live in the great white north and a UTH does not generate enough heat. I was actually thinking about attaching another UTH on the back of the hot side, because the heat lamps are not doing very well with the thermostat.

 

[JasperStreet]

thanks everyone. these are good ideas. i've attached the UTH only to the thermostat and i'm just leaving the red bulb on. i think this way will work.