Who's had Mercury Vapour bulb problems and who hasn't?

**Alan1** · 17-01-2010, 04:37 PM

Who's had MVB problems within 12 months of purchase, what make and wattage? I have been told that 160w are more stable but it will be hard to find that out as most people use 100 - 125w bulbs. If you've USED a bulb for more than 12 months without problem please say what make and wattage. Obviously many of you who have had bulbs more than a year may not know if the UVB is at a decent level.

Anyway, so far I've had 1 Solarglo 125w blow after 4 months use and another which is too low in UVB output to be any use after 4 months also.

I've had 1 Megaray blow after 1 day, another go after 5 months and another that is still working but not producing decent UVB after 5 months

purplelynn · 17-01-2010, 05:17 PM

I have two powersun 100w. Can't comment on UV levels as have never measured it.

One blew after 3 weeks, other one is currently (touch would behaving after occaisional use for 3 months and now being used constantly to replace the one that has blown)

tortoise lover · 17-01-2010, 05:19 PM

Hi i have just had to replace my megaray 125watt after 6 months as it was overheating,i have tryed everything from raising the hight of the lamp to other things and it was still showing 165f under the basking area,so i can only assume it was faulty. i have a TN1 thermometer so i know this was an accurate reading. I have replaced my megaray with another mercury vapour and so far so good but i only bought it last week so its early days. I will never buy one of these again,like you said in an earlier thread when you are paying £50 you expect them to last longer than that.

Jillyp · 17-01-2010, 05:24 PM

Megaray lasted one day then blew. Have got a replacement one but am using a different brand (Hobby 160w UV all day) as the replacement took too long to arrive.

Kirkie · 17-01-2010, 05:56 PM

From memory, in the last two years:

2 100w Megaray MVB failed prematurely, 1 other continuing to flicker and cut out.

1 160w Megaray corroded to the point of the internal wiring snapping.

2 Powersun 100 watt, premature failure.

1 Megaray 60w Halide, ballast unit failed after one use.

Lucky Reptile 70w Jungle Halide producing 0 UVB output after 3 months use.

It would have been cheaper to move to Spain.

The T Rex MVB has arrived, we shall see how that performs.

Helen M · 17-01-2010, 06:10 PM

2 100W Megarays one blew after 1 day and the other after 3.
Helen xx

Zen · 17-01-2010, 06:46 PM

I used a Power Sun 160w for 12 months, had no problems whats so ever, although i dont know how much UV it gave towards the end. Unfortunately 160w Power sun are no longer available, otherwise i wouls have stayed with it.

I have just 2 weeks ago changed to a 160w Mega Ray bulb, touch wood no problems so far, other than i have had to raise the height, as it seems to get hotter than the power sun ever did.

swad1000 · 17-01-2010, 07:01 PM

1 100 watt powersun, never had a problem in 2 years

2 100 watt megaray, 1 exchanged after 2 months due to flickering/ cutting out. Other flickered for a few weeks then settled down.

tortoise_dude · 17-01-2010, 07:13 PM

2 x 100watt powersun, never had any problems for about 18 months now.

**Bindi** · 17-01-2010, 07:20 PM

1x 100w Megaray, had it for about a year ( i think) lots of flickering for a couple of weeks then settled down. Still cuts out randomly, but worse in the warmer months.

17-01-2010, 04:37 PM	#1
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	Who's had Mercury Vapour bulb problems and who hasn't? Who's had MVB problems within 12 months of purchase, what make and wattage? I have been told that 160w are more stable but it will be hard to find that out as most people use 100 - 125w bulbs. If you've USED a bulb for more than 12 months without problem please say what make and wattage. Obviously many of you who have had bulbs more than a year may not know if the UVB is at a decent level. Anyway, so far I've had 1 Solarglo 125w blow after 4 months use and another which is too low in UVB output to be any use after 4 months also. I've had 1 Megaray blow after 1 day, another go after 5 months and another that is still working but not producing decent UVB after 5 months

17-01-2010, 05:24 PM	#4
Jillyp Member Hatchling Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 727	Megaray lasted one day then blew. Have got a replacement one but am using a different brand (Hobby 160w UV all day) as the replacement took too long to arrive. __________________ Jill

17-01-2010, 05:56 PM	#5
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	From memory, in the last two years: 2 100w Megaray MVB failed prematurely, 1 other continuing to flicker and cut out. 1 160w Megaray corroded to the point of the internal wiring snapping. 2 Powersun 100 watt, premature failure. 1 Megaray 60w Halide, ballast unit failed after one use. Lucky Reptile 70w Jungle Halide producing 0 UVB output after 3 months use. It would have been cheaper to move to Spain. The T Rex MVB has arrived, we shall see how that performs. Last edited by Kirkie; 17-01-2010 at 05:59 PM.

17-01-2010, 06:46 PM	#7
Zen Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Banbury Oxfordshire Posts: 2,623	I used a Power Sun 160w for 12 months, had no problems whats so ever, although i dont know how much UV it gave towards the end. Unfortunately 160w Power sun are no longer available, otherwise i wouls have stayed with it. I have just 2 weeks ago changed to a 160w Mega Ray bulb, touch wood no problems so far, other than i have had to raise the height, as it seems to get hotter than the power sun ever did. __________________ Rachael & Zen (THB) 'Show gratitude to every living thing'

17-01-2010, 07:20 PM	#10
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	1x 100w Megaray, had it for about a year ( i think) lots of flickering for a couple of weeks then settled down. Still cuts out randomly, but worse in the warmer months. __________________

17-01-2010, 05:17 PM	#2
purplelynn Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,403	I have two powersun 100w. Can't comment on UV levels as have never measured it. One blew after 3 weeks, other one is currently (touch would behaving after occaisional use for 3 months and now being used constantly to replace the one that has blown)

17-01-2010, 05:19 PM	#3
tortoise lover Member Hatchling Join Date: May 2008 Location: north east lincolnshire Posts: 503	Hi i have just had to replace my megaray 125watt after 6 months as it was overheating,i have tryed everything from raising the hight of the lamp to other things and it was still showing 165f under the basking area,so i can only assume it was faulty. i have a TN1 thermometer so i know this was an accurate reading. I have replaced my megaray with another mercury vapour and so far so good but i only bought it last week so its early days. I will never buy one of these again,like you said in an earlier thread when you are paying £50 you expect them to last longer than that.

17-01-2010, 06:10 PM	#6
Helen M Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,362	2 100W Megarays one blew after 1 day and the other after 3. Helen xx

17-01-2010, 07:01 PM	#8
swad1000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,702	1 100 watt powersun, never had a problem in 2 years 2 100 watt megaray, 1 exchanged after 2 months due to flickering/ cutting out. Other flickered for a few weeks then settled down.

17-01-2010, 07:13 PM	#9
tortoise_dude Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 265	2 x 100watt powersun, never had any problems for about 18 months now.

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