Who's had Mercury Vapour bulb problems and who hasn't? - Page 2

janeL · 17-01-2010, 07:51 PM

I had a Powersun for two and half years before I dropped it. The other I have had for a year. The first was a 100watt the second 160watt. Never had any problems what so ever with these two or the powersuns I have had in the past which have no recollection of timings but all were well over a year!

**Alan1** · 17-01-2010, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkie

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.

That's horrendous

Kirkie · 17-01-2010, 09:51 PM

Tell me about it. I think I'm cursed.

I've got other bulbs that are fine and they've all got surge protecton so I don't think its my electical supply. The UV meter has been a mixed blessing because I'm starting to see just how hit and miss this all is. I'm lucky that I've got a few setups but if I had one bulb for one table and no UV meter I'd have no idea if they were doing what the manufacturer said they were doing.

I've got a couple of compact UV's, one burned in, one new. I might do a few comparisons on those next.

**Alan1** · 17-01-2010, 10:40 PM

without my uv meter it would have been hard for me to believe that of my 2 megarays bought at the same time, one was done while the other was miles above average as regards UVB output. ironically and annoyingly it is the high UVB one that has just gone today

**Eire_Ade** · 17-01-2010, 10:50 PM

This thread makes a very interesting read!!

I have had 1 Trex active UV 100w Flood failed during and upto its replacement slightly after 6 month warranty was up due to the record of complaints to supplier and passed onto the main supplier of that lamp in the UK where a replacement was sent out.

The replacement is now over 2 years old and occasssionally would turn itself off in hot weather, now it is quite a regular occurrance so just waiting for the day I see it no longer lighting I will replace it with another trex which I have put by ready to go.

Not sure of levels never checked them as i dont have a UV meter.

Mum had the same bulb which only lasted 1 week, her replacement has been going for 2 years and is still working fine.

Kirkie · 17-01-2010, 11:11 PM

Hi Ade,

I've just got my hands on one of the same T Rex bulbs so I'll be able to provide some amateur UV readings when its up and running.

**Eire_Ade** · 17-01-2010, 11:19 PM

Thanks Kirkie.

Ozric Jonathan · 17-01-2010, 11:31 PM

I've had one MegaRay where the metal bit at the bottom turned round in the glass bit and one that flickered and then failed after a few weeks use. The other MegaRays I've had have done quite well with regards to still producing quite a lot of UVB after months of use.

Previously I had a powersun that failed after 3 months prior to which I used a powersun for a year and it seemed alright. But I didn't have a UVB meter then. I agree with Dave, once you get a UVB meter you see these lamps a bit differently.

My personal opnion is that overall these lamps are very unreliable and vary a huge amount, and I'm not referring to any particular one here.

Kirkie · 17-01-2010, 11:51 PM

I can never resist an experiment!

Straight out of the box, allowed to burn for 20 minutes the T Rex Active UV Heat 100w is reading 185 uW/cm² at 12" and is slowly rising. It's only registering 30-31 degrees C at the same spot with a background temperature of 23 degreesC.

This is below the UVGuide test which registered 294 uW/cm²

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/mercvapourn...uvheatnewflood

but maybe this was after a longer initial burn. I'll leave it on for a couple of hours and measure again.

I think its important to point out that if you are regularly supplimenting your tortoise with vitamin D3 (Nutrobal for instance) its likely it is getting a good dose of it's requirement from that rather than the lamp.

Kirkie · 18-01-2010, 12:31 AM

After an hour the bulb is registering 200 uW/cm² at 12" and is still slowly creeping up. If this doesn't deteriorate drastically (minimal deteriation was indicated in the UV Guide report linked above) I'll be well happy.

Ade,
You said you had a spare of these bulbs ready to go, how old is this bulb? I'm not sure when these new bulbs came on the market. My understanding is this new T Rex bulb is made at the same Westron factory as the Megaray and is a Bob MacCarger (Megaray head honcho) desgin. I dont know if this means it's simply a rebadged Megaray but at first look it does appear to be an alternative.

I've heard similar things about the performance of new Komodo range of bulbs but they are retailling at around £80 for some reason!

17-01-2010, 07:51 PM	#11
janeL Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: northampton Posts: 1,435	I had a Powersun for two and half years before I dropped it. The other I have had for a year. The first was a 100watt the second 160watt. Never had any problems what so ever with these two or the powersuns I have had in the past which have no recollection of timings but all were well over a year! __________________ www.urbantortoise.co.uk For Tortoise Food, Plants and Pre Alpin info & sales Hermanns THB 2:3:0 Algerian TGG 1.2.3 Ibera TGI 0.1.0[/CENTER]

17-01-2010, 10:50 PM	#15
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	This thread makes a very interesting read!! I have had 1 Trex active UV 100w Flood failed during and upto its replacement slightly after 6 month warranty was up due to the record of complaints to supplier and passed onto the main supplier of that lamp in the UK where a replacement was sent out. The replacement is now over 2 years old and occasssionally would turn itself off in hot weather, now it is quite a regular occurrance so just waiting for the day I see it no longer lighting I will replace it with another trex which I have put by ready to go. Not sure of levels never checked them as i dont have a UV meter. Mum had the same bulb which only lasted 1 week, her replacement has been going for 2 years and is still working fine. __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

17-01-2010, 11:19 PM	#17
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Thanks Kirkie. __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

17-01-2010, 11:31 PM	#18
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	I've had one MegaRay where the metal bit at the bottom turned round in the glass bit and one that flickered and then failed after a few weeks use. The other MegaRays I've had have done quite well with regards to still producing quite a lot of UVB after months of use. Previously I had a powersun that failed after 3 months prior to which I used a powersun for a year and it seemed alright. But I didn't have a UVB meter then. I agree with Dave, once you get a UVB meter you see these lamps a bit differently. My personal opnion is that overall these lamps are very unreliable and vary a huge amount, and I'm not referring to any particular one here. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

17-01-2010, 09:51 PM	#13
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Tell me about it. I think I'm cursed. I've got other bulbs that are fine and they've all got surge protecton so I don't think its my electical supply. The UV meter has been a mixed blessing because I'm starting to see just how hit and miss this all is. I'm lucky that I've got a few setups but if I had one bulb for one table and no UV meter I'd have no idea if they were doing what the manufacturer said they were doing. I've got a couple of compact UV's, one burned in, one new. I might do a few comparisons on those next.

17-01-2010, 10:40 PM	#14
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	without my uv meter it would have been hard for me to believe that of my 2 megarays bought at the same time, one was done while the other was miles above average as regards UVB output. ironically and annoyingly it is the high UVB one that has just gone today

17-01-2010, 11:11 PM	#16
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Hi Ade, I've just got my hands on one of the same T Rex bulbs so I'll be able to provide some amateur UV readings when its up and running.

17-01-2010, 11:51 PM	#19
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	I can never resist an experiment! Straight out of the box, allowed to burn for 20 minutes the T Rex Active UV Heat 100w is reading 185 uW/cm² at 12" and is slowly rising. It's only registering 30-31 degrees C at the same spot with a background temperature of 23 degreesC. This is below the UVGuide test which registered 294 uW/cm² http://www.uvguide.co.uk/mercvapourn...uvheatnewflood but maybe this was after a longer initial burn. I'll leave it on for a couple of hours and measure again. I think its important to point out that if you are regularly supplimenting your tortoise with vitamin D3 (Nutrobal for instance) its likely it is getting a good dose of it's requirement from that rather than the lamp.

18-01-2010, 12:31 AM	#20
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	After an hour the bulb is registering 200 uW/cm² at 12" and is still slowly creeping up. If this doesn't deteriorate drastically (minimal deteriation was indicated in the UV Guide report linked above) I'll be well happy. Ade, You said you had a spare of these bulbs ready to go, how old is this bulb? I'm not sure when these new bulbs came on the market. My understanding is this new T Rex bulb is made at the same Westron factory as the Megaray and is a Bob MacCarger (Megaray head honcho) desgin. I dont know if this means it's simply a rebadged Megaray but at first look it does appear to be an alternative. I've heard similar things about the performance of new Komodo range of bulbs but they are retailling at around £80 for some reason!

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