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Bulb bases and ceramic light fixtures Anyone else?

brdfreak Aug 29, 2003 11:20 PM

Has anyone had problems with the base of the light bulb becoming detached from the bulb itself in ceramic fixtures? I've had all kinds of bulbs do this to me. Basking spots, normal bulbs and now even my Trex uvb screw in type bulb has done this. It still works but is absolutely unable to be unscrewed as it is detached from the base and hanging by the insides of the bulb.
I was wanderig if maybe some Noalox, a goop we use to put on electrical wires at the point of termination to keep them from corroding and vibrating loose, might help? I'm gonna try it but was wandering if anyone else had the same problem and if so waht they did to kep it from happening.
Thanks,
Robert

Replies (6)

BeArDyCrAzY Aug 29, 2003 11:33 PM

That happened to me just the other day, it's the first time it's happened to me. I think it was just because the bulb was old because i had it for 7 months now and i also left it on accidently (Left the house in the afternoon and forgot to turn it off) and when i got home i turned it off and looked at the bulb and noticed it was hanging by the insides of the bulb. When this happened to you, was the bulb old? or was it new?
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Just Another Herp Crazy Person

~Allan~
My Photos
1.2.2 Leopard Geckos - Lea, Cleo, Helios, 2 un-named and going to be sold
0.1.0 Bearded Dragon - Luna
1.0.0 Fire Skink - Blaze

brdfreak Aug 29, 2003 11:42 PM

I've only had my trex for about 3 or 4 months. I noticed it about 2 or 3 weeks ago. The spot basing bulbs sometimes don't even last 30 days. I have to leave the bulbs on during the day because that is their heat and/or uvb/uva source. It has happened with 60 75 100and 150 watt bulbs but only in the ceramic type fixtures. I'm assuming it is the heat associated with the ceramic fixture tat seperates the bulb from it's base. That's my only guess as to what it could be. I mean a regular 60 watt bulb doesn't do that in a regular light socket but doea in a ceramic base.
The dilemma is that the higher wattage basking and trex bulbs are to dangerous to use without the ceramic base.
I think I smell a conspiracy theory in the making....LOL

Robert

BeArDyCrAzY Aug 30, 2003 12:32 AM

Your guess makes sense to me, those ceramic bases retain the heat from the bulb very well and since they are directly connected to the base of the bulb the heat from the ceramic base is being "transmitted" to the base of the bulb and causing it to separate. Thats my lil theory, lol.
-----
Just Another Herp Crazy Person

~Allan~
My Photos
1.2.2 Leopard Geckos - Lea, Cleo, Helios, 2 un-named and going to be sold
0.1.0 Bearded Dragon - Luna
1.0.0 Fire Skink - Blaze

hatchdragon Aug 30, 2003 11:36 PM

I manage a pet store and this is one of my most common complaints when it comes to heat and basking lamps. I have found that the fixtures with the solid metal domes (like a shop light) cause burnouts and seperation problems far more often than their counterpart... the caged or wire domes. The wire domes allow more of the heat to escape from around the bulb leading to longer bulb life and fewer seperation problems.

JethrozMom Aug 30, 2003 11:12 AM

I have had taht problem yes, but only when the bulbs are hot. They break off right at the base where they screw in. What ive done to solve the problem is turn the fixture off and not move the bulb until its completely cool to th etouch. Works like a charm.

Jamie
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Jamie A. Stine and the Gang:

1.1 Bearded Dragons (Lancelot & Guenivere)
1.0 Giant Frog Eyed Geckos (Peanut Butter)
0.1 Borneo Short Tailed Python (Ezmerelda)
0.1 Red Tailed Boa (Buffy)
1.0 Short Tailed O'possum (Jethro)
1.0 Greyhound (Hank)

Save a life, adopt a retired racer!

brdfreak Aug 30, 2003 06:37 PM

Hmm maybe that's it... I noy real carefull with the light when I take the screen top off to feed and stuff. I bet that's what I'm doing!! THANKS!

Robert

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