Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I recently switched to ceramic heat lamps a few months ago,

I got the appropriate ceramic bulb dome with ceramic top up to 225 watt and had a 150 watt bulb in it for about a month, then all of a sudden yesterday I lightly taped the cord barely moving it and sparks and a flame shot up along with a pop. It had exploded, upon examining, the cord plug, came out, and looked like it was burnt. the copper wire snapped.

I just wanted to know if this is common with ceramic bulbs on the proper lamp domes, because I don't want a fire hazard near my guys.

thanks

I've used CHE's (ceramic heat emitters) for 4yrs now and know of several people that's used them more than twice that amount of time and I've never heard of one exploding.

Did the ceramic part of the heat emitter explode or was it the lampholder socket?

From the way you described it it sounds as though the problem was with the dome, cord, and not the CHE itself. I've had one of the major pet-specific manufacturer's dome do something similar about a year or so ago. It was a black dome rated for 200-plus wattage with a cermic socket. Over the course of a year or so twisting of the cord caused a weak connection where the cord goes into the ceramic housing on top of the dome & it shorted out, arched, blowing the CHE. Moving the dome by grabbing the cord can cause this and I've been known to do it when in a hurry.

The CHE's are safe, as long as the reptiles can't touch it or you don't get water on it when it's hot.

Have a good one!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

ahhhh that makes more sense, yeah I got it used and noticed it was a little messed up where the cord meets the dome and I also would pick up the lamp everyday by the cord to feed the guys, well I wont be doing that again hehe. Thanks for the reply!

"...I wont be doing that again hehe."

Ha! Ha! Yeah, it got my attention, too, when it happened to me.

You're welcome!

Take care!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

a visible flame eripted out of it,havent figured it out,but the ceramics aernt allowed on unless i am home from now on,even if that means the daylights stay on for a 24 hour period for a few days,i love them,but lost all trust in there safety.