Reptile & Amphibian Forums

To replace some bulbs that did not live up to expectations, Weston Electronics has sent me some next generation bulbs. These bulbs start out at an amazing 1600 mw/cmsq of uvb at 12 inches ! A good initial reading for most MV bulbs is around 50. Note the bulbs in the backgound are not the same power. After the replacements were measured, they were raised higher so that the max UVB is 300 at the basking sites. As the bulbs decay, they are lowered closer to the basking site to try to maintain the 300. I have measured up to 350 last Oct. at tropical latitudes. After running 3 bulbs 1 week, they are now down around 500 at 12", and are hoped to level out around 200. These bulbs are still in trial stages, but the less powerful predecessor which runs on the same ballast is available.
http://www.myiguana.com/newprodwatac.html

I have a couple of 60watt with external ballast from active uvheat
which are I believe from westron. Will these new bulbs when available that you are talking about here work with my ballasts?
John Styner

The bulbs/ballasts come from canada. I believe that UV active heat and Weston are selling the same item and your ballasts should work with this bulb.

The only problem I have with these claims of high UVB output is the missing data of the temperature at the distance that produces the UVB number. As that lamp decays to 200 (a very good output, but the wattage remains the same) what is the temp at the distance that produces that reading? 95 F? 180 F.?

Some of the vap spots give very good UVB output, but what is the temp for those UVB readings? Can a lizard actually bask under that setup?

That missing data (temps at a given distance) is the frustrating aspect of looking over the reports at 'UVB owners' at that Yahoo group database site.

Roger

It's far from a perfect world. The bulb produces UVB in a narrow spot beam. Move the meter 1cm in any direction and the reading drops off drastically. The bulb is trying to produce sufficient UVB, it will probably be years before it is perfected with a sufficient amount of heat at a given distance. It basically gives off about the same heat that a 60watt spot light produces.
For most circumstances, additional heat from an alternative source is necessary. Even if the heat were sufficient, the light is greenish in color, so an additional source of light would be recommendable for psychological well being.
My igs usually heat up on other sources and then bask under these lights intermittalntly thoughout the day.