Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everybody...I need some advice. Sorry for the length!

Today I woke up and prepared to go to work only to realize that my ZooMed PowerSun 100 watt bulb had sort of flickered on (it's on a timer, on at 8 a.m, off at 8 p.m.) and then gone dark. This has happened before, with my first PowerSun - the light would turn on, off, on again, and then usually stay on for the rest of the day. However, this happened towards the end of the first bulb's 6 month run. The one I'm using now was installed a month ago, and shouldn't be doing this. As of 2 p.m. today, it still hasn't turned back on - I've tried unplugging everthing, unscrewing, you name it.
Needless to say, I'm a bit pissed. PowerSun bulbs are expensive on a collegiate's budget, and this one has apparently died after a month of normal use! (The other one burned out after about six months, which is half of what the warranty provides for, but since the UVB is supposed to decrease markedly after the sixth month, I didn't care and didn't press the issue with ZooMed.) I can't get a replacement bulb under the warranty since, like a moron, I bought the bulb three or four months ago, knowing I would need it eventually, but forgot to fill out the warantee card and send it in to ZooMed within the one-month span they allot you.
So, unless the bulb decides to magically work again, I have to get a new mercury vapor lamp. I'm not getting another ZooMed, obviously, but I was wondering if anyone could reccomend either the 'Capture the Sun' one Big Apple Herp sells, or T-Rex's version. The Big Apple one is a bit cheaper but I seem to recall someone complaining about it awhile back here. Advice is appreciated, and the quicker the better. Thanks!
~Amanda
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1.0.0 Crumpet
And on the eighth day, God created Alucard.

Try putting vasaline on the metal ballast of the bulb. I do this to all my powersuns and they last forever. The Big Apple herp Capture the sun bulbs were the worst bulbs I ever tried.

The UVB of a mercury vapor bulb does not decrease at 6 months like flourescents do.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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sig file edited 1/29/05 [phw]

Thanks for the tip about the Vaseline - and about the UVB, though now I'm even more annoyed that the PowerSun burned out after 6 months.
Again, though, thanks, and I'll stay away from the Capture the Sun bulbs.
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1.0.0 Crumpet
And on the eighth day, God created Alucard.