lilacdragon
Hatchling Member
Hi, guys.
The new Westron "Reptile Lamps" are virtually identical to the current model of the T-Rex ActiveUV Heat and (in the UK) Komodo UV Sun lamps (also made by Westron) - these are all rounded, clear-faced spot lamps (but described as floods) which do indeed have quite safe UV spectra with no abnormally short wavelength UVB. However, it is all concentrated into an extremely narrow beam just a few centimetres across, which is what almost all clear-faced R40-shape lamps produce.
As for the output - the ones I've tested from Westron, from T-Rex and from Komodo have varied widely in output but all have started out with a high output (several, extremely high) which has decayed enormously in the first week, (several, to very low levels).
There is in fact a sticky label on every box, warning purchasers to place the lamps at a much greater distance at first, and then bring it closer after so many days. (Sorry this is so vague but I'm away from home so can't access my test results.)
The Lucky Reptile metal halides are only available in the UK and the rest of Europe as far as I know. The Solar Raptor metal halide lamps are very similar, likewise only available in Europe. They need metal halide ballasts, and I think they will soon appear in the USA once suitable 120v ballasts are developed.
I've tested a wide range of these, and other prototype halides too, and I like them very much. The smaller PAR30 size bulbs produce good, gentle UVB and very intense visible light but only over a fairly small area. The larger PAR38 bulbs produce a much wider beam, but this spreads the UVB over a greater area too, so these (or at least, the few I've tested) have had a lower UVB output.
Best wishes
Frances
The new Westron "Reptile Lamps" are virtually identical to the current model of the T-Rex ActiveUV Heat and (in the UK) Komodo UV Sun lamps (also made by Westron) - these are all rounded, clear-faced spot lamps (but described as floods) which do indeed have quite safe UV spectra with no abnormally short wavelength UVB. However, it is all concentrated into an extremely narrow beam just a few centimetres across, which is what almost all clear-faced R40-shape lamps produce.
As for the output - the ones I've tested from Westron, from T-Rex and from Komodo have varied widely in output but all have started out with a high output (several, extremely high) which has decayed enormously in the first week, (several, to very low levels).
There is in fact a sticky label on every box, warning purchasers to place the lamps at a much greater distance at first, and then bring it closer after so many days. (Sorry this is so vague but I'm away from home so can't access my test results.)
The Lucky Reptile metal halides are only available in the UK and the rest of Europe as far as I know. The Solar Raptor metal halide lamps are very similar, likewise only available in Europe. They need metal halide ballasts, and I think they will soon appear in the USA once suitable 120v ballasts are developed.
I've tested a wide range of these, and other prototype halides too, and I like them very much. The smaller PAR30 size bulbs produce good, gentle UVB and very intense visible light but only over a fairly small area. The larger PAR38 bulbs produce a much wider beam, but this spreads the UVB over a greater area too, so these (or at least, the few I've tested) have had a lower UVB output.
Best wishes
Frances