Basking Ceramic Heater Issue

[Ryloth]

Alright I have a issue. My ceramic heat emmiters are breaking. Thing is the fixture still works. I have went through 3 ceramic heat emitters, 2 150 watt, and 1 250 watt. I also have gone through a incandecant bulb as well. To get in one side I have to pick it up to get in the enclosure, but I can't imagine that doing it. I notice it because its loose and when you try to twist it back in, ceramic dust comes out which was from the bulb. When I did take it out, the bulb breaks in the fixture. (I of course try to twist it but it won't do it unless you use more force.) Does anyone have any suggestions? To keep the room warm am using a heater, but being on 24 hours is expensive and a beach in Flordia. I have to solve this quickly due to winter is almost here and I'm in Michigan.

Thanks
Ryloth

 

[foto69man]

I may be confused by your post...so correct me if i miss interpretted. The bulbs are breaking when you try to put them in, or they are burning out? Let me know which. Also, maybe a pic of your fixture? One last thing, CHEs are only used for at night to keeo the temps above 65-70 degrees

 

[Nasubi77]

I completely don't understand this statement:

To get in one side I have to pick it up to get in the enclosure, but I can't imagine that doing it.

So the bulb is working, until you notice it's loose and then it break when you tighten it? Am I understanding that right? Or it doesn't break until you take it out? Is the heat still functioning when you do this?

One thing, make sure you aren't cross-threading it when you screw it in (like when you put on your drink cap, but the threads don't match and it goes on crooked?). Also, is the fixture hanging straight down, or is it down at an angle? Maybe if it's at an angle, there is stress on the socket and it breaks?
Make sure your fixture is rated for those high wattages as well.

 

[Ryloth]

Am sorry that I made things not understandable. The fixture is a barbed cage from Exo Terra and can support 250 watt bulbs. I had a dome from Zoo med that supported up to 150 watt bulbs. My bulbs worked for a couple of weeks when it stopped working. My tank temps were in the 70's so I check the heater. I had it as tight as it could go, but when I checked it it was looser than it was before. When I tried to tighten it back up, dust comes out from the bulb. When I take it out, it breaks the end off. Sorry that I don't have pics dued to no Photo Bucket account. If you have any more questions just ask.

Thankyou
Ryloth

 

[Ryloth]

I completely don't understand this statement:

To get in one side I have to pick it up to get in the enclosure, but I can't imagine that doing it.

So the bulb is working, until you notice it's loose and then it break when you tighten it? Am I understanding that right? Or it doesn't break until you take it out? Is the heat still functioning when you do this?

One thing, make sure you aren't cross-threading it when you screw it in (like when you put on your drink cap, but the threads don't match and it goes on crooked?). Also, is the fixture hanging straight down, or is it down at an angle? Maybe if it's at an angle, there is stress on the socket and it breaks?
Make sure your fixture is rated for those high wattages as well.

That sentence means to get in one side of the tank I have to move the heat lamp so I can get in. Right now it's on the door to get my hand in.

 

[Ryloth]

I may be confused by your post...so correct me if i miss interpretted. The bulbs are breaking when you try to put them in, or they are burning out? Let me know which. Also, maybe a pic of your fixture? One last thing, CHEs are only used for at night to keeo the temps above 65-70 degrees

They work fined for a couple of weeks but then they get looser like if they overheated.