I need some help on lighting.....

[arenaburch2000]

I have a quick question. I have the Halogen/Fluorescent Combo Fixture 20 Inch. It has the heat and a long tube bulb for UVB.

My question is does that bulb also give UVA?? Or would I have to buy a seperate bulb fixture for it??

 

[Narwhal72]

I am assuming that is a Zilla fixture. Yes the T5 lamp produces UVA. It produces about a 3:1 ratio of UVA to UVB. You do not need a separate bulb.

Andy

 

[arenaburch2000]

I thought so, but i just wanted to make sure. Better safe then sorry right??

 

[Narwhal72]

Yep.

 

[spurlee01]

What UVB do you have? Some have been causing problems.

 

[arenaburch2000]

zilla desert series t5 20 inch

 

[spurlee01]

From my understanding, that is a bulb that causes problems. I'll see if I can dig up more info.
Sara

 

[Narwhal72]

That bulb did cause problems back before they were recalled in September 2007. The new bulbs that were released back into the trade in late summer/Fall of 2008 are very good and perfectly safe.

Andy

 

[arenaburch2000]

Thanks andy.....I thought they were great lights....kinda expensive! :mrgreen:

 

[spurlee01]

Has the independent testing on them been published? Can you link me to it?

 

[Narwhal72]

Yeah, new technology is usually more expensive than the old. But in the long run you get a better savings. The heat produced by a 75 watt halogen is equivalent to a 150 watt incandescent and the UVB produced by the 12 watt T5 is equivalent to a 15 watt T8. Plus you have a timer built into the light. In the long run the energy savings will defray the initial cost.
Andy

 

[Narwhal72]

Unfortunately Frances hasn't updated her website since April of 2007 and is still a long ways off until it is updated. Here is a quote from her on a previous discussion on the subject.

I have not heard a single report, to date, of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis or any problem associated with the use of the new version of the R-Zilla lamps with the new phosphor.

My tests have shown that of the lamps I received from R-Zilla in September, (Desert 50 series), almost all had a different phosphor which did not emit short-wavelength UVB. The "circular" tubes, however, still had the old phosphor. Andy has recently told me that these, too, are now updated to the new phosphor.
I also informed Andy of a finding of one T8 tube in the test batch which had a much higher output than the others, which turned out to be what I assume was indeed a thinning in the phosphor coating, which was allowing a detectable trace of UVC through. Andy has informed me that since September, the quality control has been increased to an even higher level so this sort of finding should be a rare occurrence.

Again, I apologise for the delay in the preparation of the report for R-Zilla. I hope this has at least clarified the situation a little.
Sincerely,

Frances Baines
UV Guide UK

 

[spurlee01]

I'm definitely interested in seeing the results. Arena, it sounds like improvements have definitely been made. I would personally still watch my beardies for any signs of eye problems or lethargy, but I do this regardless of the bulb . I assume an announcement will be made on here when the new testing results are published? I really don't mean to start a debate, just want the OP to be aware of the previous problems.
Sara

 

[arenaburch2000]

That is ver understandable!