**Mega Ray Issues** / Megaray RECALL

[beardie parents]

Thank you, Francis. I'm glad you do all this hard work just to make sure our beloved beardies have good quality uvb bulbs. Some of us can't afford to loose $80+/- on MVB bulbs that aren't good for them, and the others don't want to. A lot of people are recommending the Reptisun 10 tubes, which while good bulbs, don't give off the uvb that the Mega Ray's of 2 years ago did and personally, I'm tired of buying bulbs every 4 to 5 months. One of the last two we had on Goldie lasted about 4.5 months. We got a T-rex almost 2 years ago, used it for about one year and went to the 60 watt eb mega ray setup. The ballast on Goldie's setup hasn't quit working but the one on Rosie's setup we had to replace two times since June.

I would like to know how the new t-rex's are testing? are they better than they were last year? Thanks. We really appreciate all the help you and Tracie give us on this issue.

 

[nordica]

I currently use ZooMed's Power Sun MVBs for my beardies, and I've always had to add a secondary bulb to up the heat to the correct temps. I've always just figured that's just what ya do.

As far as a UV meter, the "industry standard" is the Solarmeter 6.2. You can find them on a few different sites (including MegaRay's site, but I refuse to give them any more of my money), but I bought mine directly from the manufacture: http://beautifuldragons.com/http://www.solarmeter.com/model62.html I can't say that they're cheap, but it's a worthwhile investment when you get down to it. Hey, that's what tax refunds are for, yes?

 

[nordica]

I don't know why that link didn't work... try this one:

http://www.solarmeter.com/model6.html

 

[lilacdragon]

Hi, MrKngpn.

The only UVB meters I recommend are Solarmeters from Solartech (http://www.Solarmeter.com)
The one I highly recommend is the Solarmeter 6.5 UV Index Meter (http://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html)
I know they are very expensive, but these are scientific quality instruments - anything cheaper is a toy, to be brutally honest, and are very unlikely to give you meaningful results.

The one many people still use is the 6.2 UVB meter - and they are excellent, I still use mine in combination with my 6.5 meter... but they don't give you any idea of the safety of the amount of UVB you're getting, and you can't compare the readings from one brand of lamp with those from another, or the sun. This is because they read a wider range of wavelengths than the 6.5 meter, which reads just the range of wavelengths responsible for vitamin D3 synthesis and skin/eye damage.

(Oops! Nordica, that link in your post takes you to the Solarmeter 6.0. That's not the right one....it doesn't have the sensitivity you need for reptile lamps.)


Hi, Beardieparents.
The last I heard from T-Rex, I'm afraid, was last summer when they were selling two types of "UV Heat" lamps. A cheap Chinese "economy" version that looked like the ExoTerra Solar Glo, in a large box with a yellow and blue background, and a lamp from Westron, in the familiar black, red and orange box. But they were negotiating with Westron, and there were 2 versions of their lamps. Some of them had the familiar PAR38 "headlamp" shape with the knobbly glass lens and hexagonal pattern, and others had rounded fronts with smooth clear glass....They too promised me samples when they'd sorted out the situation, but I've not heard anything since, unfortunately.... Can you guys do a bit of detective work, and tell me what's on sale now, please?

What sort of TRex lamp are people using?
Are you all finding them good?

Best wishes
Frances

 

[lauraj1055]

So glad to read lilacdragons post. I too was having problems getting the solar raptor to get my basking spot to 105, which I need for my 6 month old baby. I could only get it to 88 degrees. I was going to return it because I thought it was bad (very wary of these since all the problems) But I also did think it would be better for summer if the UVB was good since my TREX Active gets the basking spot to 117 so I have to adjust his log not to be right under the light. Now I think I will keep it and look forward to the test results of the UVB. Please keep us posted!! Thank you lilacdragon for 'shedding some light' :lol:

 

[PuffPuff11]

So I have a question... that is ALOT to read...
I read this awhile back and it didn't bother me too much because I figured they were fixing the problem and it wouldn't take long. I personally have had good experience with the Megaray. The external ballast went out once but they replaced it immediately with hardly any problem (I think I didn't have the box so I had to pay). But now my ballast is buzzing, I am afraid it will go out again. I have tried to contact them about 3 months ago and I have heard nothing, I just emailed again. So besides all that...
I have a 60 watt externally ballasted Mega Ray... I need a new bulb but they are out of stock... yet on their website they do have the regular internally ballasted 100 watt bulb...
so is this new Solar Raptor okay? or is it not tested yet? obviously some people on here have gotten the new Solar Raptor. I was thinking about just getting the self ballasted because I don't know how long it will be for the EB. Obviously they have some bulbs... I am also wondering if I should just go with a different brand all together... I didn't realize the problem was this big.
Also as some other people posted.... about temps not getting hot enough... I got the externally ballasted because it does not produce enough heat.. I was afraid the self ballasted might get too hot and I didn't want to have to dim the UVB bulb to decrease the temp. So I do have a flood light set up to the MVB. I regulate the temp by dimming the flood light, not the MVB. It works for me.
Any more info on this new Solar Raptor would be good..

 

[PuffPuff11]

Sounds like lots of people have lost faith...
What brand of MVB do yall suggest?
I need a new bulb, honestly I cant even remember when I got the mega ray I am using now. It was longer ago than the 18 months they suggest on the website.

 

[lauraj1055]

"I regulate the temp by dimming the flood light, not the MVB. It works for me."

What do you use to dim the flood light? What can I buy and where can I buy it??

Also, I use the TREX Active MVB and it works really good, no problems with it at all. It does run hot so you need to check your temps when installing it.

 

[PuffPuff11]

My husband installed a light switch with a dimmer... to turn it off just flip the switch to dim it or turn it up depending if you want the temps higher or lower there is one of those little slider knobs on the side of the switch. I imagine anyone with a little bit of electrical knowledge could install a lightswitch to the light, I wouldn't be able to do it...
There are also Rheostats you can buy which I believe are a bit more expensive. I have one on the heat pad in my gecko's cage, it is basically the same principle... there is a box with a knob you can twist in either direction.... you just plug what you want to control into the rheostat.

I have read half of the posts on this thread but its very time consuming and I would like to stick to megarays because Puff has done very well and is the healthiest he has been in awhile... he was in bad shape when I got him but he has been doing great the past three years.
I just checked my receipt, I got my megaray I am usuing now exactly 18 mos ago so I guess I have a little time to wait on the EB MegaRay - Solar Raptor... whatever.
Anyy info on the Solar Raptor are they okay or not?

 

[Mrkngpen]

I got one of the new Solar Raptor bulbs about two weeks ago. It is a SB 100w bulb. Now, all of my previous MegaRay SB 100w bulbs would get to about 105* at 12" directly under the bulb. This new Solar Raptor bulb will only get to about 90* and even that is only at a tiny 1" spot and the temp quickly drops off into the 70s within a couple inches away from the center. I have called them and left messages but no reply. I put back in my old, backup MegRay which keeps the temps up where they should be. If I'm not able to get in touch with the people at ReptileUV, I'll probably just use the Solar Raptor in the summer when the room temps are warmer. I did try to add a household bulb to bring the temps up but I couldn't get it close enough to the basking spot to combine the two bulbs heat into one area (if that makes sense).

I don't have a UV meter so I can't report on the UV output of the new Solar Raptor.

 

[lauraj1055]

I also plan to use my mega ray in the summer because I can't get the temps up either. I will also have to use a 40 watt bulb in order to get the basking to at least 100 - 105

 

[Drache613]

Hello All,

Thanks Frances for all of your insight. It is greatly appreciated!
I certainly hope that they are getting something sorted out. I have known a couple of people now that recently got Solar Raptors who had UVB meters. The output was not good on one of them around 78 uW/cm2 with a 1.8 UVI & her other one was 187 uW/cm2 with a 6.2 UVI. However, the better bulb blew out in 2 days!

Anyone who is using the Solar Raptor & would like their bulbs tested, you can contact me. I will test them for you so we can get some data to help out!
I am getting ready to test a new T-rex Active UV Solar Glow MVB for a friend in Canada.

Thanks.
Tracie

 

[lauraj1055]

Tracie,
Let me know how the TREX Active tests as that is the one I use for one of my beardies.

 

[PuffPuff11]

I use a regular phillips 70 watt flood lamp from home depot next to my EB MegaRay and I have no issues adjusting them temp between 85-120 with the dimmer. Right now it is reading 106.9 with a room temp of 75. Both the bulbs are about 14 inches from the basking spot.
I just need to figure out which new bulb I will buy as my MegaRay is over 18 mo old

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I will report my readings on the T-rex here for everyone though remember each light is individual & does not always test the same as the rest.

Tracie