Megaray cold?

[NuKe]

I thought mega rays were supposed to be able to create basking temperature or atleast very close on its own??? My 100watt sb mega ray on its own can only reach a basking temp of 88F and thats far from satisfying. Is this a problem bulb or was i expecting to much in the heat department?

 

[Twobeardieguy]

How far away are you having it and how are you checking the temps? You may have to add additional heat.

 

[NuKe]

They are the recommended 12inch away. It may be my fixture having problems because the bulb just randomly went out... and now its working again. I think i may have a faulty fixture as its more than suited to run the bulb.

 

[BadCon]

Nuke, it might be overheating. The bulbs will turn themselves off if they get to hot. Depending on the size of your fixture, it probobly just overheated. Once it cools, it would turn back on automatically.

Does your new megaray have the coating on the outside of the lens? The two mega-rays I recieved recently have this coating, and the heat output from the bulbs was about half what it was before. It was such a problem, that I had to install my old Mega Rays (no coating), until I can work out heating revisions. For referance, an old style bulb was able to easily heat my basking spots to 105+ at around 13". The new bulbs would barely break 85 degrees at the same distance.

 

[NuKe]

Is this coating on the outside? if so mine does not have it. And what problem with my fixture would cause the overheat? It just did it again :/ and its only been on for 3 or 4 hours.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

What type of fixture are you using?

 

[NuKe]

Its a metal/aluminum one from probably lowes or home depot, its ceramic i think its rated at 220W 120V But im about to get a Deep Dome for it today because the bulb sticks a good 3 inches out of it. Its also very old and has been sitting out in a barn for who knows how long.

 

[diamc]

A deep dome would be the best bet and you certainly don't want the bulb to be sitting directly on the screen. Let us know how you make out once you get the new dome.

 

[NuKe]

I bought a flukers "sun dome" and it works amazing! temps are at a nice 107.1 at the highest point in the basking area. with out supplemental lighting so that worked great.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Great to hear!

 

[NuKe]

Yes Nero is happy too he gets his other heat lamp back lol. Hes under a powersun that he loves and it gets plenty hot on its own too but he likes having two basking spots.