New kind of bulb from Zoomed??

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

I ordered some Reptisun 10 bulbs over the weekend for my dragons. Well apparently Zoomed is changing the bulb to a skinnier bulb that they say may or may not fit Flourescent fixtures that aren't manufactured by them. Has anyone else tried these new bulbs and know if they do in fact work?? I really need to know before I spend alot of money on something that isn't going to work. Here is the info I received about the new bulbs:

Hello,


Thank you for contacting us. We have been making the T-12 (fatter) bulbs especially for a number of years but this is an older technology. In Europe, only T-8’s (skinnier bulbs) have been used for quite a while and we will no longer make T-12’s. Since we are unwilling to compromise on the quality of our product, and the new T-8’s are more energy efficient, we have decided to make the switch from T-12’s to T-8’s. The new T-8’s will work in an electronic ballast, a ballast made for a T-8 bulb and our Slider Hoods and Combination Hoods. I cannot guarantee if they will or will not work in another manufacturer’s T-12 magnetic ballast. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Kind Regards,

Ashley Rademacher
Customer Service
Zoo Med Labs, Inc.
3650 Sacramento Dr.
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
Toll Free 888-496-6633
Fax 805-542-9295

They are currently holding my order until I let them know so if you have any information please let me know!

Thanks!

 

[vickson420]

Hello
Yes they are indeed changing the bulb to T8 verses T12 due to the new government restrictions that will be going into effect by 2010.I have questioned several times about whether or not the T8 will fit into a fixture made for T12 and have gotten several different answers.Some have told me the bulbs will still fit in the T12 fixture but other have said no.Unfortunately there isnt going to be much of a choice one way or the other as this soon will be law and no one in the US will be making T12 bulbs anyway so I recommend ordering the T8 bulb either way and if it doesnt work with your fixture you will then have to replace that as well.

 

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

Thanks so much for your reply. This is really frustrating. I just went and bought new fixtures the other day, I guess I can return them if they don't work out. Does anyone know a website that carries the new kind of fixtures? I looked on the website that I bought the bulbs from but they didn't have any 24" that I could find. Thanks !

 

[fkalb]

The T8 will physically fit into your T12 fixture. The pin configuration is similar. Difference is the diameter... T12s are 12/8ths of an inch in diamter, which is an inch and a half. T8s are 8/8ths which is.. you guessed it one inch It is not recommended because the ballast in your T12 fixture is meant to run a T12 tube. It might work for awhile but It will definitely shorten the life of your tubes, could very likely burn out almost immediately as well. Just think of it as over driving the tube.. its smaller and does not need such a large ballast to run. This is why they are switching over to T8s, less energy and newer technology. So do not use your T12 fixture to run a T8.. even temporarily 8) hope that helped

 

[BadCon]

So all fluorescent t-12's are going bye bye, or just UV types? If so, I better stock up, as I am not replacing all the fixtures in my house, garage, and viv...

Its a good thing these bulbs last forever, a couple packs will last a long time.

 

[vickson420]

Yes this applies to ALL tubes not just UVB.Anything over T8 is history.

 

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

Thanks so much fkalb that does clear it up some. I guess I am going to have to buy new fixtures, UGGGHHH! That's bad too because I have 2 flourescent fixtures in my house as well and I guess eventually they will have to be replaced. Geezzz !! What a pain, they are doing all this stuff to save electricity (energy) for the environment but cars they do nothing ! makes no sense to me. I guess it's easier for the politicians to make bulb makers to change than the car manufacturers and big oil companies. OK I feel a rant comin on so I better stop at that ! Thanks everyone.

 

[fkalb]

Haha, just imagine all the older offices which are running T12s. It is for the better though, just as CFLs will be replacing incandescent light bulbs. The newer florescent tubes and electronic ballasts work way more efficiently. Im sure youve tried to turn on a fluorescent fixture in the cold and it either wouldn't turn on or takes a long time to light up, also they hum constantly well that is the old style heavy magnetic ballasts. The new electronic ones weigh alot less and will fire up in any reasonable temperature and like i said run waay more effieciently. I work in the electrical industry so we see and install all of the new products. Ive been doing alot of home automation lately and its pretty damn cool stuff.

 

[Stephies_Leo _Dragon]

I know it sounds crazy! I know at my work we have flourescent fixtures everywhere ! I can't imagine having to replace them all. That's going to be a big expense on alot of businesses for sure. Oh well, maybe we should go back to using candles, save even more energy ! lol