UV Bulb replacement WHY!!

[coffeesnob]

Can someone please explain How a UV tube works. Also why a UV tube should be replaced every 6 months. they are an expensive purchase and to be honest i am loathed to replace an item if there is no good reason. If it turns on what is that that would stop it emitting UV rays

 

[Taterbug]

Check out the uv meter owners group on yahoo or the reptile lighting group on Facebook, the folks there could give you a much better and more technical answer than I can... but as I understand it with use (heat and energy inside the bulb) the special glass used begins to become opaque to uvb and no longer allows it out. In addition the phosphors responsible for producing the UVB portion of the spectrum decay at a different rate as the ones that make visible light so your bulb could be putting off plenty of light but not enough in the uvb range for the dragon.

It's a significant expense but you can purchase a uv meter (solarmeter brand is recommended) to monitor the decay of your bulbs and get the most life out of them. That's realy the only way to be sure of the output of your bulb. The T5 bulbs are also rated for 12 months, but again the only way to know what you are getting is a meter. (I've been monitoring mine for 6 months now and not yet seen noticiable decay).

 

[coffeesnob]

Check out the uv meter owners group on yahoo or the reptile lighting group on Facebook, the folks there could give you a much better and more technical answer than I can... but as I understand it with use (heat and energy inside the bulb) the special glass used begins to become opaque to uvb and no longer allows it out. In addition the phosphors responsible for producing the UVB portion of the spectrum decay at a different rate as the ones that make visible light so your bulb could be putting off plenty of light but not enough in the uvb range for the dragon.

It's a significant expense but you can purchase a uv meter (solarmeter brand is recommended) to monitor the decay of your bulbs and get the most life out of them. That's realy the only way to be sure of the output of your bulb. The T5 bulbs are also rated for 12 months, but again the only way to know what you are getting is a meter. (I've been monitoring mine for 6 months now and not yet seen noticiable decay).

thanks for that i found this product what do you think
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ETHOS-4385-Solar-Irradiance-Meter-FREE-P-P-/171632725208

 

[Taterbug]

I can't speak to any of the broadband meters like that personally, again I'd defer to the folks in the groups I mentioned. Anyway, the inexpensive meters don't "focus" in on the wave lengths that we are particularly interested in, they look at it all. So some are fine for measuring decay but you wouldn't get an accurate measurement. Others of them are not sensitive at all to the light from artificial sources (our uvb bulbs are so very weak compared to the sun).

 

[coffeesnob]

I can't speak to any of the broadband meters like that personally, again I'd defer to the folks in the groups I mentioned. Anyway, the inexpensive meters don't "focus" in on the wave lengths that we are particularly interested in, they look at it all. So some are fine for measuring decay but you wouldn't get an accurate measurement. Others of them are not sensitive at all to the light from artificial sources (our uvb bulbs are so very weak compared to the sun).

that explains its price then never mind thought i had found a bargain :lol:

 

[Taterbug]

Yeah, the solarmeters run about 200-250$ (which could take a few years to recouperate in bulbs) but are a pretty quality instrument.

 

[Goonie]

[Moved from General to Enclosures]