My Zoomed Repti Halogen bulbs arrived today. A 100w and a 150w. They look similar to the Repti Basking Spot and are MUCH smaller than the PAR38 bulbs I've been using.
In terms of output, there is a strong beam in the center which drops off quickly to the sides (not a good sign). I tested the 100w. At 21'' up from the floor, I read 111f in the center. 98 1'' away, 92 2'' away 89 3'' away 84 4'' away. That gives less than a (roughly) 4'' basking area. Not good for something the size of a dragon. For now, I think i'll stick with the PAR38 80w version.
On the upside, it does handle being dimmed without giving off any noise the way the repti basking spot does, so I'd consider it a (small) upgrade over that.
The 100w bulb I had burnt out yesterday. It made a slight hum when dimmed too. Lasted just over a month in regular service. Compare to the hardware store PAR38s I use which get around 3-6 months of use before burning out. I went to put the 150w Repti Halogen in its place but found the filament was broken in that one. They are SO fragile. Final word (from me) on this one (for now) is these are complete junk and a waste of money. Stick with the PAR38 outdoor flood bulbs which are tougher. Even though the 90w versions are no longer made, the 80w does the job well too.
What brand/size are they? That's a pretty great price. Similar price to the satco BR40 brooder bulbs I've tried from the farm store. Had a problem with them being a bit too hot and then exploding/cracking though. :dontknow:
Only thing is the low kelvin rating. But I think that in conjunction with the high kelvin ratings of our uvb bulbs, that they probably compliment each other pretty well.
I used to be only for bright whites. But as time has gone on I've started using warmer basking bulbs and have come to the thought that I had up above, they compliment each other.
I think it's fine, my dragons seem to function well, plenty of energy + good appetites. I always like to tell new owners that they don't need any heat/basking bulb from the pet store but you can get these at Walmart + probably Home Depot as well. Big savings.
Yeah, I've pretty much always recommended regular household bulbs too, but years ago I thought that only bright whites should be used not the soft whites. That's what I was referring to in regards to what your thoughts were on that.
I agree, I haven't seen any difference in behavior or health between the bright white bulbs or a softer light.