Lights keep breaking?

Lights keep breaking?

Postby Mr Venom » Wed Jun 19, 2013 6:47 pm

Hi everyone

Well after setting up my Boa constrictors cage nicely, I put a light in for some extra warmth because I noticed that the temperatures keep going too low.

For the past week everything was going well, and now today all of a sudden the light has stopped working?

It happened with the other cages they were in aswell, they are normal light bulbs and I do have a humidity box in the cage because the light makes the cage go dry.

Why do they keep breaking?

Is it something I am doing wrong?

Any help and comments would be greatly appreciated.

P.s the lights are not commercial Reptile brand lights, they were all normal light bulbs from grocery stores, from 60w to 100+w.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby it_bit_me » Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:46 pm

Screw-in or bayonet bulb?
Did you notice any burn marks at the base?
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Lillypod » Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:03 pm

In SA we don't have a nice even source of electricity coming through, the electricity dips often and causes light to pop, so I have all my lights connected to a power source that will regulate they flow of electricity.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby LizardLover » Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:00 pm

Eskom needs a big thanks.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Mitton » Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:14 pm

I think if it was the power then other lights in his house would also break.

I have seen snakes push on lights and then they stop working, I have it even with tube lights, my snakes will push with their noses on the tube and then the metal end breaks but the glass does not shatter, the same happens with the normal bulbs.

Try put something over the bulb, like a type of mesh cage and see if they last longer then.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Mr Venom » Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:18 pm

There were no burn marks by the base, but on the inside the thin piece of wire connected to the 3 poles looked like it was snapped.

This was was a clip in and not a screw in bulb.

Mitton I don't think it was the Boas that caused it because they are in the blue and just sit in the humidity box the entire week.

Tomorrow I'm going to buy a screw in light fitting and use a reptile brand heat light, ill put a mesh box over it.

After taking the bulb out I noticed it looked humid inside the bulb itself? Why is that?
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Mitton » Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:33 pm

The inside of a bulb is a vacuum, so the fact that there was moisture in the bulb could mean that the glass broke away from the metal part.
The snakes might move around in the early morning while you sleep, mine always look like they have not moved but there are parts of the cage messed.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Mr Venom » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:18 am

Ah ok, thanks for the info Mitton :).

Today ill put an outer mesh box over the new light.

Thanks again
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Serpent » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:46 am

I also suspect the snakes have something to do with the globes breaking, but its difficult to say without looking at your set ups. If your temps are dropping too low, you could try heating up the room which will increase your interior cage temp considerably. I am using two 400w (wall panel) Eco heaters on a controller. When the heating is running my cages temps increase by at least 6deg. I am presuming you are using a heating pad.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Mr Venom » Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:00 am

Yeah its one large heating pad on the one side, and the light on the other side. Now with out the light the cage is freezing and so is my room, so today ill have to get that light fitting asap or atleast take them outside to soak up some sun.

We don't have heaters in the house, unfortunatly.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Serpent » Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:28 am

Running a light 24/7 is not ideal, but they do work if that's all you have, you could look at getting a ceramic globe for heating. Another alternative is to put your boa in a smaller cage / tub just for the winter as they are easier keep warm. You are however going to have to find a long term solution for your set up and heating requirements.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Mr Venom » Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:05 am

I would get a ceramic heat emitter but I'm worried that it would also break just like all the other lights?

In the day it will be a heat globe and at night a red light for some night time heat.

I have put them in tubs but they just don't seem to like the idea.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Blake » Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:11 am

Heat emitters don't just break, they more expensive then globes yes but they also last much longer. Works out cheaper to get a heat emitter once off then to have to continually buy globes. I would advise that if you decide to go the heat emitter route that you also use it connected to a thermostat, otherwise you will cook your snakes and I doubt you want That haha.
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Mr Venom » Thu Jun 20, 2013 1:17 pm

Sweet thanks for the info Blake :).
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Re: Lights keep breaking?

Postby Blake » Thu Jun 20, 2013 1:31 pm

Anytime man. Hope my suggestion helps. All the best with your situation.
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