Going INSANE!

[Orchidartist]

I just bought a four foot exo-terra bulb to cover both my cages, to replace the two 18" ones I had. I took a regular 4 foot shoplight fixture and I am having a bitch of a time getting the UV bulb to light up. I have to mess around with it for ten minutes for it to fully light up(not just an inch on both ends) and then the next day when I turn it back on its the same thing all over again. Did I get a dud bulb or do you think its my ballast? It says it is good for 40W bulbs, so I dont know why it is doing this. Do you need a special ballast for the UV bulbs? I had no problem with the regular 18 ones
HELP! For a 50$ bulb I am royally PO'd!!

 

[yoza717]

Did you get T8 or T12 bulbs? Do they match the fixture?

I had a problem sounding similar to yours when I first set up. I had bought 48 inch UVB bulbs that were T12/40 watt. I went to Walmart and bought a 48 inch fixture and never read the box. It was for T8 bulbs....the funny part was Walmart only sold T12 bulbs in the 48 inch length, so I just assumed that the fixture matched the bulbs they sold.

 

[drewtt]

I always have a similar problem with one of my 4-foot fixtures.
Once I get a [new] bulb into position, I never toggle the on/off switch, I just plug it in and unplug it when needed (or, use a timer).

Drew

 

[Orchidartist]

Thanks

Ive tried it in two different ballasts now, same thing. All the ones I have are for T12...Im off to find out what the repti-glo is.

EDIT: Crap. I just checked and its a T10. Well, gonna have to buy a new ballast. Grrr..

 

[Fidel]

I have had similar problems with the exo-terra repti-glo's. If I remember right the batch of bulbs I had that time were 36 or 38 watt and they were slightly smaller in diameter that the 40 watts, but not as small as a t-8. I don't know what type they were but t-12 fixtures did not like them at all.

 

[jojackson]

If the ballast has a starter, try replacing the starter.