Light Your Reptiles - Tropic Blaze HO T5 Quad Fixture Issues

[NERVOUS]

Has anyone else here experienced issues with sockets breaking apart while replacing bulbs in a Light Your Reptiles Tropic Blaze HO T5 Quad Fixture?

I have 2 of these fixtures; which had both been performing well to-date. However, when I tried replacing the bulbs 10 of the 16 sockets broke apart. It didn't matter how delicate and careful I was while removing the old bulbs, the sockets were so brittle they simply broke apart. Please see pictures below.

NOTE: Each fixture has 8 sockets (i.e. 4 bulbs per fixture, 2 sockets per bulb).

Pieces 1

• NERVOUS
• Apr 3, 2018

Pieces 2

• NERVOUS
• Apr 3, 2018

Please let me know if you've experienced this issue too. I'm trying to decide between repairing the broken sockets or replacing the fixtures with something else.

Thanks!

 

[JacksJill]

Have you contacted the seller? He might replace the socket parts for a reasonable fee. Worth asking.

 

[NERVOUS]

Have you contacted the seller? He might replace the socket parts for a reasonable fee. Worth asking.

Yes, I contacted Todd at Light Your Reptiles. He was very responsive and offered to sell me the replacement sockets for a little less than $25 (shipped).

What I'm trying to figure out is if this is a common problem or if there's possibly something about my setup that caused the sockets to fail. If there's something I can change in my setup to prevent this from happening again, then I'll try replacing the sockets and hope for the best going forward. If it's a common problem, then I don't want to throw more money at it.

 

[Decadancin]

I have seen a few issues, but not anything that would suggest a defect or being a caused by husbandry. Todd is great and stands behind the products he sells. I love my quad fixture!!!

 

[timw1]

Yes it happened to me twice. I believe the newer units have different ends and hopefully will last longer. My first time changing a bulb a couple literally broke into several small pieces. Todd sent me new end pieces and fortunately i have the proper crimping tool and a supply of butt connectors to complete the job. I think the heat from the bulbs make the plastic brittle and I don't know of a way to prevent it from occurring.

 

[Goose502]

Looks like they became brittle with all the residual heat. My quad was one of the last tropic blaze units he had awhile back. It uses a different socket structure. When I realized how warm the fixture got, I was worried about that exact issue.