Equipment Review and Discussion :: Mercury Vapor Bulb Busting

[Loumeer]

Hey guys,

I posted in the general care form and nobody seemed to be able to tell me what was going on. I am hoping that somebody with some extensive MVB experience can tell me what I am doing wrong.

I have a Zoo Med deep dome light fixture that I am trying to put a MVB and so far I am 0/3 in bulbs. I am using ZooMed Powersun 100w and they all have broken in the exact same spot. Some pictures below.

This is the first bulb: Running time 1 month

Bulb 1

This is bulb #2: Running time 4 hours

Bulb 2

This is bulb #3: Running time ~8 hours

Bulb 3

I have the deep dome fixture hanging vertical above my basking area. It is set to be on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours.

I have it attached to this extension cord http://www.amazon.com/GE-51954-Extension-Cords-12-Feet/dp/B00178HJ6C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332252835&sr=8-2

It is then fed into this multi socket tmer http://www.lowes.com/pd_331645-207-TE08WHBL_?PL=1&productId=3242168#BVRRWidgetID

If anybody knows what is going on I would really appreciate some help. I can use halogen bulbs with no problem but these Powersun bulbs just keep breaking on me.

[VeipaCray]

WOW. I don't think the extension cord or the multi socket timer are the issue.

I use the same deep dome and powersun bulb and have not had an issue. Are you buying / exchanging these bulbs from the same store? I'm wondering if the store you're getting these bulbs from has a defective lot.

Have you tried contacting ZooMed?

[Loumeer]

I contacted ZooMed and they just told me to send in the bulbs with the receipts. Not sure what the problem is either. I am thinking maybe the dome is the problem, or the extension cord, or lack of surge protection. Not sure. but these bulbs are getting hot enough to melt the glass. I did notice that my Dome is not exactly round. Using a tape measure the top of the dome is 9" diameter on one side and 8" diameter on the other making it oval shaped.

[steve]

So it's on a stand? It it above a screen?

[Loumeer]

Here are some pics of the basking area with the lamp. I had to black out parts of the picture because it is my place of work.

Here is the front of the aquarium

front

Here is the back looking down on the ATBA I made.

atba

Here is the light hanging down on the ATBA, when I have the Powersun in I usually have to hang it lower using the chain in order to reach the temperature I need, so it usually hangs about half way underneath the cut in the wood.

light

[steve]

The setup looks good, I think this is simply a manufacturers defect. They've had issues before, and to be fair I think all MVB brands have had some type of issue before. You can try a regular ceramic socket lamp dome and see if the issue resumes however I haven't heard of other people having specific issues with deep domes.