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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 27, 2004 5:41:15 GMT -8
When I turn Willie's IR bulb up on the dimmer it becomes a bright light with very little/no red light that I can see. Are those still IR rays? Are they safe for Willie's eyes? It's VERY bright!
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Post by IguanaKing on Nov 27, 2004 11:48:28 GMT -8
Hmmm...that's strange...I have never heard of an IR bulb giving off white light. What brand are you using?
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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 27, 2004 14:07:25 GMT -8
I'm glad you saw this post, Sean. It's a Sylvania and it's the second one I've purchased to do this. I don't run it way up on the dimmer any more and use CHE's to add to the heat. I just read the box and it cautions about eye injury from looking directly at it.
What brand are you using? It's not the same white as an incandescentl light bulb. Actually it is MUCH brighter.
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Post by IguanaKing on Nov 27, 2004 15:31:34 GMT -8
Mine is a Sylvania too.  Yes...if you look directly at it, it may cause eye damage, the filiment is extremely bright. I have never had my igs look at it though, occasionally they look at the MegaRay, which is DEFINITELY bright enough to cause eye damage during prolonged exposure (just like the IR lamps). But, you should keep it off the dimmer though, I have no idea what these lamps do on a dimmer. I run mine at full voltage and never have a problem. The only lighting "problem" I have is with Hercules posing under the MegaRay and staring at his own body, I think he admires how pretty he is under the new lights. ;D Anyway...you should get at least your IR lamp off the dimmer, there's no need for it to provide anything but daytime (and nighttime, if you have gotten Willy to sleep under a blanket) heat, so it doesn't need a dimmer. ;D |
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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 28, 2004 7:12:20 GMT -8
I took your suggestion, Sean. The IR bulb is now plugged in directly...no dimmer. But it is a very bright white light now... I guess I'll buy one more. When the bulbs were working right he was so toasty warm. Will does a funny thing now. When I bring in the little handheld thermometer to check his body heat, he assumes his regal posture. Same as when I bring in the UVB meter...He poses again. So cute. Might be related to how much I praise him when he 'poses' for the camera. |
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Post by IguanaKing on Nov 28, 2004 7:33:22 GMT -8
If the Sylvania IR heat lamp is giving off bright, white light, there must be something wrong with it. Its great to read about Will "posing", it only proves more that he is the usual male Iguana. His behavior seems quite normal. I think Diane has the ultimate male Iguana name, Narcissus...heh...spends all of his time looking in the mirror. ;D
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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 28, 2004 12:48:20 GMT -8
LOL about Narcissus! I never knew his full name. There's one more thing about Will I'm noticing. He dives into his food now as if there is no tomorrow and when he does I laugh..because I enjoy seeing him so hungry. But Will doesn't like it if I laugh!!!  He stops eating and stares at me.  I clearly get the message that he doesn't like it. I think he'll be a real handful later. I'm going to home depot tomorrow for another IR Bulb. Maybe they'll take this one back. |
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Post by IguanaKing on Nov 29, 2004 5:49:06 GMT -8
Nancy, it just occurred to me that I have seen IR heat lamps being sold with clear lenses. Just make sure you get one of the ones with a red lens on it...this should cut down on the brightness.
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Post by mar on Nov 29, 2004 18:06:58 GMT -8
Rather than using a dimmer you could try to use a thermostat. I have one for Bob and it is great.
Dimmers are designed very differently for AC and DC use. A household dimmer from Home Depot will not work to dim, say, a flash light or your car head lights (I have no clue why you would do that). Because of this and other factors they can cause harm to light ballasts, motors (like AC or fridge compressors), and other things which depend on a regular, normal, periodic power wave. Traditionally the ballest for lights (foresent especially) are very complicated and rather delicate circuits; they are being slowly replaced by new solidstate methods.
-------- WARNING: This goes way off topic----------
Dimmers start to do weird things in general. Not that any household really cares (at this time) but they emit very noisy signals across the local power gird which start crazy magnetic fields. As communication methods venture onto powerlines (using the wall outlet rather than a dedicated network or phone lines) dimmers start to drive things nuts as they block frequencies.
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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 30, 2004 6:13:04 GMT -8
Hmmmmm iinteresting, Mark ( what I could understand  ) I had a feeling the dimmer caused this in two bulbs. What kind of thermostat are you pleased with. I've never had any luck with one? Sean..Both of these bulbs started out red. I know about the plain IR bulbs too. I wonder if these bulbs have morphed into that kind because of the dimmer. |
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Post by mar on Nov 30, 2004 10:16:23 GMT -8
I have used an Alife thermostat with probe for almost two year with no problem.
---> ~$25 at lllreptile.com after shipping
---> Handles a few hundred watts
---> I think 1000 but might "only" be 800, plenty for one iguana cage
---> built into an extension cord so there are three ungrounded outputs
---> the probe is on the end of about a meter (3 feet) of wire so I can have the thermostat outside the cage and be measuring the temp at, say, the basking spot
I think Merlin uses the ZooMed version with good results.
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Post by Merlin on Nov 30, 2004 15:28:00 GMT -8
Yes the Reptitemp 500R. Has plug ins for 2 heating devices and is rated to 500 watts.
Keeps Zok's home just right! ;D
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Post by WillemsMom on Dec 1, 2004 8:45:22 GMT -8
Thank you both! I'm going to order one today!
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Yes...if you look directly at it, it may cause eye damage, the filiment is extremely bright. I have never had my igs look at it though, occasionally they look at the MegaRay, which is DEFINITELY bright enough to cause eye damage during prolonged exposure (just like the IR lamps). But, you should keep it off the dimmer though, I have no idea what these lamps do on a dimmer. I run mine at full voltage and never have a problem. The only lighting "problem" I have is with Hercules posing under the MegaRay and staring at his own body, I think he admires how pretty he is under the new lights. ;D Anyway...you should get at least your IR lamp off the dimmer, there's no need for it to provide anything but daytime (and nighttime, if you have gotten Willy to sleep under a blanket) heat, so it doesn't need a dimmer. ;D
I clearly get the message that he doesn't like it. 
) I had a feeling the dimmer caused this in two bulbs. What kind of thermostat are you pleased with. I've never had any luck with one?