Equipment Review and Discussion :: External Ballast Mega-Ray.

[papoopeepoo]

What's up, everybody?

My 100watt Self-Ballasted Mega-Ray bulb blew out this morning (7 months old), and I quickly went to ReptileUV to shop.

It was between another 100watt SB or the newer 60watt EB kit. I went with the 60w because I figured the bulbs regularly last almost 3 times as long, therefore saving me money over time, despite being a bit more expensive from the start.

Is anyone using this kit, or are you familiar with it? I'd like some opinions, and some tips if possible.

I know that it emits less heat than the self-ballasted bulbs, so the ceramic heat emitter will come back out for the winter.

Thanks.

[marisa]

Don't know of many people who've used it (other forums). I think it's been around about as long as the other Mega Rays. I know the self-ballasted MVBs don't have the life of the EB ones, but wanting to keep wires, etc. to a minimum, I've always gone with the self-ballasted ones.

[Daniel3507]

i can tell you if you would have gotten the 100 watt you would have been waiting a long time for it. i ordered one after mine blew and got an email that they were back ordered 2 weeks. got the 160 instead

[papoopeepoo]

Going by what you're saying, Daniel, I'm glad I got the 60w. It's scheduled for delivery today, not even a week after ordering.

[papoopeepoo]

Since installing the kit around 3PM today, I've seen a major boost in basking times for my turtle. She is loving it even more than the Self-Ballasted bulb.

The difference is the heat source which is a 60w ceramic heat emitter instead of the UVB bulb itself. I think she really likes the infra-red heat coming from the emitter.