one for the sparkys

[dpfb]

how much of a differance can wire make to the power a ceramic bulb recieves.
i have 2 ceramics wired into one plug( awaits shouting). both going through a habistat dimmer. but 1 is at 33 but the other is at 27!!
both have pretty similer holders and 3 care cable. but the cable and holder on 1 is abit older.
could the age of the cable effect it that much?
iv measured both with the same thermometer, swapped the bulbs around and swapped the stst probe from the top to the bottom viv.

but one isnt kicking out as much heat as the other.

thanks

[reptiles-ink]

It could be down to a poor connection on the cable or the holder itself.
Unplug from the mains, remove the bulb and bend the middle terminal on the holder out a bit. It is a common problem for the holders as the middle pin on ceramics and bulbs varies by quite a bit meaning some will work perfect where as other bulbs wont even work as they dont make contact.
As for the cable, providing that it is a high enough rating for the bulb/ceramic and it is free from corrosion them it will be ok.

[dpfb]

exellant, il give that a go.
cheers dave

[dpfb]

bending the centre out hasnt helped, heated strait back up to the same temperature.
the bulb is working as i couldnt hold it to long, but no where near as hot as the other one.
il have to take it apart and check the wires tomorrow and see if that helps, but its the new one and i put it togeather before i put it in so i cant see it being a problom.
very strange...

[Bikewatch2000]

Hi

You will find that the differences you are getting are more to do with other variables other than being cable related. Ie ambient temps, age of ceramics.

Voltage drops are only really noticeable over longer cable lengths (10's of meters).

Heater elements as those in the ceramic lamps do become less efficient over time and is more than likely the issue.

Hope this helps

[dpfb]

please re-read the first post. its not the bulb or the ambiant. but could possibly be the cable length. i havnt thought of that.
thanks

[vitticeptus]

is the warmer temp in the top viv?Heat rises so the top viv should be a few degrees warmer than the bottom one.......just a thought.

[dpfb]

it is the top viv thats getting hottest, but 10 degrees farenhiet difference? my vivs are only 12 inchs high.
the cable length has made no difference either.

[dpfb]

also the heat would have to travel trough 36mm of mdf so should be quite abit lower if it is just the heat rising.
i just put a sheet of tin foil under the hotter one to reflect the heat and they are still adjusting at the same rate, i,e 10f up/down. very even though

[Bikewatch2000]

Hi

Sorry I didn't read your original post correctly, the temp differences you are experiencing are purely down to convection of heat from the lower viv raising the ambient temps in the upper making the ceramic work more efficiently.

plus you should really stat each viv individually or you seriously increase the risks or causing serious damage.