BAD HEAT LAMP BULBS?

[kerleyfarm]

I am having trouble with my heat lamp bulbs burning out after using them for just a few days. Has anyone had this problem or know what to do about it? I am using them in my chicken house not a brooder.

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[kerleyfarm]

I yose regualer light bulbs

 

[MeepBeep]

what does lowering the bulb wattage do to it? Thank for the reply.

It's less heat, you really don't need 250W of heat in most brooders unless the ambient air temp is low... Even a 60W bulb about 18" high will get you about 90°F under it...

This is my new brooder, I tested it with a 250W bulb, and it averages 103°-112° directly under the bulb, so even in a large 8.5' x 3' x 2' foot brooder (300 gallon stock tank) at 24" high it's too much heat... I solved this temporarily by installing an inline dimmer so I can dial it back... This also allow me to more easily taper it off, but I suspect even a 150W bulb would be sufficient...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My lamp has a ceramic/porcelain fixture rated for 300w what does lowering the bulb wattage do to it? Thank for the reply.

250 watt bulbs will often burst and burn out quicker, I don't know if it's just from the heat, but I know bumping or jolting them can cause it. I never use that high of a wattage. Unfortunately that is the only one that's red, but I don't use red bulbs. The 125 bulbs are more stable and can last many seasons, though I always have a back up in case of burn out, but it doesn't happen very often.

 

[azjustin]

I've noticed that the various brands are a little bit different and some sit closer into the fixture and generate a loooooot more heat around the base.

I've got a 150w from Ace that sits really tight into the base and gets so hot that it's almost to hot to touch the dome, but it's crazy thick glass and weighs almost 5 lbs.

The 250w bulbs that came from Home Despot sticks way out of the fixture and allow for plenty of airflow around the glass. A good thing since it's tough to tell you're even holding the thing since it's so light (no pun intended).

Not one of them have burned out in 6 months of constant use, so it sounds like you may have something going on. In my experience: bursting would definitely be a heat issue, burning out would be jostling or electrical. Anything rated for a true outdoor use (thicker glass) is always going to last longer.

And thinking about it further, really high humidity (could) or splashing water would also (definitely) cause a 250w bulb to burst. Also, check the dust on the bulb and the fixture, could be causing high temps.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I had trouble with the red 250 watt heat lamps I purchased last fall. I had one last a couple of days, and one last one day. Very frustrating! I was standing beside the one that lasted a day; nothing hit it, it just went out. I've always purchased the clear 250 watt, but I had purchased the red because it was all they had in stock at the time. I can't even tell you what brand they were because they've long been tossed. They had been purchased at our local co-op.

I purchased a pair of red, hard glass 125 watt bulbs and the new brand of red, soft glass 250 watt heat lamps that the co-op is stocking now and they've been excellent! I haven't had to change a bulb. I don't use a heat lamp holder/shield, but that could make sense about heat being trapped. I use a weather proof rubber pigtail socket or a phenolic keyless socket. Both are rated for 660 watts. I wire them myself.

 

[LaBellaVita]

My bulb burnt out within the first 5 minutes of use which sent me into a panic since I'm a new chick mom. Instead of going with the same type of heat bulb, I went to petco and grabbed a red 100 watt heat bulb for reptiles. Haven't had a problem with it yet *fingers crossed* it did cost a little more, but I figure people need to keep them on 24/7 for their reptiles so the life of the bulb should be pretty decent, I hope.

 

[kerleyfarm]

OK my chick has got hung in the inqubater and a little of its egg sack came out but its dride up so is this a good thang

 

[Ringtailtwister]

Thanks I'm going to look into that.

 

[kbky1973]

Got mine at tractor supply. 250watt, good for 5000 hours no problems.