Normal $3 reflector globes from woolies

Hokay, ive had about 6 globes blow in the last 3 days and was wondering if i can replace them with the normal $3 reflector globes from woolies rather than paying $8-15 only for them to blow on me again?
Has or does anyone use the normal ones?
They are going to be used solely as a basking heat source for lizards (i have the necessary uva/uvb fluoros) so are they ok to use?

Cheers, Alan.

Yeah sherm i have had a bit of a prob with globes blowing to. in the last 2 weeks i have had to replace mine twice. have also heard that the $3 ones don't work well and are a waist, although i have had no experience with them.

Mate, I use 60watt reflector globes from my hardware store that cost $3.50 each.

Probably the same type..
They work great

4 real? suggest on using them?

Yeah, I certainly am!

oh tru, well i'll have to go and check them out then, just from wollies? or from hardwear house etc?

[pythonkisses]

i use them to reflector globes from coles,woolies etc if you look at the ones you use from reptile places are the same as the ones from supermarkets.
and cheaper to

PK

The ones i have checked out and thought about using (hence the post) are the same from either stores Lib.

[NCHERPS]

Alan,
What type of stat are you using with your globes?
If you are using anything other than a dimerstat, you will see them blowing all the time.
I have heard of a few people using them black box stat's and getting through ton's of bulbs.

Neil

[africancichlidau]

When I had my Beardies I only used the Osram Reflector Globes for daytime use and they were just great. Used a few on a stat also and lasted just as long.

[nuthn2do]

I have heard of a few people using them black box stat's and getting through ton's of bulbs

The thermo contacts "chatter" when switching small loads like bulbs. A correct size capacitor fitted in the right spot eliminates this problem and bulb last a LOT longer.
Check with your stat manufacturer.

I dont use a thermostat in the lizard enclosures. I have got it up to about 45C and thats where it sits in the basking spot. No heat for them at night either.

[hugsta]

Shermy if it is just for use during the day and not for night then any reflector globe is ok. You only need to use coloured globes or ceramics for use at night.

[bigguy]

Teamsherman, I use nothing but reflector globes in all my snake and lizard enclosures. I buy them from electrical wholesales and pay around $1.80 ea buying in bulk. Buying fancy reflector globes made for reptiles are just wasting your money. The cheaper ones are equally just as good.

Remember most bulbs you buy have a life span. Some only 500 hours, some a 1000 hours. They blow pretty well right on time. The point I am making is that if you fit say ten light bulbs to your cages at the same time, and they are the same brand, then you will find that they all blow within a few weeks of each other when they run out of life. This is why people suddenly have so many bulbs blow within a week or so of each other.

Thermostats do not normally shorten the life span of a light bulb, but by using a dimming thermostat like the microclimates, you can lengthen the life span by as much as 10 times as they are rarely running at full strength.

Ahhh, bigguy to the rescue!!! Thanks mate, shall head to woolies tonight!

And thanks everyone else for their input too.