My beardies lighting

Question
QUESTION: I purchased Exo Terra bulb 160 watts from the internet, as I heard it's the best choice for beardies. However I'm beside myself that it doesn't WORK!
I'm asking you this beacause you might have some knowledge of this bulb?

I can't exchange it as I got it from the USA! and I live in the UAE :-(

ANSWER: Hi Sarah,

There are a few things to know about mercury vapour lamps. When they are first turned on the light will be rather weak but will gradually intensify to full strength in a few minutes after the pressure inside reaches a certain level. Once they are turned off they cannot restart until this pressure drops so you have to let the bulb sit for awhile before restarting. They also cannot be used with dimmers or thermostats.

If it was dropped at some point during shipping it certainly could have been damaged. Do you hear anything inside it when you shake it? These bulbs are more delicate by their nature but I have not heard of Exo terra having any higher degree of trouble then any other brands. I hate to think that you will just lose the money though. Contact the seller and explain the situation. The problem is that they likely need the defective bulb back in order to be reimbursed by whoever supplied it to them. Maybe you can work out a compromise where you at least would not have to pay full price for another one.  

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QUESTION: Thanks:-)
What you mean by they also cannot be used with dimmers or thermostats?

I figured out why this happened. It's due to the diferrent volts. I need a european one, not american.

Answer
Hi Sarah,

The voltage difference actually had crossed my mind when I was thinking about your answer but somehow I forgot to include it when I later typed the response. Now I feel quite sorry about that. You must be on the 220 voltage system then because N. America uses 120V. I remember having to check all the electrical gadgets when I went to England last year. Some appliances can be duel voltage and used in either system. Apparently MVB bulbs are not as you found out the expensive way.

Thermostats control the temperature by turning the bulb on and off as needed. MVB are not suitable for that system because they need a cooling off period before they can be restarted.

Dimmers allow you to gradually turn down the power to a bulb and with incandescents and ceramics that means you can control the amount of heat.

MVB bulbs need full power in order to keep their internal pressure up. They require this pressure level in order to function.


Revised answer, I forgot to add this link.  http://www.uvguide.co.uk/mercvapourintro.htm

Also forgot to add that you can get voltage converters that allow you to use a 120V  plug-in type appliance in a 220V system. I have one for traveling and it was not very expensive. It plugs into the wall and you then plug into it.