POWERSUN Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor UVB Lamp Instructions
- June 7, 2024
- POWERSUN
Table of Contents
POWERSUN Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor UVB Lamp
Congratulations on your purchase of Zoo Med’s PowerSun® UV Mercury Vapor UVB Lamp! The following instructions will assist you with the proper set-up and operation of this lamp. Please read the following instructions carefully. If you have any questions regarding these instructions or the proper use of this item, please contact our customer service department at:
email: zoomed@zoomed.com
website: www.zoomed.com
or by calling 888-496-6633 (US and
Canada only).
Customers in other countries, please call
805-542-9988.
FEATURES:
- Provides essential UVB, UVA, visible light & heat all from one lamp!
- Keep your reptiles heathy: Prevents metabolic bone disease in reptiles.
- Self-ballasted: Screws into a standard lamp fixture with a ceramic socket*. No external ballast needed.
- Unique Zoo Med lamp construction creates a true flood-lamp effect, eliminating dangerous UV “hot-spots” common to clear-faced and acid-etched mercury vapor reptile lamps.
- Full one year lamp guaranty from date of purchase.
- *Make sure that the lamp fixture has a ceramic socket and is rated for the appropriate wattage.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS:
WARNING! RISK OF FIRE: Read and save all safety instructions before operating this lamp.
IMPORTANT: In order to reduce the risk of injury, fire, or electric shock, read and save these instructions prior to operation.
- DO NOT exceed electrical rating. Be sure that lamp wattage does not exceed fixture rating. Fixture must have a ceramic socket.
- DO NOT use in wet conditions. Use indoors only. Not for use with aquariums.
- Securely suspend lamp in a fixture above terrarium.
- Keep children and pets (other than your terrarium animals) away from lamp and fixture.
- Fully insert plug. Unplug when not in use. Unplug power cord before inserting or changing bulb.
- DO NOT cover with blankets, rugs, or any material.
CAUTION:
PowerSun UVB lamps emit UV radiation and must be used in accordance with these
instructions. Just as you would not stare into the sun, do not stare into this
lamp! This lamp must be placed directly overhead of your reptiles, and not to
the side which would force them to stare into this lamp! Carefully follow
these instructions and be sure the lamp is a safe distance from your reptiles.
Failure to use the lamp according to these instructions may result in personal
injury or may cause injury to your animals.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS:
PowerSun lamps have a large effective range, depending on the wattage of your bulb. Within this range are four zones of increasing UV intensity. These zones are described below and will help you determine the correct basking distance for your reptile(s). Determine the wattage of your lamp and select the appropriate distance based on the recommendations below. Please note that every bulb varies slightly in output due to factors such as age, electrical supply, and external temperatures. These distances are recommended based on average UV output.
*Notes on operating range:
The operating range is the distance from the lamp to the reptile’s basking
site. In order for your reptile to benefit from UVB, you must provide your
reptile with the appropriate temperature zone. Be sure to provide an
appropriate temperature and UVB gradient. This will allow your reptile to
adjust their distance to heat and UVB lamps in order to regulate their body
temperature and UVB exposure.
IMPORTANT NOTES
UVB Gradient: When placing UVB lamps over a terrarium, it is imperative
that the lamp is positioned in a way that creates a UVB gradient in the
habitat. UVB will be strongest close to the lamp, and will gradually decrease
with distance. This gradient can often be achieved by placing the lamp fixture
above the terrarium and off to one end of the habitat. To verify that the
desired UVI levels and gradient are achieved, use a UVI meter. The habitat
must be large enough to provide this gradient and allow reptiles to
photoregulate (adjust their exposure to UVB as needed) as they would in
nature. Always provide a shelter for reptiles to retreat completely from any
light and UVB exposure.
Watch for abnormal behaviors: It is important to monitor the reptile’s behavior following the introduction of a new UVB lamp. If the reptile spends unusually long periods of time basking as close as possible to the UVB and heat lamp(s), then the temperature and/or UVB level may be too low for that species. If a species appears to be trying to avoid the UVB lamp, spending most of its time as far from the lamp as possible then the lamp may be too strong. Under ideal conditions, reptiles should spend some time basking, and should also move throughout the habitat to perform natural behaviors (feeding, sleeping, etc.).
Screen mesh: Screen covers on terrariums significantly reduce the amount of UVB that reaches your reptile’s basking site. As the screen mesh gets finer, more UVB is blocked or filtered. The distance recommendations given may need to be decreased depending on the amount of shading produced by the screen mesh. Watch your reptile’s behavior as noted above in the section on abnormal behaviors. Glass and most plastics filter all UVB emissions and should not be placed between the lamp and animals.
The information given is provided as a guideline for the proper use of this lamp with your reptile(s). Exact UVB requirements are not known for every species and UVB levels may need to be adjusted for each specific application. If you are unsure about the proper use of this lamp, contact Zoo Med’s customer service department for more information.
FERGUSON ZONES
ZONES 1 & 2 (minimum range):
80 Watt: 16-26 inches (40-66 cm)
100 Watt: 20-32 inches (50-81 cm)
160 Watt: 26-38 inches (66-97 cm)
Zone 1: UVI 0.4 to 0.7 (Shade/Crepuscular)
Species in this zone can be either diurnal (active during the day) or
crepuscular (active at dawn or dusk). They avoid direct sunlight exposure and
are able to meet their vitamin D requirements through exposure to low levels
of UVB typically found in the shade, or at dawn and dusk. Examples include
Jamaican Brown Anoles (Anolis lineatopis), Elaphe species (Corn and Rat
Snakes), Leopard Geckos, Leaf-tailed Geckos, and Tokay Geckos. Some amphibian
species (like Dart Frogs) will also benefit from UVB exposure in this zone.
Some nocturnal species (such as Crested Geckos) may benefit from Zone 1 UVB
exposure as they have been found to expose limbs and body parts to UVB while
sleeping. Always provide a shelter for reptiles to retreat completely from any
light and UVB exposure.
Zone 2: UVI 0.7 to 1.0 (Mostly partial sun/Occasional full sun baskers)
This is a small range that is very close to Zone 1, but species in this zone will occasionally venture out into full sunlight for short periods of time. Examples include Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis), Water Dragons (Physignathus cocincinus), Day Geckos (Phelsuma species), Skinks, Box Turtles (Terrapene species), Boa Constrictors, Ball Pythons, Garter and Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis species), and most species of diurnal Colubrid snakes (like Kings Snakes and Gopher Snakes). This zone is also recommended for Old World Chameleons (Panther Chameleons, Jackson’s Chameleons, and other Chameleo species). If you’re unsure what the appropriate zone is for a given species, Zone 2 can be used as a safe and effective level that will prevent the onset of metabolic bone disease or nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP). Always provide a shelter for reptiles to retreat completely from any light and UVB exposure.
ZONE 3 (moderate range):
80 Watt: 6-16 inches (20-40 cm)
100 Watt: 10-20 inches (25-50 cm)
160 Watt: 16-26 inches (40-66 cm)
UVI 1.0 to 2.6 (Mostly full sun/Occasional partial sun baskers)
Zone 3 covers a fairly broad range and includes many species commonly kept as
pets.
These temperate, tropical, and sub-tropical species will bask in full sun
early in the day or early afternoon. During mid-day, they may be found basking
when conditions are partly cloudy. This zone is appropriate for most species
of aquatic turtles and tortoises. Many of the small spiny lizards of the genus
Sceloporus fall into this zone, as do Monitors and Tegus, Blue-tongued Skinks,
Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana), and Curly-tailed Lizards of the genus
Leiocephalus. With Zone 3 and above, it is VERY IMPORTANT to provide a UVB
gradient down to Zone 1 UVB levels so that reptiles can photoregulate and
adjust their UVB exposure as needed. Failure to provide a UVB gradient can
result in illness, eye & skin damage, or even death. Always provide a shelter
for reptiles to retreat completely from any light and UVB exposure.
ZONE 4 (high range):
80 Watt: 4-6 inches (15-20 cm)
100 Watt: 6-10 inches (20-25 cm)
160 Watt: 12-16 inches (30-40 cm)
UVI 2.6 to 3.5 or more (Mid day full sun baskers)
Zone 4 species would include the majority of “desert” species that bask in
full sunlight, even after Zone 3 species have retreated into burrows or the
shade. Examples include Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps), Uromastyx lizards,
Chuckwallas (Sauromalus sp.) and Desert Iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis).
IMPORTANT: Just as with zone 3, it is critical that the habitat is large
enough to provide a UVB gradient down to zone 1 levels to allow reptiles to
photoregulate and adjust their UVB exposure. Failure to provide a UVB gradient
can result in illness, eye & skin damage, or even death. Avoid UVI levels of
7.0 or more for zone 4 species as even the most sun-loving species begin to
retreat from full sunlight at these high levels (see lamp safety notes below
for more info).
SUSPENDING THIS LAMP FIXTURE:
CAUTION: Be sure that the lamp fixture is securely suspended above the
enclosure. Never place this lamp inside a terrarium. Zoo Med’s adjustable
Reptile Lamp Stand (Item LF-20) is recommended for safely suspending this
fixture above your terrarium. For taller terrariums, the Reptile Lamp Stand
Extension Pole (Item LF-20X) can be used and is available on the “store”
section of Zoo Med’s website. Contact customer service for more
information.
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR LAMP:
Your lamp will provide beneficial UVB for a period of 12 months. After 12 months, the lamp should be replaced with a new PowerSun® UV Mercury Vapor UVB Lamp. Before you turn your lamp on for the first time, record the date of first use so that you know when to replace your lamp. Log on to www.zoomed.com and click “UVB Reminder” to receive an email from Zoo Med letting you know that it is time to replace your lamp.
DIGITAL UV INDEX METERS:
If you are interested in measuring the amount of UV that your lamp is producing, you may want to purchase Zoo Med’s Digital UV Index Radiometer (Item # ST-7). This meter is available in the “store” section at www.zoomed.com, or by special order through your reptile product retailer.
References
- Lamp Recycle – Environmental Responsiblility Starts Here
- Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc. | #1 in Reptile Products Worldwide
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