LEDs for added lighting

fuzzhc

fuzzhc

Member
I know people have been starting to use Led bulbs for added lighting etc more so now and they can be quite expensive. I came across these bulbs in B&Q and just wondered if anyone has any experience with similar? I wouldn't be using them for grow lights or anything like that but more so for added lighting to the basking and uv tube. I'm also curious as to wether I could use such a light bulb to replace the basking bulb for my female. I know they won't give off any heat but on warm days her spot can reach 85 or 86degrees and the room temp in the higher 70s. So I was thinking I could do away with the need for a basking bulb and replace with an Led so not to confuse her as to where the warmest spots higher up in the cage might be. Any thoughts on this?


http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/lighting/light-bulbs/led_bulbs/Diall-LED-6-5W-GU10-12418967

Edit: title was supposed to say LEDs for added lighting. Lol autocorrect on my phone >.<
 
I don't know much about LED, but I would still keep the basking bulb. She will figure out where the heat is coming from and go to it when needed. My current set up (waiting on my new quad system from lightyourreptiles) has three different light domes in the corners of the enclosure (no light in the fourth corner) on a 24' x 24' x 48'h screen. My veiled will travel to the heat source and basks when he wants. That is the only place he shows signs of basking (expanding body surface area/angling his body). He spends a lot of time either in the top center (where I have a hanging fake plant) between all three lights and in one of the corners where I have a natural light source (the chameleon one, he really likes that light!).
 
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Ehhhhhh.... I'd say no...

Even while having a warm spot of that high, you still want a light that is a basking spot, really, in my opinion. Maybe someone else could give you more insight, but if you didn't have a heat bulb, it would be useless to have anything that wasn't a UVB.

Why have a bulb that's useless and takes up energy AND a uvb when you could have a very low wattage incandescent/halogen that just ups the temperature (what if she wanted a little more heat, or to aid digestion they need heat) rather than having an led.
 
Thanks for the info.

I never really thought about if at one point she may need a little extra heat for digestion or sickness. Good call! Currently I'm using a 30w but even on warm days it can still get that high and it's not even pointing directly downwards. I'll see if I can source anything smaller. Guess I'm just a bit para about her clutch sizes lol.

Do you think they would be worth any added lighting though or a waste of money really?
 
Yes people are starting to use LEDs more often but strictly as supplemental lighting for plant growth. The commonly available vivarium and plant growth LEDs put out anywhere from 5000 to 7000k which is primo plant growth lighting only. Aside from that, there is no benefit to the chameleon except for phsycological health (so no benefits to the physical aspects of their health). LEDs should not put out enough heat to be used as a basking bulb and if they do there is something wrong with it. Unless you are using it as a plant growth supplement, there is no need.
 
ChamMan7 said:
Yes people are starting to use LEDs more often but strictly as supplemental lighting for plant growth. The commonly available vivarium and plant growth LEDs put out anywhere from 5000 to 7000k which is primo plant growth lighting only. Aside from that, there is no benefit to the chameleon except for phsycological health (so no benefits to the physical aspects of their health). LEDs should not put out enough heat to be used as a basking bulb and if they do there is something wrong with it. Unless you are using it as a plant growth supplement, there is no need.
Click to expand...

Not for LED in general, but if your overall enclosure is dark, then you may want to look at something else for light that is not so expensive.
 
Either way, you shouldn't do away with the basking bulb. If I could make a suggestion, keep her in an an area where she has a more consistent temperature. That way you'll have more control with her basking light and clutch sizes. Spikes in temperature are not the same as consistent access to a proper temperature basking bulb. As for ambient lighting that isn't as expensive as an LED you can use simple cfl bulbs in domes or add a few more tubes.
 
Okay cool thanks. I suspected I'd still need a basking light but thought I'd ask anyway lol. There really is nowhere else I can move her to cause we have a cat and dog. When it is warmer I can just open a window but I resent in doing so cause the room always ends up with bugs getting in as I live beside a wooded area. Suppose I could just use some more domes and cfls for the exo terra flexarium until I get rid of it. Just thought those leds might have been a viable option seen as I have the gu fittings already.
 
a few tips on using LED

LED's like Jungle Dawn are great for adding light to grow plants and using properly designed LEDs are a great way to illuminate an enclosre closer to NATURAL out-door levels of brightness.

Important things to know about LED:

1
Keep them away from heat lights- I use a min of 5 or 6 inches away from a basking bulb.
Heat is the enemy of LED longevity.

2
That brings us to number two--
LEDs do not project heat and can not be used to replace a basking bulb.
They only can be used in addition to basking bulb.

3
NO LED Available for commercial sale can produce correct levels of UVB for reptiles.
So LEDs must be used in conjunction with UVB emitting bulbs. Either Flo. or Merc. vapor.

4
LEDs are very energy efficient,
and the ones that have the correct daylight 6.5k "plant grow" spectrums, like Jungle dawn, will grow plants using way LESS electricity than any other form of lighting. They use only 1/10th as much electricity as incandescent light.


Cheers!
 
Mine will bask under their LED spots. The do give off a small amount of heat. Keep in mind that I keep montanes. They won't work as a basking bulb for most chams.
 
Thanks for all the info guys! I knew they didn't give off any if not a small amount of heat for a basking light was just thinking of doing away with on warm days but Now see that won't work :p

Think I'll look into the grow lights now as to stop the plants withering away every so often lol.
 
I use them but only for plant growth..
My basking bulb, incandescent.. is also a plant bulb.. "supposed to produce the range" not even as expensive as a reptile bulb, last way longer to.. not quite as cheap as a normal incandescent bulb.. Not sure if true, but seen better plant growth since I switched to a "plant" incandescent.. paying for the electricity, anyhow.. so nice compromise :) need a proper basking may as well spend a little more and get a plant "growth" one....
 
I've practically been in the process of making one of these , the technology is already there just no one has taken the time to do bit right lol actually would be 40-50$ bulb , or round 100-150 or less for a custom build, uva and uvb chips are available, 2-4 each of those, 4-6 each of 3500-6500k , 2 each of 460nm and 660nm and 6-10, 1000nm + infrared chips for spot heating... wppould be about 30watts for a con style bulb, maybe around 40-75watts for a custom build...any thought would love to hear
Be perfect lighting, perfect uva-uvb range ,good for plant growth, infrared and light heat would be enough to maintain tanks round 90+degrees , and Bulb life over three years... I'm actually quite surprised to not see any led aplications
 
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