Lighting fixture question...

[Jason4045]

I have an interesting scenerio. I purchased (2) 5 1/2" basking fixtures, one of which is black with a white painted interior and the other being the raw aluminum finish inside and out. They are both outfitted with ExoTerra Sun Glo 50 watt bulbs. The issue I am having is that at the same distances the raw aluminum fixture is producing a 5 degree increase in temperature over the painted fixture. Does that sound normal?? I would not think that would be the case, but it seams to be so. I droped the wattage in the all aluminum fixture to 40 watts and it seams to have ballanced the temps out. Has anyone found that the raw aluminum fixtures project more heat the a painted fixture?

Thanks, Jay

 

[Bradkc]

It makes sense that the unpainted "raw" hood would reflect for light(heat) than the painted one. Reflection is whats key and whats causing the temperature increase.

 

[Jason4045]

It makes sense that the unpainted "raw" hood would reflect for light(heat) than the painted one. Reflection is whats key and whats causing the temperature increase.

I guess what I really was trying to get at was: A 5 degree difference is pretty substantial in a chams cage, and for a the finish on a fixture alone to create such a increase/decrease might be useful information to many reptairum owners. I had to drop the basking bulbs wattage by 10 watts to compinsate for the fixtures finish. Just some food for thought.

Jay