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Known Ceramic Heat Emitter Problems?

RyanR

Canadian Boa Fanatic.
Hey Guys, Anyone else had problems with Ceramic Heat Emitters?

Tonight I unplugged one, let it cool down, and then went to unscrew it, because i needed to put a higher wattage one in due to it getting colder in the house, well when i went to twist it, it seemed to be a bit stiff and difficult to turn, so i turned it a little bit harder, and the base of the CHE shattered. and it ruined the damn ballast and everything... Now i have to run around and find some makeshift heat for tonight 'till i get to work tomorrow and i can get a replacement ballast,

anyone else had simillar problems with CHE's?

The Brand was Exo Terra.

Should also mention, i have a couple more to change, should i try them, or wait untill i have replacement bulbs and stuff on hand just in case they all have the same problem!?
 
I haven't had that problem with CHEs, but I have these light fixtures in my bathroom that take those 40 watt little flame-shaped bulbs, and when I went to change one, it shattered and the whole base was corroded into the light fixture and very difficult to get out. The other four turned out to be like that, too. Never seen anything like it before.
 
Be sure to let it fully cool before trying to change it. Sometimes the heat causes the male end of the (bulb, emitter) to expand just enough to get too snug.

If you're in a normally high humidity place, you can get the corrosion issue, too. There's a product that you can use to put a thin film on the new one that prevents the corrosion, but it completely escapes me what it is and I don't want to recommend something I'm not sure is okay.
 
Be sure to let it fully cool before trying to change it. Sometimes the heat causes the male end of the (bulb, emitter) to expand just enough to get too snug.

If you're in a normally high humidity place, you can get the corrosion issue, too. There's a product that you can use to put a thin film on the new one that prevents the corrosion, but it completely escapes me what it is and I don't want to recommend something I'm not sure is okay.

Hey, Ya i figured that might be a problem, but it was unplugged for about two hours... in a cool room.. i figure that would be plenty of time to cool off? and its moderately humid here.. but not this time of year.
 
Just tossing that out there. Did you get the rest out of the fixture? A trick I heard for lightbulbs is to stick a potato into the broken bulb and unscrew with that (unplugged, of course). If it's held in by corrosion, try rapping it lightly with the handle of a screwdriver.
 
no... it's something like dielectric grease or some such. I bet a real electrician would know. Of course, you could always ask the guy in the electrical dept at Home Despot, who probably is as knowledgeable as your average pet shop employee...
 
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