?IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS

Please read below instruction carefully before use, and operate according to the instructions provided for maximum safety and performance.

1. Carefully remove the bulb from its packaging, hold bulb by the base and inspect the glass envelope for any possible cracks or damage.

2. Mercury vapor bulb must be housed in a well-ventilated fixture with a ceramic/porcelain base light dome or wire light that is rated for at least the wattage of the bulb.

3. DO NOT use a plastic socket as it is a fire hazard. It must be mounted in a vertically oriented fixture so that the bulb points straight down, not at an angle. Mounting this bulb at an angle will reduce its ‘burn life”.

4. Do not use this bulb in conjunction with a dimmer or thermostat.

5. This bulb is sensitive to high temperatures and vibration. Make sure that it is mounted in a place with good ventilation and where it will not need to be disturbed. Moving the bulb while switched on or still hot can damage the fragile element and shortening its life.

6. Mounting Location: It will function best when mounted outside the terrarium where it is not exposed to extreme heat, humidity and vibration. If you must mount the bulb inside the terrarium, make sure that your reptile cannot contact it. If the bulb shuts off unexpectedly, a safety feature called “thermal reset” has likely occurred (see #7 and #8 for more information).

7. Plug fixture into an electrical outlet (a surge protector is recommended). It will take five minutes to “warm up” and reach its full intensity. The bulb’s output will continue to change hue (or color) until it has completely warmed up.

8. Restarting: The bulb will take 15 minutes to cool down after turning off the bulb, before being restarted. This is due to a thermal reset feature intended to prevent damage due to overheating of the bulb.

9. If the bulb seems to shut off for no apparent reason, one of the following conditions may exist;

The power being supplied to your outlet is inappropriate or fluctuating. Small changes in line voltage can trip the bulb’s thermal reset mechanism. If the voltage is consistently low then the bulb will not be able to function properly. Check with your local utility or your electrician to verify your voltage. Overdriving the bulb (i.e. higher voltage levels) by as little as 10% can decrease burn life by more than 50%.
There is too much heat in or around the terrarium and the bulb. It’s thermal reset feature will shut the bulb off for a cool down period if it gets too hot. Using the bulb in a place or fixture that is not well ventilated can cause heat buildup. If the bulb occasionally shuts off to cool down and later restarts (usually about 15-20 minutes) this is normal.