Numerous horrible ZooMed products!?!

So I'm not sure if I just have really bad luck, or if anyone else has encountered the same problems I have with ZooMed....
So I've been through SIX different ZooMed PowerSun light bulbs in the last 8 months!! They're suppossed to work for a whole year and everyone I get blows out within a month or two! They are pretty dang expensive light bulbs so it really pisses me off. I contacted ZooMed and they sent me a replacement one the first time but since I didn't keep my reciept, their policy is to only replace it once, and not anymore times after that, reguardless of the length of time..
And I know it's not "me". I take extra good care of my bulbs (as they're so expensive). I don't move them, at all or anything!
And I know it's not my electicity or outlets or anything because I have these bulbs at my house and my boyfriends house and no matter the location, they all do the same thing!
Also, the under tank heaters! I've had THREE different ZooMed under tank heaters malfunction!!
Just on a random day, I touched them and they were literally like a million degrees (they didn't all malfunction on the same day or same location, all different days and different locations).
I couldn't even touch them! They were so hot, the heater was burning through itself!! Same thing with their return policy, they'll replace it once, but since I didn't keep my reciepts, they can't replace it more than once.
So I learned a lesson, to start keeping all my reciepts... BUT, reguardless... I'm VERY upset because my reptiles need these lights and heaters and with them malfunctioning all the dang time, my babies could really get hurt, or possibly die!
Has anyone else had problems with ZooMed products???
Is there a different, better company anyone recommends??
Thanks!

All UTH's should be regulated by a thermostat, yours weren't "malfunctioning", they were working perfectly. There isn't anything in them to regulate their temperature... the longer they are plugged in the hotter they get. This is why thermostats are mandatory... so you can control their temperature.

As for the bulbs, are both your boyfriends house and your house supplied power from the same company? they could be producing dirty power. There are many parts of the US that have terrible power. This could be your problem. If not then you could just have really bad luck getting a bunch of lemons, but with that many I would be inclined to suspect that something else is the cause.

Can't help you with the lights, but for heat pads I use Ultratherms. Never had an issue, and they come in dozens of sizes. You can find them from different suppliers, I usually use the Bean Farm.

Another thing to check would be the wattage rating on the light fixtures. Are you using a bulb that's a higher wattage than your light fixture is rated for?

As for the UTH, as Aaron said, they can get VERY hot if not being regulated by a thermostat or at least a dimmer. We're talking up to 140*F hot... You need to have something regulating the heat from those UTHs or they can literally slow-cook your snake.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

All UTH's should be regulated by a thermostat, yours weren't "malfunctioning", they were working perfectly. There isn't anything in them to regulate their temperature... the longer they are plugged in the hotter they get. This is why thermostats are mandatory... so you can control their temperature.

As for the bulbs, are both your boyfriends house and your house supplied power from the same company? they could be producing dirty power. There are many parts of the US that have terrible power. This could be your problem. If not then you could just have really bad luck getting a bunch of lemons, but with that many I would be inclined to suspect that something else is the cause.

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"They were working perfectly"? Really? How can you say that when you're not in my house? Haha!
The representative on the phone said that they have had under tank heaters from their company do the exact same thing I described, which SHE said is a malfunction!
Anyways... And as for our energy, we have Progress Energy, which is the MAIN energy supplier for ALL homes and businesses of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida... So I DOUBT they have "dirty power". Haha.
I've talked to numerous other people who have had problems with ZooMeds products and even the Manager of Customer Service for ZooMed told me she's had numerous people call them with the same problems with the bulbs and under tank heaters, and even dome lamps too.
But thanks anyways :)

Zoo-Med UTH's are resistive heating elements, nothing regulating temperature at all... if they are hot they are working, it is as simple as that. I can say that because I'm an electrical engineer and I know the physics.

I have Progress Energy, and at least local to me my power is ok, not great but acceptable. But the power coming from every station will be different. just because it is a big company doesn't rule that out.

The problem with zoo-med products is that they advertise their products as if they didn't need a thermostat to regulate them... this is not the case. Zoo-Med UTH's will get up to 130+ within a week of being plugged in. They call it a "malfunction" because if they didn't they would have to admit that their product needed a thermostat to control it.

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

Another thing to check would be the wattage rating on the light fixtures. Are you using a bulb that's a higher wattage than your light fixture is rated for?

As for the UTH, as Aaron said, they can get VERY hot if not being regulated by a thermostat or at least a dimmer. We're talking up to 140*F hot... You need to have something regulating the heat from those UTHs or they can literally slow-cook your snake.

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Haha. I'm sure you're not trying to be mean, but I'm not THAT dumb! Haha. They're all 160W MAX light fixtures with 100W bulbs in them :)

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

The problem with zoo-med products is that they advertise their products as if they didn't need a thermostat to regulate them... this is not the case. Zoo-Med UTH's will get up to 130+ within a week of being plugged in. They call it a "malfunction" because if they didn't they would have to admit that their product needed a thermostat to control it.

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Gotcha. That makes sense! So do you recommend a different company for UTHs then?

If the uth was melting itself it obviously is malfunctioning. Even though a thermostat must be used, they should not get hot enough to melt the product.

Sounds like you just got a bad batch of stuff :( I have two zoomed pads that have been working fine for years. I also have a reptitemp 500r that works fine.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

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Originally Posted by KThnxBye

Haha. I'm sure you're not trying to be mean, but I'm not THAT dumb! Haha. They're all 160W MAX light fixtures with 100W bulbs in them :)

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Gotcha. That makes sense! So do you recommend a different company for UTHs then?

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overall I wouldn't recommend heating pads. but zoo med UTHs should be functional for your needs if regulated by a rheostat or thermostat. using any unregulated heat source is asking for trouble generally speaking. I think that was Aaron's point, if I'm not putting words in his mouth.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KThnxBye

Haha. I'm sure you're not trying to be mean, but I'm not THAT dumb! Haha. They're all 160W MAX light fixtures with 100W bulbs in them :)

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Gotcha. That makes sense! So do you recommend a different company for UTHs then?

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Ultratherms are considered to be higher quality, but all UTH's have this problem to some extent. Certainly all of the brands sold in pet stores.

Here is a link for ultratherms: http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads

I hope you can figure this out.