Ackie lighting/enclosure

[Billman]

Hey all,
I know this has been beat down, However after a lot of searching I still have some questions.
I am building an enclosure, And am a little confused on lighting. After reading/talking with a lot of people, I went to Homedepot to grab a bulb. After about a half hour of back and forth, I opted to go with the 2 pack-GE Reveal 65w floodlights @510 lumens. Is this a decent choice?
GE Reveal 65-Watt BR30 Floodlight Incandescent Light Bulb (2-Pack)-65R30FLRVL-TP2/6 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Reveal-65-Watt-BR30-Floodlight-Incandescent-Light-Bulb-2-Pack-65R30FLRVL-TP2-6/100493798#.UhZXBxusiSo)
I have the receipt and could just go return it. Will these work, Or is there something else I should change them for?

My other question was mounting it. I see a lot mounted in the enclosure either on a 2x4, or on the top of the enclosure itself. The bulbs look to be screwed into a socket thats screwed to the board. I could not find anything of the sort at homeDepot. What is it, where can I find one? All they has were regular sockets, or the ones with domes, but nothing I could put inside the enclosure without it just hanging. What do you guys use?

Thanks for any help. I tried to search as much as I could before posting.

[Mikoh4792]

I think they are commonly called light guards or light cages. I think it would be easier to make your own out of mesh wire/screen. I think I've seen a few DIY's on the internet.

I don't know if this will help but I just did a quick search and this is what I found

Reptile Vivarium Heat Guard - Reptile Safety Light Cage - Buy Mesh Reptile Cage Product on Alibaba.com (http://www.alibaba.com/product-tp/143197528/Reptile_vivarium_heat_guard_reptile_safety.html)

[Billman]

I think they are commonly called light guards or light cages. I think it would be easier to make your own out of mesh wire/screen. I think I've seen a few DIY's on the internet.

I don't know if this will help but I just did a quick search and this is what I found

Reptile Vivarium Heat Guard - Reptile Safety Light Cage - Buy Mesh Reptile Cage Product on Alibaba.com (http://www.alibaba.com/product-tp/143197528/Reptile_vivarium_heat_guard_reptile_safety.html)

Thanks for the help. Thats not exactly what I was thinking.
Heres what I was thinking of (found these from various searches).
The first one is hanging, and the other seems to ba attached.
I cant seem to find that socket piece that's used.

[B_Aller]

Stay away from bulb guards for lizards, the guards heat up due to close proximity to the lamps, lizard attempts to climb and gets stuck on the guard/severely burned.

You're looking for keyless porcelain sockets, or better yet go back to the depot look in the exterior lighting section and get the adjustable exterior fixtures made for use in wet locations. cheap, easy to install, adjustable moisture resistant, usually about 15 bucks for the two lamp set up with junction box, run conduit and just run the cord out the back with a small romex style clip to make sure it doesn't pull out. done.

[Mikoh4792]

Oh nevermind. I read your post wrong I guess. As B_Aller said they are just keyless sockets.

[Billman]

Stay away from bulb guards for lizards, the guards heat up due to close proximity to the lamps, lizard attempts to climb and gets stuck on the guard/severely burned.

You're looking for keyless porcelain sockets, or better yet go back to the depot look in the exterior lighting section and get the adjustable exterior fixtures made for use in wet locations. cheap, easy to install, adjustable moisture resistant, usually about 15 bucks for the two lamp set up with junction box, run conduit and just run the cord out the back with a small romex style clip to make sure it doesn't pull out. done.

Thank you! Now I know what to look for. Very helpful

@Mikoh- No worries, I should have been more clear.

Do you guys have any input on the bulbs? Should I return them? It was a toss up between these incandescent bulbs, and the Phillips par38 halogens. Forgot what wattage, 75 or 125.

[infernalis]

I will confess, I use non halogens from the dollar store as backup lamps, and get the same results.

any 45-60 watt outdoor rated halogen PAR lamp (reflector bulb) rated as "flood" (no spot lights, even from 12 feet away, a spot light makes a very narrow warm spot where it strikes.)

Garage light sockets are $3 at home depot, basic wiring required.

If you do not feel comfortable with wiring, Buy the brooding fixture at wal mart, scrap out the aluminum hood and you have a porcelain socket with a heavy cord and plug already made.

[Billman]

I will confess, I use non halogens from the dollar store as backup lamps, and get the same results.

any 45-60 watt outdoor rated halogen PAR lamp (reflector bulb) rated as "flood" (no spot lights, even from 12 feet away, a spot light makes a very narrow warm spot where it strikes.)

Garage light sockets are $3 at home depot, basic wiring required.

If you do not feel comfortable with wiring, Buy the brooding fixture at wal mart, scrap out the aluminum hood and you have a porcelain socket with a heavy cord and plug already made.

Thanks for the information. I'll probably head out later today and look for some of the stuff mentioned.

[smy_749]

65 watt is on the higher end of the recommended wattage, you could have prob gone with 45 or 50 watts but 65 is ok, you'll just have to put them a bit higher up than you would with 45's.

[Billman]

65 watt is on the higher end of the recommended wattage, you could have prob gone with 45 or 50 watts but 65 is ok, you'll just have to put them a bit higher up than you would with 45's.

When I was out I stopped at HomeDepot and returned those bulbs. I picked up 2 Philips Eco vantage 45 watt flood lights. Philips EcoVantage 39-Watt (45W) PAR38 Indoor/Outdoor Dimmable Halogen Flood Light Bulb-419424 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203231669?productId=203231669&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=203231669&ci_src=17588969&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-203231669&ci_gpa=pla#.Uh0B2RusiSo)

I think Its a better choice than the other ones I had. Next is to get some keyless sockets etc.

[smy_749]

When I was out I stopped at HomeDepot and returned those bulbs. I picked up 2 Philips Eco vantage 45 watt flood lights. Philips EcoVantage 39-Watt (45W) PAR38 Indoor/Outdoor Dimmable Halogen Flood Light Bulb-419424 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203231669?productId=203231669&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=203231669&ci_src=17588969&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-203231669&ci_gpa=pla#.Uh0B2RusiSo)

I think Its a better choice than the other ones I had. Next is to get some keyless sockets etc.

Where in western mass are you? I'm on the border of long meadow and 10 minutes from springfield.

[Billman]

Where in western mass are you? I'm on the border of long meadow and 10 minutes from springfield.

Im in Hinsdale. Around the Dalton/Pittsfield area. I'm about 45 mins-an hour North-west of Springfield.