Are CFL's supposed to get hot?

Coffee Black · 04-21-12, 02:14 PM

Bought a new 5.0 UVB cfl for the water dragon and it is hot! I don't remember previous ones being this hot. It is an exo-terra which we have never used before. it isn't humming our making any noise and seems fine. Just hot. Thoughts?

infernalis · 04-21-12, 02:15 PM

temp gun??

Bigger cfl get up to about 125-130 while operating.

Coffee Black · 04-21-12, 02:29 PM

Its a 23 watt which is big for a cfl, I believe. Not as hot as an incandescent but close. I wouldn't keep my hand on it. Temp gun destroyed in our last move. Hopefully I can pick another up tomorrow. Its in a dual dome fixture right now but I'm going to pick up a single and drill some holes for ventilation for now.

insignia100 · 04-25-12, 06:22 AM

Compact fluorescents have the ballast build into the bulb. That is what gets so hot, and it makes sense that a higher watt bulb will get warmer.