lighting question, Joel..?

[cfulhage]

I found this lamp online and was wondering what you guys who know anything about full spectrum lighting think. The reason I feel a lamp would be my best option, is because Ollie has a playtop on her cage that she absolutely loves. I also have a hanging gym on a hook right beside her cage, and she goes back and forth between the two, just having a ball. A lamp I could put beside her cage, and still get it close enough to do her good. I believe the CRI is 95. I know 98 is the best, but would 95 be good enough?

Again, after reading all the old posts on here, I know that a hanging shop light fixture is ideal, but with her current cage (that is brand new and she will have for some time), and the fact that I live in a small apartment, I just dont think it is possible. Once I "grow up" and get my own house, she will have her own room with the best lighting possible!

Let me know if this lamp is not worth it!!

And if anybody has had success with different floor lamps, please let me know what you have!

http://www.lumenlight.com/tcwingshade18w.html

[Joel]

Good evening Camille :) .....You look & sound pretty grown up to me. .....The CRI rating is high enough, anything over 92 is technically considered a true F.S. light from the research I had done awhile back. The K value is a lil low but adequate I believe......The main thing ya need to know now is whether or not it uses a magnetic or electronic ballast - you want an electronic one to reduce flicker which bothers the birds I learned.....I'm wondering though why ya don't want to get the shop light now and suspend from hooks above the cage - just out of reach. Half the price of the light you are showing us and the two 32 watt tubes give off a stronger light. The light is supposed to be approx. 18" away from the birds.....Lighting IMO is most natural and best from above, not constantly from the side and that may irritate the bird's eyes or cause it to look the other way most often? Not sure on that though as I never tried it from the side.......Remember ya can easily spray paint the shop-lite fixture and decorate it also if it looks too drab for ya out of the box....Best of luck with whatever ya decide to use.... :)

[cfulhage]

Well, I emailed them about the ballasts, so we'll see if I get a reply. The only thing I was thinking about suspending the light above the cage was if I can get it close enough to do her any good. Doesn't it need to be around 18 inches from the center of the cage? And with her play gym on top, I dont think I would be able to get it close enough, but far enough away to keep her from reaching it.

Well, now you have me really thinking about this...she never really sits on that perch, and I dont even use the bowls. I just put little plates and bowls on the tray. She just likes to run around on the newspaper. I guess I could just take off the perch and ladders, and then take out the tray when she's in her cage. That way she couldnt reach the light. Ok, I'm convinced. I'm going to do this. You had mentioned before about running pvc pipe up both sides of the cage, and across the top, and suspending the light from this (I'm not supposed to put anything in the ceiling of my apt). But since she climbs all over her cage, I think this would be an accident waiting to happen!

What would I use to hang a light from the ceiling? Would there be very noticable holes when I take it down? I guess It's really not that big of a deal, seeing as how Ollie has already chewed holes in the curtains (little stinker) so I wont be getting my deposit back anyways...

Joel, I really love you, and because I do, could you pretty please tell me exactly what I need to buy to set the whole thing up? We have a Home Depot, so hopefully that has everything. Like the exact light I need, the name or brand of the thing that I put the light into...the hooks I need for the ceiling, what I need to hang the light from (some kind of chain I'm guessing...). Just basically a list I can give to some unsuspecting Home Depot employee so they can just set me up with it all. I'm a good builder, but I'm not good at knowing the supplies I need!

Also, how long do the lights last? Should I order 2 right off the bat? And what exactly is the right height above the top of the cage the light should be?

Sorry so long....I really love you Joel!!!

Here is a pic of her cage...Its really dark for some reason, but you get the idea.

[cliftonite]

Originally Posted by cfulhage

Well, I emailed them about the ballasts, so we'll see if I get a reply. The only thing I was thinking about suspending the light above the cage was if I can get it close enough to do her any good. Doesn't it need to be around 18 inches from the center of the cage? And with her play gym on top, I dont think I would be able to get it close enough, but far enough away to keep her from reaching it.

Well, now you have me really thinking about this...she never really sits on that perch, and I dont even use the bowls. I just put little plates and bowls on the tray. She just likes to run around on the newspaper. I guess I could just take off the perch and ladders, and then take out the tray when she's in her cage. That way she couldnt reach the light. Ok, I'm convinced. I'm going to do this. You had mentioned before about running pvc pipe up both sides of the cage, and across the top, and suspending the light from this (I'm not supposed to put anything in the ceiling of my apt). But since she climbs all over her cage, I think this would be an accident waiting to happen!

What would I use to hang a light from the ceiling? Would there be very noticable holes when I take it down? I guess It's really not that big of a deal, seeing as how Ollie has already chewed holes in the curtains (little stinker) so I wont be getting my deposit back anyways...

Joel, I really love you, and because I do, could you pretty please tell me exactly what I need to buy to set the whole thing up? We have a Home Depot, so hopefully that has everything. Like the exact light I need, the name or brand of the thing that I put the light into...the hooks I need for the ceiling, what I need to hang the light from (some kind of chain I'm guessing...). Just basically a list I can give to some unsuspecting Home Depot employee so they can just set me up with it all. I'm a good builder, but I'm not good at knowing the supplies I need!

Also, how long do the lights last? Should I order 2 right off the bat? And what exactly is the right height above the top of the cage the light should be?

Sorry so long....I really love you Joel!!!

Here is a pic of her cage...Its really dark for some reason, but you get the idea.

You need something like http://www.prolighting.com/crern2321k2y.html I got mine from an electronic supply store. However it did not have a plug, had to put that in myself. And I still havent gotten around to hanging the fixture yet. But I believe you need some S hooks and some chain for that. (I too was going to ask Joel about this).

[cliftonite]

Originally Posted by Joel

You are toooo cute Camille :) .....Better not let your boyfriend read this last post of yours, he might get jealous.

Ok , since ya look hot & "really love me" , I guess I can give ya a lil more of my time

The shop lights I ordered from H.D.'s on line store (they don't carry them in our local H.D. stores) and they were delivered by UPS. The tubes: Philipps F32T8TL950's you can maybe find in a lighting store locally (call around) or special order them. I know Bulbs Unlimited carries them or did.... A bit pricey about $14 apiece but if ya order a box of 25 from H.D.'s special order dept. in California, ya can get the price down quite a bit....... I'm sure ya don't want to do that though.......The fixtures come with hooks and chain and a 7ft. electrical cord with 3 prongs at the end that you can plug into wall socket or into an extension cord or similar that you have safely attached to the wall or ceiling etc. that your bird cannot bite into. Enclose it in metal tubing/piping or pvc to be safe......You should be able to hide the holes you may put in the ceiling if ya are handy with that sort of thing, I wouldn't think that would be too difficult (get your b/f to do that for ya, what the heck else is he good for anyway)....Ya don't know anyone from your area who might be in the Miami area in the near future do ya. If so I could send a fixture and tubes up to ya with them. Slim chance of that I guess but thought I'd mention - never know. Cost for fixture and tubes is approx. $50 depending on where ya get it from.......I'll get ya the model #'s of the fixtures asap. The tube's beneficial qualities are supposed to last for about 2 yrs. if I remember correctly, then ya can still use them elsewhere for lighting for yourself but replace originals for the benefit of the birds. You will need 2 tubes for those fixtures, ya might want to order four so ya have two for back-up, just be careful storing them so ya don't brk.....Ok, hope that helps, let me know if there is anything else.

Joel I could not find the T8 fixtures on Home Depots website, so I went to an electric supply store to get it. It did not have a plug nor did it come with the chain/hooks :( (it was about $45) I attached a plug and am now looking into what i need to hang the setup. Could you please take some pictures of your fixtures hooks? Thanks

[cliftonite]

http://www.atlantalightbulbs.com/ecart/20Review.asp?ProductCode=F32T8.TL.950PHILIPS&x=28& y=29
site sells the TL 950s individually for $8. If I were you I would look in the yellow book for electric supply stores and try to get their pricing for it. A local shop was selling them for $5 per bulb.

[cfulhage]

Originally Posted by Joel

You are toooo cute Camille :) .....Better not let your boyfriend read this last post of yours, he might get jealous.

I dont really care what he thinks anyways, lol! No, I sure dont know anyone going to be near Miami, although I may be in Atlanta in a few weeks! Thats probably as close I or anyone I know will be for quite awhile! Oh well...

I also could not find the bulbs on HD online...I'm looking on Bulbs unlimited right now, although I would really like to avoid paying $56 for bulbs alone!! I will probably order from the site cliftonite posted.

So the fixtures you are going to tell me about, do I get them at HD, or is there a special site I need to order them off of?

I would also like to see some pictures of your setups, Joel!

[FeathersNFur8]

This is the type of bulbs I bought:
http://www.parrotdiseperch.com/parro...s.php?prod=818

Karen

[Tiki]

I have the same brand as Joel-Philipps F32T8TL950 but Aussie version-same CRI. I have had the same one in for almost a year now and haven't needed to change it and I leave it on all day 7am-7pm. It looks like the pic Karen posted above.

[ConureFan]

Originally Posted by Tiki

I have the same brand as Joel-Philipps F32T8TL950 but Aussie version-same CRI. I have had the same one in for almost a year now and haven't needed to change it and I leave it on all day 7am-7pm. It looks like the pic Karen posted above.

How much should the Philipps F32T8TL950 cost and is it better to order online or buy at a store? Are there stores that sell them? I think I'm also going to need some instructions on mounting it properly when I get one.

Heh this thread is old, sorry, I'm new to birds... :)