question regarding FSL wattage???

[shosh]

Ok...so I'm going out to get the FSL for the fids but am trying to be as economical as possible what with 4 cages to light....some of those fancy lights made specifically for birds cost hundreds of dollars. I have been informed that a proper FSL bulb ( CRI of greater than 92 and a K reading of around 5500) would work just as well for the birds in a regular light fixture.

Now...I saw this great standing lamp at Lowe's.(HD has a similar one.) It's cheap and has 3 lights fixtures attached which can be set at different levels( I'd set them high and over different areas of the cage--or that's the plan anyhow)The guy at Lowe's( great help, btw) showed me how to set up the timer so I'm mentally ready to do all this.
And the lamp is relatively attractive as these things go so the husband won't freak at me making the house into a utilitarian aviary. Trouble is the wattage issue.....It takes 3 60 watt bulbs...the regular incandescent ones. The equivalent, in florescent is, I believe, 13 watts. So, I can't put the 20 in there and I can't seem to find 13 W with the proper CRI AND K. Nor am I sure that 13 watts is sufficient for our birds.

Question: what is the best wattage...I've got 2 sets of lovebirds and a pair of budgies.....

[mmr]

You can get any lamp etc and then buy a special bulb to put in there. Lowes also sells the special bulds for birds

[shosh]

Hmmm..not the one up here.
Anyhow....what i was actually wondering is if there is any specific wattage requirements for birds? Some of the lamps require 13 W bulbs..others can take more...like 20 or 25. Does the wattage matter? One is obviously stronger than the other....13 is more like 60 watts...20 is closer to 75, I believe.
IS there a difference with regards to the best interests of the birds?

[mmr]

yes there is: You just might have to ask!


" I went to my local Lowes and asked them. They order them in for me, but it is not something that they keep on stock. Be sure to tell them you want no heat. I think they were about $18."
no heat spectrum lighting @ loews special order!


48" fluorescent tube
Color temperature > 5000K
CRI (color rendering index) > 90

That is where I got my last one!
or this
get the Philips Colortone F96T12C50 bulbs from Lowe's. The plain lamp fixtures for all fluorescent tubes are cheap.

[Trickham]

When comparing incandescent bulbs to fluorescent, the wattage given is the power consumed by that bulb. The deal is that a 13-15 watt fluorescent will give the same light output as a 60 watt incandescent. Fluorescent bulbs use approx. 1/4 of the electricity of an incandescent. Thus, the energy savings of fluorescents over incandescents. So, if your lamp can handle a 60 watt bulb, it doesn't matter if that bulb is incandescent or fluorescent, as long as it isn't over 60 watts. So, feel free to put a 20 watt fluorescent in that lamp. Clear as mud now? LOL

[jimpierce7]

I use a 4' ceiling mounted fluorescent fixture with two 32 watt T-8 bulbs. 98 CRI and 5000k. About $40 for the fixture and any where from $16 to $60 for the light tubes.

[guest1717171]

does the full spectrum lighting fade any of your furniture or anything?
i was considering buying a fluorescent fixture above the playstand but i was worried about whether or not it would have the same affect as sunlight...

[shosh]

From what I understand a 20 watt flourescent is higher than 60 watts....but I've seen several different conversion tables and none seem to agree....typical.
Still haven't answered my original question, though!!!

Is there a wattage above which we should NOT go for our birds. For example, I would assume that some of the 42W FSL bulbs would be too bright....a 15 -25 might be more desirable...

I have found Excellent quality FSL bulbs...the screw in kind....the K is 5900 and the CRI is 94....they also have a coating that prevents any mercury from coming out if they are accidentally broken.....

The bulbs come in 15, 18, 20 25 and so on...

[mmr]

Mine uses a 40W.

Does that help?

[mmr]

Slimline Bird Fixture



Bird Lighting: Zoo Med AvianSun 5.0 Compact Fluorescent Bulb at Drs. Foster and Smith

Space-saving bird cage light fixture

Ott Bird Bulbs


looks like the wattage is around 20 or lower