What to do: My UVB lamp does not ignite

GRRR@#! ...My UVB lamp in the terrarium suddenly won't start anymore - what's wrong?

Who doesn't know this: The expensively bought UV lamp suddenly no longer starts or suddenly goes out. After the first anger, we start troubleshooting. There can only be two reasons for this defect - the terrarium lamp itself or the electronic ballast. That is correct in principle, but unfortunately there is a third - completely underestimated - reason for the malfunction: the contacts in the ceramic socket.
Let's take a closer look: The UV lamp (the gas mixture in the lamp) has to be ignited by an extremely strong current surge of approx. 4500 volts. That's what the electronic ballast is for. This surge of electricity must reach the gas mixture with as little loss as possible. However, there are many possible obstacles to the starting current in our terrarium: the contacts in the socket are dirty, dust and humidity in the terrarium, the contact surfaces are not in perfect contact (are bent) or the E27 base of the lamp or the contacts are already corroded. Then the lamp in the terrarium will unfortunately not ignite.
That's why you should always check the contacts before making a complaint - preferably with another electronic ballast and a clean, new socket. Simply screwing the lamp into the neighboring (dirty, older) socket and testing it this way often gives the wrong result. From our experience we know that older used lamps often need a much better contact than brand new lamps. A "miracle cure" is often to screw it in tighter (be careful that the lamp base does not break off).

So here's a practical tip:

If the UV reptile lamp does not ignite or no longer ignites, it may also be due to the metal contacts in the socket. Even if the lamp worked before. The ignition voltage is over 4500 volts and the contacts are the tricky point in the overall system. The contacts in the ceramic base must fit tightly against the lamp socket. Screwing in harder is often enough.

The reasons can be:
- Manufacturing differences in the lamps (some ignite more easily, some require very firm contact)
- Corrosion, dirt, bent contacts on used sockets

Even if another lamp ignites without any problems with the electronic ballast and the ceramic socket, this does not mean that the lamp that does not ignite is definitely defective.
If the lamp is screwed in tightly, the socket is clean, the contacts are in perfect contact - and the UV lamp still does not ignite - then everything is clear and the lamp is unfortunately really defective.
In this case there is a 100% guarantee from Reptiles Expert. Every customer is of course entitled to a replacement lamp. This works for us without any problems, since we have direct contact and are not dependent on intermediary dealers.