Question about new radium bulbs

[reefhunter]

I ordered two new radium 250 SE bulbs. One looks new and has the other looks like the bulbs I removed. More specifically, the inner "bulb" is clear on the old ones and one new one. The inner bulb on the other new one has something in it that looks like paint? I thought that Radiums had this when new and as you use them it goes away.

 

I am thinking someone returned a used bulb and they sent it to me... any experience with this? Could the new radium have a clear inside "bulb"?

[Coral Hind]

Is the "paint" an even coating on the whole arc tube, just the ends, or is it spotted inside? A white even coating in a MH arc tube is normally a tri-phosphor coating. An evenly painted white material on the ends of the arc tube is a thermal insulation. Sometimes when the gas, halide, and mercury mixture is added to the bulb it can pool up and leave an appearance of white droplets. That could also be what you are seeing. Post a pic of the bulbs if you can.

 

FYI - Radium changed the bulb design this year and around July there were a lot of issues over on RC with them. Check your bulbs and see if they have either the stamped metal plates or the wire style holding the inner arc tube.

[Brian Ward]

FYI - Radium changed the bulb design this year and around July there were a lot of issues over on RC with them. Check your bulbs and see if they have either the stamped metal plates or the wire style holding the inner arc tube.

 

So is that why one of my bulbs broke? I gave up on Radium and switched to Plusrite after that happened.

[reefhunter]

The radiums are just like the old ones with the stamped metal plate. I called fishy business and he pulled a few bulbs out and said there was the same variation in bulbs on the shelf. I will try to take a picture today.