buy a par light meter. you'd be surprised how long some brands keep their business compared to others. I've see some go a couple years with minimal loss and others wasted after a couple cycles.
you could keep on using an old one. when your yield diminishes you can blame the light.
Yeah, it's the light's fault! HAHA
I hear what you're saying, I need to find a decent one cheap off the net somewhere, Hydro shops here want few hundred+ for the ones they have, and fuck that! Hook me up, got any links maybe?
Thanks for the input brotha.
I'd say get a new one and keep that one as a backup
This is an option yes, good idea. Always good if things fail after store hours and the hydro shop is also really far from me.
Thanks man!
Some growers use the older bulbs in the veg room where they will still grow fine.
Fo'sure man, this is good idea I appreciate it. I've just scaled down starting growing again after a couple year disapearing act, I'm sick of buying herb, don't wanna pay for it anymore, all the inconsistances from batch to batch and having to meet stupid people for it.. grrrr and this shit is medicine to me.. so new place, new genetics, smaller setup(old equip) and only using a 400w for veg(1K for flower) so wouldn't be using the HPS 1K for veg for what I'm doing and the space I have here, but still good idea. I used to veg mother/veg room with 1KHPS + 1KMH all the time and I would always use whatever oldass HPS I had around, even regular shitty Philips. Thanks man.
A continuous running bulb suffers less stress than a bulb that's fired every 12 hours for one. The ignition cycle is what puts the most stress on the bulbs.
Absolutely, and it's a magnetic monster, so probably even more stress, like the highest stress from all types of equip out there. Yeah.. good point. I'm thinking now to just get new bulb for MAXIMUM harvest my first harvest back at it after years, and not fuck around.. keep old bulb for emergency backup as the GrowGorilla suggested.
Thanks for your input here.
I found my lumateks chewed up bulbs faster than my quantums. also badass bulbs, as crazy nice as I liked them, lasted a very short period before bulb failure in both types of ballasts. I replaced all mine with quantums for the generator ready, fans, dimmable and years of quiet trouble free operation. could never say that of lumateks or mags
Yeah I use bigass old monster magnetic ballasts, I should probably just get new bulb. And new digi ballasts but I'm not ready for the digi.
Thanks for your input man!
someday, if you switch to COB led,, you will never have to change your bulbs,,,, ah the good life
Can you suggest a LED setup for floweing that will have the same intensity and penetration as a 1000w HPS Hortilux that doesn't cost $1500 plus plus? I am interested, I'm not being facetious.
And I understand about the LED spectrum being fantastic in comparison and less wattage and heat to do the same job, but is there anything equivilant that doesn't cost so much? The penetration is my second main factor after cost. I just can't afford those numbers, but I am interested in LED, just don't want mediocore, would want the best, so I dunno.. Any idea? I don't think it exists.
Thanks everybody I really appreciate all of your input!!
I was just gonna fire up and use my Hortilux I have already, but you all changed my mind. I figure the cost of the new bulb will pay for itself in just that much higher yield if ya know what I mean, and the fact I use mag ballasts, whatever specs and ideas of timing to change bulbs is out there, I think I have to decrease those estimates. My mags are beasts, lol, probably fuckin destroying bulbs. Need a par meter.. yeah.. but still getting a new bulb. My grow shows on here gotta be top top right, no old bulb excuses. HAHA... cya.. Thank you very much.
(BUBBLES!! tickle tickle.. par meter, check. Eventually, when I can afford it, or find a good one for cheap.)
