grow light question

Im thinking about picking up some used equipment off of craigslist. But I would hate for the stuff to break down halfway through a grow. How long are 1000w hps/mh lights good for? Not the bulbs but the actual hardware that makes up the light.

Tough to say without knowing the conditions they were ran in and the brand of the ballasts. I have a buddy with a 400W Lumatek ballast that is going five years strong.

Get a HPS ballast, they can fire up metal halide bulbs and hps bulbs so its a better value than just a metal halide ballast.

Awhile back I sold some equip on craigslist, I just made sure to give the buyer all warrenty info. Imo if someone keeps all the paperwork, boxes etc. they take care of their stuff if they have nothing be careful what your buying.

Like Bakeddude said though its really impossible to say how long it should last.

yeah its to hard to say how long it will last.. if they mostly used it for 12/12 vs 18hrs or 24 hours a day,, how long they have had it

thanks i'll be carefull if im going to buy anything.

I think it's kind of a gamble to buy used unless you know the seller personally. The price has to make the risk worthwhile.