Is superlumens responsible?

auswolf

Well-Known Member
After using my hps bulbs for about a week on superlumens in a lumatek ballast, It would appear that the insides of the bulbs have been electroplated with copper.

Did superlumens do this?

They were new and they still work, just not as bright lol.

Do you think it would be safe to order the same brand bulbs and not use superlumens?
Growlush 400w hps $27.
 

skiweeds

Active Member
were the bulbs lumatek also? i use lumatek ballasts and 600w bulbs also using the super lumens feature. my bulbs seem fine and have been in use for several months on 12/12. i think they only recommend super lumens for lunatek bulbs, otherwise it's a risk you take. otherwise how is your ventilation? imo any kind of HID should have very strong ventilation. you probably could use any brand bulb but only if your ballast has the dial a watt feature or is the same watts. dont use that 400w bulb and set your dial a watt ballast to 600w.
 

auswolf

Well-Known Member
The brand of bulbs were Growlush 400w hps, Growlush also make digital ballasts with a superlums feature, so i figured they would be alright.
Cooling shouldnt be a issue im using 2 cooltubes. And the the lumatek ballasts are only 400w so no chance of running 600w :)

That being said the first day i used the hps bulbs(changed over from 250w mh bulbs)they were really yellow and dim, second day they were bright, third day i started using superlumens.
1 week after using the hps i pulled the bulbs to inspect due to stretching.

Maybe the damage was done on the first day,is it posssible for the ballast to detect the wrong bulb?
 

auswolf

Well-Known Member
Just showing a pic of my hps copper bulb lol
100_1234.jpg
The copper appears to come from the electrode that runs along the glass.
BTW i didnt think it was possible to copper plate glass.......
 
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