Something i wasn't expecting with 600W bulb

Hello once again!!

Ok so today i thought i should clean my hps bulbs once lights go out, i waited for about 10 minutes in darkness till they cooled down, as i wiped the cloth on the bulb it started flashing, like on & off just slighty i kinda freaked out cleaned it real quick and jumped outta here straight to this forum to see if i could get any answers as to why this happened yeah it's on a timer but don't know if power is still running throught the bulb & i've done this in the past without any issues, any idea's ? Thx & much Love aha.

Static electricity I would imagine...

nothing major then, thanks Champ

Did you check for gremlins?

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You should always unplug your bulb/hood from your ballast. Your ballast will still hold a charge for a while even after unplugged from your timer. A friend died from changing a bulb that broke. He had unplugged the ballast but not the hood. Sat there and fried for a few hours before someone found him. Be careful, cleaning that bulb could have killed you.

For the cost, compared to what you can achieve from a single harvest per 600w bulb, if it's that dirty, just replace it. A bulb is really only in top shape for usually not more than two complete grow cycles. I find the more you handle, move , and wiggle these lamps, the faster they burn out. Just try to keep it cleaner in the first place. Be safe, read about how ballasts work and in particular how capacitors work and discharge. Electricity is never a joke. I'm not trying to say you are being inherently unsafe, but the best way to stay safe is to learn as much as you can about the equipment you are using.

thanks very much guys for the advice and sorry to hear about you're friend going out like that Hazy, i will make sure next time and every time it's all unplugged, it is brand new but thought i would give it a quick wipe down as i just started flowering my girls and want lighting to be as perfect as possible Plus the other night a bloody moth snuck in and hit the bulb lol leaving some yukky stuff on the glass