Bulb intensity degradation due to time question.

[HairlessCaveApe]

--Dose anyone know how much less light my lights are throwin after bout a year anna half? -I got 2 400 watt hps's and I know that I musta lost some intensity and I was wonderin if anyone knew at what rate of time and what percentage dose a bulb loose intensity? -Thanks for any insite anyone may have on this!

 

[plinkerdink420]

i don't know any of the specifics about the bulbs (i.e... what percentage of intensity lost), but have heard that you should replace your bulbs at least every 6 months

 

[Bigmone357]

U can buy a plant light intensity meter 30.00$ at hydrostores or digital light meters 129.95$ they'll tell you, that 's the only way u can find out an honest answer in my opinion. It's bulb replacement time for u imho for best results metal halides need replacing every 8 months preferebly hps bulbs replace 12 months is recommended for maximum results :wink: 80$ will replace them both ,160$ will give u back up bulbs. Peace

 

[Payaso]

Bulb Degradation Occurs

Bulb Degradation Occurs

Bulb Degradation Occurs and metal halides should be replaced after 12 months, HP Sodiums after 18 months...

With Metal Halide bulbs you can look at the arc tube and if it is cloudy or very blackened it is near the end of it's life.

In Jorge Cervantes' newly revised 'Marijuana Horticulture Indoor/Outdoor Grower's Bible' (which I have the privelege of designing for him at this time) he says 'an old bulb is inefficient and costly. Replace Metal Halide bulbs every 10-12 months or 5000 hours of operation.'

High Pressure Sodium bulbs should last longer, up to 24,000 hours or up to two years. When the bulb comes on, gets to full light, then goes out mysteriously it's time to change the HPS bulb. That's been my personal experience.

Hope this little bit of info helps..

~Payaso

 

[HairlessCaveApe]

Thanks Plinkerdink, Bigmone and Payaso. -Yea ... -I think I just gotta break down and get some bulbs. -Its hard to notice the loss being around it alla time but after all this time and after the advice given I guess Its about time I got me some replacement bulbs. -Thanks again!

 

[Payaso]

New Bulb Price

New Bulb Price

Let us know what kinda deal you get on the new bulbs... I'm interested to know...

Peace,
~Payaso

 

[badmf]

FYI; bulbs degrade at varying rates, by brand, by temperatures during use, number of startups, hours of use etc, so there is no "real' fixed date, and as mentioned get a meter, a PAR is best, this is not only useful in determining bulb life but finding out what areas are getting the most light, being efficient is saving too! I use it to position reflective sheeting (Mylar, alumaglo etc) for best reflection angles.

 

[dreawoh]

my growlux 400s are replaced every two years (12/12 only)

 

[HairlessCaveApe]

Hey Folks! -Thanks for all the input! -It looks like Im gonna have to get a bulb sooner than I planed. I was gonna get complete 400 watt unit from Mariland Hydro or something and 2 bulbs to replace the ones Im currently runnin but this mornin one of my 400's are dead so I gotta get me a bulb today. -I called a couple of joints like Fox and shitt and they both gave me unbeleavably low fukkin prices on theyr 400 watt hps bulbs! One of them said $18.90 and the other said $20.00 ! -I know these cant posibly be any lights specific for growin but whaddafukk?!!? -$20.00 ? -Annyhow, Im gonna go get one and check it out! -Il post later on after Im done gettin sweetly stoned and screwin it in! -It aughtta be good enoughf annyhow just to last me till I get what I planed on like I said earlyer in this post.

 

[GMT]

To be honest, I havent noticed any problems with my 400w Son-T throughout the 5 years of its useage so far, Though you have now convinced me it's time to replace it.

 

[HairlessCaveApe]

-Well GMT its not a Sun-T but for $20.00 I figure it'l get me by till I get something better! Dose anyone know anything about this bulb? -Its a Sylvania LU400/ECO67533-1. -I didnt wanna get to specific with my Q's with the Dude in the store seein as I already look like a space allien to most folks. -Heh Heh .. -Annyhow .. Heres a pic of the new light. -Its in the foreground, my old one is behind it. -Its all screwed in a shinin light alla round!

 

[Rellikbuzz]

Hey Hairless - Here's a little info on the Sylvania bulb you're looking at. It shows the color spectrum range on the graph below the description of the bulb. This is pretty much a standard run-of-the-mill 400 watt HPS bulb. Should do you a fine job. Here's the link.

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/product_info.php?products_id=1181

Also, for future reference, if you look on Ebay and do a search for "grow light bulbs", you will find a plethera of choices. Standard 400 watt HPS bulbs like the Sylvania you're looking at or GE or Phillips can be had almost everyday for between $5.00 - 10.00 brand new. If you looking for a more efficient bulb like a Hortilux, you can find them between $25.00 - 40.00 range. I bought both of my Hortilux EYE's off of Ebay and both got to me in perfect condition and are doing a great job at the moment! Hope this helps.

 

[HairlessCaveApe]

-Damn Rellikbuzz it shure dose! I gotta get more aquainted with ebay. I never made an ebay tranzaction but a wing anna thigh beats an arm anna leg! -Im gonna check out that lighting link. Thanks Brudda!

 

[Rellikbuzz]

Hey Hairless - Here's an auction for the exact Sylvania bulb you are looking at. It's currently at $9.99 with no bids yet and only 2 days/2 hours left on the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42225&item=4371697641&rd=1

Also, I found that doing a search under either "grow light bulb" or "hps bulb" or "sodium bulb" will get you a bunch of other listings as well. Good luck.

 

[Rellikbuzz]

Here's another Sylvania auction that is at $1.99!! It's getting better all the time!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=100184&item=7506576249&rd=1

 

[HairlessCaveApe]

HOLEY FUKKIN WEASEL GIZZARDS AND LIZZARD SPITT!!!! -Im DAMN SHURE gonna get aquainted with these auctions! Please squse them caps but thats just fukkin incredible!

 

[Guest]

Remember shipping is added to that auction price - I got my last 400 HPS Hortilux @ $25US + $8US shipping. Then found another seller with cheaper shipping!

I found out the hard way you always need one when the only one you have dies - the auctions also have lots of 3 or 4, I watched one lot of 4 LU400 bulbs go for $11.99US. Didn't get the shipping on that one, got disgusted and went & got stoned.

 

[Rellikbuzz]

Remember shipping is added to that auction price - I got my last 400 HPS Hortilux @ $25US + $8US shipping. Then found another seller with cheaper shipping!

I found out the hard way you always need one when the only one you have dies - the auctions also have lots of 3 or 4, I watched one lot of 4 LU400 bulbs go for $11.99US. Didn't get the shipping on that one, got disgusted and went & got stoned.

Yeah 1toke, I feel your pain. I can't count all the times I just missed the end of an auction on one thing or the other. However, there are great deals to be had on bulbs, light systems, CO2 items, PH/PPM meters and lots of other stuff. Quite a bit of my setup came from auctions on Ebay and it's great because you aren't typically receiving goods from a hydro store (although they are on there too). I highly recommend Ebay. Especially for those who are "monetarily challenged"!! In reality, that is probably most of us!

 

[Guest]

I try to replace our 400watt hps son-t agro every 18 months or so depending on the symptoms its shows like light flickering, not starting properly,discoloration etc

 

[badmf]

Heres a clue too, remember do you want your bulb getting bounced around during shipping? So get some type of warranty and a very good shipper! Late!