do hps blow up

[PrivateAero]

My buddy wants to run an open hood hps and is worried about it blowingup and getting glass all over the plants. Should he be worried about this or is this not a serious concern.

Privateaero

 

[Mknasty32]

heard of old bulbs blowing

 

[Jhhnn]

I think that HPS bulbs are rated for open fixtures. Some MH are not, for sure. It has to do with the way they're built.

 

[PrivateAero]

that's what I thinking but even if they are rated for open fixtures is there still a possibility for explosion

 

[rives]

HPS lamp envelopes can fail, but it is extremely rare and much rarer still for them to blow up (unless sprayed with water!). MH, because of the internal pressures, can grenade in a spectacular fashion.

 

[budleydoright]

Also, back in the day MH bulbs were made to be used in either a base up, base down, or horizontal fixture. They were not interchangeable. Then came base up or down to horizontal and then universal. Put one of the old base ups, base down and there could be fireworks.

 

[PrivateAero]

Thanks a lot everyone. I feel a lot better now

Privateaero

 

[Jhhnn]

Also, back in the day MH bulbs were made to be used in either a base up, base down, or horizontal fixture. They were not interchangeable. Then came base up or down to horizontal and then universal. Put one of the old base ups, base down and there could be fireworks.

They still make MH for specific orientations, so people need to understand that, particularly if scrounging from used hardware or buying bargain bulbs.

 

[the gnome]

They still make MH for specific orientations, so people need to understand that, particularly if scrounging from used hardware or buying bargain bulbs.

:
look at specs on the halides, they will tell you universal or base up/down only, and whether they are rated for open use.
anytime you work in an open bulb situation always wear UV/UVB safety glasses

 

[Jhhnn]

:
look at specs on the halides, they will tell you universal or base up/down only, and whether they are rated for open use.
I always wear eye protection using them regardless of rating

Eye protection is smart. I recently took your advice & used a 4K Sylvania 64488 for seedlings. very small bulb envelope. Excellent results- vigorous growth, really tight internodes. I'd try your 1000W selection thru flower, but it won't fit in my reflector. Have you tried the sylvania 3800K 64469 bulb?