I shoulda read up more about MH lights before buying. Now I have concerns

[Raizy]

Now I'm thinking of returning the 400W lighting kit I recently purchased. I'm thinking of dropping the hobby altogether solely for the safety reasons.

- I didn't know the center of the bulb reaches 1000+ degrees celsius.

- I didn't know the light can fail "non-passively" meaning, if it explodes it will send pieces of shrapnels that is 1000+ deg. C inside my room.

- I'm growing inside my room, which means I will be exposed to this light for a couple of hours a day. I'm not growing in a closet.

I'm going to return my merchandise tomorrow unless someone can link me to the information I need that would restore my joy from this hobby (if possible), then I'd appreciate it. The brand of the light is Sunmaster neutral deluxe 400W -- if anyone knows of anything unique about this brand of MH lights that makes it safer for indoor use I'd like to know (as I was reading about MH lights in general and not MH lights that is uniquely designed for growing plants.)

 

[FreezerBoy]

An enclosed air cooled reflector or a cool tube will keep you safe. Unless you give the plants a "room" of their own, plan on a batch of hermies. Control of the light cycle is essential.

 

[ItsAllOver]

Don't be scared. Just take FreezerBoy's advice and read some more on this site. You can surely deal with any issues that you are concerned about with a little ingenuity and a few gold coins.
It's all good. Also, if you're still sketched by MH bulbs due to heat/explosion concerns, think about going with some high tech T-5 fluoro bulbs. They run MUCH cooler. There are many options available!

Good luck, and peace

 

[Haps]

What hobby, growing weed, or growing something else? The mh has some uv light that you do not want to stare at for long times. Otherwise, your points are moot, all lights can explode, and all lights get hot inside except floros. Depends on what you want to grow, which lighting you need.

 

[MAZEinaHAZE]

i agree--- leave this forum ( indoor hydro ) and check out the "design" forums -- T5's are certainly an option...there are also some LED grow lights that run extremely cool.

many, many things are dangerous....or at least potentially !! if time is taken to research and understand what is involved in this hobby, you won't feel so vulnerable and sketched out !! driving around town is potentially deadly....using your oven and/or dryer require 220v, now that's a lot of juice.

well anyway....food for thought

 

[geopolitical]

Metal halides are just fine for an all around bulb. I have done plenty of grows with them. You did fine in your purchase. If you don't get a cooled or at least shielded reflector however you may get a tan from a few hours a day from one. Some (not most) of the cheaper bulbs can put out some decent amounts of UV.

 

[Raizy]

What hobby, growing weed, or growing something else? The mh has some uv light that you do not want to stare at for long times. .

Growing plants except weed. I probably would though when I move out. And yeah, I won't be staring into these lights, hehe. You look straight at them for not even half a second and it really hurts.

As for the explosion, I can save up for this nice reflector where the lamp actually goes inside a glass tube where it can be air cooled. The glass might be good to lessen the shrapnel spread or might even contain it completely. I'm not sure if it would affect the light sprectum production though. Here it is: http://www.betterthannature.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/861Critics before purchase would be helpful.

I e-mailed the company and asked them if the bulb has a built in safety auto-off feature if the outer glass shell ever cracks to minimize and prevent the radiation leaks.

So now, I'm mainly worried about being exposed to the grow light several hours a day. Are you guys sure I only have to worry about bad UV radiation if the lamp's outer glass shell cracks? Are there any sources anyone could link me?

One last thing, are T-5's good enough for the entire growing season? And wouldn't it be much more expensive to match the lumens from an MH lamp?The only reason why I went MH was so I could use it all throughout the year.

Hmmm just thought of something, since I'm trying to grow a small tree in my room I really should go for T-5 options. I want to maximize the height so I'd be losing a good 1 or 2 feet if I use MH...

 

[*mistress*]

sm neutral deluxe is excellent bulb. nearly same spectral output as the more expensive & arguably better sm warm deluxe. balanced overall bulb, 4k temp; designed for use during both vegetative & flowering cycles. have used only neutral & warm deluxe thru-out. both will develop excellent flowers.

here, they are included for density, uvb, & reproductive organ production. adds to overall balance of fruit, ivho. mixed in are also uvb, floros, hps & red & purple party lights...

sunmaster neutral deluxe

from this thread:
MH Lighting For Entire Grow?
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=132224&highlight=sm+neutral+deluxe

&, for reference point:

lighting conversion data

bulb should not simply explode spontaneously. these are used world-wide.

enjoy your garden!

 

[ColBatGuano]

Although an exploded bulb can burn you if you're under it when it happens, the temperature of the exploded pieces will quickly dissipate upon release from the matrix. I worked around HID lighting for video and film production for years, and only ever experienced one or two bulb explosions during that time--out of thousands. Neither caused any harm or damage to nearby objects. Most bulbs are designed to resist explosions. They may crack or burst, but are unlikely to actually explode. The most common failure for HID lights in my experience has been bubbling from overheated glass (when a lighting tech didn't properly hang the lamp for exhaust.)

One thing which is important when working with HID lamps is to wipe them clean of any dirt or skin oils. Do not touch the glass when you attach the bulb. Use a clean, dry cloth (like a cotton handkerchief) to insert them. The oils from your skin can cause a hot-spot to form on the glass and increase the likelihood of physical failure of the glass enclosure.

Although HID lamps require more attention to safety protocols, there is no reason to be afraid of them. Like anything else which generates heat, a little care and attention to safety is necessary. Don't sweat it.

Happy growing!

 

[OC80]

"Dont throw the ball too fast. You'll startle me and I have asthma."

On a more serious note: just dont go having super soaker fights in your room and youll be fine.

 

[REZDOG]

In 20+ years of growing indoors I have never had a bulb explode.

 

[FreezerBoy]

If you want trees, even small ones, stick with the 400. T5s simply wont penetrate as an HID will. If you go T5, consider LST and ScrOG and grow horizontally allowing only individual buds to grow vertically.

 

[elfstone]

If you're worried, making sure you have a lens on your reflector will stop any exploding glass from escaping into the room.

 

[gmanwho]

On a more serious note: just dont go having super soaker fights in your room and youll be fine.

Ha, that funny us should say that, i foliar feed sometimes and i hear the mist popping off my 600's. no explosions yet. only when i drop them.

 

[vapedg13]

the only time a bulb will explode on you if it has a crack or you spray your plants around your lights and you get a drop of water on or spray your light bulb while its on and hot

 

[Vorsprung]

How hot do you think your standard incandescent bulbs get "on the inside"?

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/14874

 

[buzzmobile]

the only time a bulb will explode on you if it has a crack or you spray your plants around your lights and you get a drop of water on or spray your light bulb while its on and hot

A Metal Halide bulb can and will explode due to age.

 

[johnnyla]

wear sunglasses if you are going to keep the lights on while working in the grow room.


good sunglasses. i was noided out about the bulbs exploding and it never happened. 90% of all worry is fear or anticipation of a future event."

take precautions and then forget about it.

 

[slappyjack]

If you go into Costco there are hundreds of exposed MH bulbs above the shopping floor. Do you think they would risk the lawsuits if they explode all the time?

Certainly be cautious, but there's no need to worry about things that will most likely never happen. It's bad for the complexion.