Purchasing bulbs online, Best prices/service

[raygun]

OK so after searching for over an hour looking to see if I could find anything on icmag and a couple of days on the internet looking for bulbs I came across this company, Businesslights.com
They have a standard 400watt sylvania HPS for $12.

Sylvania LU400/ECO EPA Compliant 400 watt mogul Base HPS Lamp

Operates on S51 HPS ballast
Universal burn position
Meets EPA TCLP criteria for non-hazardous waste
ET18 clear bulb with brass mogul base and glass insulator
Lumens: 50,000 initial - 45,000 mean
Rated average life: 24,000 hours
2100° Kelvin - 21 CRI
1-year warranty

That is the best price I have found but wanted to know if some one could put my mind at ease about this company and the bulb. Or offer an alternative i'm open to suggestions

http://www.businesslights.com/400w-hps-sylvania-epa-compliant-lamp-p-1036.html

I hope that this can become a place for people to post deals they have come across as well as service experiences they have had with the different companies.

Thanks for your help in advance.
~raygun~

 

[Bubble Puppy]

They were the cheapest hps bulbs online i could find as well,the hortilux eye conversiion bulb for $50

 

[RedReign]

Good products and service.

They are owned by the same company as plantlightinghydro.

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

Ray, check into CMH. I just go mine today and was extremely impressed with the color output.

I just screwed it into the hps socket and it fired right up. Its a conversion bulb and is more but research the thread:

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=72215&page=1&pp=40

minds_I

 

[raygun]

Bubble and Red thank you for your input!
Minds, I am getting 2 x 100 or 150 watt CMH for suplimental already as I have a digi 400 watt ballest so the CMH will not work with that.

Thank you for your input. I hope that this stays alive for others and more helpful info come about.

 

[gregor_mendel]

I can't find it on their website, but I purchase 400W HPS bulbs at Home DePot for under $20.

Instant gratification.

 

[reject]

I got a spare 400watt HPS I think made by sylvania at lowes for about $18 or $20 on sale. Not quite as nice as my hortilux EN eye, but good as a spare in case that one burns out.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

I think the Sylvania 400hps at bLowes and HomeDePot for $18 is the same bulb you found for $12. Probably a wash just to go down and buy one, rather than have one shipped.

Just want to make sure you realize the 100/150 cmh's need a metal halide ballast.

 

[raygun]

I think the Sylvania 400hps at bLowes and HomeDePot for $18 is the same bulb you found for $12. Probably a wash just to go down and buy one, rather than have one shipped.

Just want to make sure you realize the 100/150 cmh's need a metal halide ballast.

Yeah I checked the local HD and the highest they went was 150watts for HPS

I will be purchasing my CMH and corresponding ballests from advanced lighting care of the CMH thread and simba.

I called the local indoor gardening supply store and they wanted like $35+ for a basic 400w HPS.

Thanks for everyone input.
Safe Growing
~raygun~

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

I think the 150W CMH or smaller need a pulse-start MH ballast if I am not mistaken.

minds_I

 

[hoodini]

I am looking to purchase a 400w MH and a 1k HPS in the next day or so. I was under the impression that the bulbs HD and Lowes carry shouldnt be used for growing purposes. Is there any truth in that or will any MH/HPS bulb with that wattage be fine?

 

[brie]

I go to a local light bulb supply company for 400 hps bulbs There is very little difference other than the price

 

[raygun]

I am looking to purchase a 400w MH and a 1k HPS in the next day or so. I was under the impression that the bulbs HD and Lowes carry shouldnt be used for growing purposes. Is there any truth in that or will any MH/HPS bulb with that wattage be fine?

Well a MH or HPS is just that. The lamps at HD or lowes will work for growing and will work just fine. If you want to spend 3-4x's what it cost for a basic HPS/MH then you can order the specialty horti HPS/MH bulbs... Depending on what you get it will either have increased red or blue spectrum but most all of them have an increased green as well which is useless to plants so you pay for a little extra that for some people they say that it increaes the production and for others thre is no difference.
I use supplimental lighting for the blue end and so while my last bulb I spent like $80+ on a 430 watt son agro I don't see it being all that benifitial for me and my situation.
I would rather keep the $12 standard HPS and spend the rest to purchase a CMH for that extra blue and total full spectrum. I can buy a ballest and 150watt CMH bulb for basically the same price as the son agro or any speciatly bulbs available.

 

[minds_I]

Well a MH or HPS is just that. The lamps at HD or lowes will work for growing and will work just fine. If you want to spend 3-4x's what it cost for a basic HPS/MH then you can order the specialty horti HPS/MH bulbs... Depending on what you get it will either have increased red or blue spectrum but most all of them have an increased green as well which is useless to plants so you pay for a little extra that for some people they say that it increaes the production and for others thre is no difference.
I use supplimental lighting for the blue end and so while my last bulb I spent like $80+ on a 430 watt son agro I don't see it being all that benifitial for me and my situation.
I would rather keep the $12 standard HPS and spend the rest to purchase a CMH for that extra blue and total full spectrum. I can buy a ballest and 150watt CMH bulb for basically the same price as the son agro or any speciatly bulbs available.

Hello all,

Actually Raygun, the plant does use light in the green region...just not as efficiently as the other spectrums.


minds_I

 

[raygun]

was not aware of that. I always thought that using a green light was OK in the dark cycle as it would not interfear with the flowering cycle.
Dio you have any links about that for further reading?

 

[globel]

I would never buy a bulb online. even for the sake of saving money. I have had issues with bulbs and getting support from the manufacturer is like impossible. And the days it takes to get a new bulb from the site you order it from is UNACCEPTABLE to any Grower. Thats why buying at a local shop and being able to Swap that bulb the same day IS KEY... Spend the extra money for the security and the support. And i can get that same bulb cheaper for cash at my local store. If you go to the same store all the time you get discounts. like 10% over cost. =)

 

[dusto2k3]

I would never buy a bulb online. even for the sake of saving money. I have had issues with bulbs and getting support from the manufacturer is like impossible. And the days it takes to get a new bulb from the site you order it from is UNACCEPTABLE to any Grower. Thats why buying at a local shop and being able to Swap that bulb the same day IS KEY... Spend the extra money for the security and the support. And i can get that same bulb cheaper for cash at my local store. If you go to the same store all the time you get discounts. like 10% over cost. =)

Amen to this ^ Yeah, and they date your bulbs so you can bring it back if anything happens within a year....how can you pass up that kind of support!!

 

[raygun]

Well since I moved states I don't have a local store that I trust. So while i would prefer to support local business it is not an option at this point in time. The one and only store is 45 mins away and charge way to much so I don't feel like supporting an over priced business.
I use to get great discounts from both of my local stores and would never think of ordering online but this time I needed to.

 

[Bigtimer7]

I wouldnt buy a bulb online any more. I used HTG supply and 2 bulbs from them have actually burned and melted the glass of the bulb...

I only go to hydro shop now bc ^ they date them as others have said. Hope this helps