When to change bulbs??

[Loc Dog]

I do not keep track of how many hours I have on my bulbs. I have heard many throw them out after 2 grows. Do they start putting out less lumens, which I could test for with a meter???? If so, how much of a drop occurs?

Thanks!!!

 

[Arf]

I do not keep track of how many hours I have on my bulbs. I have heard many throw them out after 2 grows. Do they start putting out less lumens, which I could test for with a meter???? If so, how much of a drop occurs?

Thanks!!!

Get a Lux meter, and a new light bulb, compare the reading between the new and the old to see if it's worth worrying about.

 

[Vanilla Phoenix]

I don't have a light meter, but I've been switching out bulbs every 6 months or so. I used to do it every year, but noticed a huge difference in how bright/light spectrum was on the new bulb and knew I should be changing em out sooner.

 

[Slipnot]

Every 2 years should put you into the 8500 light hrs used so they can be marked and used as back up

 

[Gry]

I number and date my bulbs and keep a bulb log. I buy cheap and swap them out every third grow.

 

[Loc Dog]

Thanks for the replies!!! I have light meter and will compare. Plan on building some DIY LED's using Cree CXB3590's. Hoping to replace 1200 watts of HPS with 700 watts of LED.

 

[pashio]

I don't have a light meter, but I've been switching out bulbs every 6 months or so. I used to do it every year, but noticed a huge difference in how bright/light spectrum was on the new bulb and knew I should be changing em out sooner.

You're right, sometimes I wonder why many growers are neglecting lamp changes... It makes a difference!

 

[Muleskinner]

I'm too cheap to have a light meter - another way is to swap in a new bulb and see how much brighter it is than the old one.

Hortilux HPS bulbs should be good for 10-12 months in flower. Maybe 8 if you're fanatical about yield. The cheaper ones will go downhill sooner. The 600w and 1000w HPS bulbs that run at 400v are the real champions of longevity, I think they're still burning at 92% after 2.5 years.

 

[rykus]

we tested a yr old hortilux agains a brand new philips or sylvania and it was still brighter... i run em till they dont light now, but seems two years is pretty decent.

got over two a light with 3+ year old bulbs... but was nice with good reflection, healthy ect..

 

[Muleskinner]

we tested a yr old hortilux agains a brand new philips or sylvania and it was still brighter... i run em till they dont light now, but seems two years is pretty decent.

got over two a light with 3+ year old bulbs... but was nice with good reflection, healthy ect..

I've had Hortilux bulbs stay very brightt for a couple years, and then I had one go fairly dim on me after 8 months. Maybe it was a bad bulb or maybe my ballast was messed up, I don't have it anymore. I do think the spectrum in Hortilux is the best, it works great for veg as well. You can take your old flowering bulbs and use them for veg and save $$$

 

[watts]

Hortilux recommends replacing after 6-9 months for optimum performance.

 

[KONY]

6 months on cheap bulbs, 9 or 12 months on premium ones.

 

[Fly by Night]

Digital ballasts leave a smokey tint inside hortilux bulbs after a few months. So I use them one flowering cycle @1000w then a second cycle at "1100" or "super lumens" whew