600W bulb failure - WTF!

bird mcbride said:

Superace 1000/w/hps have been used and proven in the pot growing industry. All major growers use superace bulbs. They're a lot more expensive than other hps bulbs but you'll find superace lighting in every commercial grow. Superace bulbs have built in ignitors and can be operated with any mh or standard ballast. Try your bulb in another ballast, you may have an ignitor or CAP problem with the ballast.

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The only issue with the ballast would be resonance. Looking closely at the pic you'll see where it is dark. It's actually silver/shiny. Looks like mercury has escaped the arc tube. Even if it is the ballast, the lamp is fucked.

My main concern is using a lamp that works well in electronic ballasts... Actually, right now, it's just getting another lamp so the plants don't suffer. - ~Two weeks left and this fucking happened! [/rage]

Discout Hydroponics sells a Digilux made for digital ballasts.

UPDATE:

So I talked to Buddy from the hydro shop, They'll replace the lamp no problem, should get it in a week or two (Must have been using it correctly.). Went to the city to a different hydro shop and bought a temporary replacement lamp, an Osram Plantastar - Only kind they had. Ought to be fine, but will only be using it as a backup after I get the replacement.

Anyone use these? To be honest, it doesn't look like it's constructed half as well as the EYE. But as they say "The proof is in the pudding."

I asked about digi-lamps and neither shop carries them . I know I could order some on the net, but I'm not big on 'interweb purchases'.

I'm going to run the new bulb (Obviously.), and if all is well, I'll know there aren't any immediate issues with the ballast. Fingers crossed.

We're good to go!

With lumateks it's best to use as cheap of a bulb as possible. I've heard a lot of higher end bulbs have problems with them. My hortilux eye makes a weird vibrating ringing sound in one of my ballasts and not in the other lumatek. I think they just don't jell well with lumateks. In any case, Ushio makes a fine bulb specifically made for digital ballasts. They're about 40-50% cheaper than hortilux bulbs and they're made buy a reputable german company.

http://www.greners.com/grow-lights/hid-bulbs/wattage/1000-watts/ushio-super-high-pressure-sodium-bulb-1000w.html

I run the Lumatek High Par bulb in my lumatek ballast. Here is a link, as stated before (and by lumatek) the Hortilux bulbs are not designed to be completely compatable with digital ballasts...the new Lumatek bulbs are specifically designed to eliminate these problems and have a higher lumen output than the Hortilux bulbs.

Took this from another thread

"FOURTH Lumatek High-PAR Output HPS

PRICE $69.15 ----------->> http://www.rsghydro.com/600W-High-PA...hf-lkb6hps.htm

Designed for use with Lumatek Digital Ballasts, these Lumatek High-PAR Output HPS Lamps are designed by the world’s leading HID lamp engineers. They provide exceptional performance on both magnetic and electronic ballasts and are 100% European-engineered and manufactured. Lumatek High-PAR Output Lamps deliver an optimized spectrum and high level of photosynthetic active radiation to promote healthy plant growth. They have strengthened seals and a reinforced arc frame to ensure long lasting performance with stable lumen output. Available in 400-, 600-, and 1000-watt varieties

SPECS:
Lumens: 92,000
PAR Watts: 1030 <----!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Color Temp: 2,050 K
Operating Position: Universal
Rated Hours: 24,000



JUST E-MAILED LUMATEK and this is what they sent me

The new Lumatek bulbs are one of the brightest on the market. Even brighter than the Hortilux. The Lumatek bulb has a great red with the perfect amount of blue that plants need for optimum growth. Our bulb has proven reliability on our digital ballast and is guaranteed to give you fantastic results.
He also gave me the chart below and specs of the lamp. Big thanks to John at lumatek"

i just did a test on the Oshio as its what quantum guys recomend in theor ballast and i replced it 3 weeks in back to the horti. it lost most its blue right away and the horti kept its blue. and for me the Oshio was only 15 bucks cheeper. and it even claims to have 30% blue where the horti only has 17%...but lasted longer

that has same lumens as hiorti does there. and how is it diff if its meant for both ballast. sounds like a sales line to me. im not sure what thew horti has for par but as far as lumens its same.

A good lightbulb is very important! If you would have had more than one light(not saying you don't) in your grow-op your plants wouldn't have suffered a shift in darkness. This is one of the reasons why I skirt my grow with flouresent tubes when I'm using only one hps in my budding room, and when the power goes out I have a small standby generator and a propane lantern. Have a very stony day!

A good lightbulb is very important! If you would have had more than one light(not saying you don't) in your grow-op your plants wouldn't have suffered a shift in darkness

what???...that makes no sence at all..what shift in dark. hes talking about a bad bulb...

you grow with a propane lantern??? most neighbiours would be pissed at having to hear a generator all night long.

Medi 1 said:

A good lightbulb is very important! If you would have had more than one light(not saying you don't) in your grow-op your plants wouldn't have suffered a shift in darkness

what???...that makes no sence at all..what shift in dark. hes talking about a bad bulb...

you grow with a propane lantern??? most neighbiours would be pissed at having to hear a generator all night long.

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I think bird is talking about the plants suffering in an extended dark period, and that when there are power outages, he uses a generator back-up... Not sure about the lanterns though.

A generator is in the plans, but they are flippin' expensive! Nevermind figuring out how to hook it into the system.

The moral of the story here is: Always keep a spare bulb on hand. You never know when you might need it.

From what I've found after reading these posts and looking into it some more is that most lamps will function fine in a Lumatek ballast. It's a new ballast and is RF shielded, reducing the resonance issue. I will definitely be checking out the Sunpulse lamps because they claim to 'tune' theirs, but in the end, it doesn't matter too much. Of course it would be nice to have a digital lamp but I'm sure I'm not alone in that the shops I use have a limited selection and can't always carry every type of light. As I said, I don't like ordering over the internet, just don't trust it. I'm a bit of a Luddite that way.

I'll be sticking with the Hortilux for now, they seem well constructed (Irony, anyone?) and perform well (See dlively's comparison.).

I just wanted to thank you guys for your input, it was all quite helpful.

You wont regret getting that osram bulb..........osram makes quality stuff.
peace B

TheDude0007 said:

You don't really believe that they plant a tree for EVERY bulb sold. lol I think it is just more marketing bs.

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I believe it, I plant 25 trees for every bulb i buy

ya i kinda figured that was what the bird was sayin but has nothing to do with what this is abpout..ive seen that more than a few times by that one..way off topic lots.

last time he or she told me they had a huge multi light set now its 1 light...whats the real deal...and were still waiting to see this contrsuction crane that was holding the lights above the greenhosue or was in the house..had me lost there....lol...anyways not important realy