How long should a hps bulb last ?

even 3 cycles on a cheap bulb, if you used it and were satisfied with the results from that bulb in 3 cycles then you'll be satisfied through the useable life. These bulbs only go bad over time and the way they do that is they leak small amounts of gas .
 
dbkick said:
I don't know why people insist on changing bulbs after 3 cycles, maybe its because they are buying cheap bulbs. 3020 hours on a bulb with a 24k hour life , you're badically throwing away a new damn bulb. I use nothing but hortilux and I'll be damned if I'm throwing out a 140 dollar bulb that's been used for 5-10 percent of its expectancy .
Click to expand...

I think that graph and PDF should be made into a sticky.

It might help save thousands of bulbs from being binned needlessly.
 
What Ive noticed has nothing to do with hours of operations, it has to do with quantity output. At about the 4 mnth range I notice a big drop in production, bud size is affected and density also. At 8 mnths of use I have recorded a drop of almost half of my average weight.

From my own finding I will no longer keep my bulbs any longer than 3-4 mnths, at this point the loss of weight far outways the cost of a dozen bulbs

Now if you have a problem with that, buy cheaper bulbs and replace them sooner. People really need to do their own research because I read and hear all this hype about these horticulture specific bulbs, with a little knowledge one soon realizes that the only real difference is in your pocket book. I get a pound a plant with either expensive or cheap bulbs, it comes down to where you are in its lifecycle.
 
My bulbs get engraved when I buy them and come with a 1 year warranty so I replace them just before that expires no matter how many cycles I run during that time.
 
Sir.Ganga said:
What Ive noticed has nothing to do with hours of operations, it has to do with quantity output. At about the 4 mnth range I notice a big drop in production, bud size is affected and density also. At 8 mnths of use I have recorded a drop of almost half of my average weight.

From my own finding I will no longer keep my bulbs any longer than 3-4 mnths, at this point the loss of weight far outways the cost of a dozen bulbs

Now if you have a problem with that, buy cheaper bulbs and replace them sooner. People really need to do their own research because I read and hear all this hype about these horticulture specific bulbs, with a little knowledge one soon realizes that the only real difference is in your pocket book. I get a pound a plant with either expensive or cheap bulbs, it comes down to where you are in its lifecycle.
Click to expand...

I just feel no need to comment on this one.
 
Sir.Ganga said:
What Ive noticed has nothing to do with hours of operations, it has to do with quantity output. At about the 4 mnth range I notice a big drop in production, bud size is affected and density also. At 8 mnths of use I have recorded a drop of almost half of my average weight.

From my own finding I will no longer keep my bulbs any longer than 3-4 mnths, at this point the loss of weight far outways the cost of a dozen bulbs

Now if you have a problem with that, buy cheaper bulbs and replace them sooner. People really need to do their own research because I read and hear all this hype about these horticulture specific bulbs, with a little knowledge one soon realizes that the only real difference is in your pocket book. I get a pound a plant with either expensive or cheap bulbs, it comes down to where you are in its lifecycle.
Click to expand...

Have you considered other factors may be reducing your yield so dramatically. I must say your experience is not something I've noticed.

Maybe people are foliar feeding and spraying the bulb with salts. If using an aircooled hood, maybe thats dirty. I dunno, but 12 weeks seems very early to me. .

From PDF

HPS Lamps
HPS lamps have excellent lumen maintenance (Figure
7A). HPS lamps still are generating 90% of initial light
output at the midpoint of their life span. Lumen
maintenance at the end of life still is excellent at
around 80%.
 
12 000 HOURS / 12 = 1000 Days = 2.7 Years

A bulb is rated to have 90% output after this period. ... I generally use mine for about 2 years.

I only ever notice increase in yields as I dial in other elements into the grow. unless I mess up somewhere.
 
bulbs lat a long time those "ratings" on the page back are based on a bare bulb in a non ventilated room. what this means, is a bulb in an aircooled fixture can last much much longer. i replace my bulbs every year to year and a half.


im actually switching my bulbs after one year of use this next month:) hey still are looking pretty bright so ill probably keep them as backups.
 
hotrodharley said:
Light meters are fairly inexpensive these days. Saves a lot of guessing. An HPS bulb that is not "strong" enough for sativas can possibly serve for indicas or indica dominant strains as they need far less light to mature than sativas or sativa dominant strains.
Click to expand...

right idea, just backwards, as this is what I do
 
Just looking at this graph ... has anybody heard of peeps changing bulbs throughout the day to more accurately imitate a natural day?

KelvinScale.jpg

So, redder ones in the morning, bluer ones at dusk?
 
you could do that. I change from a chrome dome, 3 weeks, to a horti hps, three weeks, to a horti blue through until harvest. Red orange, to a full spectrum higher in red orange. to full spectrum higher in blue, violet. stack buds first, then trichs...:leaf:
 
dangledo said:
right idea, just backwards, as this is what I do
Click to expand...

What's backwards about what I posted?

Rosenthal: 860 watts per square foot is good for sativas. 430 watts per square foot is adequate for indicas and all other hybrid strains fall somewhere in between. My years of experience bear this out. You're refuting study evidence and saying sativas, which originate in temperate zones near the equator, use need light than indicas that started in the Himlayas? Post your source. Other than you if you don't mind.
 
dangledo said:
you could do that. I change from a chrome dome, 3 weeks, to a horti hps, three weeks, to a horti blue through until harvest. Red orange, to a full spectrum higher in red orange. to full spectrum higher in blue, violet. stack buds first, then trichs...:leaf:
Click to expand...

I meant in a single day ... I guess you're imitating the season.

In reality it would be a lot of messing around with HID but im talking, something around 2K when lights go on, another bulb in the 5K region half way through the day and maybe a 8-10K at the end. ... repeated daily throughout the grow.

If LED's ever get good, I can imagine a colour changing setup capable of this oneday. A bit like the philips 'living colours'

philipsliving.jpg
 
hotrodharley said:
What's backwards about what I posted?

Rosenthal: 860 watts per square foot is good for sativas. 430 watts per square foot is adequate for indicas and all other hybrid strains fall somewhere in between. My years of experience bear this out. You're refuting study evidence and saying sativas, which originate in temperate zones near the equator, use need light than indicas that started in the Himlayas? Post your source. Other than you if you don't mind.
Click to expand...


not at all, as far as duration, youre right, but not intensity. They need higher intensity of light in veg and less in flower. Sativa plants have less chlorophyll and more accessory pigments, protecting the plant from excessive sunlight. They only use so much... ill try and source it, busy day cleaning house.:leaf:
 
red yellow at dawn and dusk lowwer lumen levels, bright blues and reds combined for noon hours. i run 12 hours HPS and 9 hours MH and MVB in the middle, so "dawn" and "dusk" are HPS only, been getting good fucking like this for a while. stomatas more readily open, faster flowering times, and overall happier plants.
 
polyarcturus said:
red yellow at dawn and dusk lowwer lumen levels, bright blues and reds combined for noon hours. i run 12 hours HPS and 9 hours MH and MVB in the middle, so "dawn" and "dusk" are HPS only, been getting good fucking like this for a while. stomatas more readily open, faster flowering times, and overall happier plants.
Click to expand...

It sounds logical. .... How do you manage to change the bulbs? ... You must have separate ballasts/lamps setup on timers surely?
 
ScoobyDoobyDoo said:
4 grows equals 400 hours. that's like a 4 day flower period. even one flower period of 400 hours is only like 30 days.

i change my bulbs every 2000 hours. usually 2-3 grows.
Click to expand...

Some need it, some don't, this is an area to give serious thought too what you will get for what you pay. Some are less than $10 others are $50 check the bulbs rating before you buy it.


Power and Model
The lifespan of a high pressure sodium bulb varies with the size, strength, care and operation of the bulb. The quality of the bulb depends on the model and manufacturer; low-quality bulbs may last less than 1,000 hours, while high-quality bulbs may last up to 30,000 hours.



Read more: Life Span of High Power Sodium Lights | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8725971_life-high-power-sodium-lights.html#ixzz24aESVwJy
 
george xxx said:
Some need it, some don't, this is an area to give serious thought too what you will get for what you pay. Some are less than $10 others are $50 check the bulbs rating before you buy it.


Power and Model
The lifespan of a high pressure sodium bulb varies with the size, strength, care and operation of the bulb. The quality of the bulb depends on the model and manufacturer; low-quality bulbs may last less than 1,000 hours, while high-quality bulbs may last up to 30,000 hours.



Read more: Life Span of High Power Sodium Lights | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8725971_life-high-power-sodium-lights.html#ixzz24aESVwJy
Click to expand...

Its important to take info from respected sources. The article you linked to was written by 'Erick Kristian' an ehow contributor.

so must be true.?

LOL .. Its a really poorly written piece.
 
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