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 .
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.
Cheers but its sourced info.
http://www.americanelectriclighting.com/Library/Literature/PDFs/HPS Servicing Guide.pdf
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.
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.
right idea, just backwards, as this is what I do
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...![]()
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.
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.
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.
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