How to Clean HPS Bulb?

Seamaiden said:

How come I can never eat spaghetti with a red sauce withOUT making a mess? I can eat white sauces and don't get anything on me. Any red sauce, and BAMMO, I'm a mess.

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You cant see red sauce if you wear red cloths Stop wearing white when you eat Alfredo and you'll probably be dismayed...LOL

Spot on.
Follow procedures for halogen bulb handling/cleaning.

The prob with the oil from fingers is that its a quartz glass, which will create hot spots.

MrFishy said:

Alcohol wipe down after screwing in.

I've seen many warnings on RIU re:wiping oily prints off HPS bulbs, but zero from any manufacturers (haven't really looked that much)
Seems sellers would benefit from this being mentioned on the packaging if it were a huge thing, but it only takes a sec, so yetta hey.

Then again, perhaps it's a sales tactic used to get me back "in the store" as I inquire about my piece-of-shit 600W "default" 8-year bulb that blew in 65 hours? Just gotta let 'em know that when I say 'No, thanks" I mean "LEAVE ME THE F ALONE AND GET THOSE BULBS IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY!!!!

Why any company would stock bulbs they know are prone to constantly blow is beyond me?

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Well Bud, I c-p'ed "halogen bulb handling/cleaning" into Google and no answers on page 1.
What's the secret? Uncle.

MrFishy said:

Well Bud, I c-p'ed "halogen bulb handling/cleaning" into Google and no answers on page 1.
What's the secret? Uncle.

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Alky! (Its not just for breakfast anymore!)
Use at least 90%. The 70% will have too much water in it. Even the 90% will have a short shelf life. Its hygroscopic and will become 70% over time.
The alky should flash off quick. Any droplets left behind will be water.

Get your replacement bulbs?

2's day sometime . . . price of livin' in the boonies. Those budz lookin' good and smoky, kinda in suspended animation under fluros. Glad I'm not new to that or I'd be sick w/worry. They look really good.

MrFishy said:

Alcohol wipe down after screwing in.

I've seen many warnings on RIU re:wiping oily prints off HPS bulbs, but zero from any manufacturers (haven't really looked that much)
Seems sellers would benefit from this being mentioned on the packaging if it were a huge thing, but it only takes a sec, so yetta hey.

Then again, perhaps it's a sales tactic used to get me back "in the store" as I inquire about my piece-of-shit 600W "default" 8-year bulb that blew in 65 hours? Just gotta let 'em know that when I say 'No, thanks" I mean "LEAVE ME THE F ALONE AND GET THOSE BULBS IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY!!!!

Why any company would stock bulbs they know are prone to constantly blow is beyond me?

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The bulb manufacturers actually benefit from NOT telling people this. The same applies for brake lights on your car.

My hps i treat like a stick of TNT, i have been lucky enough not to get it dirty so I would guess a fiber cloth like the ones used for plasma tv's for the dust and alcohol/sponge for the grease spot cleaning. Make sure the bulb isnt damp when you plug it in though.

Do most folks keep a spare bulb (or three) on hand?

I know alot of people that do keep extra bulbs on hand. you dont want to be 6 weeks into flowering and then bam no light for the 3 days it takes the light to get to you if you have to order offline ya know...just a safety precaution for the plants ya know.

mayan said:

Do most folks keep a spare bulb (or three) on hand?

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I just changed over to hps this grow. Got a 600W digital set-up from HTG.
Moved a couple outside plants in to finish flowering. Fought off the mites (still am) It was week 3.
12 days later the bulb blew. I planned on getting a back-up after a few weeks, wanting to make sure all was well with the initial set-up before investing any further. Big mistake.
Now this 6 week into pistils plant has been setting upstairs under fluros for 8 days, with the replacement bulb still two days away.
Everyone needs to go ahead and order the extra w/the original order . . . it's cheaper that way (usually) and not everyone lives anywhere near a decent hydro/lamp store.
I bought two extras when I was dealing w/the replacement. Just be sure to read/understand whatever warranty comes with your bulbs.

stoverdro said:

I know alot of people that do keep extra bulbs on hand. you dont want to be 6 weeks into flowering and then bam no light for the 3 days it takes the light to get to you if you have to order offline ya know...just a safety precaution for the plants ya know.

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I never thought of this, EXCELLENT to know (as I'm doing my research to get set up for indoor). Especially because, like The Fish, I, too, live in boonyland.

just use a lense cleaning cloth dry, no cleaning solutions necessary