Lighting Anyone replace older HPS bulbs during flowering and notice a big improvement?

[lunarman]

I am uncertain how old or how many hours I have on 2 600 watt lamps. Could be they are well used though just based on the 6 plus months I've had them on. Its not that expensive to get some new HPS bulbs, but I also have COB lights so I havent replaced them just to keep costs down.

I'm just about to start flowering two nice plants now and I'm thinking replacing those bulbs. But also curious to know what I might be able to expect from doing it.

 

[pop22]

My understanding is that the bulbs lose about 20-25% of their output in 6 months of use. Commercial growers change them out on a regular basis

 

[lunarman]

My understanding is that the bulbs lose about 20-25% of their output in 6 months of use. Commercial growers change them out on a regular basis

I appreciate you sharing that info. What I don't appreciate is the $388 electric bill I got for November. I was running electric heaters and the 1200 watts of HPS and didn't realize how much that was going to cost.

I am not using the HPS lights for now anyway. And I did buy new bulbs for them too. Good thing I cheaped out on the $30 ones.

 

[pop22]

Upgrading to good, LED based lighting has gotten more affordable. COlB based DIY is a perfect replacement for HPS, Cheaper to run, more efficient and more light per watt. Check out Big Smo's autocobs, or look into Horticultural Lighting Group's Quantum Boards, which I'm running. HPS/MH is on its way out, evcen Gavita is selling of its HPS to concentrate on led, you Know they've seen the writing on the wall!

I appreciate you sharing that info. What I don't appreciate is the $388 electric bill I got for November. I was running electric heaters and the 1200 watts of HPS and didn't realize how much that was going to cost.

I am not using the HPS lights for now anyway. And I did buy new bulbs for them too. Good thing I cheaped out on the $30 ones.

 

[pop22]

And not that Chinese burple crap either..........lol

 

[lunarman]

And not that Chinese burple crap either..........lol

I have 6 of bigsm0's auto cobs. I was planning on doing hybrid lighting using HPS and cob's during flowering. And cob only during veg. Something like that. But HPS is costing me too much in electricity along with the heating I have to use on top of the lights. Andy my HPS is setup with a big 8 inch inline exhaust fan with cool tubes so I'm not really getting much heat from the HPS. I'm tempted to try disabling the light cooling I have an see if I can heat my tent with the lights instead of the oil filled heater I have in the tent. If I'm going to burn or need 1200 watts of heat, I might as well get some lighting out of it. But the setup I did was not meant to work this way so I'll have to rip out some ducting and still have an exhaust system for the carbon filter, but no cooling for the lights.

 

[pop22]

good Idea to put that waste heat to work!


QUOTE="lunarman, post: 1652983, member: 37206"]I have 6 of bigsm0's auto cobs. I was planning on doing hybrid lighting using HPS and cob's during flowering. And cob only during veg. Something like that. But HPS is costing me too much in electricity along with the heating I have to use on top of the lights. Andy my HPS is setup with a big 8 inch inline exhaust fan with cool tubes so I'm not really getting much heat from the HPS. I'm tempted to try disabling the light cooling I have an see if I can heat my tent with the lights instead of the oil filled heater I have in the tent. If I'm going to burn or need 1200 watts of heat, I might as well get some lighting out of it. But the setup I did was not meant to work this way so I'll have to rip out some ducting and still have an exhaust system for the carbon filter, but no cooling for the lights.[/QUOTE]

 

[Dynodave]

If ur doin autos just use the light heat,ive used 6 600w in a 3/3/3 and temp hovered at 27c,its all about the cool air u bring in,ps my lights were Growstar minis and my exhaust 10 inch geeko box fan and the big 10 rhino pro filter,I’d love to hear more about ur cob lights please
Davo


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[BRICH999]

New bulb is more light at no more power usage. Minor cost even high end bulbs. I'm curious about changing the reflector, gavita recommends it regularly for output

 

[Dynodave]

New bulb is more light at no more power usage. Minor cost even high end bulbs. I'm curious about changing the reflector, gavita recommends it regularly for output

I no reflectors need a good clean with alcohol after each grow,clean them dimples
Davo


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