hanging bulbs vertically.....

**BearDown!** · 06-01-2012, 12:15 PM

Does anyone have any experience w "ruining" bulbs by taking off the reflector and hanging it vertically?
I have a buddy that is tripping over me hanging his bulb vertically because he swears it will blow it up, and if i do im paying for it he says....lol
Well atleast i know what kind of a "buddy" i have now...

So i got a 400W MH and took off the reflector and hung at end of the tent to take care of my two mothers... he thinks that it will blow and that you cannot hang any old bulb vertically...my question is...is this true or is he over reacting?

I neglected to tell him that it has been this way for a month now and the mothers seems to do just fine...just made some clones and gonna star5t a vert grow and im in the market for new bulb so i can give him his worry some crap back...lmao.

Any advice or experience would be great, thasnks

**Milovan** · 06-01-2012, 12:22 PM

The only issues is heat. Aeration is key i believe.
You can hang any bulb any way you want without blowing it up.
Placed vertically you will probably get better light
penetration for your plants. Anyone 2nd this?

**Wondrboy** · 06-01-2012, 12:25 PM

HPS facts from an engineer

**gogsyc** · 06-01-2012, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Milovan

The only issues is heat. Aeration is key i believe

a bare bulb will actually run cooler then one with a reflector, the reflector normally heats up raising the temp unlss of course u have an air-cooled reflector

**BearDown!** · 06-01-2012, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by gogsyc

a bare bulb will actually run cooler then one with a reflector, the reflector normally heats up raising the temp unlss of course u have an air-cooled reflector

See this is what i have been reading alot of and that you can place the plants closer as well..

So i can be confident when i hang my 1k HPS in the future for flowers that i will have no probs...thanks. anyone recommend a fixture site for going vert?

I have noticed all ready with the two little clamp on fans running past it to A clamp fan blowing out exhaust that it doesn't get too hot... theyre just mothers so smell is a non, issue..lol
My woman thinks the house smells wonderful..

**OGEvilgenius** · 06-01-2012, 10:08 PM

Hanging vertically is superior if you arrange your plants properly. Less heat issues (no trapping heat with a reflector), much larger canopy. Very little light is emitted from the tip of the bulb. It all comes from the sides. Hang it accordingly (plants surrounding it).

Always wear UV protection for your eyes. Never look into the bulb. Recommend welding glasses, but glass blowing shades are ok as are other shades with UV guard if you don't even accidentally look into the light. A lot of guys who have been hanging vertically for years swear by welding masks - just to be safe.

**superstoner1** · 06-01-2012, 10:23 PM

i just removed my ducting and reflectors last week and went vertical. my biggest concern, and initial reason for air cooling was my original room design used a wall ac and heat was a major concern. i got a minisplit about 6 months ago and decided to try vertical. the difference in light output is incredible. heat has not been an issue at all, bulbs are actuallly closer to plants, and i just ordered my third ballast, bulb and vertical hanger today. i wish i had not spent so much in reflectors, insulated ducting,,clamps and tape, time for a garage sale.

**BearDown!** · 06-02-2012, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by OGEvilgenius

Hanging vertically is superior if you arrange your plants properly. Less heat issues (no trapping heat with a reflector), much larger canopy. Very little light is emitted from the tip of the bulb. It all comes from the sides. Hang it accordingly (plants surrounding it).

Always wear UV protection for your eyes. Never look into the bulb. Recommend welding glasses, but glass blowing shades are ok as are other shades with UV guard if you don't even accidentally look into the light. A lot of guys who have been hanging vertically for years swear by welding masks - just to be safe.

oh man my girl ame into the tent and looked right at it..she was seeing tracers when we walked out to the living room... your not kidding about it being bright as F$%k...lol

**OGEvilgenius** · 06-03-2012, 12:53 AM

You can do long term damage to your eyes. Be careful. It's not unlike staring into the sun. Guys have gone near blind from these bulbs, make no mistake.

It can be avoided however in a few ways. The most obvious is to not work in your garden while the light is on (install a green light instead). Many opt for this option. The other is to wear high quality UV protection and to never look directly into it while the light is on.