bob harris
Well-Known Member
I only like to use mine for 3 grows. I use hortilux 600's...and they'd burn much longer, But I've always heard they degrade quickly from new..even though they will burn for years. What are others thought?
How often to you replace your flower bulbs?
- Thread starter bob harris
- Start date
Buddy Ganga
Active Member
Every 2 months.
Bulbs are rated for burning hours and they are never turned off during the test.
Every time a bulb is turned on or off it's life and out put is shortened.
If you do not know the bulbs "restrike" time and restrike it to soon you just took months off it's numbers.
Bulbs are rated for burning hours and they are never turned off during the test.
Every time a bulb is turned on or off it's life and out put is shortened.
If you do not know the bulbs "restrike" time and restrike it to soon you just took months off it's numbers.
bob harris
Well-Known Member
That's basically every grow. I'd love to be able to afford to do that.
gladstoned
Well-Known Member
I use a master lighting control and I bought a delay starter just to save that wear and tear on my bulbs. I swap them out every other grow. I may try later to experiment with a cheaper bulb and then swap out every harvest. I hear there are some very good bulbs under $50, I am sticking with my hortilux till I see different though.
http://www.discount-hydro.com/products/C.A.P.-High-Temperature-Shutdown-with-Delay-HLC%252d3e.html
Buddy Ganga
Active Member
For the most part yes, but we do 2 week cycles harvesting every two weeks.
6 flowering bulbs being replaced every 8 weeks means no plant is ever under a bulb for it's life time of use.
As I've said before, I sell my used bulbs to another grower and get $50 back.
My bulbs run 124.99 each so after my discount and price match I get them for about $85 which means bulbs only run me about $35 when all is said and done.
Ushio by hortilux are the one's I run right now. They come with a 1 year replacement guarantee.
6 flowering bulbs being replaced every 8 weeks means no plant is ever under a bulb for it's life time of use.
As I've said before, I sell my used bulbs to another grower and get $50 back.
My bulbs run 124.99 each so after my discount and price match I get them for about $85 which means bulbs only run me about $35 when all is said and done.
Ushio by hortilux are the one's I run right now. They come with a 1 year replacement guarantee.
gladstoned
Well-Known Member
That's good shit right there.
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
12 months, continuous use of 12/12 light schedule.
bowlfullofbliss
Well-Known Member
I use mine for 4 grows, but I use the dual arc hortilux.....those damn things are crazy expensive, but I get significant improvement in harvest, and denser nugs, tested on the same genetics of course. I really like them.
gladstoned
Well-Known Member
I've been waiting to hear someone say that. I use the super HPS and bought a few MH Blue to check them out. I love the dual arc idea, that is why I bought a growzilla, but getting a dual arc bulb sounds easier than having both lights. lol
whitelephantrj
Member
great info!
beans davis
Well-Known Member
I was useing cheap plantmax bulbs and switched to hotilux at more than 3x the price.I could see no visable difference in plant growth so after 3 grows with hortilux I went back to plantmax and still saw no visable difference in my plants.Now i'm not saying plantmax is as good as hortilux as i didn't do any type of scientific study but i'm on disability and at more than 3 for 1 i buy plantmax.If i would have seen a difference i would have kept forking out the money for hortilux.I run my lights mixed mh-hps untill last 3wks then hps only.
DaleRoberts
Well-Known Member
I change mine 1 time a year..about 5 grows. Never run them more than on 12/12. I use the Ultra Sun bulbs. They work as good as the Hortilux I have used in the past. No real difference that I personally have noticed. I'm no professional..Just grow my own smoke.
ismokealotofpot
New Member
after a year of 12 12 you lose 20% of your light
How do you afford such a large grow without charging your patients any money? You're spending almost $300/month just on bulbs.
LT1RX7 Drifter
Active Member
maybe he makes some on the side for profit who cares it his business not yours
cephalopod
Well-Known Member
Anyone bother to use a light meter on new bulbs and watch the degradation curve of their output or make the decision to change them through the use of some type of PAR meter?
