Hey all I've been using the new Lumatek 600w ballasts with great success using Hortilux and another brand I can't think of. I called HID hut and they said their brand bulbs can be used with the new Lumatek ballasts and in fact said they would work better than the hortilux sooo I need to know based on paying 62.95 for a Hortilux and 34.95 for HID what bulbs to get and checked out Solarmax too. Any other bulbs better? Please no responses about having great success with the bulb you"re using if you have nothing to compare it too, I need side by side or any tech info you can offer. I guess I need to know the efficient way i.e. switching every six months...a redder bulb...I hope I'm being clear thanks so much...
the best 600w bulb for new Lumateks? solid info needed please
- Thread starter diggah
- Start date
chronisseur
Member
hey diggah... i dont have experience with any side by sides but am in the same boat as you and instead of posting a new thread will latch onto yours...:smile:
Got two 600W digital Lumatek ballasts with 600Ws in there now that are 10months old an Im replacing them next round... Saw / heard about the USHIO 600W bulbs with extra blue in the spectrum and am wondeing about these? The extra blue tightens node spacing and is a bit better overall if Im correct? Could maybe also be used for short veg's too making it unneccessary to get separate Metal Halide bulbs (tho they finally came out with 600MH that work on these ballasts)?
would it be worth getting the USHIO (or another extra blue HPS) or should I get (cant remember brand) the one that is 10% brighter etc etc and just add a few 200W CFLs to the room for extra coverage and spectrum? My 6x7 room (7x5 used, leave 1ft workway open and for fans, dehui, controls etc) is covered well though by the two 600Ws and pro reflectors but either one in the middle, one at each end, or both (3 total) could really pump up the jam I suppose! Those 200W CFLs are pretty expensive cuz u usually need to get em at a gro store.. the small T12s are alot less bright but cheaper and can be mounted along walls at max canopy level or just below? or do I even need extra blue in the spectrum - I figure the first half of flowering would be more natural to have more blue (ive heard of HPS compared to the yellow "harvest sun" of late summer/fall)?
help us out here plz...
Got two 600W digital Lumatek ballasts with 600Ws in there now that are 10months old an Im replacing them next round... Saw / heard about the USHIO 600W bulbs with extra blue in the spectrum and am wondeing about these? The extra blue tightens node spacing and is a bit better overall if Im correct? Could maybe also be used for short veg's too making it unneccessary to get separate Metal Halide bulbs (tho they finally came out with 600MH that work on these ballasts)?
would it be worth getting the USHIO (or another extra blue HPS) or should I get (cant remember brand) the one that is 10% brighter etc etc and just add a few 200W CFLs to the room for extra coverage and spectrum? My 6x7 room (7x5 used, leave 1ft workway open and for fans, dehui, controls etc) is covered well though by the two 600Ws and pro reflectors but either one in the middle, one at each end, or both (3 total) could really pump up the jam I suppose! Those 200W CFLs are pretty expensive cuz u usually need to get em at a gro store.. the small T12s are alot less bright but cheaper and can be mounted along walls at max canopy level or just below? or do I even need extra blue in the spectrum - I figure the first half of flowering would be more natural to have more blue (ive heard of HPS compared to the yellow "harvest sun" of late summer/fall)?
help us out here plz...
HossCartwright
Member
I've heard but not confirmed that Hortilux does not recommend their bulbs be used with electronic ballasts. Agromax and Sunmaster both make really great 600w MH and HPS bulbs. Agromax bulbs have the most lumens of the two at 95,000 vs 90,000 (HPS) & 66,000 vs 60,000 (MH).
G
gogoplata420
ushio or solarmax
Hey thanks for all the input. Maybe I'm being picky but am looking for the best overall efficiency...I have had great results from using hortilux but In know that it is one of the worst choices. I have been doing research and will post my findings to help out anyone here too. I give more info to help describe where I'm coming from...I will replace bulbs once they lose between 10 -15%...I don't mind buying gavitas which are twice the price if the overall value is better...I'm buying at least 20 so overall efficiency will make a difference...I've been doing this for about twenty years but don't usually pay detailed attention to my yield per watt because I've either had great yields or strains that were not expected to have great yield and in the end I'm not greedy. I'll have to compile some numbers from all the bulbs and of course pull my head out of my ass and get me a good light meter.I might as well put LED's in the mix too. thanks again keep posting.
chronisseur
Member
what about the blue?
what about the blue?
thanks all.. the phillips bulbs I have are nice and im sure MOST will work just fine, w/o problems, but like diggah I want to be a bit more specific yet...
I am pretty much settled on USHIO, BUT if Agromax or one of the MAIN (more popluar/well known) bulb makers made an extra blue spectrum HPS Id be on that... Ive heard stories of noticeable response to the USHIO bulbs - Im wondering if anyone can explain the benefits of an HPS with added blue spectrum vs regular HPS?
ANd, could a few CFLs do the same thing as far as adding spectral diversity? or are they just too weak comparatively to make much difference?
>>diggah - imo i wouldnt add LEDs. tech isnt tweaked yet and only if they are your ONLY lights in certain spot will it make a dif.. the seller on them is the low heat / low power consumption but i dont think they would do anything next to an HID...
what about the blue?
thanks all.. the phillips bulbs I have are nice and im sure MOST will work just fine, w/o problems, but like diggah I want to be a bit more specific yet...
I am pretty much settled on USHIO, BUT if Agromax or one of the MAIN (more popluar/well known) bulb makers made an extra blue spectrum HPS Id be on that... Ive heard stories of noticeable response to the USHIO bulbs - Im wondering if anyone can explain the benefits of an HPS with added blue spectrum vs regular HPS?
ANd, could a few CFLs do the same thing as far as adding spectral diversity? or are they just too weak comparatively to make much difference?
>>diggah - imo i wouldnt add LEDs. tech isnt tweaked yet and only if they are your ONLY lights in certain spot will it make a dif.. the seller on them is the low heat / low power consumption but i dont think they would do anything next to an HID...
DIRT DIGGLER
Active member
I happy to hear somebody has had luck with there hortilux...I wont waste my money on them again. I went threw 2 in 1 week. The first time the bulb blew on it's second firing.
The second bulb fried my ballast..they replaced my ballast..since then I've only ran sylvania and phillips with no problems..but my next purchase will most definitley be the 600w ushio.
The second bulb fried my ballast..they replaced my ballast..since then I've only ran sylvania and phillips with no problems..but my next purchase will most definitley be the 600w ushio.
chronisseur
Member
was at a grostore today and asking about this... opinions are like assholes... i even mentioned the eye issues and dude said, "no, we sell tonnes of electronic ballasts and no one has ever brought back a hortilux"... yeah rite. i hate that kinda crap... just like this new mag he tossed in called rosebud.. looks cool, im like "right on", but its basically a large Advanced Nutrients ad - The co-founder and CEO is the gd publisher/editor!! and half the pages are AN ""spotlights"".... man these forums are the only places to get true info (and u still gotta sort thru a bunch of bs and amateur opinions...) but for the most part arent just extensions of some company pushing itself secretly (I hope not?).
A friend is donating a 430 Agrosun to me so I will just get a MH for that one to veg with and use for first few weeks of flower before putting the HPS in it... would it be overkill if I have two 600W in a 6x7 room now and added this one in the middle/off center line a bit? (for veg I will use it alone) Heat/humidity is WELL under control and there is excellent light penetration/coverage in there now but it is free (even has bulbs!) except the power it eats and any radiant heat from the old-style ballast...
old research said hps was best but newer findings (and common sense) would say that a more balanced spectrum is best, except maybe for the last few weeks before harvest when a total red/yellow at 2100K HPS is the most efficient/best...
A friend is donating a 430 Agrosun to me so I will just get a MH for that one to veg with and use for first few weeks of flower before putting the HPS in it... would it be overkill if I have two 600W in a 6x7 room now and added this one in the middle/off center line a bit? (for veg I will use it alone) Heat/humidity is WELL under control and there is excellent light penetration/coverage in there now but it is free (even has bulbs!) except the power it eats and any radiant heat from the old-style ballast...
old research said hps was best but newer findings (and common sense) would say that a more balanced spectrum is best, except maybe for the last few weeks before harvest when a total red/yellow at 2100K HPS is the most efficient/best...
chronisseur
Member
just bought 2 600W AgroMax from eBay... 95000 lumens, 30% increased blue... the USHIOs are 2100K like everything else and 90000 lumens and about $100 when these were $60ea... both seem fine but most other stuff on there is CHEAP knockoff or worse..
with the 7yr old but barely used 430W agrosun Im getting later this week (free, just not sure if bulb is mh or hps or how old it is) I can add a MH or dual bulb or whatever to get the spectrum i want in there... Ill be happy w/ my HPS 600Ws as bright as possible for now (curious if these are 2100K or a bit higher... that enhanced spectrum is prob all bull anyway) - it is high time i changed them. been on 12hrs each day since May1 last year...
thanks anyways
with the 7yr old but barely used 430W agrosun Im getting later this week (free, just not sure if bulb is mh or hps or how old it is) I can add a MH or dual bulb or whatever to get the spectrum i want in there... Ill be happy w/ my HPS 600Ws as bright as possible for now (curious if these are 2100K or a bit higher... that enhanced spectrum is prob all bull anyway) - it is high time i changed them. been on 12hrs each day since May1 last year...
thanks anyways
