Cheapo Plantmax Bulbs, any experience?

[bendoslendo]

I'm looking to change my 600w HPS bulb frequently and buy cheap bulbs. Does anyone have any experience with Plantmax bulbs? How often do you switch them out? Any issues with electronic balasts?

This looks like a good deal to me, what do you think? http://store.bulbstock.com/22843.html

Also, I use the 600watt for flowering only. It's powered by Lumatek electronic ballast.

 

[rmccinc719]

i use 1000watt plantmax bulbs they work great. they only report to have 5000 lumans less than hortulux eye bulbs and they work just fine with digital ballasts unlike hortulux.

 

[Wait...What?]

hps dont lose lumens over time like a halide

 

[Ms_Weekend]

they work great, on mag or digital ballast....so cheap I switch them out every harvest......maryland hydroponics is THE CHEAPEST!(mdhydro dot com) $23.80 a piece.......tricky website, best thing to do is click bulbs, then view all.

 

[Kcar]

Save you 5$
https://www.ultralohydro.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=8

I saw them for $29.95 somewhere, but can't remember

 

[bendoslendo]

Hey thanks guys! Appreciate the input so much I'm going to switch to Plantmax, prolly switching out every 6 months.

 

[bendoslendo]

they work great, on mag or digital ballast....so cheap I switch them out every harvest......maryland hydroponics is THE CHEAPEST!(mdhydro dot com) $23.80 a piece.......tricky website, best thing to do is click bulbs, then view all.

Yeah the website is a bit tricky but they do have very good prices. They have the Hannah Checker PH tester for only $26.25. Granted it doesn't have temp. compensation so the accuracy is +-.2, so far its working out for me and I paid $45 at Wormsway.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Iron_Lion]

I have one in my 250 lumatek right now, so far so good.

 

[pimpjuice]

I've been using ultrasun 1kw, definitely a fan of cheap bulbs, screw eye hortilux, after 10 years of using them my yields have been just as good with the cheapies.

 

[Vegan]

dang i got stabbed at the hydro store lol
and tagged gonna order one up

 

[Ms_Weekend]

This is why I try to change them often.....let this one go alittle longer than normal

 

[cyberwax]

art!

 

[bendoslendo]

Thats really scary Ms weekend! I ordered 3 and now I'm nervous about them. Is it a fire hazard? Did you touch them with your fingers? How long should I run them before switching them out.

 

[ogatec]

This is why I try to change them often.....let this one go alittle longer than normal
]

dang, those are fantastic pics, what camera do you use?? im looking for a new one...

 

[Ms_Weekend]

I wouldnt be to worried.......Ive used these bulbs for years and this is the first one Ive seen do this....probably gone through 50 or so, and the only other problem ive had is premature faliure, but not even close to the amount of premature failure i had with top $ hotilux

not to mention I have no idea how long this has been going on....havent looked at that bulb/hood closely for probably 6 months.....all I know is it was still giving off good light an hour before I pulled it.

camera is a panisonic tz1

 

[ToughGirl]

That bulb is really odd! I have never seen that happen in all my life!

 

[bendoslendo]

Panasonic TZ series is fantastic! I had a TZ-3 that took fantastic pictures. Great image stabilization and AF. My sister has the new TZ5 that I'm considering stealing from her lol or maybe just trading for a couple o's.

 

[Wayne_O_Rific]

Plantmax

Plantmax

I have used Plantmax bulbs with great success. In fact, I have noticed no appreciable difference. Not sure what happened with the bulbs in the pics but I have been running my 1000w HPS and MH for about 6 months with no problems. I rarely use them more than a year. I just recently ordered new ones from Ultralohydro.com. They are about as cheap as you can find, ship fast, and ship discretely and DONT offer a lower price only to slaughter on shipping. So, I change mine about every 6 months and have and will continue to get them through Ultralohydro. Hope that helps!

 

[BLUNToPOTomuss]

I use plantmax 400 hps' and switch them out every 2 cycles just because they are so cheap. Switching to a 600 hps in 2 weeks when this cycle gets done. I love them, no probs at all!

 

[Thundurkel]

You too huh BluntoPotamus? That's cool I've been using one for the last 2 grows this will be the last one before I switch it out but I'm going to stick with them since I keep hearing good things about them from Hortilux users plus if you look at the spectrum chart they are close and more in the 760nm range than Horti's not sure if it helps with anything but like I said they look very similar and way different in price!