Change bulbs every 3rd grow?

[qdavid]

This question is mostly directed toward the small personal grower. I have read that you need to change the bulbs after every 3rd grow. I use CFL to veg and a 150w HPS to flower. I have read you should change bulbs after every 3rd grow. But does that rule hold for us lower watt dudes? Or just for those 600W or 1000W dudes (and dudettes).

I'm on the 5th run with these and growth has been slow but I think the low temps and reusing this soil (mud) are the main culprits. They seem healthy enough but just small and slow. I'm on my 9th week of veg. I think I'll go another week before I flip, maybe fire up the 150W this week to get a little stretch. This strain is heavy indica too (BB X #5 NL).

 

[darksith]

ok, so your wondering if you should change that $10 light bulb? Is it even $10? Sounds like you should just for the sake of it, and I would be changing out the soil and everything else asap as well. Don't let the salt and other toxins build up in your soil by reusing it too many times! I know guys that run $100 bulbs and they change them every crop!

 

[qdavid]

Thanks. But I grow 100% organic so no salt build-ups. I've never tried to reuse soil before, so fail, this time. I did add new amendments, but probably won't try that again, soon anyway. Didn't work too good for me. I exaggerate though, the soil is not really mud. Just doesn't drain as well as new soil. I run about 204W CFLs (8 X 26W), so I guess that'd be like 4 X $9 = $36 for the CFLs and I already have 3 other new HPS bulbs anyway. No biggy, at all. Money is not the issue, or question. I was just asking about recommended light efficiency although it'd just be logical that a newer bulb would be more efficient than an older one. I was just wondering if that loss of a bulbs efficiency is as much a factor when using the lower wattage bulbs versus the higher wattage ones. My cab temps have been averaging like 70F. That's low. Seeing as how I have seen 90's before it was properly ventilated. I attribute those cool temps mostly for the sluggish growth. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[tube dude]

Your problem is probably your soil. Next time you remix add more perlite. I have been remixing my soil for years. I do add about half new medium to old and always add worm castings, lime, bone meal, blood meal, and perlite.

 

[Balance]

HPS Bulbs do last 20,000 hours. That's four years of 12/12. HID bulb brightness is mapped by an eliptical curve, gradually reducing lumens over the life of the bulb. A bulb that has been used for the whole four years has roughly 70-75% effective light output.

 

[GrnMtnGrwr]

3 grows of 12/12 would put you around 2500 hours, assuming 9 weeks of flowering. This is the first chart I found, I don't know how reliable it is, but it looks like HPS can go 4-5x that long before even losing 10%... according to that chart. If someone has some better info, please correct me.

 

[qdavid]

Wow. Cool chart. Thanks. I did add some new FFOF to the old. Apparently not enough though. I also added more perlite, some sphagnum moss, dolomite lime, bone meal, and worm castings. It was too hot though , had some minor burn issues after transplant. And I knew right away something was too much. The pots were just too heavy, even before transplanting or watering. Lesson learned, go with your gut.

 

[Stond_Face]

There's one more thing. Digital ballast manufacturers claim that the ballast circuitry can compensate for reduced bulb efficiency. That's one thing that help me to decide to switch to a digital ballast.

Here's a quote from the Lumatek web site.

Longer bulb life

Lumen output loss over time, with the correct lamp, is dramatically less than with magnetic ballasts.

From this page http://www.lumatek.co.uk/lumatekhighparlamp.htm

Also, over on the Lumitek site I just noticed they now sell hoods and bulbs. I got to get more info on the hoods. They look very well designed by Gavita. Gavita are the guys that first came out with the bulb with the built-in reflector

Cheers,
S_F

 

[Hydro-Soil]

HPS Bulbs do last 20,000 hours. That's four years of 12/12. HID bulb brightness is mapped by an eliptical curve, gradually reducing lumens over the life of the bulb. A bulb that has been used for the whole four years has roughly 70-75% effective light output.

Ahhh... hate to burst your bubble but...


Change your 150w HPS out every grow. That's right, every grow. I've run a twin 150w cab and can tell you the difference in yield is worth the $20 a bulb.

Don't measure the effectiveness of your lamp with a light meter either. Plants don't grow using lumens. The HPS lamp will stop putting out a lot of usable light for plants waaaaaay before it loses 10% of it's lumen output.

600-1000w lamp.... I'd change every 2-3 grows, depending on the flower time. A 6 month sativa? Every grow.


CFL's I would change every 10-12 months for the screw in type and for cheap PL-Ls.... 2 years for quality PL-L's. I don't know how long T5 lamps last.


Stay Safe!

 

[funkervogt]

I bought a 250W HPS bulb for $80 because it was fancy. Ive used it for 3 grows now, and after reading this I'll be switching it out. Damn, I didn't know it needed to be switched this often!

 

[guest2012y]

I have always switched out every 3 grows. Some old school cat tuned me into that a long time ago. When you finally do,you can notice the difference as soon as she fires.

 

[junior_grower]

http://www.eyehortilux.com/superhps.html

you will see that the 1000 watt super hps, are still 90% efficient after 1000 days of 12/12.

 

[Matanuskan Flo]

70 degrees constantly is not that low at all man, esp with those hot cfl's or any hps on em. have you checked for tiny soil critters for your slow growth?? just a thought......i know for sure that the cfl's lose intensity over time. if you line up old & new ones & flip em on, if you have sunglasses, you can clearly see that some r brighter than others w/ all other factors the same besides the hours of use. i also have only useD 150 hps', i find i can get 1 yr out of every bulb. the hps is now being used on pepper plants only, it is just over a yr old, & i can tell it is dimmer by my camera's foto's. if you compare a picture taken in january of 09 & jan of 10', you can see the shadows are darker in the first & its brighter where lit than the current pics. i have an enclosed sunsystem.

 

[steppinRazor]

ok, so your wondering if you should change that $10 light bulb? Is it even $10? Sounds like you should just for the sake of it, and I would be changing out the soil and everything else asap as well. Don't let the salt and other toxins build up in your soil by reusing it too many times! I know guys that run $100 bulbs and they change them every crop!

what wattage? that just seems wastefull

to OP - change that damn soil!!

 

[outdoe]

every crop
conditions have to always remain as perfect as possible lumen loss in a bulb can be compared to cloudy skys the whole season

 

[Hydro-Soil]

http://www.eyehortilux.com/superhps.html

you will see that the 1000 watt super hps, are still 90% efficient after 1000 days of 12/12.

Back to the boards Jr.

90% "lumen" retention is not 90% "Ability to Grow Plants" retention. Your garage will still be super-bright... but your plants won't grow for crap.


I'll put my new bulb grow results next to a bulb with only 300 "12-hr days" on it and you'll crap your pants, at the difference in yield.


Stay Safe!

 

[outdoe]

Back to the boards Jr.

90% "lumen" retention is not 90% "Ability to Grow Plants" retention. Your garage will still be super-bright... but your plants won't grow for crap.


I'll put my new bulb grow results next to a bulb with only 300 "12-hr days" on it and you'll crap your pants, at the difference in yield.


Stay Safe!

It be impossible for them to determine the degradation of the spectrum in the worn bulb

 

[Hydro-Soil]

It be impossible for them to determine the degradation of the spectrum in the worn bulb

That's why you don't pay attention to lumen ratings. *shrug* Listen to your plants.... they'll SHOW you the difference.

Listen to people that have been growing for 20+ years with intelligence and forethought. It makes sense to listen to people with experience. The alternative is to spend 20 years duplicating their efforts to learn what they did. I'd rather learn from them and discover my own new stuff. Thanks ;D

Lots and LOTS of information on these boards. Picnics for months!

Stay Safe!

 

[Balance]

Ahhh... hate to burst your bubble but...


Change your 150w HPS out every grow. That's right, every grow. I've run a twin 150w cab and can tell you the difference in yield is worth the $20 a bulb.

I hate to burst your bubble, but I have facts from a lighting manufacturer, and personal grow expierience. Here's a 150watt HPS bulbs data sheet. Please note the rated life. It's 24,000 hours. You sir, are the biggest tool, or a PL-L lightbulb saleman.

http://genet.gelighting.com/LightPr...TCODE=44243&BreadCrumbValues=CATG,_Lamps_High Intensity Discharge_High Pressure Sodium_Elliptical_ED28&SearchFieldCode=null



Where to Buy | FAQs | Contact Us | EliteNet
Products > High Intensity Discharge > High Pressure Sodium > Elliptical > ED28 > 44243 44243 – LU150/100(ED28)
GE Lucalox® High Pressure Sodium ED28



GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Lamp type High Intensity Discharge - High Pressure Sodium
Bulb ED28
Base Mogul Screw (E39)
Bulb Finish Clear
Wattage 150
Rated Life (MIN) 24000 hrs
Bulb Material Hard glass
Lamp Enclosure Type (LET) Open or enclosed fixtures
LEED-EB MR Credit 51 picograms Hg per mean lumen hour
PHOTOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS
Initial Lumens 15000
Mean Lumens 13500
Nominal Initial Lumens per Watt 100
Color Temperature 2000 K
Color Rendering Index (CRI) 22
Effective Arc Length 2
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Burn Position Universal burning position
Open Circuit Voltage (RMS lag ballast) (MIN) 198 V
Warm Up Time to 90% (MIN) 3 min
Warm Up Time to 90% (MAX) 4 min
Hot Restart Time to 90% (MAX) 2 min
DIMENSIONS
Maximum Overall Length (MOL) 8.3100
Nominal Length 8.310
Bulb Diameter (DIA) 3 1/2
Light Center Length (LCL) 5
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Product Code 44243
Description LU150/100(ED28)
ANSI Code S56
Standard Package Case
Standard Package GTIN 10043168442432
Standard Package Quantity 12
Sales Unit Unit
No Of Items Per Sales Unit 1
No Of Items Per Standard Package 12
UPC 043168442435

 

[Balance]

I've found some normal T-5's that last for 30,000 hrs. In fact they don't lose any percentage of power untill 18,000 hrs. I haven't seen any PL-L's that last more than 5,000 hours, yikes.

46759 – F54W/T5/830/ECO
GE Ecolux® Starcoat® T5

• Passes TCLP, which can lower disposal costs.



High Color Rendering
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Lamp type Linear Fluorescent - Straight Linear
Bulb T5
Base Miniature Bi-Pin (G5)
Wattage 54
Voltage 117
Rated Life 30000 hrs
Rated Life (rapid start) @ Time 30000 h @ 3 h
36000 h @ 12 h
Bulb Material Soda lime
Starting Temperature (MIN) -20 °C (-4 °F)
LEED-EB MR Credit 33 picograms Hg per mean lumen hour
Additional Info TCLP compliant
PHOTOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS
Initial Lumens 5000
Mean Lumens 4600
Nominal Initial Lumens per Watt 92
Color Temperature 3000 K
Color Rendering Index (CRI) 85
S/P Ratio (Scotopic/Photopic Ratio) 1.3
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Open Circuit Voltage (rapid start) Min @ Temperature 520 V @ 10 °C
Cathode Resistance Ratio - Rh/Rc (MIN) 4.25
Cathode Resistance Ratio - Rh/Rc (MAX) 6.5
Current Crest Factor (MAX) 1.7
DIMENSIONS
Maximum Overall Length (MOL) 45.8000 in (1163.3 mm)
Nominal Length 45.200 in (1148.0 mm)
Bulb Diameter (DIA) 0.625 in (15.8 mm)
Bulb Diameter (DIA) (MAX) 0.670 in (17.0 mm)
Max Base Face to Base Face (A) 45.240 in (1149.0 mm)
Face to End of Opposing Pin (B) (MIN) 45.420 in (1153.6 mm)
Face to End of Opposing Pin (B) (MAX) 45.520 in (1156.2 mm)
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Product Code 46759
Description F54W/T5/830/ECO
Standard Package Case
Standard Package GTIN 10043168467596
Standard Package Quantity 40
Sales Unit Unit
No Of Items Per Sales Unit 1
No Of Items Per Standard Package 40
UPC 043168467599
COMPATIBLE GE BALLASTS
Product Code Description # of Bulbs Power Factor Ballast Factor
99651 GE254MVPS90-F 1 0.99 1.11
72279 GE254MVPS-D 1 0.99 1.12
77114 GE454MVPS90-E 1 0.99 96.0
77115 GE454MVPS90-E-42 1 0.99 96.0
73192 GE454MVPS90-G 1 0.99 1.11
74119 GETR480/277-250W 1
74120 GETR480/277-375W 1
CAUTIONS & WARNINGS
Cautions & Warnings46759 GE Ecolux® Starcoat® T5
CautionLamp may shatter and cause injury if broken Wear safety glasses and gloves when handling lamp. Do not use excessive force when installing lamp. WarningRisk of Electric Shock Turn power off before inspection, installation or removal.
See list of cautions & warnings.

Click on the link to see the mortality chart, clearly way better than PL-L's.

http://genet.gelighting.com/LightPr...ODE=46759&BreadCrumbValues=CATG,_Lamps_Linear Fluorescent_Straight Linear_T5&SearchFieldCode=null