11 month old bulb bad yield

[IllEagle007]

How long do your bulbs last you guys? I usually get pretty big buds but my last grow I got 3 an a 3/4 ounce off 6 plants under a 600 hps. I got 7 super lemon haze going and they are pathetic looking.

Bought another 600 hps to pair with the other and I cannot believe my eyes. It is twice as bright as my other light with a 11 month old bulb.

I am pretty upset I used to get excited visiting my flower room now it just makes me depressed seeing these small ass buds. It sucks.

 

[Stond_Face]

I was just thinking about this today too. I been running my 600W for over a year. But, I have a Lumitek digital ballast. Lumitek says the ballast compensates for bulb age somehow.

 

[abitavenger]

It may not always be the bulb. If the ballast is really old then the capicitor may be getting old and reducing the amout of light output.(obviously for a magnetic ballast) Check this thread out :

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=159066

 

[IllEagle007]

HOLY SHIT!! My ballast is 5 years old and just like SIMON, my yields have been shit the past year. The amount of product ive been getting is not even covering the supplies, electricity, etc.

Must be the capacitor in my light.

 

[IllEagle007]

Thanks for posting that link BTW. Im going to swap my old blast with the new to do alittle comparison.

 

[IllEagle007]

Capacitor it is! I switched my old ballast out for the new one and the light seems much much more intense! Cant believe all this time Ive been wondering how I went from 8 plus oz to barely getting 4 per grow. Wow! And if I didn't make this post or buy a new light I would've never known..

 

[Noobian]

IC mag is the shizzz!

 

[toohighmf]

have you put the new bulb in the old ballast & vice versa? make sure its the cap 1st and not just an old beat up bulb.

 

[IllEagle007]

HMM someone didn't read. LOL. I stated I switched ballast and to the "old" bulbed hood and it is much more brighter. Hotter as well.

Although I'm sure the bulb is getting a little worn out for a old bulb it is almost as bright as the new light was

 

[toohighmf]

I guess I missed that part. cool problem solved!

 

[simon]

HOLY SHIT!! My ballast is 5 years old and just like SIMON, my yields have been shit the past year. The amount of product ive been getting is not even covering the supplies, electricity, etc.

Must be the capacitor in my light.

I'm glad you found the cause of the problem. Good luck.

Simon

 

[strictlybongz]

caps are cheap and easily replaced it almost makes sense to replace them like every 2 to 3 bulbs just based on principle and the amount of loss they can incurr.

 

[IllEagle007]

I'm really surprised it is not more known about these going bad. Would of never known if it weren't for you guys. I always thought if something went wrong in the ballast the light just wont even come on.

Well the real test will be my yields increasing. I have had plants recently that look/should have had huge buds that just didn't fill out.

 

[IllEagle007]

http://www.atlaslightingsupply.com

Has them listed for 400 for 8 dollars when I put it in the cart its 89.00 Wtf???

NVM I see now they sell you a whole package of them not just one.

 

[simon]

I'm really surprised it is not more known about these going bad. Would of never known if it weren't for you guys. I always thought if something went wrong in the ballast the light just wont even come on.

Well the real test will be my yields increasing. I have had plants recently that look/should have had huge buds that just didn't fill out.

I was in the same situation. The yield was always very good, then it just started dropping off. At first, I attributed it to a lack of grower constancy, but after a while that didn't make sense, as some plants finished normally. Now I know that it was due to those plants spending the bulk of their lives under one of the lights with fully-functioning ballasts.

During the course of last harvest (staggered), I could easily see the difference between the plants that lacked light throughout the bulk of their lives and those that saw improved lighting via the replacement caps. The difference was not subtle.

Simon

 

[IllEagle007]

Where did you get your caps from? Local shop want 60 each for them. Atlas lighting wants almost 200 for 12. Where can I get just 1 for a 600 and 1 for a 400 mh?

 

[gonzo`]

I change my bulbs every grow. If I'm taking the risk to grow my meds, I want the most bang for my buck. Even a 4% decrease in bulb output means that I'm loosing 4 ounces for every hundred that I grow. You calculate the loss of those 4 ounces versus the cost of purchasing a bulb and you'll soon realize the benefit...

 

[simon]

Where did you get your caps from? Local shop want 60 each for them. Atlas lighting wants almost 200 for 12. Where can I get just 1 for a 600 and 1 for a 400 mh?

I bought the 600 caps locally for ~$35 each. Are there other shops you could try?

Simon

 

[chuckyoufarley]

damn now i gotta check my shit out my lights are about 7yr old not the bulbs of course but the ballasts are

 

[supermanlives]

i been thinking it time for me too. be it bulb or ballast these 600s just seem dim.good thread