Need A New 400 watt bulb??

[toastynoodles]

Which to get!!! Been running a Eye Hortilux but really dont want to spend 85-100 for a new one.

 

[toastynoodles]

Can get them for cheap
SolarMax-$31
Plantmax-$18
Ultra Sun-$19.50

 

[FunkBomb]

You can get a 400w HPS lamp with a six month warranty for $9.

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/400w-hps-mogul-base-grow-bulb-p-125.html

-Funk

 

[Treetroit City]

Always liked the 430's when I was rockin the 400's

 

[toastynoodles]

Thanks funkbomb,Third Coast what brand 430 were you running?

 

[Desert Hydro]

i just ordered my first "name brand" bulb last night. bought a 600 digilux for 70 shipped on ebay. i run all lumateks but usually just the cheap bulbs that come with my combos. if i like this bulb im gonna order 2 more. i think im gonna flower under dual spectrum from now on

 

[growshopfrank]

Thanks funkbomb,Third Coast what brand 430 were you running?

toasty unless your running 430 cap and core or a digi with a "super lumen" setting save some cash and buy a regular 400
a 430 lamp in a 400 ballast will be out preformed by a 400 in the same ballast as the 430 lamp will be "under driven" in the 400 ballast

 

[toastynoodles]

toasty unless your running 430 cap and core or a digi with a "super lumen" setting save some cash and buy a regular 400
a 430 lamp in a 400 ballast will be out preformed by a 400 in the same ballast as the 430 lamp will be "under driven" in the 400 ballast

thanks growshpfunk running a mag ballast.

 

[señorsloth]

i will stick with a hortilux eye personally, the cheep bulbs dropoff in productivity really fast, like partway through your first or second grow, even if it's enough light to grow buds, they start wasting more as heat faster that a hortilux, wich wont start doing it till the end of a year...

i figure cheepass 20 dollar bulbs that put out a less productive spectrum, and start to lose power after 6 weeks, multiplied by the 6 bulbs it will take you to make it a year...well thats around 120 bucks,

for a hortilux eye its 90 bucks a year(one bulb), you have a better, enhanced spectrum, and wattage wont start to drop off till the end of a year, not the end of one 2 month flower session!

so you are left with a choice of buying one good bulb for slightly cheeper than 6 cheep bulbs but work for the same amount of time, not to mention the better spectrum puts out more bud watt to watt, and the fact that the hortilux eye will still be putting out it's full enhanced spectrum at the same levels for most of a year if not all of it, while the cheep bulb will slump in light output and spike in heat every 2-3 months...

it seems to me that it's quite obvious...cheep and disposable products rarely seem to work better in the long run over expensive high quality products, sure they are cheeper, but they never work as well as the high end version. The cost of buying so many disposable items to do the work of one well made item often results in them costing more...

if you want good reliable quality for an entire year go with hortilux

if you don't care about light quality as much and want to save money short term go with a 20 dollar bulb...

 

[Hank Hemp]

Don't get cheap on the bulb, that's were it all starts.

 

[Canniwhatsis]

100% agree with señorsloth, cheap bulbs have poor spectrum and low life expectancy.

I've tried 3 different MH 400 bulbs, the Hortilux is by FAR my favorite!!! Lasted much longer and the plants LOVED it!

Same thing goes for HPS,... Cheapo plantmax bulbs would start loosing punch during the second cycle, and once I ponied up the $$$$ for the Hortilux replacement bulb things improved dramatically. Seriously, the 400w Hortilux HPS produced bigger heavier buds than the 600w Plantmax bulb on the other end of the room!

 

[fukndenny]

im using a generic 400w htg supply bulb(think they are phillips or sylvania), 1st run 315g dry, 2nd run in progress..

i think the use of expensive bulbs is overrated, just from what ive seen so far..

if i buy a an expensive bulb am i going to get 500g?

 

[Canniwhatsis]

I wouldn't go that far fukndenny,... but I would say you'll notice a marked difference.


Please note, my observations are just that, observations from an amateur grower in a far less than scientifically controlled environment, your results may vary.

 

[toastynoodles]

Going to go with the plantmax.