Lumatek Bulbs Burning out? Why?

[@b$+r@c+]

...Anyone wanna help troubleshoot?

I just picked up a 600W Lumatek with a Lumatek bulb. The first bulb blew after 10 minutes into its second 12 hr. cycle, so I plugged in an Eye Hortilux bulb which worked fine (even being old as a dinosaur).
Tech support (Vince?) was very helpful in sending a replacement, but now that I've plugged a second LUMATEK bulb into a Lumatek ballast...well let's just say I'm back to the prehistoric Eye.

Why/how is this situation even feasable? The tech guy was seemingly quite surprised at the first one, but he doesnt know about the second yet, as they're apparently closed until 7/26

ANY ideas would be helpful, I'm very confused and quite frankly gettin' a little agitated!

 

[Pseudo]

dont try a hortilux blue, youll be even more pissed, last lumatrash for me

 

[SKAGITMAGIC]

I've got two lumatech 600 duals, there built to run sodium or halide, anyway i've been anything but satisfied about bulb life, I've been doing much better than you though, 8 9 months, there garunteed for a year, at least I've bought local and don't have to hassle postal stuff, and my supplier is so good about returns, new bulbs new ballast,anything that quit working. good luck to you

 

[Kcar]

I had a lumatek 600 bulb burn up in less than two months.
Ushio only for me now.

 

[@b$+r@c+]

Thanks for your input guys...alot of my purpose in making this thread was to shed some light on the truth to Lumateks reputation IN THE FIELD. I've had every shop keeper (4 now plus one tech guy) tell me they've never heard of problems with Lumatek.

If the problem was the ballast, wouldnt it blow the Hortilux bulb too?
And for what it's worth, I even resisted the urge to turn the little dial to 'Super Lumens' mode...who knows wtf that could've done!

Again, ALL input is welcome and appreciated regarding new Lumatek 600w lights (dimmable,120/240 mh/hps and more purple than the Mendos). I like to know my shit inside out, and like I said before...I'd rather pull info from the field. With products 'upgrading' every ten days, it's hard to keep up!

 

[@b$+r@c+]

...Could it be a bad batch of bulbs?
Both have come from the same location in the same week...

 

[Bush Dr]

...Could it be a bad batch of bulbs?
Both have come from the same location in the same week...

..... in China

 

[Bud Bug]

600W Bulbs with the least amount of problems in Digital ballasts are
600W GH/Sylvania/Philips There are the odd ones in the bunch that won't strike with a digital ballast but will when ran on a magnetic ballast. Never seen one BURN OUT yet.

600W Hortilux just like with the 1000W they do fail and burn out but not as common then a few years back. The filaments use to fall of or they would get a gas leak and burn out. Not sure why they would get a gas leak as I've seen 0 of those problems on magnetic ballasts.

600W Ushio - There are the odd ones that wont light on a digital ballast but will still ignite on a magnetic ballast. Similar issue with the GH/Sylvania/Philips.

600W Gavita (the real ones)- worst bulb to be run on digital ballast and I've seen them explode and fall down onto a drip table melting the 6" net pot BUT almost no issues with the Gavitas on magnetic ballast. Probably the best 600W bulb out there. I'd love to be using the Gavitas but not in my house on a digital ballast.

600W Chrome domes - forget about it even on magnetic ballast. I hear they have improved but there's no recovery form the previous bad experiences.

A lot of the problems with bulbs like the Eiko/Maverick Sun Magnalume/ etc... is they are assembled or manufactured in China and have had huge issues with quality control. The first set of Maverick Sun 50%+ had gas leak issues and would burn out. Some of them use Philips/Sylvania components but the assembly still happens in China.

Seriously just like with the BS claims made but hydroponic food manufacturers same things happens with bulbs.

 

[@b$+r@c+]

So I blew a third, yet the ancient Hortilux still seems okay.

Now I've got a fourth LUMATEK 600w bulb....this time sent from tech support, thus a different 'batch' I presume.

Anyone running a LUMATEK BULB (with the Lumatek ballast) PLEASE chime in...I refuse to leave an unanswered question floating through my head! I also wanna help potential customers avoid shitty products, if that is in fact the case.

...Maybe Lumatek just can't make a bulb?

Edit: ByeBye #4....This one was sent via mail so it was atleast not on the same pallat as the other, my 'bad batch theory' has failed me! Fuckit I'll trade em for EYEs.

 

[@b$+r@c+]

I want to thank Victor from Lumatek for his help. Dude sent me an extra bulb, swapped out my ballast (which turned out to be a lemon) and sent the shop some free stuff!

With that type of customer support, they've earned my business AND respect. (...but I still think the 'Super-lumens' option is fucking stupid!)

 

[josh1111]

my store that i get bulbs from doesnt gurantee the hortilux bulbs with lumatek ballasts anymore they r having issues with the lumatek and hortiluxs they suggest ushio or solar max i would suggest the ushios

 

[Bud Bug]

my store that i get bulbs from doesnt gurantee the hortilux bulbs with lumatek ballasts anymore they r having issues with the lumatek and hortiluxs they suggest ushio or solar max i would suggest the ushios

Thats because Hortilux about 3 years back sent out a memo saying they will not warranty their bulbs that were ran through digital ballasts. Back then Hortilux 1000W HPS had a 50% + failure rate when ran on a digital ballast.

 

[toohighmf]

As a former retailer, I can tell you I have seen more problems with Lumatek than ANY other brand. where is the quality control when your selling so much volume??? I been running horti's in everything I own. I use quantum 1ks and ran the same bulbs for 5 shows before changing them. I have had a few bulbs blow on me with both magnetic and digis. 2 right in front of my face. if your chun qua ballast manufacture don't use the identical part number from the same semiconductor company every time and you don't cool the epoxy sealed PC board, they heat up and break, and depending on which IC goes, determines what the aftermath will be. sometimes bulbs will die, sometimes power recepticals melt. sometimes the ballast just shuts down and never starts up again sometimes only 1 side of a dual unit will fire up.. they are picky with bulbs. that is some BS, as is a "digi" bulb.. seriously. I do like hortilux bulbs and I pay for em... about 10% below wholesale. love to test out an USHIO digi vs. Hortilux, but I don't gamble on a felony..

 

[@b$+r@c+]

I did grab a Quantum 6 at a nice price. Seems like one hell of a ballast to me, so far!

 

[toohighmf]

yeah I like mine to. they been running 2 years strong 24/7. they are friggin bright!!!

 

[medmaker420]

what is a good brand to replace on a quantum 600 watt bulb wise?

 

[@b$+r@c+]

I bought a Sunleaves Optilume for $50 with mine, and am very impressed so far. It's very blue in comparison to the Lumatek bulb, and very bright.

The box says: Lumens-90,000 Temp-2,000 Life-20,000 hrs

We'll see how much she can endure in the next couple few months!


On the other hand, I have to agree that Hortilux Eye bulbs are great, and I probably wouldnt have bought the optilume had I known about the brand new 600W Eye that was hidden in the bottom of my bulb box!

You often get what you pay for.