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Hortilux Eye Never Lite

Michiganja Meduana

Michiganja Meduana

Active Member
I'm running a 400w. MH Hortilux Eye Blue in my pollen room. I can't use a timer, because the thing won't light but every 4th or 5th attempt. I've tried to use another ballast, with the same result so I don't think that's the problem.

I had ordered a 600w. MH Eye Blue a few weeks ago, and had a similar issue. I was using a Lumatek 4,6, and 1,000w switchable air cooled ballast, but it would not light the bulb. Ordered a second bulb, it wouldnt light either. I took the lights to the grow store, the guy there was (smart) nice enough to let me test the bulbs, both of which worked. Smart, because I bought the ballast he tested the lights with, on the spot. It was the 600w non air cooled Lumatek. I run them 24/7, so I dont have to worry about starting them daily.

Have you had bad luck with the blue eyes?
 
FNG Grower

FNG Grower

Well-Known Member
Sounds like you had a bad ballast. Only thing I've heard about the Hortilux Eye bulbs is that they might not like digital ballasts. Never tried them myself, but I've heard nothing but positive feedback regarding quality and life expectancy.
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
They've since labeled their boxes as e-ballast compatible BUT I never had a problem running them in digital ballasts before the different labeling.
I'm currently running a Blue in the vertical position which it's not supposed to run in either, seems fine.
Lumatek ballasts on the other hand.....no comment.
 
Michiganja Meduana

Michiganja Meduana

Active Member
The spectrum and quality are unmatched as far as I can see. I love running them, they just need to make them compatable with the rest of the world. The "bad" ballast is running as we speak, is about 8 months old, and has lit everything else I've hooked up to it.

I called Hortilux, they have no issue with Lumitek.
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Mag ballast?
Hotter
Cost more to run
WHY?

Quantum ballasts! All I use any more.

I run Sylvania industrial bulbs that I buy for about 100 a case. You spend more on 1 bulb then I do for a case.
My industrial bulbs (1K) do everything I need and I save LOTS of $ in the long run. I have run many different brands and have found that the every day bulbs do just as good with the fancy claims and prices.....

Try one!
What do you REALLY have to loose to just try one?
 
Aeroknow

Aeroknow

Well-Known Member
Michiganja Meduana said:
I'm running a 400w. MH Hortilux Eye Blue in my pollen room. I can't use a timer, because the thing won't light but every 4th or 5th attempt. I've tried to use another ballast, with the same result so I don't think that's the problem.

I had ordered a 600w. MH Eye Blue a few weeks ago, and had a similar issue. I was using a Lumatek 4,6, and 1,000w switchable air cooled ballast, but it would not light the bulb. Ordered a second bulb, it wouldnt light either. I took the lights to the grow store, the guy there was (smart) nice enough to let me test the bulbs, both of which worked. Smart, because I bought the ballast he tested the lights with, on the spot. It was the 600w non air cooled Lumatek. I run them 24/7, so I dont have to worry about starting them daily.

Have you had bad luck with the blue eyes?
Click to expand...
I'm not familiar with your ballast, but:
Is it hps or mh?
Does your ballast have a mh/hps switch?(ignitor on/off)
The bulb you got is MH rite? Or, Is it a conversion bulb?
Even though you can USuALLy fire up a regular mh bulb in a hps ballast, sometimes it just doesn't.
You realize that a straight up mh bulb needs no outside ignitor rite.(hps)
I could be way off, just trying to help;-)
 
TheChemist77

TheChemist77

Well-Known Member
I use virtual sun digital ballast w cool tube reflectors,, been useing them since i switched from my old magnetic ballast 4 years ago,6 ballasts altogether never had a problem other than popping a breaker from running to much stuff in one room. i ran a new outlet and wireing to the room put it on its own breaker and boom... no problems never heard of the bulbs ur usin, but i actually believe plantmax bulbs are the best, cheap and efective. ive bought a 50dollar bulb before and did a comparison, no difference but the price i paid for the bulb...
 
Michiganja Meduana

Michiganja Meduana

Active Member
Aeroknow said:
I'm not familiar with your ballast, but:
Is it hps or mh?
Does your ballast have a mh/hps switch?(ignitor on/off)
The bulb you got is MH rite? Or, Is it a conversion bulb?
Even though you can USuALLy fire up a regular mh bulb in a hps ballast, sometimes it just doesn't.
You realize that a straight up mh bulb needs no outside ignitor rite.(hps)
I could be way off, just trying to help;-)
Click to expand...
It's a MH/.HPS that will run 400 600 and 1000 watt bulbs. Everything is automatic once you select 400, 600, or 1,k

The 400 is a MH, I think all 600 MH are conversions.
 
Dankfactory

Dankfactory

Well-Known Member
Michiganja Meduana said:
Do you have a spectrum chart for the bulb you speak of?
Click to expand...
http://www.ushio.com/products/horticulture/hiluxgro.php

You simply cannot go wrong with Ushio. There's a reason they have somewhat of a cult following in the grow, as well as other hobbies( their Radium Halides are also considered the best in saltwater aquaria)
* Btw: correction in my previous post. I meant to type Phantom as opposed to Raptor Ballasts.
Fwiw I have 6 lumateks in my garage at the moment that ALL failed within two years. I switched to Phantom awhile back. Absolutely zero issues and the ballasts are roughly 6 years old at the moment.
 
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