DemonTrich
Well-Known Member
I swap my hps and mh bulbs out every 3 harvests. replacing bulbs are a cheap way to ensure you have excellent powerful light to produce great yields.
HPS Bulbs - Time frame for optimum efficiency and when to change it
- Thread starter Jack Larson
- Start date
Guitar Man
Well-Known Member
I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but the first thing you need to do is figure out how many hours your HPS light is on for each grow. For instance, I use a Floro bulb to bring the girl(s) out of the ground, and for about 2 weeks into Veg. That means I have about 2 more weeks of 18/6 left in Veg using the HPS. Then I Flower about 8 more weeks with 12/12. I average about a 1000 hours per grow, completing 2 full indoor grows per year. That's 2000 hours per year. 252(Veg)+672(Flower)=924
The HPS bulbs will burn longer than MH, and mine have a lifespan rating of 24,000 hours. Of course I'm not going to run my lights even close to this number, but here was the last plant I grew before changing out my lights with new ones. I completed 5 grows=5000 hours of usage (give or take a few hours).
If someone changes their bulbs out every year, in my opinion, they are wasting money, unless their lights are used in perpetual grow situation.
The HPS bulbs will burn longer than MH, and mine have a lifespan rating of 24,000 hours. Of course I'm not going to run my lights even close to this number, but here was the last plant I grew before changing out my lights with new ones. I completed 5 grows=5000 hours of usage (give or take a few hours).
If someone changes their bulbs out every year, in my opinion, they are wasting money, unless their lights are used in perpetual grow situation.
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DemonTrich
Well-Known Member
my veg room runs 18/6 every day of the year and my flower runs 12/12 every day of the year. they might get shut down for 1 day when I do my "hazmat" style cleaning after every harvest.
Guitar Man
Well-Known Member
Then you have a perpetual grow.
Aeroknow
Well-Known Member
My t5's are on 24/7.
My 600's are on 24/7.
My 1000w's in my flower rooms, are ALWAYS on 12/12.
I replace my 1000w eye hortilux bulbs once a year. Oh shit, I already said that, woops! Sorry
pk_boosted2
Well-Known Member
Use metal halides bulb for all of ur veg cycle and for the first 2 weeks of bloom! Since first 2 weeks of bloom ur plants are still teh ically in a veg state it also plays an important role in reducing the stretch and i find increases the speed of the onset of flowering.
Metal halides for first 2 weeks of bloom is one of my many adv growing tips i recommend to ppl, and it works fuckin wonders!! Try it out and you can thanks me later
BOL & HAPPY HARVESTING
pk_boosted2
Well-Known Member
Sorry i misunderstood ur question thought u were asking about when to switch during grow cycle lol.
I change bulbs every 2 bloom cycles. So roughly 5-6 months depending on strain. Using fresh good new bulbs is the best. And besides they r cheap anyways compare your input to ur output why wudnt u use brand new bulbs every 1-2 grows??
Figure every bulb for high end is only between 150-250$ and u can produce on good average of 2 lbs per light. Its a no brainer!!
I change bulbs every 2 bloom cycles. So roughly 5-6 months depending on strain. Using fresh good new bulbs is the best. And besides they r cheap anyways compare your input to ur output why wudnt u use brand new bulbs every 1-2 grows??
Figure every bulb for high end is only between 150-250$ and u can produce on good average of 2 lbs per light. Its a no brainer!!
Gratefulgrowin93
Well-Known Member
I change HPS bulbs every other grow I would say about 9 to 10 months by the time I cleaned up and finish one grow its been 5 to 6 then prior to flip to 12/12
on the second grow of the year I change the bulb so every flower cycle has new bright fresh bulb
I veg for two months flower for about two or two and a half so that adds up to a swap every 10 months or so
works for me and seems not too expensive 
on the second grow of the year I change the bulb so every flower cycle has new bright fresh bulb
I veg for two months flower for about two or two and a half so that adds up to a swap every 10 months or so
works for me and seems not too expensive
pk_boosted2
Well-Known Member
Im confused so ur using an HPS BULB for veg and for flowering? Sorry im just trying figure out how long u r using the bulb.I change HPS bulbs every other grow I would say about 9 to 10 months by the time I cleaned up and finish one grow its been 5 to 6 then prior to flip to 12/12
on the second grow of the year I change the bulb so every flower cycle has new bright fresh bulb
I veg for two months flower for about two or two and a half so that adds up to a swap every 10 months or so
I change bulbs every 2 runs. Im sure they may last longer idk ive never tried to check them w a meter thats only way u can truly find out. Id use a lux and par meter and check all numbers from when they were brand new every few weeks until u see the numbers begin to drop. I think thats probably only true way to know when a bulb is losing its luster.
Every bulb is diff as well. And every companies bulbs r diff as im sure some gases in some bulbs burn hotter or cooler, stronger or weaker depending on the quality so its hard to say. IMO Hortilux is the best bulb out there i dont use anything but their bulbs but who knows ive only tried a couple diff ones and those seem to me to be the best.
rory420420
Well-Known Member
You grow pot.bulbs are overhead in this business..want a good business? Don't skimp on overhead..
Every harvest.
Yes its overkill.idgaf.
Give the old ones to your buddies....
Every harvest.
Yes its overkill.idgaf.
Give the old ones to your buddies....
rory420420
Well-Known Member
And,if were getting into tits and tats,I did a side by side,4 x 8 tent,2 x 600...
Ushio.every time.
Hortilux sucks IMO and in physical tests in my garden...
Damn Germans know glass.and well!!
Ushio.every time.
Hortilux sucks IMO and in physical tests in my garden...
Damn Germans know glass.and well!!
rory420420
Well-Known Member
Or buy a full spectrum bulbUse metal halides bulb for all of ur veg cycle and for the first 2 weeks of bloom! Since first 2 weeks of bloom ur plants are still teh ically in a veg state it also plays an important role in reducing the stretch and i find increases the speed of the onset of flowering.
Metal halides for first 2 weeks of bloom is one of my many adv growing tips i recommend to ppl, and it works fuckin wonders!! Try it out and you can thanks me later
BOL & HAPPY HARVESTING
You can thanks me later
Gratefulgrowin93
Well-Known Member
yeah I often veg under my HPS because I use enhanced spectrum bulbs
when my hps turns on the light looks like a MH blue spectrum and slowly warms to the classic orange hps hue
rory420420
Well-Known Member
An 80$ el cheapo led fixture is great in my garden..3 to be precise.. Extra light,broader spectrums..the little extra that says 'I care'
Gratefulgrowin93
Well-Known Member
I want to add side led lighting but the fixtures are always so expensiveAn 80$ el cheapo led fixture is great in my garden..3 to be precise.. Extra light,broader spectrums..the little extra that says 'I care'
guess ill keep my eyes open and wait for the right opportunity
pk_boosted2
Well-Known Member
Waste of money. They still need a few years until they are good enough to compete w mh or hps they r still long ways away from that.I want to add side led lighting but the fixtures are always so expensive
guess ill keep my eyes open and wait for the right opportunity
Only thing good is they dont product heat but for the price id rather run an A/C all day on a high output bulb than run any led fixture.
Ive done runs w the full spectrum bulbs and i see no difference whatsoever. Only thing ive noticed is a slight bit more resin production, tighter nodes but lower yields. So i wont pay premium for those anymore.
MH or very high output T5 for veg and HPS for bloom is still the way to go. Or supplementing some MH in bloom with the HPS for the color spectrum wins every time hands down.
rory420420
Well-Known Member
IMO ^bullshit rhetoric usually associated by readers and not owners of led technology.
2 x 600w ushio,2 x 300w mars,1 x 400w cob led..yes,there is a difference...I want to add side led lighting but the fixtures are always so expensive
guess ill keep my eyes open and wait for the right opportunity
rory420420
Well-Known Member
Ones above,$72 with free shipping...the cob was more,but I bought it cuz I got it like that and was curious..I want to add side led lighting but the fixtures are always so expensive
guess ill keep my eyes open and wait for the right opportunity
Gratefulgrowin93
Well-Known Member
thats the cheapest led I've heard of but for now I need more t5 for veg and sprouts and moms ill get the led after that but seems like more and more guys getting good results with them
rory420420
Well-Known Member
That's why I have them,extra spectrum on the low 400nm to 300nm ...those were sprouted and momentarily vegged solely under the LEDs..better results than t-5s..I'm using those at my other grow still but toying with replacing them as well.