Is it worth buying an expensive light bulb??

[MrDank007]

Many growers only pay attention to Kelvin temperatures of bulbs and lumen output of bulbs, but not the CRI. Normally, not always, but almost always you find a better CRI with the higher dollar bulbs.

I thought the more expensive ones had "enhanced" color spectrums or more "usable" light. Marketing or a reasonable difference in grow quality?

 

[woodsmaneh!]

The bulbs have a one year warranty that I buy, if they degrade in lumens I'll bring it have it replaced under warranty. Every 6 months every bulb gets replaced no matter what, though, and usually I offload em on Craigslist or eBay. People still pay 80% of what I paid for the bulb new for a used one.

I keep hearing all these side by side studies and tests. Does anyone actually have a link to one to SEE one of these studies?

I'm thinkin they dont exist.....

Your bulb will never be brighter than that moment, all bulbs start to lose intensity as soon as they are turned on and continue to do so for the rest of their life. When they say the bulb has a 50000 hr life most don't understand that it means 1/2 the bulbs will still be running after 50000hr. You should replace your bulbs every year to get the best results.

Great plan kitty selling them.

I don't know of any studys, I'm speaking from personal expearence on the increased yield. I'm a bit obsessive about growing and love technology so the 2 go together real well. I have a 20 to 400x USB microscope, Brix Meter, C02 meter, soil tester, all my stuff is computer controlled and everything is monitored. When I make a change if the yield goes up it stays, if not I take it out. I make only small changes to my soil now.

Thats what I like about here we all can learn for each other. Happy New year....

 

[Brick Top]

The bulbs have a one year warranty that I buy, if they degrade in lumens I'll bring it have it replaced under warranty. Every 6 months every bulb gets replaced no matter what, though, and usually I offload em on Craigslist or eBay. People still pay 80% of what I paid for the bulb new for a used one.

I keep hearing all these side by side studies and tests. Does anyone actually have a link to one to SEE one of these studies?

I'm thinkin they dont exist.....

What is the CRI of the bulbs you use and what is the CRI of the bulbs you will not pay the extra for? The difference to plants is like using regular (lower octane) gasoline in a vehicle designed for premium (higher octane) gasoline.

 

[Brick Top]

I thought the more expensive ones had "enhanced" color spectrums or more "usable" light. Marketing or a reasonable difference in grow quality?

Some have an "additional 30% of blue light" in their HPS bulb and others make other claims but what growers need to add to their list of priorities for picking bulbs is the CRI of the bulb. Kelvin temperature and lumens are not the only things of importance.

 

[MrDank007]

Some have an "additional 30% of blue light" in their HPS bulb and others make other claims but what growers need to add to their list of priorities for picking bulbs is the CRI of the bulb. Kelvin temperature and lumens are not the only things of importance.

What is your opinion on what the CRI should be?

 

[wyteberrywidow]

The bulbs have a one year warranty that I buy, if they degrade in lumens I'll bring it have it replaced under warranty. Every 6 months every bulb gets replaced no matter what, though, and usually I offload em on Craigslist or eBay. People still pay 80% of what I paid for the bulb new for a used one.

I keep hearing all these side by side studies and tests. Does anyone actually have a link to one to SEE one of these studies?

I'm thinkin they dont exist.....

So what do you say when you return them?
Im sure they wont just replace it because you said it lost lumens over 6 month or do they?
I might have to that then sounds like a easy way to get a new bulb every 6 months for free

 

[Brick Top]

I keep hearing all these side by side studies and tests. Does anyone actually have a link to one to SEE one of these studies?

I'm thinkin they dont exist.....

This is only a test between two higher dollar HPS bulbs but check out the video and see what differences can be found ... and then consider if there might possibly be an ever more significant difference between them and cheap bulbs.


http://www.strainguide.org/grow-lights-2/hortilux-eye-super-hps-vs-digilux-hps-1000w-product-review-test

 

[Brick Top]

What is your opinion on what the CRI should be?

Higher is better. If you go to any site that sells bulbs that shows CRI ratings you will find that the bigger name higher dollar bulbs have a higher CRI rating.The higher the CRI rating, the closer the light is to natural sunlight. A higher CRI rating means a broader more full, more complete, more natural spectrum of light for your plants.

​

PlusRite 1000-watt HPS. Price $27.12 each. CRI. 22

Eye Lighting 1000-watt HPS Price $76.81 each. CRI 26

Prices used from 1000 bulbs site .. the same bulbs may be less or more expensive elsewhere. The site was used because some sites that sell bulbs do not bother to mention CRI ratings.

Also .. they do differ if you are talking about MH or HPS bulbs or ones with dual filaments.

 

[wyteberrywidow]

Higher is better. If you go to any site that sells bulbs that shows CRI ratings you will find that the bigger name higher dollar bulbs have a higher CRI rating.The higher the CRI rating, the closer the light is to natural sunlight. A higher CRI rating means a broader more full, more complete, more natural spectrum of light for your plants.

​

PlusRite 1000-watt HPS. Price $27.12 each. CRI. 22

Eye Lighting 1000-watt HPS Price $76.81 each. CRI 26

Prices used from 1000 bulbs site .. the same bulbs may be less or more expensive elsewhere. The site was used because some sites that sell bulbs do not bother to mention CRI ratings.

Also .. they do differ if you are talking about MH or HPS bulbs or ones with dual filaments.

Thanks for that info..So im guessing the difference of 4 is a big difference in cri

 

[wiseguy316]

with the enhanced spectrum (useable light with less lumens) if the more expensive bulb produced 7 grams more on one harvest it paid for itself. I'll take that bet every time.

 

[Brick Top]

Thanks for that info..So im guessing the difference of 4 is a big difference in cri

I have never seen a scale that shows how much of an increase there is between a CRI of 22 and 23 and 24 etc. but the difference does in part go to show you why higher dollar bulbs are higher dollar, because they do provide better broader spectrum lighting.

Another reason is they are more sturdily built, the filaments can withstand more of the vibration they undergo in use and also more that comes from the occasional accidental bumping of reflective light hoods that shakes bulb filaments.

I cannot say if all the differences combined add up to being fully worth the difference in price, but if someone wants the most they can get from their plants, then that alone is all the validation they should need for paying the extra, unless of course paying the extra is enough that it will leave them short of cash needed for necessities of life. Then I can see purchasing inexpensive bulbs. But if the money is there and the only reason to not spend it is because someone just doesn't want to spend it, it is a mistake to not spend it.

 

[WolfScott]

with the enhanced spectrum (useable light with less lumens) if the more expensive bulb produced 7 grams more on one harvest it paid for itself. I'll take that bet every time.

mee too I think i will try the eye super HPS bulb

 

[researchkitty]

with the enhanced spectrum (useable light with less lumens) if the more expensive bulb produced 7 grams more on one harvest it paid for itself. I'll take that bet every time.

IF it does. Does it? IF so, show PROOF! I wanna see the same everything same mother for the clones same nutrients and just different bulbs............... Maybe I should just do that lol....... I mean I have 14 1000w lights so trying one with this shouldnt be too terrible. Only thing that sucks is it will take 3 months to test anything like this for veg ----> flower time

 

[Mountainfarmer]

Exactly...My local grow shop want $119.00 for the eye hortliux, I get mine online for 64.99 each if I buy the case.

The bottom line is grow with what you can afford now and down the road save for something better.

Electronic is the way to go, a traditional core ballast uses 30% of it's energy just to fire the light, electronic does not so it produces a brighter light by 25%. Electronic produce about 20 to 40% less heat, this is important if you have your ballist in the grow room, more heat is bad. The only down sides I have found to the electronic is they don't like cheap bulbs and power out or brown outs. Don't buy cheap electronics.

A better bulb like the eye will produce a higher yield than a cheaper bulb, end of story. Why, up to 25% more blue, and your plants need that blue. It also produces more energy over the life of the bulb. I have used cheap bulbs but once I purchased a light meter and started comparing them over a year, it's all I buy now. Yes they cost more but the increase in yield more than pays for it. Most growers are cheap by nature, there's no tomorrow for them so they go cheap.

I try to put everything into a price justification model to make my decisions after making an informed decision. Even with a double cost say 50$ vs 25$ all you need to do is grow 1/8 more once and the light is paid for. That leaves you 5 more cycles before you change the light. = $$$$ in your pocket minum 250$ plus the light.

Now when Kitty is faced with replacing 10 or 20 bulbs that's a lot of money up front for real good bulbs so I can understand her point of view by going with a lessor bulb.

I buy by the case so I get a great price on the Eye.

 

[Mountainfarmer]

singles are still only $70

 

[WolfScott]

singles are still only $70

Yea that is what I saw for the 400 watt eye super hps bulb (on line) At my local shop the same bulb is over $100 LOL

 

[Mountainfarmer]

i'm talking 1000 watters

 

[WolfScott]

lol I wish i had the room for even just 1 1000 watter. lol I just use a small corner of my only bathroom , I think at most I can use 1 600 watter lol Maybe one day though, I got it all planed out! I just need the spot!

 

[wyteberrywidow]

IF it does. Does it? IF so, show PROOF! I wanna see the same everything same mother for the clones same nutrients and just different bulbs............... Maybe I should just do that lol....... I mean I have 14 1000w lights so trying one with this shouldnt be too terrible. Only thing that sucks is it will take 3 months to test anything like this for veg ----> flower time

sounds like my type of kitty...lol

 

[woodsmaneh!]

OK so let me think about this... lets say a better bulb gives you a 5% increase in yield. ( it will give you more but I believe in setting the target low) Kitty is pulling down 900g per light 1000w. An increase of 5% would give you 945g under a better light. Thats an extra 45g per light x 14 = 630g =$1,100.00 per cycle @ 6 cycles = 3780g extra a year = 8 1/2 pounds more for 560$ more spent on lights. So you got to buy a new light to check it out for yourself... let me see is it worth it???? If it works for you you get 25 grand more a year and if it don't you spent 40 extra dollars.