LIGHT BULB question

I have been using a 400w sodium light for over a year now,but what im asking is if anyone knows if they lose strength through time,im not sure but i don't think it seems as bright as it used to?
any info is appreciated.

cheers

Yes... the definately do... i dont know any of the science behind it... but i try to swap out every two or three grows

I hear you should replace it every 6 months.
I change mine every 12

yeah i think i will change it as soon as i can.i wasn't sure if it was in my head but it deffo looks less bright.

cheers people.

hamboner said:

yeah i think i will change it as soon as i can.i wasn't sure if it was in my head but it deffo looks less bright.

cheers people.

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yeah it will start to blacken on the ends too.

ive never noticed that but it may well have blackened too,i will take a look.

yeah it starts to drop lumens , 6 months is reccomended but at 1year i would deff get a new globe soon.its the same for all lights , my cars from 1992 and its headlights are like little flashlights now lol

You should look into the new CMH. Heres a link: http://www.growlightexpress.com/ceramic-metal-halide-bulbs-9/mastercolor-ceramic-metal-halide-400-watt-79.html the color spectrum is amazing. One bulb start to finish. And very affordable.

Thats my next buy there sick

just looked at cmh. pretty high in the yellow red are but is there blue spectrum enough?

More than enough for veg. I have been using one for about a month now. It is performing above my expectations. Now to see how it flowers.

So these 150w cmh bulb can fit right into a hps ballast?

Yes, they can only be used in a magnetic hps ballast. 400 watt is as large as they make at this time.

Bleh. I dont want a mag ballast. Just a reg electronic ballast

cowboylogic said:

Yes, they can only be used in a magnetic hps ballast. 400 watt is as large as they make at this time.

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How long before they make these in 600w?

Marlowe said:

How long before they make these in 600w?

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Dont know if they ever will. They are not marketed as an agricultural bulb. 600 watts is not common place in commercial lighting. The 400 is one bright light! Sunglasses for sure.

hell cfls blind me

cowboylogic said:

You should look into the new CMH. Heres a link: http://www.growlightexpress.com/ceramic-metal-halide-bulbs-9/mastercolor-ceramic-metal-halide-400-watt-79.html the color spectrum is amazing. One bulb start to finish. And very affordable.

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i just read the page of the link it seems great bulb,but one thing i don't understand is it says the temperature is 4k,i don't know what this means is that hotter than a sodium bulb bcos i heard halide bulbs are too hot,any thoughts?

it also seems to have less lumens than a sodium bulb....sodium 50,000 to the halides 38,000

An HPS light will lose 20-40% of it's total lumen output over the course of it's life which is, on average, 20,000 hours. So theorectically if you run your 400w HPS light 24 hours a day for a year straight you will use approx 44% of the bulbs average life with an average light loss of 30% over the course of it's life. By these calculations you will lose approx. 6600 lumens of light over the course of 365 days of 24 hour use which leaves you approx. 43,000 lumens of available light. I hope this helps.

Hey hamboner here is a comparison of the CMH you mentioned verses a cheap HPS bulb:

CMH:
Specifications:
* Phillips Part Number: CDM400S51/HOR/4K/ALTO
* Initial Lumen: 34,800
* Bulb Life: 15,000 hrs
* Bulb Shape: ED-18
* CRI: 92
* Temperature: 4K
* Position: Horizontal Cost: $52.49

The HTGSupply 400 watt High Pressure Sodium lamp emits an amazing 55,000 lumens.

Features:

• 55,000 lumens
• Designed specifically for plant growth
• Brighter than standard HPS lamps
• Increased Violet and Blue spectrum to enhance natural plant growth
• 1 year warranty
• Average life is 20,000 hours

Now please explain to me where the CMH is a better bulb or a better deal?