What is the best 400w MH bulb for veg at this time?

Ok, I've looked at my options around me, for a 400w what do you think of the Sunmaster cool deluxe bulb, it aint cheap, but nobody here is carrying the hortilux 400 saying its way too expensive and hardly sold and they dont even carry it, 3 places said that.

Sunmaster Cool Deluxe 400w MH

What you think?
Basically, anything bad about it you know or can tell me or just get it?

I think that's what I'm gonna go with.

Johnei said:

I remember that bulb when it came out and people were runing tests all over the forums, I never really followed through though of the outcome of these tests. I've gotta look into that, yeah, and i remember it was also a lot more money. Money's no issue when it comes to bulb, just wanna make the 'right' decision ya know.

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I've had good luck with Digilux too. They're very comparable IMO.
I blend 2-600 watt MH Digilux with my set up and so far I'm content with their performance.

Digilux, I think that was the 1K I ran a few times and the actual bulb is smaller and shorter than the hortilux so fucked with my spread over 5x10 beds compared to hortilux.. i think those were the ones Digilux. Shorter bulbs.

Johnei said:

Digilux, I think that was the 1K I ran a few times and the actual bulb is smaller and shorter than the hortilux so fucked with my spread over 5x10 beds compared to hortilux.. i think those were the ones Digilux. Shorter bulbs.

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Hmmm, never bought the 1ks. Good to know.
I'll tell ya, when I had to work with lower ceilings in my basement I bought an XXL Thunder hood (similar to the Raptors), checked it with a par meter and the spread was impressive. Especially after I had it modified for a DE.
Warning though. That MFer is heavy as hell. I'd whack my bean on it at least once a week.

LOL

Johnei said:

I'm imaging those 2 reflectors you got there on one of those spinning machines, wow..lol.. moving shadows around and all that. probably would be nuts.

Nice setup man!


(I actually also need a new HPS flower bulb, so this is good info here for me.)

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Those are sun system blockbusters. They weigh 25 pounds each. I don't think they would be good for a light mover.

But it would be awesome!

Johnei said:

Ok, I've looked at my options around me, for a 400w what do you think of the Sunmaster cool deluxe bulb, it aint cheap, but nobody here is carrying the hortilux 400 saying its way too expensive and hardly sold and they dont even carry it, 3 places said that.

Sunmaster Cool Deluxe 400w MH

What you think?
Basically, anything bad about it you know or can tell me or just get it?

I think that's what I'm gonna go with.

Click to expand...

I would go with a ushio after hortilux. They have an option Blue or something. Likely higher quality.

Ushio!!!! Not digilux!! Final answer what i said before, THAT was the 1K HPS I tried, good builb made some cronz, but shorter than hortilux. not digilux, ushio it was for sure.

Thanks bro.. makin a plan.. I'll look.

WOW guys WOW you know what just happened. Myu 400MH bulb just turned off by itself. Holy shit. I knew I needed new bulb but never thought THIS would happen. Unbeleivable, and the same day I made this thread, like a sign! crazy. Setting up flouros until tomorrow... damit.

so tired of darn ballasts breaking,, so tired of weak bulbs,, ugh

TacoMac said:

Man, I would go with the Apollo Horticulture MH bulb. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-GLBMH400-Metal-Halide/dp/B0081IC0DI
Now, it's as good as any other, but it has a VERY short productive life. You should be able to easily get two grows out of each bulb, but that's about it.

Think about it: 5 bucks per grow. You spent more than that on that piece of shit burger you got last night.

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good set up right there

I just set up a computer UPS backup power supply, with a cheap cfl plugged in with a timer set to the same schedule as the veg light.

Now in these stupid situations where a brownout happens and power fluctuates and ballast/bulb clicks off,
or in a total blackout when llights go off, the little cfl stays on holding the cycle.

Don't need veg light turning off mid day and then plants sit for the whole time in the dark + real dark period and end up going into flower from so much dark time and fuck up mothers and everything else in veg!

I'll do one in flower as well on flower time.

Just thought to share, in case you don't know about this trick.

Over n OUT.

p.s. before you start thinkin about it.....

Tests were ran back in the day on old forum trying to see if you could use a computer UPS backup power supply to hold an HID on. It is feasible, but the cost was just way to incredibly high using even the biggest rack server UPS backup, and even tying a few together. The size and power of the unit just to keep the bulb operating for 1 minute was enormous.
Over'

Ive used a dc to ac power invertor to run about 150w during a power outage. Hooked right up to my cars cig lighter in the driveway, extension cord to tent, done.

They cost 20 bucks and are small, put of the way til you need it

cig lighter's gotta be close to grow though, right, or use portable car batt.. how long will that last? can you easily keep it charged always forever? a pain

ehh.. the UPS power supply is 40bucks, its good shit, cleans the sine wave to anything plugged to it, has many plugs..

If ur ballast is convertable to hps, try the GE cmh, i got mine from htg, cheap and love it! Beautiful crystal clear light the ladies love it. Wont work though if your ballast isnt convertable as they use an hps ballast.

which if i open it up i should see diagram etc. if it is convertable to check right?.. havent open that shit in years

(should probably clean inside for webs n shit anyway)

GE CMH.. it's a smaller bulb than usual?

Its shaped like hps..mine is 400watt. Google their spectrum its amazing thats why the light is so clear as it has a fair amount from every spectrum making it so clear, and very little degrigation over time, especially for veg...

The phillips in the cmh are supposedly a bit better but are pricy and require their own special set up and are only 315 watt. I think this $25 ge bulb that can co a couple years in veg is a buy. Had one go out within a year they sent replacement on the asap...

Im no help on ballast particulars though, i bought mine as a kit from htg w the hps ballst... but yea im sure theres a way to find out if it is...