how often should I replace my HPS bulbs?

How often should I replace bulbs?

Hey, new to the board. NOT new to growing with lights.
My 1000w EyE Hortilux HPS bulbs have 1 year warranty, but I notice production starts to drop at about 6 - 8 months.
Have been replacing bulbs at 6 months.

I replace after 2nd grow.

i think the standard is 12 months but that just wat it sais on most boxes and stuff and u cant get better exp then from ppl that use them

Anything earlier than 6 months is just a total waste of money. That being said, I run about 10 months.

I replace them every 3 grows wich is about 7 months

and dont be fooled. A buld is not just a bulb. go with horti

I swap mine every 8 or 9 months. But always save the last one, just in case of an accident. Some light, is better than no light, while you're waiting on a replacement or the cash to buy one.

MrStickyScissors said:

I replace them every 3 grows wich is about 7 months

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Yeah i do the same

PhatColas said:

I swap mine every 8 or 9 months. But always save the last one, just in case of an accident. Some light, is better than no light, while you're waiting on a replacement or the cash to buy one.

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Yeah i keep all the bulbs dont know why unless they just dont work no more illl keep them in a box and get another one..

I just replaced my 600 that had been used for only one grow but was a couple years old and the difference in brightness was substantial. The plants responded immediately as well grew about half an inch over night and all the leaves are now standing at attention... I'm going to replace it every 8-10 months now...

homebrewer said:

Anything earlier than 6 months is just a total waste of money. That being said, I run about 10 months.

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Depends a bit on your average yield and what that's worth to you as well. Since I save money by growing for personal use, a high quality 600watt bulb costs me roughly 4-5 gram, so with more than 1% decrease per run I can already afford to get a new bulb and it would not be a waste of money. In theory... in practice I veg and sex with 400 watt, and flower with 600 watt, and with only do 2-3 cycles a year I only need 1 each (400 and 600) per year, so 1 bulb per 6 months.

Sativied said:

Depends a bit on your average yield and what that's worth to you as well. Since I save money by growing for personal use, a high quality 600watt bulb costs me roughly 4-5 gram, so with more than 1% decrease per run I can already afford to get a new bulb and it would not be a waste of money. In theory... in practice I veg and sex with 400 watt, and flower with 600 watt, and with only do 2-3 cycles a year I only need 1 each (400 and 600) per year, so 1 bulb per 6 months.

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How can you afford a new bulb after one run when you're growing for 'personal use'?

homebrewer said:

How can you afford a new bulb after one run when you're growing for 'personal use'?

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Right... not that obvious I guess then. Well, in the Netherlands, if you don't grow, you buy weed and hash at a coffeeshop, usually per gram, about $10 and upwards per gram. That's about $500 per month (for me and the wife). So, growing for personal use saves me $6K per year. And yes, I do smoke the same amount whether I grow or not (some years I just don't have the time).

Edit: is it so complicated that one saves money by growing their own weed...?

For someone called "homebrewer" that's quite a stupid question frankly.

Sativied said:

Right... not that obvious I guess then. Well, in the Netherlands, if you don't grow, you buy weed and hash at a coffeeshop, usually per gram, about $10 and upwards per gram. That's about $500 per month (for me and the wife). So, growing for personal use saves me $6K per year. And yes, I do smoke the same amount whether I grow or not (some years I just don't have the time).

Edit: is it so complicated that one saves money by growing their own weed...?

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I thought we were talking about bulbs, not growing your own to save money .

This is getting stupid... read your and mine posts and maybe you'll get the context. YOU mentioned it was a total waste of money to replace within 6 months, remember...? Well, I disagree, and I motivated why. No reason for you to get butt hurt.

Before my words get twisted again, I'm not saying everyone should replace within 6 months, just that it might be worth to consider the difference in yield and the value that has to you (whether you sell, grow for yourself, or buy zips or ounces). Every quality bulb manufacturer provides a chart that shows the lum reduction over time so it wouldn't be all guessing either. Not trying to convince anyone either, take the advice or leave it, or get butt hurt, whatever you prefer.

Sativied said:

This is getting stupid... read your and mine posts and maybe you'll get the context. YOU mentioned it was a total waste of money to replace within 6 months, remember...? Well, I disagree, and I motivated why. No reason for you to get butt hurt.

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Yes, it's especially a waste of money to replace your bulb more often than you need to when you grow for personal use.

homebrewer said:

Yes, it's especially a waste of money to replace your bulb more often than you need to when you grow for personal use.

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Wow... you really just don't get it do you... well, I give up. Good luck man.

My 600w hps is almost 6 months old and I am thinking about replacing it already. Just used for flowering 12/12.

i use mine for 3 flowering cycles, label them and save as a spares.

get a lite meter.the guy at the grow shop could help you with the cfp/lumens it should be puting out