Is this true? HPS/MH Question

[ANON]

You can't use a standard high pressure sodium bulb in a metal halide fixture, but you can use a metal halide bulb in a high pressure sodium fixture of the same wattage. I didn't think this was possible till several years ago when someone I trust told me it would work.

http://www.allpotseeds.com/pot-lights.html

[~Hippie3]

true
done it,
as MH bulbs are cheaper

[TVCasualty]

People still use metal halide?

A horiculturally balanced HPS is all ya need. More lumens per watt, too. A lot of people, good growers mind you, think (and I agree) that MH are sold just so you buy more gear, although in the past before bulbs were so well engineered as to their spectrum, they might have been necessary.

I'm curious about the rationale for using MH nowadays, seems superfluous.

EDIT: I brain farted on the fact that it was just a bulb, not the whole light (ballast and all), and cheaper is certainly a good rationale for something! Time for bed I guess.

[abaca]

I know that they make conversion bulbs. I had a 1000w MH balast with a 960W HPS conversion bulb. However the bulb was like twice as expensive as usuall.

[ANON]

Originally Posted by Hippie3

true
done it,
as MH bulbs are cheaper

thanks

I might just purchase an HPS ballast, and start out with a MH bulb.

Originally Posted by TVCasualty

I'm curious about the rationale for using MH nowadays, seems superfluous.

Light spectrum. MH bulbs emit more blue light, which is better for vegetative growth. Besides, I thought that MH bulbs also emitted less heat?

[quillo]

Originally Posted by Hippie3

true
done it,
as MH bulbs are cheaper

Is this true for both electronic and magnetic ballasts?

[~Hippie3]

i can't say on the new units,
mine are all several years old.

[Dank Side Of The Shroom]

never used MH bulbs b4 but this hps ballast can take them. always vegged under hps/floro with no prob.

[ANON]

what's the difference between a converstion bulb and a normal MH bulb if both fit in HPS ballasts?

[malefacter]

a mh bulb puts out more blue light but the amount of blue coming from a hps of the same wattage is far better.

In fact you will save money in the long run using hps over mh or florescent

[ernestro]

not black%white though. as far as i have gathered,

some MH bulbs get their gases ionised at ignition voltages of 0.9-1.3kV, and i believe HPS at 2500V to 4-5kV or what. . the voltage is generated across the starter, which gets energizzzed by the ballast. that's why it's not a good idea to use an powerwize overrated balast - it produces more voltage, which may in turn damage z bulb by overheating the excited gas which cracks the MH, which are ( i suppose, i read it) a bit more sensitive to heat, cause they generate a bit enough of it already in normal operation.

somewhere else i "saw" some MHs specificaly not be used with HPS balasts. But your results may vary (or how you say and totally depend on the stuff you get/have offered/available to you.

If i stated something with flaws, may i please be corrected!


aladida, may your days be reflected by your state of mind, which you shallould or not embrace

[jmtx]

Originally Posted by malefacter

In fact you will save money in the long run using hps over mh or florescent

lie!

[suckerfree]

Originally Posted by TVCasualty

People still use metal halide?

.

i use two mh and 1 hps

[i patch]

not high intensity fluoros suck to me... the time n stretch n bullshit ive had contend with

[jmtx]

Originally Posted by i patch

not high intensity fluoros suck to me... the time n stretch n bullshit ive had contend with..

im cornfused about that!!!! u dont like ho flouros??

[bugs]

Got a pair of 55 watt T5 biax bulbs. Love 'em. These are "veg" spectrum, or cool white. They also make 3500K and 3000K for more red output.

Plants grow very well at 10,000 lumens a few inches away. 18 clones in 4" pots fit perfectly, grow quickly to 6"-8" then go under HPS for SOG.

Got the fixture from HTGS for a little over a hundred bucks. I'm a cheapskate, and I'm very pleased.

[jmtx]

i got my t5ho 8 tube half 6500k spec and other 3000k for 200 dollars on ebay!

[Foster]

All of the newer electronic ballasts I've seen will run either MH or HPS.

I have to agree with TV Casualty, a enhanced spectrum or dual arc HPS is all that is needed for flowering.

Conversion bulbs are not worth the price IMO. They put out less total lumens, cost up to 50% more, and don't last nearly as long as the correct bulb for for fixture.

[Phungivore]

i use hps for veg, use it for bloom , mh are not needed , but i feel work best as companion lights , meaning if ya run hps and want more blue then colorcorected horti bulb, then stick in an MH , but no need for them as primary bulbs.

MH pros
more blue

Mh cons
less time on a bulb before replacment about 12k hours

HPS Pros
more red with some blue
more lumens per watt
runs 20k hours

HPS cons
more costly if ya want horticulture specific bulb