Cheap MH bulb recommendations?

[Moe_K]

Okay, this is probably the 235th thread on MH bulbs.

Here's my dealio.

I need one double ended 250 watt bulb, and one single ended bulb.
What's the best buy out there?

For color, I like the AB 10K look the best.

 

[delta]

Hamilton 10k pretty close to the ABs, pretty cheap too both single and doubel end are around $65

 

[JohnK]

I really like the ushio 14K blubs. IMO they are much closer to 10K than other 14K blubs I've tried (pheonix, hamilton) $60 shipped from hellolights last I checked.

Edit, sale is over, now it's $70 shipped.

 

[chew*]

Ill vouch for the ushio 14k, very very close to the AB 13K (10K) I'm using one now and swapped from the AB.

 

[Moe_K]

Does Ushio make both DE and SE?

How long do they last on standard tar ballasts: 12 months?
How long do the Hamiltons last?

 

[JohnK]

Does Ushio make both DE and SE?

How long do they last on standard tar ballasts: 12 months?
How long do the Hamiltons last?

Do you mean M58, or M80 ballast?

Can't say on the longevity, too subjective to comment on and I haven't had the ushios long enough to guess.

 

[Moe_K]

Do you mean M58, or M80 ballast?

Can't say on the longevity, too subjective to comment on and I haven't had the ushios long enough to guess.

Errr. Not electronic like an Icecap.

 

[JohnK]

"HQI", or "standard magnetic", or "pulse start"?

 

[Moe_K]

Both are standard magnetic, I think.
One is a double ended bulb, the other is single.
Does that help?

I'm a MH guru.

 

[stevenp]

Personally I like the Hamilton 14k double end on Ice Caps. I just switched back to them after trying AB 10k and Reeflux 12k. I've had the best growth and color under the Hamilton 14k, go figure.

Moe you're welcome to swing by to take a look. Just put the fresh bulbs in this week.

 

[JohnK]

Both are standard magnetic, I think.
One is a double ended bulb, the other is single.
Does that help?

I'm a MH guru.

That could be a limitation with DE lamps. Most DE lamps are spec'ed to run on "HQI" ballasts which have an ignitor and drive the bulb harder. IIRC some DE lamps will run OK on standard ballasts and some will not (but those that do will likely be "underdriven" some - ie they won't be getting as much power as they are designed to run on. being underdriven may affect bulb life, color, and output).

If you can get a pic of whatever label is on the ballasts I can probably figure out for sure what it is.

I'm not sure if the ushio 14Ks come in SE, they definately do come in DE.

 

[chew*]

ushio 14k come in both DE and SE.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Hellolights has a sale this week too.

 

[ReeferMedic]

I like the Ushio 14ks also. I started with them, tried a few other bulbs, and wound up right back using the Ushio 14ks. I have one bulb running that has about 1 year of life on it on a standard magnetic ballast and 2 others on electronic ballasts. All 3 have Lumenarc Reflectors. The bulbs on the electronic ballasts are much brighter than the one on the magnetic fwiw. I would say 1 year of life is not out of the ordinary for these bulbs. Worth the extra $ imo. I found the Hamiltons to be much bluer and the intensity seemed to drop off way before the Ushios did.