how to tell if an hps bulg is new?

I bought an supposedly brand new hps on e bay. My plants arent growing. While supposedly brand new, the bulb has some blackening on select areas. Please confirm.

what brand?...most lamps are pre-burned

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-li...b-failure.html

Hey Dutch, is there a fix to this? Or should astrea get a new source of light, ASAP?

(nice to see you are still here)

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Originally Posted by astrea

I bought an supposedly brand new hps on e bay. My plants arent growing. While supposedly brand new, the bulb has some blackening on select areas. Please confirm.

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your bulb is fine ,it will grow plants even when it cycles on/off at the end of its life. it's probably your lack of experience that's keeping your plants from growing.