Light blew out in under 2 months?

[Jouryokujin]

I was using a Eye Hortilux 600w HPS in a Sun Tube (a reflector that encloses the light in glass so you can use a fat to blow air through the tube, allowing you to position the light closer to the plants) for flowering. For the past week, it would flicker once every 15-20 minutes. This morning the light never even turned on (its on a timer set to come on at 6am) until I manually turned it off/on a couple times, waiting 5 minutes for the lamp to warm up in between tries. When the light finally came on, it seemed to be more of a blue spectrum, and it was fairly dim. The light is about a week under 2 months old. Did I just get a bad light? Do HPS lights need to be changed that quickly?

Jouryokujin Reviewed by Jouryokujin on 12-08-2007. Light blew out in under 2 months? I was using a Eye Hortilux 600w HPS in a Sun Tube (a reflector that encloses the light in glass so you can use a fat to blow air through the tube, allowing you to position the light closer to the plants) for flowering. For the past week, it would flicker once every 15-20 minutes. This morning the light never even turned on (its on a timer set to come on at 6am) until I manually turned it off/on a couple times, waiting 5 minutes for the lamp to warm up in between tries. When the light finally Rating: 5

[Dutch Pimp]

What kind of ballast?..digital?..what brand?...the cool tube might have let the bulb get too hot, not enough cool air flow. Hortilux is one of the best bulbs on the market. Usually, lasts 8-12 months constant use.

Check the warranty/supplier...maybe they will cut you some slack.

[Jouryokujin]

Galaxy 600w digital ballast. I forgot to say that in my amazing fit of rage.

Turns out it wasn't the light after all...I bought another bulb and it flickers as well. Turns out, a plug on my surge protector was going bad. Now, all is well....I hope.

[xcrispi]

Hope your right ,
I guess the digital ballasts dont put up w/ voltage fluxuations so well . Lame voltage right from the pole and generators are suposed to be the antichrist w/ digital ballasts .
Peace
Crispi :jointsmile:

[mushaboom]

oh boy that stinks... it's an expensive mistake to realize. the bulb is so new though i bet you might be able to get another one from the manufacturer.

[gainesvillegreen]

Some bulbs also don't perform well with digital ballasts. Check with the manufacturer/supplier of your ballast for recommended bulbs.

[Jouryokujin]

oh boy that stinks... it's an expensive mistake to realize. the bulb is so new though i bet you might be able to get another one from the manufacturer.

I didn't throw my 1st bulb away, so I'll be using it as a spare when my current one goes out. imp:

[Jouryokujin]

Some bulbs also don't perform well with digital ballasts. Check with the manufacturer/supplier of your ballast for recommended bulbs.

Yup. I did this prior to purchasing the two.