I don't feel right about trapping more heat around the bulbs myself. My suggestion is don't use a reflector at all and even try another brand of globe. I have a 40cm fan blowing a gale across all my bulbs so the ballasts are cool to touch. Out of 6 bulbs I only had one blow and that was within a few mins of turning it on.
The globes are 48watt (240watt equiv. energy saving). They cost about $18 US. each.
I thought flouros were supposed to last about 5 to 10yrs but gradually lose light intensity over that period.
elcheapo Reviewed by elcheapo on . Damned Fluro Lights Again... Help Me Please! Hi, I've just reached day 21 of veg growth on my skunt No 1 plant, and my light goes - again... I've got 1 125w envirolight. It's worked for 3 weeks on 18 hours, and then it pops. The last one I got worked for 1 second before it blew, and the one before that worked for about 11 weeks altogether. Is there a standard time these things should work for, or up until what point would you try to send it back again. I really think my £30 quid should hold out a bit longer than 3 weeks, but Rating: 5