You will need to change your bulb more than once a year IMO. I like to change mine about every 8 months without doing what your doing.
Adieu
BlueBear Reviewed by BlueBear on . MH bulb in an HPS? I've read that you can put a regular (non-conversion) MH bulb into an HPS ballast and have it work ok. Apparently it shortens the life of the bulb a bit, but this doesn't matter to me since I change my bulb once a year. Does anyone have direct experience with this? Or know someone who has? Rating: 5