So, I'm using 500 watt HPS shop light for my veg setup. The problem is the light bulb keeps blowing. This is the third time during the last 2 weeks or so, and the second time in 2 days. I was wondering if anyone has experience with using these lights and if they have run into the same problem. I almost feel like I've got some kind of faulty housing that is somehow causing the bulbs to burn out. The grow I did before this I used the same type of light, and I don't recall ever having to replace the bulb... and that grow ran a very long time. (I kept the plant in veg state for a very long time to let it get huge)

I would think it's somehow related to overheating, I know these lights can get mega hot. And in fact, it looks to me that some of the glass/ceramic connector parts seem to be melting. The strange thing is that the lights blow in the morning (the last 2 days) when the lights are first coming on. I would think if it was heat related, the bulb would blow towards the end of the day when they've been running for 18 hours. Of course on that same note, maybe the bulb is degrading during the long day and when turned on the next morning, the stress on the bulb becomes fatal.

Any thoughts or ideas? I just got a bad ballast/housing unit? Or maybe I need to put a fan on the light itself to help cool things down?

Attachment 297562

Pic related: almost the exact model I'm using. Pic found on this board (although old) under indoor lighting.
KeiserSozeh Reviewed by KeiserSozeh on . HPS keeps blowing So, I'm using 500 watt HPS shop light for my veg setup. The problem is the light bulb keeps blowing. This is the third time during the last 2 weeks or so, and the second time in 2 days. I was wondering if anyone has experience with using these lights and if they have run into the same problem. I almost feel like I've got some kind of faulty housing that is somehow causing the bulbs to burn out. The grow I did before this I used the same type of light, and I don't recall ever having to replace Rating: 5