If the strain you’re growing now is the same one you grew in the past, then it’s likely that your bulb needs replacing. HID (High Intensity Discharge) grow bulbs such as HPS (High-Pressure Sodium and MH (Metal Halide) need to be replaced approximately every year in order to perform at optimum levels. Even more often, if they run 24 hours per day and not on the 12/12 on/off lighting cycle. Worn out bulbs will still send out light but at diminished levels, and replacement bulbs are fairly affordable, making it a no-brainer to replace the bulbs for more light and bigger yields quicker.
What is a HPS Light?
HPS bulbs consist of a narrow arc tube supported by a frame in a bulb. To improve efficiency, the arc tube is kept at an extremely high pressure. Sodium, mercury and xenon are usually used inside the arc tube in order to improve the light spectrum.
The most common way to start the bulbs is with a pulse start. This pulse starts an arc through the xenon gas and the lamp turns sky blue. The arc then heats the mercury which then lights up, giving the bulb a bluish color.
As the bulb heats and the sodium starts to vaporize it strikes an arc over 450° F (240° C). The sodium is then mixed with other impurities to create a more “white” light. Mercury helps add a blue spectrum light to the pure yellow of the sodium.
The double ended HPS grow light design reduces harmonic distortion by stabilizing the lamp on both ends, allowing for electricity to pass through the bulb with a very high frequency. A double ended lamp operates optimally between 100 kHz and 150 kHz, while a conventional HPS operates between 20 kHz and 60 kHz. Frequency of a lamp can be visualized as a strobe effect – that is, how many times per second a lamp goes on and off. (That’s right – even while your lamps are running, they are not producing light 100% of the time. This can be demonstrated with a digital camera – focusing on your light source, you’ll be able to notice horizontal dark lines scrolling vertically, much like misadjusted tracking on a VCR.)
It is important to understand the limitations of DE HPS grow lamps and not buy into the hype that says they will grow effectively for two years. The facts and the physics do not support this statement.
12 Hours On – 12 Hours Off – 12 Months and Replace
Growers using DE HPS should replace these lamps once every 12 months to maintain consistent yields from crop to crop.
Eco Farm 1000W DE HPS/MH Grow Light Kit
Extend your indoor growing season and increase your yields with the Eco Farm 1000W HPS Grow Light System.
This is an enclosed style grow light system that comes fully equipped with an adjustable light ratchet, reflector, and electronic ballast.
The electronic ballast is highly versatile. At 1000 watts, the ballast can operate HPS DE lamps rated at 1200, 1000, 825, 750, and 600 watts.
The ballast runs 20 percent cooler, thanks to its superior airflow characteristics. Apart from being cool-running, the ballast is also energy efficient compared to magnetic ballasts.
This system comes with an open hood double-ended reflector with a pre-installed double-ended socket that can only hold one DE HPS lamp.
Eco Farm 250W/400W/600W/1000W HPS Grow Light Bulb
These HPS bulbs are still among the most popular HPS lights for growing indoor plants. They have a top PAR efficiency, some growers like their inexpensive price while the bulbs still produce some fair results. After all, you have to replace the bulbs after several heavy grows. Then getting a budget bulb can save you a lot in the long run.
The grow light sector is one of the most competitive especially for indoor growers. The confusion comes in when selecting the best lighting systems for your crops during their growing phases. You can trust the above HPS grow lights to provide excellent results especially during the flowering phase of your cannabis.
They also give you superior and larger amounts of yields, which is what you are aiming for. To compare HPS grow lights with LED grow lights, you can read our earlier articles on the latter.
What is a HPS Light?
HPS bulbs consist of a narrow arc tube supported by a frame in a bulb. To improve efficiency, the arc tube is kept at an extremely high pressure. Sodium, mercury and xenon are usually used inside the arc tube in order to improve the light spectrum.
The most common way to start the bulbs is with a pulse start. This pulse starts an arc through the xenon gas and the lamp turns sky blue. The arc then heats the mercury which then lights up, giving the bulb a bluish color.
As the bulb heats and the sodium starts to vaporize it strikes an arc over 450° F (240° C). The sodium is then mixed with other impurities to create a more “white” light. Mercury helps add a blue spectrum light to the pure yellow of the sodium.
The double ended HPS grow light design reduces harmonic distortion by stabilizing the lamp on both ends, allowing for electricity to pass through the bulb with a very high frequency. A double ended lamp operates optimally between 100 kHz and 150 kHz, while a conventional HPS operates between 20 kHz and 60 kHz. Frequency of a lamp can be visualized as a strobe effect – that is, how many times per second a lamp goes on and off. (That’s right – even while your lamps are running, they are not producing light 100% of the time. This can be demonstrated with a digital camera – focusing on your light source, you’ll be able to notice horizontal dark lines scrolling vertically, much like misadjusted tracking on a VCR.)
It is important to understand the limitations of DE HPS grow lamps and not buy into the hype that says they will grow effectively for two years. The facts and the physics do not support this statement.
12 Hours On – 12 Hours Off – 12 Months and Replace
Growers using DE HPS should replace these lamps once every 12 months to maintain consistent yields from crop to crop.
Eco Farm 1000W DE HPS/MH Grow Light Kit
Extend your indoor growing season and increase your yields with the Eco Farm 1000W HPS Grow Light System.
This is an enclosed style grow light system that comes fully equipped with an adjustable light ratchet, reflector, and electronic ballast.
The electronic ballast is highly versatile. At 1000 watts, the ballast can operate HPS DE lamps rated at 1200, 1000, 825, 750, and 600 watts.
The ballast runs 20 percent cooler, thanks to its superior airflow characteristics. Apart from being cool-running, the ballast is also energy efficient compared to magnetic ballasts.
This system comes with an open hood double-ended reflector with a pre-installed double-ended socket that can only hold one DE HPS lamp.
Eco Farm 250W/400W/600W/1000W HPS Grow Light Bulb
These HPS bulbs are still among the most popular HPS lights for growing indoor plants. They have a top PAR efficiency, some growers like their inexpensive price while the bulbs still produce some fair results. After all, you have to replace the bulbs after several heavy grows. Then getting a budget bulb can save you a lot in the long run.
The grow light sector is one of the most competitive especially for indoor growers. The confusion comes in when selecting the best lighting systems for your crops during their growing phases. You can trust the above HPS grow lights to provide excellent results especially during the flowering phase of your cannabis.
They also give you superior and larger amounts of yields, which is what you are aiming for. To compare HPS grow lights with LED grow lights, you can read our earlier articles on the latter.
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