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Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > The Ethnobotanical Garden
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Cheap HIDs - Why and why not?
    #5966111 -

I am helping a buddy setup a grow room. He has been pricing out lights and I've always used Hydrofarm nice lights, but he's a frugal shopper and insists on buying some cheaper ones off eBay. I told him there are definately downsides to cheaper lights but I really couldn't tell him WHAT they ARE since I've never used them. So maybe some of you could shed some light on your cheap light tips/nightmares/opinions with us.

We would prefer advice from ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. No speculation etc.

Is there a 'middle-ground' price/quality light you'd recommend. Lights in question are 400w MH and 1000w HPS.

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: rawtoxic]
    #5966188 -

Make sure he doesn't buy a *used* light, but that goes without saying I hope.


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Omnicyclion.org
personal empowerment for the world

Onehomemission.org
truly make a difference

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: rawtoxic]
    #5966215 -

I have always thought Hydrofarm, built good pieces. They will last
for many years, and replacement parts, are easy to get.
I have bought the cheap replacement lights, at places that sell
general lighting, and I,d say, its better to stick, with the name brand. IMO


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I just have names.
shit has been way busy, names have been flying out the door. No time for special name shit.

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: shithead]
    #5966320 -

a chinese set up i bought a while back would make a lot of noise. the light would flicker off in middle of the light cycle after only a few months (bulb was used later with different, hydrofarm balast, and no problem, so im assuming it was the balast). i got rid of it fast. but hey, the color was cool, it came in blue  :cool:

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: impgl]
    #5966574 -

Do not buy any equipment off ebay if its going to be used for anything illegal. Ebay is the biggest bunch of informers you ever want to see. Cops don't need any warrant or court order, ebay will turn over all info just for the asking. To save money buy a ballast set and reflector separately. Shop around using google and froogle and you'll find loads of deals.


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“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.” (attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville political philosopher Circa 1835)

Trade list http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/18047755

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: rawtoxic]
    #5966925 -

your friend may want to look into industrial surplus places in his area.

while not conventional, and maybe not for the novice,they usually have a plethora of HID lighting, that while in used condition, can be had for exceptional deals.

off hand from a local place near me turns up:

http://www.hgrindustrialsurplus.com/sear...rentPageIndex=0

http://www.hgrindustrialsurplus.com/sear...rentPageIndex=2

http://www.hgrindustrialsurplus.com/sear...rentPageIndex=3


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" If the sky were to suddenly open up there would be no law. There would be no rule. There would only be you and your memories... the choices you've made, and the people you've touched. If this world were to end there would only be you and him and no-one else. "

..............

"MAN! You know there aint no such thing as left over crack!"


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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: rawtoxic]
    #5967569 -

Usually the biggest difference between cheap and pricey bulbs is the spectrum. Hydrofarm, Hortilux and some other have a spectrum made to grow plants most of the other cheap bulbs are the type used in shops ans warehouses. They will give stretchy growth even though the light is bright because it isn't as usable to the plant.


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All creatures tremble when faced with violence. All creatures fear death, all love life. If we can only see ourselves in others, then how could we possibly hurt another creature?


:growingweed: Join us at the Growery! :growingweed:

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: Magash]
    #5969132 -

Magash said:
Usually the biggest difference between cheap and pricey bulbs is the spectrum. Hydrofarm, Hortilux and some other have a spectrum made to grow plants most of the other cheap bulbs are the type used in shops ans warehouses. They will give stretchy growth even though the light is bright because it isn't as usable to the plant.



never knew that..... always sort of figured an hps bulb is an hps bulb....


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" If the sky were to suddenly open up there would be no law. There would be no rule. There would only be you and your memories... the choices you've made, and the people you've touched. If this world were to end there would only be you and him and no-one else. "

..............

"MAN! You know there aint no such thing as left over crack!"


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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: Schwip]
    #5969266 -

I knew about the bulbs but what about the light ballast itself with a good bulb? What problems have people run into doing that?

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: rawtoxic]
    #5969534 -

With cheap ballast they often don't fully power the bulb to it's fullest. You have a good ballast next to a cheap one and have the exact same bulbs but when one the color of the light is a little different between them and one will read different on the light meter. Right now the best ballast out are the electronic ones.


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All creatures tremble when faced with violence. All creatures fear death, all love life. If we can only see ourselves in others, then how could we possibly hurt another creature?


:growingweed: Join us at the Growery! :growingweed:

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: Magash]
    #5977700 -

The digital ones are pleged with malfunctions at the moment, so I wouldnt call them superior yet. And im my experiance expencive bulbs arnt worth th extra cash, I go with a Sylvania or Philips(Philips is prefered). Some floros would help alot more imo. Id sudjest T5s but they are also in early development, few more years and everyone will be using Digital HPS with ceramic halides and LED supplementing all around the plant.

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: Legoulash]
    #5978182 -

They got past most of the problems with digitalis some time ago but yeah they were really bad for a while. Your talking back when they couldn't even figure out how to make a digital 1000 watt. They even have longer lifespan ratings now and 3 to 5 year warranties.
Now the bulbs I've seen used here and there since 85 and can pretty safely say that a good sunmaster or hortilux with a good light spectrum is gonna do way better then the cheap bulbs. they put out more usable light to the plant so your gonna get way less stretch between the nodes esp if your talking a strain like a haze or some pheno's of blueberry.


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All creatures tremble when faced with violence. All creatures fear death, all love life. If we can only see ourselves in others, then how could we possibly hurt another creature?


:growingweed: Join us at the Growery! :growingweed:

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: Magash]
    #5978328 -

Jorge Cervantes says to not use HIDs that he used to and he burnt up his plants from personal experience.

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: C-Dizzle]
    #5979228 -

You may wanna re read that cause every book he has every dvd he's made and so on says to use HID lights. He's pretty easy to get a hold of.

This is his forum http://hipforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=166


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All creatures tremble when faced with violence. All creatures fear death, all love life. If we can only see ourselves in others, then how could we possibly hurt another creature?


:growingweed: Join us at the Growery! :growingweed:

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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: C-Dizzle]
    #5979291 -

calab said:
Jorge Cervantes says to not use HIDs that he used to and he burnt up his plants from personal experience.


maybe your thinking of them mercury vapor lights or halogen?


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" If the sky were to suddenly open up there would be no law. There would be no rule. There would only be you and your memories... the choices you've made, and the people you've touched. If this world were to end there would only be you and him and no-one else. "

..............

"MAN! You know there aint no such thing as left over crack!"


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Re: Cheap HIDs - Why and why not? [Re: rawtoxic]
    #5981236 -

IMO you get exactly what you pay for when it comes to specialty lighting. I've used cheap bulbs in the past and they've always had the same problems: low output, wildly varying spectral shifts, and shoddy build quality/life expectancy. In reference to the 400W MH, I'd recommend an Iwasaki bulb. High output, affordable(~$60), very little spectral shift and will last for 3 - 5 years.(My experience). In reference to HPS, you can't go wrong w/ Philips or EYE Hortilux.

As has been previously mentioned, tell your friend to stay away from eGay and start looking at some of the many respected dealers online. He/She may end up buying components from different sources and still save some cash. HTH


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Gee Elsie, how do you do it?

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Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > The Ethnobotanical Garden
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