Sage-Tips

Are high pressure sodium lights being phased out?

Phasing out A number of popular lighting types will have to be phased out by 2017 including selected ‘standard’ high-pressure sodium (including retrofit), high-pressure mercury, and standard performance metal halide.

Will HPS work for veg?

In response to the general question, can you use an HPS bulb for veg, the answer is yes. Basically you can use just about any light out there for any stage of growth, the real question is how well do each bulb work for veg.

Do high pressure sodium lights need ballast?

HPS lamps require ballasts to regulate the arc current flow and deliver the proper voltage to the arc. Instead, an electronic starting circuit within the ballast generates a high-voltage pulse to the operating electrodes.

What is the difference between MH and HPS bulbs?

Metal Halide (MH) lamps provide more of the blue spectrum, which is ideal for leafy crops, and/or plants that are in a vegetative stage. High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps provide more yellow/red spectrum, which is ideal for most plants that are actively fruiting and flowering.

When should HPS bulbs be replaced?

If you use HPS bulbs, plan to replace them after 10-14 months of use.

When should I change my HPS bulb?

How long do high pressure sodium bulbs last?

around 24,000 hours
High Pressure Sodium lights maintain their luminescence fairly well with 90\% still available halfway through their lifespan (around 12,000 hours). HPS bulbs typically emit 80\% of their original rated output at the end of life (around 24,000 hours).

What is the difference between high pressure sodium and metal halide bulbs?

The primary visual difference between them is that metal halide light is white and the light emitted from a High Pressure Sodium bulb is amber orange. These bulbs cannot be interchanged without changing their ballast, the regulating element in all light bulbs. Their operation is a bit different and they therefore require different ballasts.

Should you buy metal halides or HPS?

This latter point is important because so many in the marijuana industry buy metal halides for early stage “veg” growth, and switch to HPS for bud.

What are the benefits of high pressure sodium light bulbs?

Benefits of High Pressure Sodium. A main benefit to HPS lights is the lifespan of about 24,000 hours and fairly cheap to replace compared to the metal halide bulbs. When using HPS lights consumers do not run the risk of coming into contact with mercury, infrared, or UV lights that can cause harm to animals and people.

Which is better for plant growth HPS or metal halide?

• Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is what really matters to plant growth, and delivery of usable PAR is better with HPS than metal halide. • The enhanced blue in metal halide does not lead to increased plant growth compared to HPS in the “veg” stage.