BrianPlankis
Premium Member
Minimizing costs is essential to turning a profit, or at least getting closer to breaking even.
If you haven't bought your lights yet, I would advise against PC lights for propping. Sure the fixtures are cheap, but if you are going for growth PC bulbs only last about 6 months and in the last couple of months their output is reduced.
I would keep an eye out for a retro VHO or T5 setup on the cheap. The T5s consume less electricity for the same equivalent wattage and their bulbs can last up to 18 months.
I plan on setting up my prop system 3-5 years from now and I just found a great deal on 2 used icecap440 ballasts that I'll use to run T5s over my prop setup. Take a long term approach and find good deals on used equipment that uses low electricity and you'll be on your way to keeping your costs extremely low.
Brian
If you haven't bought your lights yet, I would advise against PC lights for propping. Sure the fixtures are cheap, but if you are going for growth PC bulbs only last about 6 months and in the last couple of months their output is reduced.
I would keep an eye out for a retro VHO or T5 setup on the cheap. The T5s consume less electricity for the same equivalent wattage and their bulbs can last up to 18 months.
I plan on setting up my prop system 3-5 years from now and I just found a great deal on 2 used icecap440 ballasts that I'll use to run T5s over my prop setup. Take a long term approach and find good deals on used equipment that uses low electricity and you'll be on your way to keeping your costs extremely low.
Brian