MH worn out?

[jnb]

I have 2 250 20k XM bulbs - this is a picture of the light they are putting out side by side - I just noticed this - they were put into service 8 months ago - running 12 hrs a day - is this obvious that the right one is worn out or could it be the ICECAP ballast - is this typically how they show being tired - that is they would burn more blue/purple?

 

[ROB2005]

as a bulb wears out it gradually starts to shift over into a lesser intense light spectrum hence why it looks dimmer.....it looks like its time to change your bulbs

 

[tkeracer619]

8 month x 12 hours a day = worn bulbs.
9 months x 10h a day = worn bulb
10~11months at 8 hours a day = worn bulb.

Those obviously are not rules but a good judge of thumb

 

[scottfarcuz]

Are you running the bulbs on different ballast? They can change the output a lot.

 

[jnb]

no, same ballast

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7449236#post7449236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottfarcuz
Are you running the bulbs on different ballast? They can change the output a lot.

 

[RichConley]

20K bulbs...

You're lucky if you got 8 months out of them.

They really start dropping in intensity at about 3 months.

 

[jnb]

point me to some support for that please

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7449796#post7449796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
20K bulbs...

You're lucky if you got 8 months out of them.

They really start dropping in intensity at about 3 months.

 

[TimFountain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7449796#post7449796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
20K bulbs...

You're lucky if you got 8 months out of them.

They really start dropping in intensity at about 3 months.

I'd say that is a little low, I'd start to see color shifts at 8hours per day after about 8 months with ICECap electronic ballasts.

 

[RichConley]

There was a test a litle while back, and radiums had dropped 50% of their par in 3 months. Most of the other bulbs did the same.