ML & HPL Bulbs.

[badcat]

Dear Friends.

What do you think about this bulbs. They are cheap and I think no need ballast.

PHILIPS ML 160 W

160 W

E27

3200 Lumen

3600K

PHILIPS HPL SON-T70

70 W

E27

6600 Lumen

2000K

For amateur growing...

[gobru]

better buy good bulbs...t neon?

[badcat]

better buy good bulbs...t neon?

I use neon already... But just ask

[gobru]

keep using those, ore better use hps bulbs

[ambertrichomez]

Okay where to start? Firstly the Philips ml series of lamps are a modern day variant of the old mercury vapour bulbs and as such emit mostly blue light which although suited to the veg period for plants, It will give no better results than fluorescent alternatives that will cost less to run. Verdict cfls or T5's=better idea.

As for the son-t series of lamps i.e the 70w mentioned these are High pressure sodium just a smaller version, but do require a ballast I use these at work daily (street/backcourt lighting!) they will work for growing but wont be cheap to run, I used to have some 70w son-t+ units mounted to my walls of my growroom to boost my overhead 600w's that helped a bit but not enough to justify the rise in heat. I reckon a 70w would be good for growing maybe 1-2 auto's in a small space and may give some decent yields but would not recomend you use either and instead say you should use either L.E.D or a decent 400w or 600w hps/mh ballast instead.