I reckon this is probably the most experienced group to ask this question of… A good friend offered me some old “gro lights”, which he’d packed away in 1979 (newspaper padding) and got tired of moving around. We figured all we had to do was switch out the bulbs to regular flourescents. I didn’t take them all and wound up with the bottom of the box and it has no information, nor does the fixture… I recall gro lights were energy suckers but don’t remember much else. Can I just switch out the bulbs to regular lighting?
no no I ouldnt do that…is is probably a HPS(high pressure sodium)or MH(metel halide) light…they are very effecient for there light out put but you dont ever want to switch bulbs…HPS and MH baulbs are a little spendy I would go to the good will and get some cheepo flouesents…
If they’re the tubes that fit standard flourescent fixtures, regular bulbs should work fine. At Fiberglass Hawaii they sell bulbs that will fit and cure UV resin as well.
Must have too much on my mind - original post wasn’t to coherent. What I want to do is use the light fixture just as a regular shop light and toss the 24 year old gro light bulbs. I’ll check the pins and see how that’s set up. Don’t really want to burn the house down…so if anybody thinks that’s a possibility let me know and I’ll toss the whole thing. Thanks.
No… Id listen to TJ. That sounds like some sort of high intensity discharge (HID) lamp. Which you wouldn’t want anyway. HPS gives off a yellow glow, great for the vegetative (growth) cycle, but I’m pretty sure that surfboard blanks don’t photosynthesize (sp?). Mercury Vapour or Metal Halide is more white, but why? It’s way more power than you need/want, it’s all going to reflect off that white blank, right into your eyes. Flourescent fixtures cost nothing, nor does the bulbs… just go buy some.
Nels: If I read you correctly, all you are asking is whether or not you can use the fixtures and toss the bulbs. Yes! if the fixtures take standard 20 to 40 watt flourescent tubes they will work great. They are probably better fixtures than the lumber yard $10.00 shop lights. Refer to this picture for the standard T-12 or dual pin 4’ lamp configuration. Most grow lights using flourescent tubes had tubes with broader spectrum lamps that simulate sunlight more closely than “Cool White” shop lights. Tom S. 