phillips 315w LEC with D-Papillon reflector

[ZEN2U]

You are correct Zen2u,

 

Phillips Australia has no interest in the horticulture market when it comes to bulbs and never will be.

 

We ran the 385w about 4 years ago with good success, but yes you have to order from another country.

 

The only reason Phillips has made this 315w is because somebody at Phillips found out "Hey, this bulb isnt to bad on plants" and then redesigned a new bulb (the 315w) which only works with their own ballast (LI).

 

By phasing out the old cmh, you can only buy THEIR ballast to fit THEIR bulb (In comes Lights Interaction)... subsequently cornering the CMH market in horticulture for this bulb style. 

 

On a recent note to give you an idea of Phillips Australia, we use a specialty bulb importer to bring in these kinds of products from overseas.

The 2ft fluro batten lights found in T5 cfl cloning hoods are readily available in Greencolor  4K and 3.5K @ around $9 per bulb

But when inquiring about this bulb in 6.5K... They are an "Indent item" for Philips Australia and must be imported by the box from the US @ $20 per bulb =/

 

My advice is if you are seeking horticulture lamps from Philips, dont bother looking in Aus, just go directly to Phillips USA and save yourself the trouble.

Occasionally their may be a hydroponic wholesaler who brings in a particular lamp in bulk, thus making it cheaper to buy here than there... but this is generally a rarity. Contact large wholesalers like DOME or Stealth Garden directly and if they cant help out, go direct to the source

 

Cheers!

 

 

^^^^ Philips Au screwed us from the get go, by not making these bulbs readily available in Australia.

[magpie1]

I'm confused...

If the bulbs are made in America you can bet your balls there's been copy made of it in China

[Oz]

This is basically all the bits you will need if you thinking of a 315w vertical grow http://www.ebay.com/sch/1sthydrochoice/m.html?item=281294114268&pt=US_Lighting_Parts_and_Accessories&hash=item417e6f8ddc&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 by the time you added import and postage fees together. It will probably end up near the price of a more reliable papillon. However the screw in lamp holder adapter looks good if you can find a compatible ballast nearby.

Just a heads up that when ordering items from overseas you void any warranty and returns if needed become expensive to process, also you generally have to deal with different power options/cords as well.

Whilst things often cost more locally this is the reason why and ordering such items internationally should be avoided, and besides that you should really support local businesses over international anyway or Australia will continue to crawl and be more expensive... Love your work too fiwh

[Vape]

Hi Guys .. great thread BTW.

 

just thought it was worth mentioning,,

 

our voltages here in Australia fluctuate a fair bit, according my brother(electricial engineer), we can get spikes up to 260V and these appliances coming from OS aint rated for our spikes , so damage is caused to the appliance over time and reduces the life of the appliance and sometimes failure .. and warranty wont cover it, 

 

and the last thing you want is a fire in your grow space..

 

Vape4life

 

Peace

[pegz]

Cheapo Chinese ballast + burnt down house = gram to watt ratio ruined for life.

[billygoat]

I agree totally.... but I find when looking at these on hydro web sites in oz, the pictures of the ballast etc. look remarkably similar to the cheaper OS ones.

 

It could be that the Chinese are copying the look.... or it could be that the Hydro shops simply import the cheap chinese rubbish and then add a massive mark up after sticking a different power cord on it..... ??

 

by the way...where are high quality ballasts made ?

[Oz]

everything comes from china... televisions, phones, pc, ballast, lamps, cars, sex toys etc... As with anywhere China has good and bad factories.

[forgetiwashere]

Just a heads up that when ordering items from overseas you void any warranty and returns if needed become expensive to process, also you generally have to deal with different power options/cords as well.

Whilst things often cost more locally this is the reason why and ordering such items internationally should be avoided, and besides that you should really support local businesses over international anyway or Australia will continue to crawl and be more expensive... Love your work too fiwh

 

very important point Oz. we should all be more aware of this fact

[Earthling]

Has anyone here ever bought a cheap Chinese ballast and had a fire? Has anyone had a ballast actually catch fire? I lined my grow rooms with 16mm FireCheck Gyprock because it was cheap....lucky there.

Edited May 23, 2014 by Earthling

[forgetiwashere]

this is the last update before the chop on the weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

im happy so far fingers crossed for a good weight on the scales. that will be a while off yet cause i dry sloooowwwwwwww

Edited May 23, 2014 by forgetiwashere