A: All MH lamps require a 'burn-in time' so the gases inside the lamp can stabilize. When the lamp is new, it may show signs of flickering or color changes; this 'flickering' may last up to 100 hours before stabilizing inside the lamp. There is nothing wrong with the lamp in the event of some flickering when its new, its normal.
Q. What's a K?
A. When we mention a 3K, 4K, 6.4K or 10K lamp, the K refers to the Kelvin color temperature of the lamp. A red lamp has warmer colors, and a bluer lamp has cooler colors on the scale (2 is reddish, and 10 is bluish, for example.)
Q. Do you make an HPS lamp?
A. No. Sun Pulse doesn't make an HPS lamp. What we do have is a 3K next generation lamp in all the wattages. An HPS lamp is approx. 2.2K, and has a narrow color of light. Sun Pulse 3K lamps have all the benefits of the HPS lamp and so much more. Usable UV light for the plants is just one of the benefits, as well as a better-rounded spectrum to give plants all the colors they need, in just the right amounts.
Q. I don't see any of the traditional spectral graphs offered by other companies, where are they?
A. A true graph of what a spectrum is, when you make mechanical light, includes the ballast, the bulb and the fixture all working together. If you change the ballast, the bulb or the fixture in that scenario, you subtly change the spectral information. It's not going to behave like the Sun behaves.
We don't fabricate spectral graphs to sell lamps. We don't pretend that one persons lighting system is like the next guys; ballasts and bulbs vary. Fixtures have a huge impact on how that light is, or isn't delivered properly. We don't make the graphs because the graphs that are typically provided are all tested in special chambers that the end-users don't have at home. We do make a graph with our bulbs, our lamps, in our fixtures, - all working together- and we produce the Sun to military specifications from 37" with that combination.
Q. What's a Pulse Start Metal Halide?
A. Pulse start metal halides are the next generation of halide lamps. The traditional lamps are called “probe-start” metal halides. Probe and Pulse just refer to the method of the starting sequence for the arc stream as it passes through the arc tube to make the plasma.
Q. Can I use my Sun Pulse lamp on traditional magnetic ballasts, aka core and coils?
A. You CAN use your Sun Pulse lamp on Sun Pulse certified electronic ballasts, or on an HPS core and coil ballast as a retro lamp. You could also operate the lamps on PSMH ballasts. You CANNOT use Sun Pulse Lamps on traditional “probe-start” metal halide ballasts.
Q. What kind of electronic ballasts can I use with Sun Pulse lamps?
A. Please refer to the website for the current list of
Sun Pulse Certified electronic ballasts.
A. There's a lot of photobiology, plant science, light science and gas chemistry that really answers that question. In short, it depends on the application. We make the different Kelvin colors in a similar way that nutrient recipes are different. We need certain fertilizers at certain stages of plant development, and now there are different colors of lamps that can be used at certain stages to enhance plant development.
Q. Why do you arrange to plant a tree for every lamp sold?
A. 1 KWH = 1.5# of CO2. Because to make light is to make this byproduct, we must be responsible stewards of the planet and off-set the carbon footprint as best we can. The planet can't afford for us to continue burdening it with excess CO2 levels.
Q. What does Sun Pulse Certified mean?
A. Sun Pulse Certification Laboratories receives electronic ballasts from around the world that are tested for compliance with Sun Pulse Lamps. This way every customer has certified ballasts that go with certified lamps, and the matched set will provide them with longer lamp life and create less wear and tear on the electronics. Sun Pulse Labs are the photo-biologists, the gas chemists, the lamps designers, the electrical and mechanical engineers, and more. They understand the plants, the end users, and how all of this works together. Note: Warranties are voided when these lamps are used on non- certified electronic ballasts.
Q. What are the Sun Pulse lamp warranties?
A. Sun Pulse Lamps (100w to 600w) have a 2 year warranty against manufacturer defect.
Sun Pulse Lamps (750w to 1000w) have a 1 year warranty against manufacturer defect.
Only use Sun Pulse lamps on Sun Pulse Certified electronic ballasts. Use of Sun Pulse lamps on non-certified electronic ballasts voids the warranty.
Q. Who can I call for technical support?
A. For specific technical questions: please call (510) 552-7632 – PST – 8AM to 8PM Mon-Sat. , 12pm to 7pm, Sundays
Q. Where is the Lumens information on your lamps? I don't see it here.
A. We don't post lumen numbers on our website because lumens are a measurement for the human eye and have nothing at all to do with plants. With plants, it's about incident energy and the light that can reach the leaf that the plant can actually use for photosynthesis. That can be measured in watts per meter squared, or in foot-candles of incident energy.
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