New metal halide bulb looks used

Dustin_p · 02/07/2009, 01:42 AM

I just received two new 250 watt Radium bulbs today and one of the bulbs looks used and has some reddish discoloration in the gas tube.

Is it just me or have I been had!

Both these bulbs are supposed to be new!!

The one on the right is the bulb in question.

Is there anyway to tell the age of a bulb?

Here is a pic of them both burning.

Dustin_p · 02/07/2009, 02:59 PM

Bump...

Anyone?

When you get new bulbs in what do they look like?

PaulErik · 02/07/2009, 03:14 PM

The bulb on the right looks new. This is how most of the Radium lamps Iâ€™ve dealt with look like. Usually the reddish film will disappear after being fired/operated. The one the left looks like it has been fired before. Unfortunately you cannot tell the usage hours of a metal halide lamp unless it has been operated for many hours. The electrodes wear overtime and the arc tube (inner bulb) will turn black or have black deposits near the ends.

GQuinn · 02/07/2009, 03:15 PM

The "new" bulb that I received looked like the one on the right (with the red deposits). This was my first Radium bulb, so I have nothing to compare it to.

Gary

Dustin_p · 02/07/2009, 04:33 PM

So my first thoughts were totally wrong!

Wow the one with the reddish deposit is the new one and the one with the clear gas tube could possibly be used.

Is it possible they randomly test fire these bulbs at the factory explaining the difference between the two?

If they both looked the same I would have never questioned it!!

Update-- I ran both these bulbs for a few hours today and both gas tubes now look identical.

Thanks
Dustin

PaulErik · 02/07/2009, 06:05 PM

Manufacturers will at least test a few lamps from each batch manufactured or test them all. The clear bulb was probably test fired by Radium, supplier or retailer.

02/07/2009, 01:42 AM	#1
Dustin_p Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Dakota Posts: 101	New metal halide bulb looks used I just received two new 250 watt Radium bulbs today and one of the bulbs looks used and has some reddish discoloration in the gas tube. Is it just me or have I been had! Both these bulbs are supposed to be new!! The one on the right is the bulb in question. Is there anyway to tell the age of a bulb? Here is a pic of them both burning.

02/07/2009, 02:59 PM	#2
Dustin_p Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Dakota Posts: 101	Bump... Anyone? When you get new bulbs in what do they look like?

02/07/2009, 03:14 PM	#3
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	The bulb on the right looks new. This is how most of the Radium lamps Iâ€™ve dealt with look like. Usually the reddish film will disappear after being fired/operated. The one the left looks like it has been fired before. Unfortunately you cannot tell the usage hours of a metal halide lamp unless it has been operated for many hours. The electrodes wear overtime and the arc tube (inner bulb) will turn black or have black deposits near the ends.

02/07/2009, 03:15 PM	#4
GQuinn Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 982	The "new" bulb that I received looked like the one on the right (with the red deposits). This was my first Radium bulb, so I have nothing to compare it to. Gary

02/07/2009, 04:33 PM	#5
Dustin_p Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Dakota Posts: 101	So my first thoughts were totally wrong! Wow the one with the reddish deposit is the new one and the one with the clear gas tube could possibly be used. Is it possible they randomly test fire these bulbs at the factory explaining the difference between the two? If they both looked the same I would have never questioned it!! Update-- I ran both these bulbs for a few hours today and both gas tubes now look identical. Thanks Dustin

02/07/2009, 06:05 PM	#6
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	Manufacturers will at least test a few lamps from each batch manufactured or test them all. The clear bulb was probably test fired by Radium, supplier or retailer.