Trying out ELOS specra-chrome bulbs...

I am trying out a new set of metal halide bulbs. They are 250 watts. They come in 175, 250, and 400. I believe 10k, 14k, and 20k. These are 14k-coral models. First impression is great! Nice looking retail package, well protected. Even comes with a disposable glove to install it (thought that was a nice touch, i usually end up looking around for one and using something probably dirty itself haha).

Very competitively priced and are made in italy i believe. I will post photos of them on after i install them

thats sweet that there is a glove in there as i usualy use a sandwich bag or as you mentioned the nearest cleanest looking cloth like item available.as far as labeling for date of usage do you usualy write on the metal base of the mogul or do you write on a paper or box?and DAMN thats some mad blue spike on the spectrum readout and its not the 20000kelvin.i bet it is crisp.have yet to try any lighting from italy but i have several pumps and filters from those italians.

haha funny you should ask about the date...they actually provide a little sticker that you can put on the bulb or fixture that says install date and change date...Before seeing that sweet addition, with other bulbs, I used to have some tape hidden on the fixture somewhere to write the date it was installed. I cannot stress enough the benefit of fresh new bulbs. I was one of the hardest things to explain to customers that bulbs need to be replaced BEFORE they actually burn out. Many of them think that as long as it makes light, it is all good, when in fact that a bulb 6-8 months old is already like 14-19% less intense, let alone the sprectrum shift. Good bulbs replaced often is definitely the way to go!