I recently heard at my LFS that VHO bulbs are no longer going to be produced and that when the companies that have backstock of them run out we will be out of luck (not that I believe them). This stimulated me to go online and check on PC retro kits out of curiousity. In my search I came across this article on Ice Caps website.
http://www.icecapinc.com/rev1.htm
I actually went out and found some Phillips F40/DX/Alto bulbs at Home Depot (bulb name "Daylight Deluxe") for $7 for a two pack. After checking with the manufacturer of the ballast I am using (electronic) to make sure that it wouldn't hurt the ballast I put one in in place of a 50/50 URI. The bulbs are rated at 6500k and 2835 Lumens with a life of 20,000 hours. According to the research that Ice Cap has been doing (I have no reason to disbelieve them as they do not sell bulbs) even if the bulbs last half as long due to burning at 80 watts instead of 40 watts that they will still last as long if not longer than VHO bulbs.
Also interesting that MH bulbs are rated differently in that the life of the bulbs are measured before a breakin period whereas fluorescents are rated after running for 100 hours. I also did not know that MH bulbs are not at all happy with being turned off and on and fluorescents do not show any signs of detriment due to turning them off and on.
Interesting stuff, I will keep this thread posted on the experiment. Unfortunately I do not have the meters to check Lumens etc.
