My Lexan has Yellowed,at least i hope thats it.Have to go back to HD which side is UV protected and which side goes toward the Lamp, any help is greatly appreciated?

the xl10 its the green side without any print goes toward the bulb when i bought it , it was the side with the upc label on it and instructions on the other side in diffrent languages

Okay thanks Dave i think i had it right but i still had a little yellowing with a whiter spot in the middle.
But this is what you get when you dont properly screw in the bolts. :angry: Is that bulb still usable if i turn it over and maybe the rest will melt off?

maybe if you can peel the plastic off but i wouldnt run it with that plastic still there i know fingerprints can make a bulb heat up enough to explode so i can only imaging what a glob of plastic will do

Okay thanks Dave,i had to let it get hot again to take the lexan off had the lid closed half way incase of explosion.May not be safe but i hate to get a new one already would like one with more lumens though.

if you got yellowing, you might wanna check your distances, as MANY have used Lexan (MUST be the XL10) and have had NO yellowing with MUCH longer use than you, based on your member date!
Let us know, tho

I believe fingerprints are bad for a halogen bulb because the outer glass is made of quartz and it gets very hot, much hotter than the outer glass of a MH bulb.

I have not heard of fingerprints being bad for the MH bulb, but if anyone can verify this I would appreciate it. It may save me a MH bulb, since I am constantly screwing it in and out during my testing.

Click Hid Bulbs and scroll down to Caring for HID Bulbs the bulbs we use are also used for agriculture purposes and should be cared for in the same manner


Caring for HID Bulbs
HID bulbs can explode if it is not handled correctly. This will occur if the bulb is very cold when first turned on, or if it contains fingerprint oils or moisture. To prevent accidents, never pick the bulb up directly by the glass - you need to be careful about fingerprints getting on it.. Handle the bulb by the base and wrap the glass body in a paper towel. Handling the bulb through the paper towel, screw it carefully into the lamp body.

If you need to clean the bulb, use a towel lightly dampened with window glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol; wipe all fingerprints, dust and impurities from bulb's glass surface. Let dry thoroughly before installing. After cleaning, always handle the glass through a paper towel. Also, make sure bulb is warmed up to room temperature before installing.

When MH bulbs are turned off they should be left to cool for 20 minutes before re-starting. Turning a Metal Halide bulb on when it is already hot severely shortens the life of the bulb and it can affect the intensity of the light. Metal Halides should be replaced after a year of heavy use

Also a google search