splash guard shattered. how big of a deal?

Agreed. It's not the glass but a coating on the glass that block UV radiation, like Low-E glass on windows. I doubt the regular will do anything. I also think because it's a 150w bulb, the radiation isn't as powerful as if it was a 250w bulb.

If you haven't had any issues, then don't listen to the advice and just run it without the glass. But there is a reason DE MH pendants have UV filtered glass.

 

ok. i believe you x-metal, it just that i havent had any prob so far. i just dont want you to think that im not completely ignoring you, its just that, nothing bad has happened yet... yet.

 

The biggest problems with losing the splash guard glass are UV radiation (think of a sunburn after going out to the beach for 12 hours without sunscreen), and the potential for the MH bulb itself to crack.

All it takes is a tiny droplet of water getting on the bulb (even a tiny bit of mist), and it'll shatter too. Much cheaper to replace the safety glass than the bulb.

 

Very good point.