Yes for blurple light light vipar you need to look at true wattage or actual wattage from the wall so a vipar900 is probably around 400w at the wall which would mean equivalent to a 400hps this is why your 600w hps kills it no doubt about it
Yes correct. I think its draw is 389 watts. Could be 480 though. I can't remember.
But in all honesty i resorted to a 600watt HPS with a dimmer.
First grow after the Viparspectra I only used the HPS at 400watts, because i was new to indoor growing.
The difference in veg, and bloom at 400 was obvious. I'd say i had 20% more plant matter overall, for the same amount of time.
Its the honest truth.
your right there it is a nightmare. I remember the very first great big huge metal ballast's with vents on the sides.... now the tiny little digital beasts run cooler and more efficient. I never even attempted flowering with my viper's...they are side lights when required.... hopefully the 550 will come up good when I use it for flowering. like you said 600w hps has been heavily relied on by generations of new growers.
I hope so too.
I'm of the opinion HLG sell great quality lights regardless.
My belief is we all need to stop comparing LED to HID. Manufacturers need to stop using the words "better than". It drives me crazy lol.
Personally HID saves me money on heating.
But if there was a light that could perform as well as my HPS under ideal temps. Then an LED makes perfect sense for myself in the hot summer. It may even improve on yield. But during winter, i have my doubts...besides the cost.
Let us all know how the HLG550 goes. Even pm me.
Because a HLG550 would be a perfect replacement in my 4x4, for the summer.
Best of luck with the grow. Hope it's a good'n.