Is 1000 watt HPS overkill in 4X4 tent?

Doug Dawson

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Hello growing guru's. I am curious to get some experienced folks input. I have read a number of posts but wanted to reach out regarding overkill on lights. I have an Early Miss auto growing in a 4X2 tent which has gotten too tall so I put up a 4X4 tent. The 4X4 will be the max tent size I will use as I only have so much space and can only grow 4 plants at a time. I have 3 1200 watt LED lights (advertised as 1200 but you know, not really) and one started giving my trouble yesterday. I popped it out and put in my spare so all is good but trying to decide if I should buy an HPS MH light. I have read about heat issues with the 1000 Watt but am wondering if it wouldn't be overkill for my tent. The 1000 watt can be used as a 600 if I buy 600 bulbs and I believe 600 watts would be sufficient for my space so I don't know I would ever need 1000 watt. What are your thoughts? This is the one I am thinking about in either 600 watt or 1000 watt. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00P8PIOIC/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A2PQGFJXAT8J9K&psc=1

I don't want to spend the extra money for 1000 watt just to turn it down to 600 and never use it to it's potential, especially when I will never use a bigger tent but on the other side of the coin if 1000 watts is good in that space than I will spend the extra. Please let me know what you think.
 
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xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
I have that exact same light setup but the 600.

Get the 1000 watt dimmable and run it at whatever you need to to keep the temperature in line. I have a 600 in a 4 x 4 but I wish I would have gotten the 1000 watt dimmable instead of the 600 watt because I could run the 1000 in the winter and control the heat. I say spend the extra and get the 1000.
 
spliffendz

spliffendz

Well-Known Member
xtsho said:
I have that exact same light setup but the 600.

Get the 1000 watt dimmable and run it at whatever you need to to keep the temperature in line. I have a 600 in a 4 x 4 but I wish I would have gotten the 1000 watt dimmable instead of the 600 watt because I could run the 1000 in the winter and control the heat. I say spend the extra and get the 1000.
Click to expand...
I was going to type this....
 
jimihendrix1

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
HID probably loses 10% the first month.
Gavita 1700e LED is 1700umol and 645w
DE 1150w Gavita is 2100umol. Have to keep these at least 36in from canopy,,, 40in probably better. Huge Infrared, and heat.
 
J232

J232

Well-Known Member
I’m running a 1k de and a 600se in 6x6, ten foot ceiling, I would get the 1k and dim it if you have enough headroom. I don’t know if you could with a open hood de, se 1k vented hood maybe. Open hood I need 35-40” from plants on the de burning hps, mh I can go closer. This is my first grow in the 1k club, I have always used 600s and 400s. Just looked at your link, I would get the 1k se you pictured over the 600, that’s just me, I used a 600 in a 3x3 before and I wanted more, I had the headroom for it.
 
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Doug Dawson

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Thanks very much to all for your input. I think I will go with the 1000 watt I showed link for and buy some 600 watt bulbs as well. The ballast has a 600, 750 and 1000 watt setting as well as something it lists as Super Lumens? It is an air cooled reflector so that should help with heat. Does anyone know about this Super Lumens setting? Sounds like an overclocking feature to push extra wattage to bulbs? Seems like that would hurt their life expectancy but I cannot be sure. Anyone have any experience with that setting?
 
Mass Medicinals

Mass Medicinals

Well-Known Member
Hey @Doug Dawson,

Heat issues can be a problem with 600 (and even 400) watt systems.

Not sure how much output you're getting in your 4x2. But for us have a 4x4 with a 600 W system, along with a separate tent to prep for the next round. This generated well over 1 gpw per 3-4 month cycle. We did have slightly uncontrolled temps in the coldest/hottest parts of the year.

Also we like using a bulb at the factory setting rather than dimming it (even if the ballast can do it). It just seems like a stressor on the bulb that is not necessary.

Just saying we're very happy to have not opted for the 1000 system. For reasons of energy costs, heat control, and ironically rate of cannabis production at that wattage.

Hope this helps, and either way you go have fun with the bigger space and larger light system!!

~MM's
 
Doug Dawson

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Mass Medicinals said:
Hey @Doug Dawson,

Heat issues can be a problem with 600 (and even 400) watt systems.

Not sure how much output you're getting in your 4x2. But for us have a 4x4 with a 600 W system, along with a separate tent to prep for the next round. This generated well over 1 gpw per 3-4 month cycle. We did have slightly uncontrolled temps in the coldest/hottest parts of the year.

Also we like using a bulb at the factory setting rather than dimming it (even if the ballast can do it). It just seems like a stressor on the bulb that is not necessary.

Just saying we're very happy to have not opted for the 1000 system. For reasons of energy costs, heat control, and ironically rate of cannabis production at that wattage.

Hope this helps, and either way you go have fun with the bigger space and larger light system!!

~MM's
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Thanks for your reply and the info. From what I understand the ballast listed has multiple settings but not a dimmer unless I misunderstand. I figured I would set it to 600 with 600 bulbs and 1000 with 1000 bulbs. It is also an enclosed air hood so that should help with heat.
 
Doug Dawson

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Oakiey said:
Got to run the bulb your ballast is rated for,
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HMM, so you are saying to use a 1000 watt bulb when using a 600 watt setting? Would it not make more sense to use a 600 watt bulb for the 600 watt setting and a 1000 watt for that setting? I know they both have an E39 bulb base.
 
Oakiey

Oakiey

Well-Known Member
A 1000 watt ballast will always start the bulb at a 1000 watts no matter the setting.

Some of the higher dollar ballasts will change startup voltages but most will just blow up your smaller wattage bulbs and might burn your house down
 
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