Is 1000 watt HPS overkill in 4X4 tent?

[Doug Dawson]

Update. So I got the Vivosun 1000 watt HPS/MH package, sadly it has given me nothing but trouble. The HPS bulb fires up fine but the MH bulb turns on for a couple seconds and shuts off. After several attempts I contacted Vivosun. They told me it was the wrong bulb for the ballast which made not sense since it came with the package inside the housing but I purchased a new bulb and they refunded me for it. I received the new MH bulb today and same issue. After 4 or 5 attempts the bulb finally fired up and I ran it for 10 min, whew. Just to be safe I turned it off and let cool for 30 min than tried to turn back on, now it is back to on for a few seconds and than shuts down. A bit frustrated now, I popped the HPS bulb in and sure enough, it fires up fine. I don't know much about this new lighting. What I read says it sounds like a bulb problem but with 2 new bulbs I am thinking ballast issue. Anyone run into this issue? I have reseated both MH bulbs many times and have tried tigtening them in the socket as much as I would dare.

 

[getogrow]

Update. So I got the Vivosun 1000 watt HPS/MH package, sadly it has given me nothing but trouble. The HPS bulb fires up fine but the MH bulb turns on for a couple seconds and shuts off. After several attempts I contacted Vivosun. They told me it was the wrong bulb for the ballast which made not sense since it came with the package inside the housing but I purchased a new bulb and they refunded me for it. I received the new MH bulb today and same issue. After 4 or 5 attempts the bulb finally fired up and I ran it for 10 min, whew. Just to be safe I turned it off and let cool for 30 min than tried to turn back on, now it is back to on for a few seconds and than shuts down. A bit frustrated now, I popped the HPS bulb in and sure enough, it fires up fine. I don't know much about this new lighting. What I read says it sounds like a bulb problem but with 2 new bulbs I am thinking ballast issue. Anyone run into this issue? I have reseated both MH bulbs many times and have tried tigtening them in the socket as much as I would dare.

that sounds rare....
It takes an extra part in the ballast to fire a hps bulb so even if that part wasnt there it would still fire a MH bulb just fine.....
you would know by looking if it was the "wrong bulb" thats not really possible with the ballast you have. a 1k watt bulb with a mogul base is all the same.
It would make more sense if the 2 bulbs were bad but i dont know about that. I could easily see it working on the Mh and not the hps but the other way around leads me to think bulbs are bad.
If possible i would send the whole thing back for exchange or refund.

 

[xtsho]

Update. So I got the Vivosun 1000 watt HPS/MH package, sadly it has given me nothing but trouble. The HPS bulb fires up fine but the MH bulb turns on for a couple seconds and shuts off. After several attempts I contacted Vivosun. They told me it was the wrong bulb for the ballast which made not sense since it came with the package inside the housing but I purchased a new bulb and they refunded me for it. I received the new MH bulb today and same issue. After 4 or 5 attempts the bulb finally fired up and I ran it for 10 min, whew. Just to be safe I turned it off and let cool for 30 min than tried to turn back on, now it is back to on for a few seconds and than shuts down. A bit frustrated now, I popped the HPS bulb in and sure enough, it fires up fine. I don't know much about this new lighting. What I read says it sounds like a bulb problem but with 2 new bulbs I am thinking ballast issue. Anyone run into this issue? I have reseated both MH bulbs many times and have tried tigtening them in the socket as much as I would dare.

Well that sucks. I've had zero issues with my Vivosun equipment. What setting do you have the ballast on when you're firing up the MH?

 

[Doug Dawson]

that sounds rare....
It takes an extra part in the ballast to fire a hps bulb so even if that part wasnt there it would still fire a MH bulb just fine.....
you would know by looking if it was the "wrong bulb" thats not really possible with the ballast you have. a 1k watt bulb with a mogul base is all the same.
It would make more sense if the 2 bulbs were bad but i dont know about that. I could easily see it working on the Mh and not the hps but the other way around leads me to think bulbs are bad.
If possible i would send the whole thing back for exchange or refund.

Thanks for the reply, I think I will just send it back. It is frustrating as this has cost me a week and I won't be able to get another one before Wednesday. Oh well, these things happen. Thanks for your input

 

[Doug Dawson]

Well that sucks. I've had zero issues with my Vivosun equipment. What setting do you have the ballast on when you're firing up the MH?

It is set on the dafault of 1000 watts. I get the feeling it is something in the ballast after 2 brand new bulbs showed the same issues but I have no experiece with this lighting system and could easily be wrong. I did attempt to fire the original bulb at 600 watts when it didn't work but put it back on 1000 when that failed to make it fire. As I said after 4 or 5 attempts it did fire up and run for 10 min today but than it would not fire again yet the HPS works every time.

 

[2Hearts]

Yes agreed, suggest the led noobs start understanding that light heats up a leaf not the bulb heating the leaf and the same amount of light will be sensed as equal wether led hps cmh or t5 flouros. If the led unit runs cooler than a hps bulb you might be able to reduce extraction a little but still not much you notice vast savings.

These led guys are far too invested in a light its like civil war if you even mention another light is just as good.

Too many arguments are started HPS vs LED. Ill say this -- I have never heard a very experienced grower say HPS doesnt grow killer flower.

Anyone claiming LED is way better, or simply better, doesn't understand the nuance.

Likewise, anybody claiming LED doesnt cut it hasnt used good ones.

 

[Oakiey]

I haven't had my new 400 go off yet
I now my old mag ballast won't refire a mh untill the bulb is cool to the touch.

That sucks that you need ballast won't fire up your mh bulbs, they fire easier than hpd lights, I'm wondering about your ballast.
..

 

[Doug Dawson]

I haven't had my new 400 go off yet
I now my old mag ballast won't refire a mh untill the bulb is cool to the touch.

That sucks that you need ballast won't fire up your mh bulbs, they fire easier than hpd lights, I'm wondering about your ballast.
..

I did some reading and know about cooling the bulbs. I tried allowing it to cool for 30 min and it was nice and cool to the touch, just won't fire. It does light up for 3 to 5 seconds and than just goes out. I cannot play with this any longer so will be returning it, unless I get some more info I don't think I have much of a choice.

 

[Oakiey]

I need to clean the bugs of my bifocals so I can see what I'm writing
..

 

[Federucci]

It sounds like it's shutting itself down as a protective measure, or it isn't getting the correct juice somehow, but I am not sure man. I assume you selected the correct input voltage from the wall on the ballastand your home power capable of handling this as well? It looks like it is an adjustable wattage/dimmable output, is it possible the knob is offset just a bit resulting in this? I had problems a long time ago very similar to this, it turned out to be the unit, but I didn't know until after I bought a single output 600w unit instead, it didn't give me problems anymore. Maybe you would want to try this? Hope you get this sorted out man.

 

[Doug Dawson]

It sounds like it's shutting itself down as a protective measure, or it isn't getting the correct juice somehow, but I am not sure man. I assume you selected the correct input voltage from the wall on the ballastand your home power capable of handling this as well? It looks like it is an adjustable wattage/dimmable output, is it possible the knob is offset just a bit resulting in this? I had problems a long time ago very similar to this, it turned out to be the unit, but I didn't know until after I bought a single output 600w unit instead, it didn't give me problems anymore. Maybe you would want to try this? Hope you get this sorted out man.

Thanks very much. I am sure of my house power. I tried this is in 2 seperate outlets and tested the wall power with my meter. There is no reason I would think it is my house power but I did have that same thought at one point. There is not 120/240 switch on the ballast and since it runs the HPS I am assuming that is not the issue. Unless I have the worst luck ever to get 2 brand new bulbs with issues I am going to figure it is a ballast issue of some sort. I will be ordering a new one today and sending this back. I appreciate all you input, thanks.

 

[jimihendrix1]

I myself wouldnt use anything but Hortilux bulbs.

 

[spek9]

I myself wouldnt use anything but Hortilux bulbs.

Seconded. I have a few new, unknown branded bulbs laying around on a shelf that I keep as spares. I replace bulbs every year or so, and keep the working bulbs that are being replaced as spares as well.

 

[Doug Dawson]

I myself wouldnt use anything but Hortilux bulbs.

These are Vivosun bulbs with a Vivosun ballast. Makes no sense to look at other brands that don't match the manufacturer in this case. Now I am not saying those may not be better but if a Vivosun ballast cannot run a Vivosun bulb than the ballast has bigger issues and I don't want to be stuck with it.

 

[xtsho]

The Vivosun bulbs are fine. The HPS have a really good light spectrum. Even if the Hortilux are better they're not 3 X the price better. With the 600 watt I get 2 for under $30. I change them out every couple of grows. I keep the old ones as spares as well. 2100K and 90,000 lumens.

 

[Doug Dawson]

Thanks to everyone for your advise. Turns out as I suspected the light issue was the ballast. New ballast fired up all bulbs fine. Removed my led lights and installed the light in my tent with my one plant. This is a Crop King Early Miss Auto that turned out to not be an auto. After 11 weeks in veg I switched to 12/12 and it is now starting to show bud sites just under a week later. Thanks Crop King. Next I will set up ducting to go through light and will put a net over this plant as it has gotten way out of control after vegging almost 3 months. I used the MH bulb as the plant is doing its pre flower stretch and after a couple weeks will switch to HPS. I also lowered the ballast to 600 watts as I didn't want to go from LED lights to 1000 watt MH, I thought it best to start at 600 and work my way up. Does this sound like the right plan or should I be doing something else? Here is a pic of my plant under her new light. On the bright side I got some Maui Waui seeds from Nirvana and am looking at some Shiva Skunk. I think I will do 2 of each of those for my next grow. I got feminzed photo seeds and will try doing some topping and LST so my next plants don`t look like the one I have now. I wish I had known that it was not an Auto as I would have practiced some training on it but hopefully Nirvana seeds are better than Crop King.

 

[Oakiey]

Looking good

 

[Archcity420]

1000w HID is made for a 4 x 4. Hortilux HPS is the best bub. Only issue is cooling it.

600w is good for a 3 x 3 area. this gives 66w Sq/ft.

1000w HID is 62.5w sq/ft.

1000w Hortilux is also 1600umol.

I always run hortilux

 

[bgmike8]

I always run hortilux

2 600s is better, can get them closer and have complete coverage.

 

[dankherman]

Update. So I got the Vivosun 1000 watt HPS/MH package, sadly it has given me nothing but trouble. The HPS bulb fires up fine but the MH bulb turns on for a couple seconds and shuts off. After several attempts I contacted Vivosun. They told me it was the wrong bulb for the ballast which made not sense since it came with the package inside the housing but I purchased a new bulb and they refunded me for it. I received the new MH bulb today and same issue. After 4 or 5 attempts the bulb finally fired up and I ran it for 10 min, whew. Just to be safe I turned it off and let cool for 30 min than tried to turn back on, now it is back to on for a few seconds and than shuts down. A bit frustrated now, I popped the HPS bulb in and sure enough, it fires up fine. I don't know much about this new lighting. What I read says it sounds like a bulb problem but with 2 new bulbs I am thinking ballast issue. Anyone run into this issue? I have reseated both MH bulbs many times and have tried tigtening them in the socket as much as I would dare.

yo to anyone coming accross this issue, i did and fixed it, so your ballast will work for either the hps or mh some will work with both. my reflector hood works with a magnectic ballast and my cool hood works with a dimable ballast. so maybe a dimable ballast for the mh and hps to both work dunno