What size HPS to get?

mercilus

mercilus

Well-Known Member
What size HPS Ballast do you think I should get?

I have a grow space 48"w x 36"l x 46"h

The 46" height is taking into account total space the plants have to grow until they would hit the top of the box. (IE. I deducted a few inches of room for the planters)

I really want to get a 600W AIR cooled HPS setup. But I don't want to burn my plants and get to high of temps..
So the bulb will have its own vent and the cab will be vented as well....

If I keep my plants at about 2 feet tall, and keeping them about 1 foot away from the light will they be okay?

I like the idea of 600w because I plan to upgrade but understand a 400w may be more economical for the space....

Anyways your opinions would be appreciated! Especially if you know the 600W will be fine! :wall:
 
billyblunt

billyblunt

Well-Known Member
LOL go to the shop buy the fucking light and the balllast usually comes with it the shop owner will just give it to u, u cant just plug the fucker in the wall so,it has to come coupled with a ballast
 
mercilus

mercilus

Well-Known Member
billyblunt said:
LOL go to the shop buy the fucking light and the balllast usually comes with it the shop owner will just give it to u, u cant just plug the fucker in the wall so,it has to come coupled with a ballast
Click to expand...
Thanks for the informative response but I guess I did not make myself clear enough because that answer is nowhere near what I was looking for. I am worried about heat temps and will 1ft of space be enough distance for my plants and will trying to keep the cab cool be so ridiculously hard that I shouldn't bother.

NOT... how to buy and make a HID light work... but thanks for the help anyways.

But maybe you are referring to keeping the ballast outside the cab? In that case yes I have a utility room designed so the ballasts heat will not be combined in the room.

...but just out of curiousity where is this shop that I can buy a bulb and they will give me a ballast with it... that's a sweet deal! Econolights older brother maybe.

Anyways, anyone else got anything :peace:
 
chazel

chazel

Well-Known Member
if you already think the 400 would be more suited get it , being ur first , small underpreperation can be expected - if it turns out your unhappy with the results a couple cfls could be the answer compared to new air intakes and a cool tube if the 600 ends up cooking everything near it ( thats not sayin the 400 wont tho , iv still to hook mine up)
Best idea would be to look around and compile a little list of folks wit similar dimensions and see how they cope with light and heat needs and problems.
 
Jash1297

Jash1297

Well-Known Member
you could do a 600 thats what I am running now in a closet similar to your size. You will need two inline fans to cool the light, I suggest a cool tube. I would also suggest an additional exhaust in the chamber as well... My third exhaust is thru a carbon filter. Temps to get very hot with the light on and fans going but I can keep temps around 80 with just the two fans...I am hoping when I add a third the temp will drop another 2 degrees or so.
 
Armadillo Slim

Armadillo Slim

Well-Known Member
How big is the growbox your hoping to upgrade to? Because a 400w might be the right size for that one too, in which case you should just buy a 400w and cut out all the hassle.
 
billyblunt

billyblunt

Well-Known Member
Armadillo Slim said:
How big is the growbox your hoping to upgrade to? Because a 400w might be the right size for that one too, in which case you should just buy a 400w and cut out all the hassle.
Click to expand...
this is using a single light with no reflective walls in the middle of the loungerooom
 
Jash1297

Jash1297

Well-Known Member
I would go with the 600...more light...bigger yield.... closer simulation to actual sunlight... it is overall the better choice...unless you are unable to ventilate properly then go with the 400 as it is slightly easier to keep cool.
 
mercilus

mercilus

Well-Known Member
Thank you all for the responses.

Will go with the 600 Watt because I do want to upgrade in the future when I move.

Will keep the light air cooled with its own ventilation system. Also, the cabinet will be ventilated as much as possible. I will use a thermostat to control temperatures with the fan. If heat is a serious issue I may draw the cool air from the basement.

I will allow the plants to grow 2 feet tall. The light will be about 1 foot or more away from the top canopy of the plants.

So far I am using an cool tubed 150W HPS and it doesnt even get remotely hot. It is cooled by a 58 CFM PC fan. So if I upgrade maybe to a 400 CFM I may keep the temps similar. Unless heat from lights grows exponentially then my simple division math is flawed =)

For those that are interested I will let you know how it goes. If there are any comments on the 1ft distance for a 600 watt hps I would still love to hear about it

Thanks
 
Boneman

Boneman

Well-Known Member
I use a 400w HPS in the same size cab and it works beautiful. I dont have a cool tube so I added a small window a/c unit.
 
mercilus

mercilus

Well-Known Member
Armadillo Slim said:
Have you thought about trying LST to keep the height down?
Click to expand...
I could definitely do that. Depends on how my system handles it. I have already started to build it and really no stopping the process now with holes drilled.

The idea is 20 single cola plants in this grow space in an Aeroponic film setup.

They will probably veg until about 8 inches or less then flower. I will post the flower design if your curious. Its not well done but you should get the idea. Each box in the graph represents 1 inch ( its not labeled so you might have to count if you really care lol)

If it gets too ridiculous and the plants fill in the 2 feet of space by end I will probably turn it into a SCroG. Hopefully it wont come to that though and I will get lots of fat little single colas =)
 

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