400W HPS Grow Setup - HELP!

RedKasper

RedKasper

Member
I'm currently growing 6 six clones with 4x26W CFL's. The plants are looking alright, but I'm sure they could be much bigger and better. It doesn't seem like they're getting enough light.

I was very interested in purchasing one of those 400W HPS/MH Ballast Grow Setup's that they sell on Ebay. HTG Supply is selling one for $119.00.

So anyways, here are my questions... Is that system enough for 6 clones? Is it too much? How many clones can I grow with that setup? I've heard that HPS/MH are better than CFL'S, but is that really true? Any thoughts or info would be much appreciated. Thanks!
 
defiant

defiant

Member
you get more light per watt from a 600w bulb so long as you control the temperature more light will only make your plants grow better and produce a better end product. for this reason i would skip the 400w HPS and go straight for a 600w HPS. i would create a box with the following dimensions it will give you enough space to plant 9-16 plants depending on what size & shape of pot you are using. if you construct the box out of wood paint it with white matt emulsion line the floor with white plastic or use a few trays

  • Length 3.6 foot
  • Width 4.4 foot
  • Depth 7 to 8 foot
make sure you vent the heat from the box and you have fresh air coming in
good luck -defiant- :peace:
 
S

Suka

Member
Dude, the cfl's you got are fine for your clones and vegging.. once they are big enouph (4weeks) stick them into flowering with a HPS. basically CFL's for veg + clones and then 400w HPS for flowering... also.. dont waste your cash on ebay... go to a electric shop, and ask for a transfomer/ballast, capacitor, egnitor poercelin holder for the bulb, the bulb itself and a wireing diagram.. will save you allot of cash.. prob pick it up for 60 bucks... ;)
 
RedKasper

RedKasper

Member
Thanks for the info. I appreciate the help. I think I'm gonna get that 400w HPS/MH system from HTG Supply...I'm getting really tired of messing with my CFL's....
 
jact55

jact55

Well-Known Member
i just got the 119 dollar hps system yesterday. it works fine, my only complaint would be that the hood is a little smaller than i would have liked, but that is easily replaced. overall, there is no better deal. i was in the same boat as you, i have about 400 watts of cfls that i was constanly moving around, so i ordered one up. it took a week to get it to the west coast.

i wouldnt mess around with going to the electric store. i find those interactions ackward and i think 60 bucks is very low ball since the cheapest of bulbs are like 25 bucks. then you have your ballast, hood, capacitor, ect to fuck around with. i would rather pay 119 bucks and just plug it into my wall.

yes, hps's are better than cfls. yes, a 400 is enought for 6 clones. depending on how big you let your plants get, you can fit far more under the light. i have read that a general guidline is 3x3 space is good for a 400 watt. there is a better way of figuring out lumens and such to find out if the light fits the grow space, but too fucking much work for me. i have a 3.5x3.5x6 box and i feel that the 400 is a little under what i need for the area. but i will work with it.

you will need good ventilation, the bulb is way hotter than cfls and the ballast is as well. i keep my ballast out of my box completely. so factor in money for fans, ducting and such.

so i say buy it today and you will be growing very nice plants from here on out.
 
jact55

jact55

Well-Known Member
hey, here are some pics of my htg 400 hps in action

as you can see the hood is pretty small, but not a big deal. threw in a bud pic of my white berry plant that is under it for good measure. it is at 3.5 weeks from going 12/12 and about 3 weeks from showing pistils.
 

Attachments

Joe Camel

Joe Camel

Well-Known Member
you cant go wrong with a 400w. 600 waste more energy. So you get more bang for the buck on a 400watter.
 
jact55

jact55

Well-Known Member
i think pound for pound the 600 watt get the best efficiency, given the proper space requirements and such. just what i have read though. honestly it is not even enough to probably notice, ever. i have always been a 400 watt fan big enough to pull healthy yeilds, but not overboard for a personal grower.
 
indianaman

indianaman

New Member
Joe Camel said:
you cant go wrong with a 400w. 600 waste more energy. So you get more bang for the buck on a 400watter.
Click to expand...

where i live it's 9.6 cents a KWH so.....

a 400 HPS puts off 50.000 lumens

a 600 HPS puts 0ff 90,000+ lumens, at a difference of.... let's hear it, 2 cents extra an hour. so.... what in the fuck are you talking about?:hump:
 
jact55

jact55

Well-Known Member
indianaman said:
where i live it's 9.6 cents a KWH so.....

a 400 HPS puts off 50.000 lumens

a 600 HPS puts 0ff 90,000+ lumens, at a difference of.... let's hear it, 2 cents extra an hour. so.... what in the fuck are you talking about?:hump:
Click to expand...

whoa, apparently the difference in efficiency is a big deal!!! at least to indianaman

anyways, to the person who started this thread. htg only supplies up to a 400 watt system for the 119 dollar deal. so to get a 600 from them would be like $300+. so the money that would be saved from effecieny is spent on the 600 watt system itself. not to say that it wouldnt get better yeilds and pay itself off in the long run, because it would, but you jus cant beat the deal of a 400 watt for 119 bucks complete. at least for someone just looking to pick up something to replace cfl's
 
RedKasper

RedKasper

Member
Thanks for all the input. I have another question now....

I've heard that the digital ballasts are better than the regular ballasts....are they really worth the extra cash? What are the advantages of the digital ballast?
 
jact55

jact55

Well-Known Member
no doubt a smokin deal. wish i would have seen this site as well. not a complete set-up though. so add in some more money and time to get a hood, the cords and to wire the ballast.

it is true that htg is a cheapo place for quality. but the bulb shines just as bright

sorry, not knowledgable on digital ballasts as compared to normal.
 
taffo143

taffo143

New Member
RedKasper said:
I'm currently growing 6 six clones with 4x26W CFL's. The plants are looking alright, but I'm sure they could be much bigger and better. It doesn't seem like they're getting enough light.

I was very interested in purchasing one of those 400W HPS/MH Ballast Grow Setup's that they sell on Ebay. HTG Supply is selling one for $119.00.

So anyways, here are my questions... Is that system enough for 6 clones? Is it too much? How many clones can I grow with that setup? I've heard that HPS/MH are better than CFL'S, but is that really true? Any thoughts or info would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
hps has far better light spectrum, 400w hps will do u just fine, u can keep ur cfl'z to veg and use ur hps for flower.

if u veg ur clones for 4wks and flower then 400w will be enuf and nice and efficient for u m8. good luck
 
RedKasper

RedKasper

Member
I plan on using a few small desk fans to control the air temperature in my 2 x 3 grow room/closet.....

Will that be enough to control the heat?

Is it important to get an air-cooled reflector? Or is a regular reflector just fine? Basically, whats the deal on reflectors? Thanks!
 
MyGTO2007

MyGTO2007

Well-Known Member
indianaman said:
where i live it's 9.6 cents a KWH so.....

a 400 HPS puts off 50.000 lumens

a 600 HPS puts 0ff 90,000+ lumens, at a difference of.... let's hear it, 2 cents extra an hour. so.... what in the fuck are you talking about?:hump:
Click to expand...
holy fuck u pay alot for a KWH ...10 cents what a joke!!!!
and all depends on what bulb u have. if the guy wants 400w thats his choice.......Fuck i have 3 400w in a 3ft x 7ft............gives me 6600 lumens per sq ft............It all depends on your fucking setup DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
MyGTO2007

MyGTO2007

Well-Known Member
jact55 said:
whoa, apparently the difference in efficiency is a big deal!!! at least to indianaman

anyways, to the person who started this thread. htg only supplies up to a 400 watt system for the 119 dollar deal. so to get a 600 from them would be like $300+. so the money that would be saved from effecieny is spent on the 600 watt system itself. not to say that it wouldnt get better yeilds and pay itself off in the long run, because it would, but you jus cant beat the deal of a 400 watt for 119 bucks complete. at least for someone just looking to pick up something to replace cfl's
Click to expand...
u tellem jact55
 
jact55

jact55

Well-Known Member
redkasper

what are your ambient temps?? (normal room temps). is the area in a basement or an attic?
obviously a air cooled hood is superior to a standard hood. but this makes it a necessity to but an inline fan and some ducting. (which you might need anyways)
if you are going to use the normal desk fans, make sure that you have one blowing right under the light. i would suggest using an exhaust and intake in your area if possible, to circulate in the cool air and puch out the hot air. i just bought a 160 cfm duct fan at home depot for 30 bucks. honestly it sucks, but if works. if you do this make your intake hole in the bottom of the grow room and make it larger than your exhaust hole.

anyways, you can probably make the desk fans work, but it could not also. just depends on the temp of your house/enviorment, how much fresh air you can get to your grow space and such

let me know if you need pics of fans/ducting ect. i can snap some easily
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top