advise, 276w cfl or 150w hps?

[silentzombie]

I am building a stealth scrog setup for 2 plants out an old nightstand. I considered using a 100w MH or 2x100 MH and then a 150w HPS to finish, but it looks like the space between the plant and the lights can be at best 8". I would need a LOT of cooling to keep from burning the plants which kinda defeats being stealth.

I have room for about 12 or so 23w CFLs (276 total watts) and am looking for advice on what bulbs to use and where I can get a good deal since I alreadyh own the HID lights.

 

[dew-b]

I am building a stealth scrog setup for 2 plants out an old nightstand. I considered using a 100w MH or 2x100 MH and then a 150w HPS to finish, but it looks like the space between the plant and the lights can be at best 8". I would need a LOT of cooling to keep from burning the plants which kinda defeats being stealth.

I have room for about 12 or so 23w CFLs (276 total watts) and am looking for advice on what bulbs to use and where I can get a good deal since I alreadyh own the HID lights.

if your looking for cheep low watt cfls go to walmart or menards lowes or any place like that. gl on your grow. may you be cursed with many buds.

 

[growone]

for the price to lumen measure, 26w is the way to go
for the best deal on the 5500k cfl's, which are a bit harder to find, home depot had the best deal i could find

 

[kushed06]

you want 6500k bulbs for veg. 2700k for flower. i use both spectrums for veg and flower but i change the ratios around.

 

[Kingb420]

dude thats gonna be hot, just a fyi, i was running 6 23 w cfls and switched to a 150w hps and it actually cooled my box down almost 5 degrees... i was one of the lucky ones to get the $20 econo light hps. i add the cfls now when i can for more light, if the temps permit

 

[silentzombie]

@Kingb - thanks for the clue, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this. I plan on setting up the night-stand w/ 3 pc fans for exhaust at the back and 1 or 2 for intake at the bottom rear.

Also I took the fronts of the drawers and to make it look legit I planned on screwing them on, I could always rig the bottom drawer face to open on hinges to increase airflow

But is 6" really enough distance to safely run 150w HPS?

 

[NorthWest69]

I have never used HPS, but i would think 6' is enough for only a 150 watt bulb.
I wouldn't bother with PC fans. I run 286 watts of CFL's from 13 watters, to a 130 watt, and I need 3 fans pumping to keep it cool.

I was also thinking about just running a 150 watt HPS and a few of my CFLs. In the end I will probably just buy the 250 watt HPS, though I'm curious as to how these different systems compare.
How does 270 watts of CFL compare to 150 watt HPS? and to a 250 watt HPS?

 

[rotwiler]

Home depot has great prices on some cfls, today found some 23 watt 6500k bulbs for 97 cents. Also they have 2700k 68 watt cfls for under $10.

 

[nikk]

I have never used HPS, but i would think 6' is enough for only a 150 watt bulb.
I wouldn't bother with PC fans. I run 286 watts of CFL's from 13 watters, to a 130 watt, and I need 3 fans pumping to keep it cool.

I was also thinking about just running a 150 watt HPS and a few of my CFLs. In the end I will probably just buy the 250 watt HPS, though I'm curious as to how these different systems compare.
How does 270 watts of CFL compare to 150 watt HPS? and to a 250 watt HPS?

well you just have to look at lumens per watt...270 watts of cfls should give you even distribution of lights @4-to 6 inches away comfortably....but thats 270 watts@a lower lumen count than a 250 watt hps which should give you close to 10,500 lumens(if not more)of intense light,add to that a reflector and you could essentially cover a single plant with intense light vs the low lumens per watt that cfl's have,but dont get me wrong cfls are great if you stock up on 42's and 65 watters...about 8 can give you great results....your power consumption budget will usually dictate which one you should use

 

[silentzombie]

I already own a 100w MH lamp rated at 9k lumens and a 150w HPS rated at 15.8k lumens. So for me its really a question of can I make it work. I am thinking of using tempered glass to create a barrier between the growing space and the lights and keep that well ventilated to reduce heat.

 

[NorthWest69]

Hmmm. Thanks nikk.
Dont get me wrong either, I love what I have been doing with CFL's too. Although, once I started reaching 300- 400 watt usage in CFL's (including veg box) I quickly realized CFL is not always more energy efficient. When I'm running 300 watts of CFL's flowering, it's hard to not justify buying a 150, or 250 watt HPS, since it would be more energy efficient and the same if not better results.

Although I've heard the knock on HPS is it has the least amount of UVB being emited. Has anyone here tried supporting a 150 or 250 watt HPS with several UVB bulbs. I wonder what kind of results this would produce? Also how important is Co2 for HPS? I know I live beside a busy-ass street, I would think lots of Co2 is coming right into my open window?

 

[Ne0.]

Hmmm. Thanks nikk.
Dont get me wrong either, I love what I have been doing with CFL's too. Although, once I started reaching 300- 400 watt usage in CFL's (including veg box) I quickly realized CFL is not always more energy efficient. When I'm running 300 watts of CFL's flowering, it's hard to not justify buying a 150, or 250 watt HPS, since it would be more energy efficient and the same if not better results.

Although I've heard the knock on HPS is it has the least amount of UVB being emited. Has anyone here tried supporting a 150 or 250 watt HPS with several UVB bulbs. I wonder what kind of results this would produce? Also how important is Co2 for HPS? I know I live beside a busy-ass street, I would think lots of Co2 is coming right into my open window?

Don't confuse Co2 with Carbon Monoxide.

 

[silentzombie]

the proof is in the grow, lol. You can get a 150W HPS security light for less than $90, and probably get one cheaper on ebay or from an industrial supply company that sells them as "low bay lighting." seriously, almost 16,000 lumens for 150 watts of energy used is pretty awesome.

 

[nikk]

Hmmm. Thanks nikk.
Dont get me wrong either, I love what I have been doing with CFL's too. Although, once I started reaching 300- 400 watt usage in CFL's (including veg box) I quickly realized CFL is not always more energy efficient. When I'm running 300 watts of CFL's flowering, it's hard to not justify buying a 150, or 250 watt HPS, since it would be more energy efficient and the same if not better results.

Although I've heard the knock on HPS is it has the least amount of UVB being emited. Has anyone here tried supporting a 150 or 250 watt HPS with several UVB bulbs. I wonder what kind of results this would produce? Also how important is Co2 for HPS? I know I live beside a busy-ass street, I would think lots of Co2 is coming right into my open window?

hey if you have the space,safety,and ventilation for the heat,why not get an hps along with your set up now??

oh and yeah i know a few folks on here that suppliment they're hps and cfl set ups with 2 or 3 26 watt reptile uvb bulbs

 

[NorthWest69]

Well it sounds like the pollution coming in my window wont help my plants, but I'm set on buying a 150 watt hps eventually.
CFL's are cheap but, so is a 150 HPS it seems. They wanted $230 canadian for the kit at my local hydro store !! I dont know if this was some "high output" bulb or something. But if there is no major performance difference sounds like I should just get an industrial one.

Anyone know where I can get a 150 watt HPS cheap, in Canada?

 

[nikk]

Well it sounds like the pollution coming in my window wont help my plants, but I'm set on buying a 150 watt hps eventually.
CFL's are cheap but, so is a 150 HPS it seems. They wanted $230 canadian for the kit at my local hydro store !! I dont know if this was some "high output" bulb or something. But if there is no major performance difference sounds like I should just get an industrial one.

Anyone know where I can get a 150 watt HPS cheap, in Canada?

why dont you just use the net,order em online and have them delivered..i seen an 150 watter for 90 bucks i think the website was cheap grow lights.com maybe