running 6000- 8000 watts

[ganglyguy420]

I am about to buy new ballasts, but can only get around 6 to 8000 watts for my lights. Im not sure whether to buy 1000w ballasts or 600w. My room isn't that big 8ft by 20 maybie with 7 foot ceilings, but im still concerned that the 1000's wont get enough spread & will get intense for the plants closest. I could have like 12 600w hoods but that would get expensive all at once & I have to run air cooled lights so that might be a big mess.

 

[pwizzle]

It comes down to 2 things but they kinda equal in the end.
you can go with the 1000s and have less plants but thicker foliage and more colas and tops.
or you can go with the 600s and have more plants but less thick, which still equals out cause itll be a wider spread of plants.
Which brings it to my final decision point, the price. would it cost less to buy 8-1000w than it would 12 or 13-600s?

 

[ganglyguy420]

with 7 foot ceilings im better off with shorter plants so im probably gonna go for the 600's. If i ever moved though having 600w may be a pain with higher ceilings but w/e. i will start with a few 600's then add later.

thanks for the reply

 

[hoagtech]

Or you could go to lowes and pick up a 220 30 amp breaker and install it in your breaker spliced with your water heater or washer dryer circuit breaker. That way you know you grabbed the correct hotlegs

 

[jack ripa]

If you buy the Lumatek dual 600w ballasts I would think that would swing the price point over in the favor of 600s.

 

[ganglyguy420]

Or you could go to lowes and pick up a 220 30 amp breaker and install it in your breaker spliced with your water heater or washer dryer circuit breaker. That way you know you grabbed the correct hotlegs

what..?

yeah im planning on the lumatek dual 600

 

[purrrrple]

Ever think of light movers for the 1K's? You have more than enough space to put 8 1K's on light movers. Might get a little complicated as your trying to air cool but do-able. In my experience using light movers prolongs harvest by 5-12 days but adds another 15%-50% in yield. In most cases they end up being more efficient than running a stationary light. Just my 2C anyway. Also, Lumateks suck in general. The 600w is MUCH better than their 1K but still crappy compared to others. Picked up some Quantum 1K Ballasts for $250 and 600w for $150 and love them. No problems yet and got a great deal. PM me if you want the info of the shop I'm getting them from.

 

[ganglyguy420]

I never thought of how light movers would work, thats a good idea. how does it push back harvest? do you supercrop or top them? i use aeroponics to grow & i dont really like topping but w/e more people are telling me to do it everyday. Im not a fan of lumateks, but the 1200w ballast looks decent.

 

[CoreyPKGrower]

Light mover is the way to go ! Go with the 1000 W. Light energy is everything ! using 8 1000W in cool tubes. Light mover with 6" flex pipe as seen in pic. Works awesome

 

[dudeface]

I was thinking maybe a split between the two, what if you have say 1 side with open tables 3ft x 16 feet and have 6 600 watt lights, then on the other side of the room (long ways) you have 2 4x8 tents with 3 600 watts in each, the kicker is only having to buy 6 600 watt ballasts. and 6 flipbox's or the consolidated large version. Then you have 6 ballasts powering 12 bulbs (when 6 are on, the other 6 are off. You could put both sides in tents as well..


I know it's random, just thinking out of the box, you are also only having to cool 6 600watt lights at any 1 time. and to further simplify. you could have 3 of the consolidated (2 x 600 watt) lumatek ballasts (just have to have timers to offset the error sensing and turn the ballasts off for 10 minutes twice a day.

 

[ganglyguy420]

I was thinking maybe a split between the two, what if you have say 1 side with open tables 3ft x 16 feet and have 6 600 watt lights, then on the other side of the room (long ways) you have 2 4x8 tents with 3 600 watts in each, the kicker is only having to buy 6 600 watt ballasts. and 6 flipbox's or the consolidated large version. Then you have 6 ballasts powering 12 bulbs (when 6 are on, the other 6 are off. You could put both sides in tents as well..


I know it's random, just thinking out of the box, you are also only having to cool 6 600watt lights at any 1 time. and to further simplify. you could have 3 of the consolidated (2 x 600 watt) lumatek ballasts (just have to have timers to offset the error sensing and turn the ballasts off for 10 minutes twice a day.

thats a very good idea, but for it to be worth it i would have to build my own flipbox's. does anyone know of any plans to build one? i like the idea of a consolidated flip box for 1000 watt ballasts.

how does the venting work if your running light movers, is it best if every light has its own fan?

 

[hellraizer30]

thats a very good idea, but for it to be worth it i would have to build my own flipbox's. does anyone know of any plans to build one? i like the idea of a consolidated flip box for 1000 watt ballasts.

how does the venting work if your running light movers, is it best if every light has its own fan?

this is the way I roll!!

 

[IVIars]

Light movers arent very effective if they move more than a foot or two.

 

[dudeface]

yea I dunno about light movers, I have talked to 3 people personally that have used and stopped because of them breaking... The flipbox is going to be cheaper than building I think, plus you save on ballasts and lower cfm fans needed etc..

 

[rasvial]

Go with the 1000 W. Light energy is everything !

On a strictly factual point, 600w ballast/bulbs are more efficient Lumen to Watt than their 1000w counterparts. I agree light energy (lumens) is everything for plant growth, and since he doesnt need concentrated light energy for deep foliage penetration, I'd recommend a sea of 600 watters for their slightly improved lumen output.

More Light = More Weed. Thats like rule number one.