Will I really need a 1000w hps lamp?

[Broccoli Rob]

Buddy of mine has his left over and said he would sell it to me but 1000w seems overkill for 4 plants at a time. If I used a 400w lamp, would it make that big of difference in my yield? My concern is burning the plants if im not around to watch them. Even with a fan blowing the heat out would still be pretty hot I'd imagine.

Forgive my noobness.....first time grower and I'm trying to do it the right way. Im not a big fan of the wrong way. Im only growing for personal smoke so I dont need 3 lbs my first grow. I'd be happy with a quarter pound to hold me over till next grow.

 

[psari]

Buddy of mine has his left over and said he would sell it to me but 1000w seems overkill for 4 plants at a time. If I used a 400w lamp, would it make that big of difference in my yield? My concern is burning the plants if im not around to watch them. Even with a fan blowing the heat out would still be pretty hot I'd imagine.

Forgive my noobness.....first time grower and I'm trying to do it the right way. Im not a big fan of the wrong way. Im only growing for personal smoke so I dont need 3 lbs my first grow. I'd be happy with a quarter pound to hold me over till next grow.

Overkill isn't a bad thing. Its a simple energy equation: More in, more out ...

Not enough other information though to say if you are being given free equipment and can afford to set it up, you should consider it. Why grow 4 1 oz plants if you can probably triple your yield for the same amount of focus required over the same time?

 

[$waGgEr]

NO. dont get a 1000 for 4 plants. alot of growers dont even mess with 1000w lights because of the heat issues. you can keep the 400 alot closer to your plants then a 1000 and you wont have the temp head aches.m go with the 400w...if u decide to expand later on you can jus use the 400 as a veg light..id get a swichable one so you have that option.

 

[Hucklberry]

NO. dont get a 1000 for 4 plants. alot of growers dont even mess with 1000w lights because of the heat issues. you can keep the 400 alot closer to your plants then a 1000 and you wont have the temp head aches.m go with the 400w...if u decide to expand later on you can jus use the 400 as a veg light..id get a swichable one so you have that option.

Good advice, I use 3 400 watt side by side 8" to 12' above the canopy. I get good coverage and less heat than 1 1000 watt. I heard UK growers swear by this method.

 

[Gr0wGreen]

what is this obsession with 400W? 600W is just as easy to cool and it's maybe $40 more. you're getting more penetration and covering the grow area more effectivley. then you can easily add a second 600W and double your grow space to put out a pound and a half per grow.

 

[Jack Harer]

Growgreen is right there, but I'm telling you the difference that a 1K makes over a 400 is insane. The sheer penetration of the beasts is fucking amazing!! Lower buds go from being "belly button lint" to golf balls!!!

 

[Broccoli Rob]

I would love to use the 1000k light but this is my first grow. Im not stupid or anything but I dont want to get in over my head. Would also love to crank out over a pound of bud but thats too much for me. I'd end up just giving it away to friends. This is only going to be for my head smoke. I want it kill quality but I dont need a dufflebag full. QP would last me long enough to grow another 4.

 

[PJ Diaz]

I was happy with my 400w hps to a point, then ended up wishing I had gotten a 600w, which I have now. IMO, best bet is a 600w dimmable. Should suit every situation.

 

[Broccoli Rob]

I will look into a 600w thanks.

 

[phillipchristian]

I was happy with my 400w hps to a point, then ended up wishing I had gotten a 600w, which I have now. IMO, best bet is a 600w dimmable. Should suit every situation.

I agree. For your situation I would get the 600/400w dimmable ballast. In the beginning you can use the 400w setting (with a 400w bulb) and as your plants get bigger later in flower you can bump it up to 600w (with a 600w bulb).

 

[red0021]

I agree. For your situation I would get the 600/400w dimmable ballast. In the beginning you can use the 400w setting (with a 400w bulb) and as your plants get bigger later in flower you can bump it up to 600w (with a 600w bulb).

I thought you were supposed to use the 600w bulb on a 600w dimmable, even if it's dimmed down to 400w output?

 

[richinweed]

get the thousand i/u can easily grow four 4 oz plants under a 1 k light ..go vertical..its less work in the long run and produces the most for the least.jmho

 

[richinweed]

I thought you were supposed to use the 600w bulb on a 600w dimmable, even if it's dimmed down to 400w output?

...dimming a bulb causes spectral changes as well as light intencity...a 600 watt bulb is not designed to run at 400, it degrades the spectrum...evan tho i have dimmable ballasts (lumitek) I STILL USE THE SMALLER BULB IN THE APPROPRIATE WATT SETTINGS......the bulbs will last longer as a result.and your plants will recieve a more productive spectral output!

 

[red0021]

...dimming a bulb causes spectral changes as well as light intencity...a 600 watt bulb is not designed to run at 400, it degrades the spectrum...evan tho i have dimmable ballasts (lumitek) I STILL USE THE SMALLER BULB IN THE APPROPRIATE WATT SETTINGS......the bulbs will last longer as a result.and your plants will recieve a more productive spectral output!

That makes sense about the spectrum, but I swear you hear it every which way on here, lol. But that does make sense... I'm planning on getting a couple 600w dimmable setups. I guess that's one of those things I'm gonna have to put some legit research into before I go forward with it. Not that I don't believe you, I just don't know who to believe, lol.


EDIT: after reading lumantek user instructions it seems you can do either or, they just make sure to tell you not to leave the 400w bulb in and have the ballast set to 600w (obviously, lol). As far as spectrum change, I can't manage to find anything saying that would occur.

 

[phillipchristian]

That makes sense about the spectrum, but I swear you hear it every which way on here, lol. But that does make sense... I'm planning on getting a couple 600w dimmable setups. I guess that's one of those things I'm gonna have to put some legit research into before I go forward with it. Not that I don't believe you, I just don't know who to believe, lol.

I hear ya bud. I have seen a few charts on it and using a higher wattage bulb dimmed actually does change the spectrum on it. I called Lumatek and they even told me the same thing on the phone and recommended using the appropriate wattage bulb with the setting. I don't know how that would work with those ballasts that are dimmable to 50 or 75% because the Lumateks I have are dimmable to 600w and 750w.

 

[richinweed]

I hear ya bud. I have seen a few charts on it and using a higher wattage bulb dimmed actually does change the spectrum on it. I called Lumatek and they even told me the same thing on the phone and recommended using the appropriate wattage bulb with the setting. I don't know how that would work with those ballasts that are dimmable to 50 or 75% because the Lumateks I have are dimmable to 600w and 750w.

...yup i got my info from lumitek also....just makes sence to use the smaller bulbs when you can anyway...saves replacing the pricy ones as often...jmho!

 

[red0021]

Well, that's definitely something to consider.

I only plan on getting an dimmable ballasts in case I have heat issues (during the summer especially), but I thought I could just use the same bulbs, haha. oh well, they're not arm and leg expensive, and it's always nice to have some spares in case I fuck something up, even if it is lower wattage, just to hold me over till i can get a new one.

Thanks for the info.... I probably wouldn't had bothered to looking into it again cause I thought I had it figured out, lol.

 

[Hucklberry]

Are you dimming standard 600 watt lamps or do you change lamps when using the lower setting?
?.

 

[phillipchristian]

I don't dim bulbs. I dim the ballast and change the bulb for one that is rated for the lower wattage. Also, if you are using your bulbs for more than 1-2 harvest, then don't use any of the "Super Lumens" or 110% ballast settings. They also change the spectrum of the bulb and will shorten the bulb life.