400W or 600W

So I am trying to choose between a 400 W HPS/MH or 600 W HPS/MH for my cab. I calculated that it would cost me around 45 dollars to veg and 25 dollars for flowering each month for the 600W, I am fine with that. My problem is I am going to have two roommates in my apartment and one cannot know about it, this guy is completely anti-weed, the other one smokes me under the table. So I am worried about what happens when the bill comes in at the end of the month. I am thinking about just taking over the electricity bill responsibilities and telling them there share minus grow bill. Or I was thinking about prepaying mid month before the bill comes in. I would really like to have the 600 since its almost double the lumens for only 200 watts more. Or would it be smarter to get the 400 and just add another 200 watts of cfls for only the flowering period. Also where do people buy those plug in sockets. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I would suggest get the 600 and your gonna need a lock on the door of your grow, its gonna be hard
to keep the smell away your gonna need to put something under the door.
As for the bill i dont know do you think is really gonna trip about 60-70 dollars more? if yes then I guess
take care of the bill.

I just can not have him asking any questions, I am def not going to do with out a carbon filter. Even going to build one of the smell buckets for added protection. The cabinet already has a lock which is going to be used all the time. I just want to make sure that the bill does not turn his head.

there is absolutely no way you are going to be able to keep the smell from your roommate so if that is an honest concern i would avoid wasting your money now and just not do it.

vandewalle said:

there is absolutely no way you are going to be able to keep the smell from your roommate so if that is an honest concern i would avoid wasting your money now and just not do it.

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Umm...I have read plenty of threads of people keeping the smell out. People do it all the time. Its possible, like I said I am buying a carbon filter, AND building something which neutralizes smell. Forgot what its called found the thread on a forum, might have been this one. If people could not control the odor plenty of people on this forum would have been caught awhile ago. I am growing in a custom built cabinet, not out in the open.

Dont be deterred, you can do it mate.

Carbon filter it up, plenty of ventilation.

Keep ya mouth shut and alot of sneaky sneakys

you'll be right. Grow on

hicksy said:

Dont be deterred, you can do it mate.

Carbon filter it up, plenty of ventilation.

Keep ya mouth shut and alot of sneaky sneakys

you'll be right. Grow on

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thx man, +Rep for the support. Might just use 300-400 W cfl for veg and 600 W hps for flowering. On that note, where do people get those light sockets where you plug directly into a outlet. I wish they would just legalize this plant so I could just grow it on my porch.

Edit: Screw it, vegging under a 600 will save me veg time, which is crucial since I only have a little more over 3 months. I might as well pay early so I don't have to explain why we use so much power. This is one of those guys that would look into it.

Yup was gonna say 600 it all the way

Hey dont exist...so do they even make a switchable ballast for 600watters...didnt know they did have MH for 600's...anyways im running both the 400, the 600, and a 1000watter side by side..def a good comparison..

its really a matter of space..sounds like itll be stealth in ur room..one thing im always reminded of when setting up a new op..is u never know how it will react to the heat of ur lamps...until u hang and fire them up..the smaller the dimensions the hotter it'll get with a quickness. so i think its all about ur cab size or closet..400's are great for closets becasuse of heat and there easier to maintain when using 2 lamps ..for odd closet dimensions. the 600 has better penitration , and more lumens..= more bud if u can manage the heat. theres quit a difference just visibly from a 400 and a 600 bulb. results from bigger lamps is undisputible. id say go with wutever u can contain heat wise. plent of fresh air..and like u said with a scrubber u cant go wrong. maybe pick up a ionizer in conjunction with the scrubber..and i dont think ur hater mate will have n e problems..let the bill do wut it does intially.. with either lamp it wont flex the bill more than 20-40 monthly..i wouldnt say shit. hope this helps

dontexist21 said:

So I am trying to choose between a 400 W HPS/MH or 600 W HPS/MH for my cab. I calculated that it would cost me around 45 dollars to veg and 25 dollars for flowering each month for the 600W, I am fine with that. My problem is I am going to have two roommates in my apartment and one cannot know about it, this guy is completely anti-weed, the other one smokes me under the table. So I am worried about what happens when the bill comes in at the end of the month. I am thinking about just taking over the electricity bill responsibilities and telling them there share minus grow bill. Or I was thinking about prepaying mid month before the bill comes in. I would really like to have the 600 since its almost double the lumens for only 200 watts more. Or would it be smarter to get the 400 and just add another 200 watts of cfls for only the flowering period. Also where do people buy those plug in sockets. Any advice would be much appreciated.

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get the 600 and a new roomate

fat sam said:

get the 600 and a new roomate

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Heat from 600w easy to control-not much worse than a 400w.

If you're concerned about stealth, then get a digital ballast. It stays cool to the touch, is smaller, and easier to hide than a magnetic ballast.


In either case, 600w puts out the lumens you need to grow enormous colas you just can't get with a 400w. Period.

fat sam said:

get the 600 and a new roomate

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Get at least a 6 inch inline fan for that filter. use it to suck the heat off of the 600w bulb, and attach a "Y" connector to fix the carbon filter on the other opening. Kill 2 birds with one stone.

600 w grows watermelons

I don't think I am going to have heat issues since I am using a cooling tube with its own dedicated exhaust in intake. I am actually getting a package for $370 with both mh and hps bulbs, hangers, ballast, cooltube, timer, and 115 cfm fan. I have found it pretty hard to find a better price. My only issue is connecting the 115 cfm fan, its basically a computer fan, to the ducting and getting a good seal. Fan is sqaure ducting is round. I am taking over the electricity bill so thats not even a problem anymore. I need to iron out ever little detail before I move, hopefully I can get 8 ounces off of 6 plants at least on my first run.

I haven't found a 600W MH, only a MH conversion. I have heard you need a digital ballast for the 600, and that you get just about the same result from a 600W HPS (I add some CFLs in the mix to add some extra blue).