Is it big enough?

Weedower · Dec 11, 2011

Hello Everybody.
I have been thinking for some time now if I can use hps light in my small tent 120cm x 60cm x 60cm,without temp issues?
At the moment I am using two CFL bulbs 125w and 46w and no problem with temperature,i also have extractor fan with max output of [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]180m3/h.
[/FONT]Do You think I would have temp problems if i upgrade to 150w hps (250w,maybe)? How close to the plant it can be? Would I have to use cooltube?
Does anybody got HPS in such a small tent,cabinet.......?

Peace

jesus of Cannabis · Dec 11, 2011

it isnt the light its the ballast that comes with the HPS, thats your heat source you will have problems with.

Weedower · Dec 11, 2011

jesus of Cannabis said:
it isnt the light its the ballast that comes with the HPS, thats your heat source you will have problems with.

WOW ,everyday we learn something new.
Thanks for replay

As far as i know there is 2 kinds of ballast,magnetic and electronic,wich one is best(cooler)?

ace720 · Dec 11, 2011

the hps will make it a little hot in there. you will NEED a cool tube but it can work. i got a 600w hps in a 4x4 colset with cool tube and my temps stay around 80 to 85. i guess thats ok, my plants are growing . as long as your temps dont get to 95+ you should be ok.

Weedower · Dec 11, 2011

Thanks for replay ace720
Is it possible to connect cool tube to extraction fan that the air goes from growbox thru cool tube and then out?

Peace

Weedower · Dec 11, 2011

will i have temp issue if i connect it like that?

massah · Dec 11, 2011

Every time i see this thread pop up all I can think to myself is a dude on top of a girl saying "Is it big enough?" and her laughing at him

But yeah...use cooltube...extract air through the tube and out the exhaust...profit

Weedower · Dec 11, 2011

massah said:
Every time i see this thread pop up all I can think to myself is a dude on top of a girl saying "Is it big enough?" and her laughing at him

I knew it it is going to draw attention :-D

massah said:
But yeah...use cooltube...extract air through the tube and out the exhaust...profit

What about ballasts ,how hot do they get?
I think i will not get anything bigger than 150W maybe 250W.I keep reading about it but do not know what to chose.

Do You normally keep ballast inside Your grow box,cabinet...?

djlifeline · Dec 11, 2011

Stick ballast outside if can. My grow in a cupboard ballast out side the cupboard other side the room. Depends how stealthy you have to be. In side my house I have nothing to hide. Just outside the issue

Weedower · Dec 11, 2011

djlifeline said:
Stick ballast outside if can.....

This is what i am going to do.

I still do not know what wattage i should get 150 or 250?
Or maybe there is not much difference between them two?

Peace

indagroove · Dec 11, 2011

Weedower said:
This is what i am going to do.

I still do not know what wattage i should get 150 or 250?
Or maybe there is not much difference between them two?

Peace

Get a 400 watt digital dimmable ballast. Then you can run it on 50%, or 75% if you can handle the temps. It gives you the added flexability of using it in a larger space in the future or even in the same space with real good ventilation. The price difference between a 250 watt and a 400 watt digital ballast is only gonna be like $15, and I don't think they make digital ballasts for anything smaller than 250w anyway. Digital ballasts put out less heat, and are more efficient.

Weedower · Dec 13, 2011

Ok,i have done some research and i think i am going to get this one

250w-400w-dimmable-lumatek-digital-electronic-ballast-dual-voltage-120v-240v.jpg

LUMATEK 400W- 250W DIGITAL ELECTRONIC DIMMABLE BALLAST
Anybody has it,any good?

But there is one problem i am not sure if it is ok to have 250w hps light in such a small tent. What do You think people? Does anybody have this kind of set up?
I am also going to get cooltube.
How close to the plant 250w bulb can be?

Thanks in advance

Peace

wbd · Dec 13, 2011

Weedower said:
Ok,i have done some research and i think i am going to get this one
View attachment 1932895LUMATEK 400W- 250W DIGITAL ELECTRONIC DIMMABLE BALLAST
Anybody has it,any good?

But there is one problem i am not sure if it is ok to have 250w hps light in such a small tent. What do You think people? Does anybody have this kind of set up?
I am also going to get cooltube.
How close to the plant 250w bulb can be?

Thanks in advance

Peace

I use a Lumatek 250 and haven't had any problems with it yet... it's about 6 months old.

I have the 250HPS in the same size tent as you, with a air cooled hood (same idea as cooltube, probably not quite as effective though) and the temps are manageable. You can get the light within 4-5 inches of the plant easily with proper cooling and ventilation. Light bleaching becomes your biggest problem...

And BTW, if I could go back I would get that same 250/400 switchable ballast -- I think the 400W HPS would be manageable in this tent too... with proper extraction.

Weedower · Dec 13, 2011

wbd said:
I use a Lumatek 250 and haven't had any problems with it yet... it's about 6 months old.

I have the 250HPS in the same size tent as you, with a air cooled hood (same idea as cooltube, probably not quite as effective though) and the temps are manageable. You can get the light within 4-5 inches of the plant easily with proper cooling and ventilation. Light bleaching becomes your biggest problem...

And BTW, if I could go back I would get that same 250/400 switchable ballast -- I think the 400W HPS would be manageable in this tent too... with proper extraction.

Thanks a lot for reply,Thank You wbd

Have to read about light bleaching now. With my Cfl's i did not know something like that exist

Again thanks a lot

Peace

Bonzi Lighthouse · Dec 13, 2011

I have 2 tents the size you are using. I run a 400w HPS in one and a 400w CMH in the other.

Weedower · Dec 13, 2011

Bonzi Lighthouse said:
I have 2 tents the size you are using. I run a 400w HPS in one and a 400w CMH in the other.

..what is Your cooling system?How many fans have You got,passive exhaust?
I got one extraction fan and do not want to buy another one.

Peace

resinousflowers · Dec 13, 2011

ace720 said:
the hps will make it a little hot in there. you will NEED a cool tube but it can work. i got a 600w hps in a 4x4 colset with cool tube and my temps stay around 80 to 85. i guess thats ok, my plants are growing . as long as your temps dont get to 95+ you should be ok.

the fan your using to keep your light cool isnt powerful enough.

resinousflowers · Dec 13, 2011

jesus of Cannabis said:
it isnt the light its the ballast that comes with the HPS, thats your heat source you will have problems with.

you can keep your ballast outside of your tent.anyway digital ballasts only get warm.

resinousflowers · Dec 13, 2011

Weedower said:
This is what i am going to do.

I still do not know what wattage i should get 150 or 250?
Or maybe there is not much difference between them two?

Peace

get a digital ballast if you can.they only get warm.magnetic ballasts on the other hand get very hot,plus they turn themselves off if they get too hot which can fuck your light cycle up.so to stop that from happening you have to keep a fan blowing at them at all times when theyre on.
and if you can afford a aircooled light rather than a cooltube get one instead.they will make better use of the bulb you use.

Weedower · Dec 13, 2011

resinousflowers said:
the fan your using to keep your light cool isnt powerful enough.

So what fan i should have?
At the moment i have got something like this

max output of 180m3/h

...and Yes i will get digital ballast and i will keep it outside.

Is it big enough?

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