Planning to upgrade cab lights, suggestions needed

Hello. I current have a 18"x20" cabinet with a hans panel (60w) led grow light. Im planning to upgrade to better grow lights but im somewhat limited by space and heat. My temps are usually 75-80F and currently hitting 80F max with my current ventilation and light setup and I want to heat level to stay that way.

Should I get a bigger led panel like new Area51 model? Im also considering getting maybe a HPS or a high wattage CFL light. With this limited space, can I fit in a coolable reflector in there? And if not, whats the max wattage I should get? Im trying to maximize my yield with my given cab space and I'm pretty much new to this so any suggestions are welcome.

I personally would go for a LED panel more, HPS light do make a lot of heat, maybe a small 250W in a cool tube with a good 4" ventilation could be fitter in there, but in such a small space I would for sure look at LEDs, big CFLs also produce some heat, so that is not the route I would choose either, tho some smaller 23-40W CFLs to add to the LEDs might be a option if money is small, attest until you can safe up for some more quality LEDs, then you can always use them CFLs to make a micro cabinet to start seedlings in a few weeks before harvest to cut a few weeks of your growing cycle

just my 2€

What about supplementing with LED bulbs?

Although if you can do the 190, do it. It measures 12x18. You will be the envy of the neighborhood!

Or another Hans panel? One grow I have seen two Hans = 150grams, so they can be vicious.

Abiqua said:

What about supplementing with LED bulbs?

Although if you can do the 190, do it. It measures 12x18. You will be the envy of the neighborhood!

Or another Hans panel? One grow I have seen two Hans = 150grams, so they can be vicious.

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I would love to be able to put 2 Hans panels in my cab, but they would not fit.

I was just wondering if there was something smaller than the Supernova air-cooled reflector, since that is the smallest I can find and it would be a tight fit on my cab.

Thanks for the input guys. Im definitely gonna try that small CFL supplement route since I already have most of the required items for that.

yea its works great

tortie said:

I would love to be able to put 2 Hans panels in my cab, but they would not fit.

I was just wondering if there was something smaller than the Supernova air-cooled reflector, since that is the smallest I can find and it would be a tight fit on my cab.

Thanks for the input guys. Im definitely gonna try that small CFL supplement route since I already have most of the required items for that.

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Another thing then, check out LED bulbs. I am having really good luck with them and maybe check out this grow:

https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/656542-flowering-cree-bulbs.html

I used to run CFL, but not anymore.

Thanks Abiqua! I will definitely try that! So those are just normal house LED bulbs?

tortie said:

Thanks Abiqua! I will definitely try that! So those are just normal house LED bulbs?

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Yes they are the regular A-19 base and all of these can be bought @ home Depot. I am using mostly Cree 9.5w SoftWhite 2700k's and going to ramp up with the Phillips 10.5w 3000l Led Bulbs.

I used to run CFL in flower [now just veg] and I am very impressed! Brother Tags [r.i.p.] over in the LED thread has a place in his thread of measuring the par from the Cree bulbs. It was a revelation......I will try and find that, so you can check it out....essentially the LED's were putting out AT least 35% more PAR @ 12" than a 26w WW CFL which is running about +2x the wattage of the LED bulbs.

Basically I won't go back, barring some kind of huge change.

Wow thanks for the info. How close do you put the bulbs from the canopy?

tortie said:

Wow thanks for the info. How close do you put the bulbs from the canopy?

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Well......2nite they are touching lol, but I usually try between 1-4" and I have had no bleachin [might not be enuff power ]

Check out my thread in my sig below, it is updated till about 3 days ago.....I can't find my battery charger for my Cam, to update, cheers!