Whats The Best Light To Use?
- Thread starter HaLFBaK3D
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northwoodsmoker
New Member
The cheapest route i go is with cfls.. I have 4 23w 6500k daylight, 2 42w daylights for my veg area.. Then for my flowering area i have a 150w hps, you can get the cheap at htgsupply.com, and 4 23w 2700k..
<stealthgrowing>
Active Member
The answer is yes! You can use an HPS for veg. The reason why so many people mention that they have 4, 6 or 10 CFLs in their garden is because it takes that many CFLs to replicate the intensity of light produced by a single high pressure sodium or metal halide HID fixture. an example: a 150 watt HPS will put out a constant 16000 lumens, while a small CFL will produce anywhere between 1000 and 1500 lumens.
If you are really trying to save money then I would bypass starting a collection of CFLs and get a single 150 watt HPS unit for both veg and flower. The Sun Systems 150 watt HPS can be pruchased for around $84 through HTG supply. You can maximise the potential of this light by adding highly reflective material to the walls of your grow area or painting the walls with bright white paint.
High pressure sodium and metal halide are the trusted old school method for growing dank. CFL is the new school method. what's more, for those that say my 10 CFLs will not produce as much heat as your HPS, well they are wrong. A cluster of CFLs does produce heat and still have to be cooled.
I like to keep it simple. One light in my garden vs. having to buy sockets or lamps for 5 or 6 different lights and then having to wire all of them in series. now there is an exception to the rule that HIDs are more powerful than CFL... A T5 array of 5 or 8 bulbs can rival the power of a 250 watt HPS or 400 watt HPS respectively. Many people grow with T5 arrays. I had an 8 bulb T5 array and I am currently using an HPS. If someone asked me to choose between an 8 bulb T5 array or a single 400 watt HPS, I would choose the HPS hands down. however, T5s are still an attractive alternative to HID lamps.
For a first time grower I would make a wise investment in the right lighting so as not to have to repurchase lighting equipment the second go around.
As far as using an HPS for veg is concerned, u can purchase a philips Son Agro bulb for a 150 watt HPS, up to a 1000 watt HPS. The Son Agro bulbs have increased blue spectrum for better vegetative production in gardens using only HPS.
Thanks for asking a great question!