Grow Light Questions...

[ReefaSmoke]

I have a few questions about grow lights. I have read here that the best place to buy them online is insidesun. I don't know how much wattage i should get. I haven't started growing yet, but at first i plan to grow 3-4 plants. I want to be able to expand so I don't want to buy something that would only be able to handle that amount.
Alright well about inside sun..

What is the difference between the econo and regular units.

Should I get a chrome or a white reflector?

Should I buy a 250w? a 400w? 1000w? What would give a better yield? Would it be better to get two 400w or one 1000w?

What is the hortilux bulb upgrade? Is it worth the extra money?

What is the MH conversion bulb adon?

Should i buy the hooks and chains, or mount it a different way?

Sorry about all the questions, im pretty high and the questions are just flying.

[TheBlueBeast]

Buy the hooks and chains, as it will make life easy. The MH Conversion Bulb is so you can Veg with the MH bulb and flower with the HPS. For 4 plants, a 250W is fine. If you plan on going up to say 12 or 14 plants later on then I would think about getting a 1000W. As for reflector, dunno.

[DierWolf]

Originally Posted by ReefaSmoke

I have a few questions about grow lights. I have read here that the best place to buy them online is insidesun. I don't know how much wattage i should get. I haven't started growing yet, but at first i plan to grow 3-4 plants. I want to be able to expand so I don't want to buy something that would only be able to handle that amount.
Alright well about inside sun..

What is the difference between the econo and regular units.

Should I get a chrome or a white reflector?

Should I buy a 250w? a 400w? 1000w? What would give a better yield? Would it be better to get two 400w or one 1000w?

What is the hortilux bulb upgrade? Is it worth the extra money?

What is the MH conversion bulb adon?

Should i buy the hooks and chains, or mount it a different way?

Sorry about all the questions, im pretty high and the questions are just flying.

Best bang for your buck is to buy a switchable unit.... you can buy these at cooltouchlighting.

Its 1000W, comes with 1000W MH bulb and 1000W HPS bulb, remote ballast that is switchable to MH/HPS when you change the bulb.

Its 275 dollars. Watt for Watt you cant beat that price, and it will serve you well with small grows as well as large grows.

Always remember the more light the better.

They have it also in

250W switchable : $185.00 (you will outgrow this quickly if you like growing)
400W switchable : $195.00 (might be an option but why not just get 1000W )

[DierWolf]

Here it is

LInk : http://www.hydroponicslight.com/prod...o.asp?dbid=526

1000 Watt "Switchable" Metal Halide/High Pressure Sodium Hood <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#999999 colSpan=3></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tbl cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#caddf0 rowSpan=2></TD><TD vAlign=top width="100%" bgColor=#caddf0 aligh="left">PRODUCT ID: 1000WSMH/HPSBBR

PRICE: $275.00

</TD></TR><TR><FORM name=shoppingcart action=shoppingcart.asp method=post target=cart><TD vAlign=center align=middle bgColor=#ffd5ae><INPUT type=hidden value=526 name=dbid> <INPUT type=hidden value=1 name=quantity> <INPUT onclick="window.open('shoppingcart.asp','cart','wi dth=640,height=500,scrollbars=yes,scrollbars=yes') ;" type=image alt="Add to Cart" src="http://www.hydroponicslight.com/images/addtocart_orange.gif" name=submit> </TD></FORM></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tbl cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#ffd5ae>The hood is an all Aluminum construction made with T6061 Aluminum.

The aluminum fin height on the ballast box is a whopping 1/2", allowing for extreme temperature dissipation. Compare that to other aluminum boxes sold which only provide 1/4" fin height.

Built into the design of this box is legs and feet that keep the entire enclosure, elevated, to ensure unit stability and safety.

All Cool Touch Lighting Ballast Boxes are equipped with quick connect sockets and on/off switches to allow fast relocation and easy installation.

All boxes are factory wired for common household voltage of 120 volts, but most ballasts used are capable of multi-tap voltages. If requested, the ballast box can be rewired to accommodate such a request.
This kit comes with both bulbs, 1 x 1000W HPS Philips bulb and 1 x 1000W MH Bulb
Dimensions of the hood:
24"x13"x8"</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[ReefaSmoke]

Originally Posted by DierWolf

Here it is

LInk : http://www.hydroponicslight.com/prod...o.asp?dbid=526

1000 Watt "Switchable" Metal Halide/High Pressure Sodium Hood <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#999999 colSpan=3></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tbl cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#caddf0 rowSpan=2></TD><TD vAlign=top width="100%" bgColor=#caddf0 aligh="left">PRODUCT ID: 1000WSMH/HPSBBR

PRICE: $275.00


</TD></TR><TR><FORM name=shoppingcart action=shoppingcart.asp method=post target=cart><TD vAlign=center align=middle bgColor=#ffd5ae><INPUT type=hidden value=526 name=dbid> <INPUT type=hidden value=1 name=quantity> <INPUT onclick="window.open('shoppingcart.asp','cart','wi dth=640,height=500,scrollbars=yes,scrollbars=yes') ;" type=image alt="Add to Cart" src="http://www.hydroponicslight.com/images/addtocart_orange.gif" name=submit> </TD></FORM></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tbl cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#ffd5ae>The hood is an all Aluminum construction made with T6061 Aluminum.

The aluminum fin height on the ballast box is a whopping 1/2", allowing for extreme temperature dissipation. Compare that to other aluminum boxes sold which only provide 1/4" fin height.

Built into the design of this box is legs and feet that keep the entire enclosure, elevated, to ensure unit stability and safety.

All Cool Touch Lighting Ballast Boxes are equipped with quick connect sockets and on/off switches to allow fast relocation and easy installation.

All boxes are factory wired for common household voltage of 120 volts, but most ballasts used are capable of multi-tap voltages. If requested, the ballast box can be rewired to accommodate such a request.
This kit comes with both bulbs, 1 x 1000W HPS Philips bulb and 1 x 1000W MH Bulb
Dimensions of the hood:
24"x13"x8"
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

That looks pretty nice? Does using MH during vegetation make much of a difference then using HPS throughout vegetation and flowering?

Also if i was just growing 4-5 plants, would using a 1000w produce a better yield? or would it just waste power and be better only if u have more plants?

[TheBlueBeast]

4 or 5 plants would be fine under a 400W. Dier, how hot does that 1000W system get?

[ReefaSmoke]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBeast

4 or 5 plants would be fine under a 400W.

I understand that, but i want to know if having a 1000w would give a better yield? or would it only be better if i had more plants?

And how much can a 400w handle? If i plan to upgrade eventually i might as well get the 1000w now, unless a 400 can handle alot more then 4-5 plants.

[TheBlueBeast]

400W can take around 8 plants, but if you plan on upgrading go ahead and get the 1000W now.

[DierWolf]

Yes the more light you have the better your yield.

Yes of coz 400W for 4 plants is OK, but he said he wanted to Expand later on... or would you have him go out again and spend an extra 195 dollars (total cost now $390 for 800watts) when he could have already had 1000Watts for $275.


Anyways you get what you pay for... simple.

As for Heat, i dont have a heat problem at all with my 2x1000W lights, naturally if you just let the air sit still it will get hot... Plus the system i showed him has remote ballast and can be located outside the grow area.

[DierWolf]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBeast

400W can take around 8 plants, but if you plan on upgrading go ahead and get the 1000W now.

8 plants in 10 inch pots will take up at least 10 sq. ft.... the hood that comes with
250 and 400w units will not cover this area efficiently and he will have to raise the
light to cast more light outwards (not efficient)

I thought my 1000W would handle my 5' x 5' crowded pots next to eachother grow as well and it simply was not enough, keeping the light wree its best (18 inches away) would leave dark spots on the outter edges of the grow area, and i had to either raise the light (Stretching the plants) or buy another 1000W which i ended up doing.

[ReefaSmoke]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBeast

400W can take around 8 plants, but if you plan on upgrading go ahead and get the 1000W now.

Well i dont think I'll go over 8 plants for a while. So if i have like 6 plants, will i get a much better yield with a 1000 over a 400? If I don't go over 8 plants, is it worth spending the extra money?

[bubbeewuv0630]

I was looking at the 1000w MH/HPS switchable lighting system. Very interesting, can all that be assembled and connected simply to the power outlet in homes?

[olm man puffer]

High:
I got a phototron. I have read all kinds of things both good and bad. I am having great success in a small area and it will do six plants at once. There are those that hate the system and bash it.... however as I said,I am having great resutls, quickly and in a small discreet space.

OMP

[canadianchronz]

dont waste ur money on the 400w you get denser buds = more yield per plant with a 1000w

[toastybiz]

MH is absolutely better for vegging than HPS.

Definitely get the most light you can handle, but keep in mind that a 1000w system will create more heat to deal with and will cost 2.5 times the electricity cost of a 400w system.

Another supplier with good prices is htgsupply-dot-com.

You could get a system with a switchable ballast or you could get a HPS system and get a conversion bulb for the MH, both approaches will give you the same result of being able to run both MH and HPS off of one ballast.

If your grow space is more square in shape you should go with one light, but if it is very rectangular, such as 6' wide by 2' deep, you might be better off with 2 400w systems than a single 1000w system.