WattSaver
Well-Known Member
I think that the discussion here needs to examine depth of penetration (DoP) of the light source. Let's stick with the 400w range, & below, for autos.
CFL- Low wattage bulbs 40 real watts or less. The use-full range of light is as little as 4" & tops at 7". Can be placed from adjacent to an inch away.
CFL-Hi wattage 55 to 105 (105 is the largest I've run) DoP is form 9 to 15". Can be placed from 2" to 5" from plant.
LED- 1w bulbs (anything less than this isn't worth using) DoP is around 10 to 14". Can be placed within 3" of plant.
LED - 3w diodes running full. DoP is close to 30", but it can't be closer than 14 to 18" of the canopy.
HID- In general we're talking about hps, DoP is 36" (400w) With good vented hood can be placed within 12" of plant
So nothing can match the lumens or DoP of HPS but the color spectrum is by far the worse. The HPS is the bully of lighting.
Because of the spectrum I've been running Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) bulbs. These put out white light and are really a full spectrum bulb, they even put off useable IR & UV. They put off less than 1/3 the heat, in the winter I run dual 400 bulbs in a single un-vented OPEN hood
View attachment 2725906
They put over less lumens compared to HPS 33,000 vs 48,000 but the spectrum is much better. Only problem is that Philips is discontinuing the HPS Retro-White
IMO now that LED makers are finally using white diodes and higher wattages, that LED is the future of indoor growing. Either LED or Plasma but the price of plasma still really high.
CFL- Low wattage bulbs 40 real watts or less. The use-full range of light is as little as 4" & tops at 7". Can be placed from adjacent to an inch away.
CFL-Hi wattage 55 to 105 (105 is the largest I've run) DoP is form 9 to 15". Can be placed from 2" to 5" from plant.
LED- 1w bulbs (anything less than this isn't worth using) DoP is around 10 to 14". Can be placed within 3" of plant.
LED - 3w diodes running full. DoP is close to 30", but it can't be closer than 14 to 18" of the canopy.
HID- In general we're talking about hps, DoP is 36" (400w) With good vented hood can be placed within 12" of plant
So nothing can match the lumens or DoP of HPS but the color spectrum is by far the worse. The HPS is the bully of lighting.
Because of the spectrum I've been running Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) bulbs. These put out white light and are really a full spectrum bulb, they even put off useable IR & UV. They put off less than 1/3 the heat, in the winter I run dual 400 bulbs in a single un-vented OPEN hood
View attachment 2725906
They put over less lumens compared to HPS 33,000 vs 48,000 but the spectrum is much better. Only problem is that Philips is discontinuing the HPS Retro-White
IMO now that LED makers are finally using white diodes and higher wattages, that LED is the future of indoor growing. Either LED or Plasma but the price of plasma still really high.
