is a 400w hps too much

I have a 2 x 2 x 4 tent. Is a 400w hps too much for that area?

Not too much, but it's enough. Get ready to deal with heat, exhaust, circulation, and ventilation to keep the temps down.

Go with the new "dimmable" ballasts. I got a good well priced one on Amazon. Features a "super lumen" setting that makes 10% more lumens (more electricity)

With that kind of ballast you can go down to 200 or 300 watts....

This is a closet grow with the closet door open. The air coming into the tent will be cooked by the ac in the room. I will have 2 -4 fans in the tent. Haven't purchased the exhaust fan yet.

carno said:

I have a 2 x 2 x 4 tent. Is a 400w hps too much for that area?

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Your gonna struggle with only 4 ft of head room.

4 1/2 tall, i was thinking about putting my scrubber and exhaust on the outside of the tent to save space

@Final Phase Should I just get a 600w with a "dimmable" ballast? I know 600w is more than enough light for a small area but if I can raise and lower the wattage wouldn't that be better for me long term? Would a 600w buld running at 400w produce more heat that a 400w?

The

carno said:

@Final Phase Should I just get a 600w with a "dimmable" ballast? I know 600w is more than enough light for a small area but if I can raise and lower the wattage wouldn't that be better for me long term? Would a 600w buld running at 400w produce more heat that a 400w?

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The settings usually are:
100%
75%
50%
and Super Lumen if it comes with that feature.

Soooooooo, A 600 watt dimmable would go - 600, 450, 300 watts....

Sounds good for the future.
The heat output will be more doing 450watts than a 400 watt ballast..........

Not all ballasts are alike. I've felt some very cool to the touch digital ballasts and a few that are hotter. I've have two digital 400's by different brands - One is defiantly hotter than the other - that alone will heat up your space faster. Move it out of the space if possible.


I like this ballast company. I got another one from a different company that didn't work and had to send it back.
This one works like a champ. It also has a feature to look for - A fan - That little fan cools this one down better
than an older digiral that had no fan built in.

carno said:

I have a 2 x 2 x 4 tent. Is a 400w hps too much for that area?

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Yes. A 150 or 250W HPS is plenty. If you're worried about heat, cfl's might be a good choice for a space that small. If you put a 400 in there you'll have way to much heat, and probably too much light. If you put a 600 in there you'll start a fire.

Thanks for all the information. I think I'm going to get the 400w with the ballast that gives me the option to power down if need be.

carno said:

Thanks for all the information. I think I'm going to get the 400w with the ballast that gives me the option to power down if need be.

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The problem with those dimmable HPS ballasts are the efficiency goes way down when you dim them, meaning more heat for the amount of light you get. If you want dimmable go with LEDs(in particular look for fixtures with COBs).

I'd go 250W HPS if you don't want to spend money, a 315W CMH if you want newer cutting edge HIDs or LEDs if you want dimmable, low heat and the pinnacle of lighting technology at the moment.

point taken. thanks again. Now on to the exhaust and scrubber lol