What to expect going from CFL's to MH/HPS? I need some advice

ownfive

ownfive

Well-Known Member
Hey guys! Hope everyone's nice and high... :joint:
Right now I'm about 4 weeks into my first grow. 4 plants 2.5 Gallon buckets under 6 27 watt daylight bulbs (5500k). I also have 2 shop light ballasts with 1 ecolux bulb and 1 cool white bulb in each. Anyway, I haven't been satisfied with the results I've seen so far with CFL's. The space that I'm growing in isn't a tent and doesn't trap or reflect light as much as a CFL grow should.

Anyway... I think that I'm ready to purchase a MH and HPS bulb to get some nice dense nugget. I have ventilation going in and out and 2 fans moving air around. My first question is, how much hotter will the 400 watt HPS bulb get than the CFL's that I am using?

Second question, can i "ghetto" rig a hood and reflector so that I don't have to buy a ballast for these bulbs? I'm really tight on cash right now and if I can buy the bulb and construct some kind of system to efficiently hang the lights, that's the route I'd like to go down.

Third and last question... Will i be able to use my HPS bulb from start to finish. If this is possible and works I'd like to try it out. I've heard of people doing this but I'd just like some other's opinions.

Hopefully my questions make sense I'm a little baked. :peace:
 
email468

email468

Well-Known Member
ownfive said:
Hey guys! Hope everyone's nice and high... :joint:
Right now I'm about 4 weeks into my first grow. 4 plants 2.5 Gallon buckets under 6 27 watt daylight bulbs (5500k). I also have 2 shop light ballasts with 1 ecolux bulb and 1 cool white bulb in each. Anyway, I haven't been satisfied with the results I've seen so far with CFL's. The space that I'm growing in isn't a tent and doesn't trap or reflect light as much as a CFL grow should.

Anyway... I think that I'm ready to purchase a MH and HPS bulb to get some nice dense nugget. I have ventilation going in and out and 2 fans moving air around. My first question is, how much hotter will the 400 watt HPS bulb get than the CFL's that I am using?

Second question, can i "ghetto" rig a hood and reflector so that I don't have to buy a ballast for these bulbs? I'm really tight on cash right now and if I can buy the bulb and construct some kind of system to efficiently hang the lights, that's the route I'd like to go down.

Third and last question... Will i be able to use my HPS bulb from start to finish. If this is possible and works I'd like to try it out. I've heard of people doing this but I'd just like some other's opinions.

Hopefully my questions make sense I'm a little baked. :peace:
Click to expand...
You'll need a ballast to fire the bulbs. A switchable ballast can fire both HPS and MH bulbs otherwise you must match the ballast to the type and wattage of the bulb. Even with a switchable you must match the wattage. And to keep heat in check you'll also need an air or water cooled reflector. If you are tight on cash, you can either save until you can get the HID set-up you want or purchase more CFLs.

Sounds like you need better reflectors and hanging system for your CFLs too.

my two cents...

and yes you can use an HPS through the whole grow. Ed Rosenthal recommends it but most others encourage MH lighting during growth.
 
ownfive

ownfive

Well-Known Member
I'm going to stop in at my local hydro shop and see how much ballasts cost there. I think I'm going to get a 400 watt HPS set up with an air cooled reflector. I have 6 daylight vegging CFLs for side light/clones. Ill just cross my fingers... How about the electric bill? Will that increase dramatically?
 
gogrow

gogrow

confused
ownfive said:
I'm going to stop in at my local hydro shop and see how much ballasts cost there. I think I'm going to get a 400 watt HPS set up with an air cooled reflector. I have 6 daylight vegging CFLs for side light/clones. Ill just cross my fingers... How about the electric bill? Will that increase dramatically?
Click to expand...

you'll be happy with making the switch to HID lighting... but the electric bill.. dont worry about it too much. i am also running a 400w (mh) w/200w of cfls. it is about as much as running your tv and dvd player all day. if you havent done so allready, replace your incandesent light bulbs throughout the house with cfl's and take as many other energy saving precautions as you can, and you will probably notice your bill go down, even with the addition of the hps.
 
email468

email468

Well-Known Member
I don't think the electric bill will rise significantly with a single 400w HPS especially if you only use it for flowering. My guess would be that it will increase about the same amount (or just a bit more) than a running and complete hydro set-up (fans, pumps, etc..).

I would encourage you to look at switchable digital ballasts. While I don't use one (my ballast is a dual-spectrum) I hear nothing but good things about them - especially the 400w - but take the advice of someone who owns one over my hearsay if given the opportunity!

You will not regret the air-cooled reflector - not only should it keep the temps down but if the bulb would happen to shatter - you won't be picking shards of glass out of your plants. The downside is another fan.

And since you already have the CFLs you can use both HID and CFLs - maybe the HIDs from above (cause you have to keep them further away) and the CFLs on the sides maybe? That would use more electricity but you wouldn't be wasting your bulbs and the plant would love it (provided you keep heat in check).
 
Dopalicious

Dopalicious

Well-Known Member
ownfive said:
My first question is, how much hotter will the 400 watt HPS bulb get than the CFL's that I am using?
Click to expand...
significantly

ownfive said:
Second question, can i "ghetto" rig a hood and reflector so that I don't have to buy a ballast for these bulbs?
Click to expand...
No, you'd have to acquire a ballast.

ownfive said:
Will i be able to use my HPS bulb from start to finish.
Click to expand...
Yes - this is your best bet if you can also afford an air-cooled hood w/ fan & ducting. Check ebay or htgsupply. If not, you'll need some CFLs with flowering spectrum.

Good luck!
 
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