punatang808
Member
So I have some cfl's but their just not cutting it for me. I am looking into getting a new grow light. I either am going to buy a Sun System 150 watt HPS with reflector ballast and bulb or four 4' t5 6400k full spectrum cfl's. Until yesterday I had my mind up that I was done with cfl's and I wanted to try out HPS, but I keep reading articles about how HPS use magnetic ballast that cut your lumens per 100 watt in half AND increases your watt/amp usage sufficiently. For example,
"In principle, the HPS system should deliver around 100 Lumens/Watt. However, these low cost units use a magnetic ballast, and the actual efficiency is half that, delivering 42 Lumens/Watt because of those losses.
The actual measured power consumption of this unit, and any like it, is more than 375 Watts,@ 3.2 Amps. "
"You can actually get higher efficiency at your power meter with the T-5 equivalent for 16,000 Lumens, or (2) 2-footX 4 lamp fixtures. Even the 150 Watt CFL Grow light is better. It depends on the needs of your crops.
I have read that a 55 MFD capacitator can help this issue and get you more light for you money but I have never even heard of such a thing or how to install it. Can I get some opinions from people with experience or people who have been in my shoes before. Thanks!
"In principle, the HPS system should deliver around 100 Lumens/Watt. However, these low cost units use a magnetic ballast, and the actual efficiency is half that, delivering 42 Lumens/Watt because of those losses.
The actual measured power consumption of this unit, and any like it, is more than 375 Watts,@ 3.2 Amps. "
"You can actually get higher efficiency at your power meter with the T-5 equivalent for 16,000 Lumens, or (2) 2-footX 4 lamp fixtures. Even the 150 Watt CFL Grow light is better. It depends on the needs of your crops.
I have read that a 55 MFD capacitator can help this issue and get you more light for you money but I have never even heard of such a thing or how to install it. Can I get some opinions from people with experience or people who have been in my shoes before. Thanks!
