400w CFL or 400HPS - approx how much more in electricity is the HPS?

Hello all

I have been doing a lot of reading here about lighting.

Presently have 4 bagseed females that vegged under 150w of CFL's for 55 days - week ago switched them to flowering and am still using 150w of CFL's (just mainly red now) for flowering.

They are all like 18" and very heathly.

I have concluded from reading here that HPS is superior for flowering but not sure if I can afford the jump yet.

If I used 16x26w CFL's = approx 400w

vs

a single 400w HPS

approx how much more per month in electricity would I be look at?

400 watts is 400 watts... You would be using the same electricity, at the same rate...

Serapis said:

400 watts is 400 watts... You would be using the same electricity, at the same rate...

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Yep, but you'll get better penetration with the HPS.

420God said:

Yep, but you'll get better penetration with the HPS.

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AH ok I thought the 400w ballast would draw more power than cfl's

420God said:

Yep, but you'll get better penetration with the HPS.

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Yeah, but that wasn't the question....

HPS can draw more than the rated wattage. To avoid that change the bulb every 3-4 months.

Just get yourself a HPS light. Trust me, you want to make the jump. HPS penetrates so much more deeply and really helps fill out the under-canopy area. Keep your CFL's going too. I have both HPS and CFL running. It's been awesome so far. With 150W HPS I'm averaging 1oz per plant. With the 400W HPS it's looking like 2+ ounces per plant.

r3dn3ck said:

HPS can draw more than the rated wattage. To avoid that change the bulb every 3-4 months.

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Say what!? An HPS lamp can draw more than it's rated wattage, after approximately 18,000 hours of use. If you were to burn the bulb 24 hours a day, that would be 750 days, or a little over two years. Advising someone to change a HPS bulb every 3-4 months is ludicrous and unwarranted...

http://luv2garden.com/hydroponics_lighting.html

thanks for the input.

How much should I be paying for a 400w HPS setup.

The local hydro stores here are saying around $225

I have seen some used setups for $160 and also one random guy who sells them new for only $60

I am obviously kind of skeptical about the cheap one.

I was going to grab some 42w CFL's for now until I can afford the HPS but I can't find anything higher than 26w ANYWHERE where I live except homedepot but they want $15 for one bulb... I can buy 6 26w for $20 at walmart so that seems pointless.

The only place that has good prices is the 1000bulbs place as they are only $3.50 each for 42w!

Problem is I don't have a credit card nor do I want to wait for them to be mailed here and also have to pay shipping

Unless someone can tell me where to get 42w cfl's for less than $5 each (2700k) here in canada then I am just gonna drop $20 and buy 6 26w's until I can afford the HPS setup sigh.

1000bulbs.com has got some 42 watt cfls for under 4$. I just bought alot of them.

matticus408 said:

1000bulbs.com has got some 42 watt cfls for under 4$. I just bought alot of them.

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how much did they charge you for shipping?