400w HPS too much?

Don't post on here much, but here's a question for you guys.

The box is 2'x2'x4'. Exhaust is at the top through a 4" 80cfm fan & filter, passive intake is 4"x10" at the bottom and a small oscillating fan will be hanging on the side.

So is a 400w hps going to be too hot for this small space? Temps are around 55°F with fluoros, if that matters.

I think its going to be too much unless you have an air cooled hood with glass, or atleast a hood that you can run ducting to.

you'd need a cooled hood in that space... not necessarily glassed... but definitely a ducted hood i think

250 might be a better choice... then supplement with CFL if you can get away with it... just a thought




EDIT: no you'd need glass... at best you can get 10 inches from teh 400 without a sealed hood... so that's 12 inches from the ceiling already...down to 3 feet... add in the pots or buckets... 14 inches left now... maybe 18...

def go with 250 or a sealed hood

250 I'd say is max... For 2x2x4, it will get the job done

I've already got the light though, so is there an easy way to make a ducted hood or a proper way to run ducting through/to it?

keep the 400, get a bigger cab!

scrog it man u will get great results

pdillo said:

keep the 400, get a bigger cab!

Click to expand...

I agree...or a closet

i'm upgrading the cab in the summer to something bigger, but wanted to try using this light in the mean time.

Didn't know you already had it. Just rig up the best air cooled hood or make a Do it yourself cool tube. Keeping the bulb enclosed in glass I think is the only way to keep temps down in your space.

If your exhaust fan was bigger it would help a lot. My cabinet is 20" x 28" and maybe 7 foot tall, but I have a 600W HPS in the top half and a 400W HPS in the bottom half. My exhaust fan is a bathroom exhaust fan mounted at the top of the cabinet set on a thermostat. Granted I also have the 600W ducted out via the hood, but it still generates heat within the cabinet. The 400W is a ducted hood too but there's no exhaust connected to it. A 4" computer fan likely wont be enough to draw off the heat from the bigger light.

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna wait to use it and make a cool tube then.

if you already got the light struggle through until you can up the space... cool tube or vented hood (which will still be handy later mind you)... box fan for a door... whatever