Help please?

High All, please help if you can! I've had 3 pretty successful grows in a closet that I've been running a 250 hps, and 2 4' t-5's (1 on each side) with bloom bulbs, 3 lights total! and cooling my little closet (4'x3'x8feet tall) is a 7" oscillating fan which oscillates from the top to the bottom of the plant and have had very little to no heat issues with this set-up.

Unfortunately, my 250 has burned out and money is tight this week! but the plant in the closet now (my 4th grow) is at around 55 days into flowering so I have to do something immediately!!! a friend has a 400 hps set-up that he will give me for $20, he paid around $125 new (htg) and ended up never using it! I no this to be true!! my question is will I hurt the girl (pics below are at 51 days old) by going from a 250hps (which she's used too) to a 400 hps at this stage in her life or am I better off buying a new 250??? I can save around $10 cash! and time and gas (with not having to go to the grow store) by going with the 400. thanks.

No it will be fine. The 400w will be much better. Keep in mind temps could go up.

Just watch your temps as the 400w I'm sure will be a bit hotter, other than that your ladies will LOVE the extra wattage!

By the way they look awesome so far!

Thanks buds and kmkrsh21, I appreciate the quick responses! how much more heat do you think the 400 will produce?

Alot. Probably make temps raise five-ten degrees

yetibear said:

Thanks buds, I appreciate the quick response! how much more heat do you think the 400 will produce?

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Depends on the light...

Is it air cooled? vented? with glass? just a bat wing reflector and an open bulb?...

Anywhere from 2-15 degree increase would be my guess, again depending on the exact light you'll be using.

No its not air-cooled, just a regular "old-school" open reflector! no money for anything fancier!! "BUMMER" just my trusty 7" fan as mentioned above running on low speed! now the doors to the closet are sliders and I have them open at about 2" on each side, I can open them up another 2" or so and turn the fan on high, do you think this could help with the extra heat? thanks all.

yetibear said:

No its not air-cooled, just a regular "old-school" open reflector! no money for anything fancier!! "BUMMER" just my trusty 7" fan as mentioned above running on low speed! now the doors to the closet are sliders and I have them open at about 2" on each side, I can open them up another 2" or so and turn the fan on high, do you think this could help with the extra heat? thanks all.

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Maybe... a big factor is the temp of the room itself... Your setup sounds similar to mine... A sliding door closet, I run a 400w HPS with a just a reflector too and have a 16'' oscillating fan on lo.
My central AC keeps the room at 76, it reaches 86 in the closet.

kmksrh21, Your a BIG help!!! thank you!!! I wont lie I'm really excited about possibly moving up to a 400!! that said my temp at 74 degrees in the room, runs at around 82 in the closet, which certainly leaves little room for adjustment! that being said I'm still a little concerned! is going form around 80-82 up to 84-88 going to harm or help? I'm not sure any of the mentioned temps are bad, or are they?? thanks again I really do appreciate it.

yetibear said:

kmksrh21, Your a BIG help!!! thank you!!! I wont lie I'm really excited about possibly moving up to a 400!! that said my temp at 74 degrees in the room, runs at around 82 in the closet, which certainly leaves little room for adjustment! that being said I'm still a little concerned! is going form around 80-82 up to 84-88 going to harm or help? I'm not sure any of the mentioned temps are bad, or are they?? thanks again I really do appreciate it.

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Just tryin' to hook it up man! I've been there...
I believe it's best to keep your plants in the 70s, but obviously that's not possible everywhere and you can have successful grows in higher temps... I'd say the trade off for the few more degrees compared to the extra 150w you will be getting is well worth it.

Would your friend maybe let you try before you buy?

If not, a 400w for $20 is a steal and I'd go for it in a heartbeat!