Light efficiency question

Could two 400 watt hps pull off a bigger yeild than one 1000 watter since you can more evenly distribute the light? Ok ok the 1k light has a 200 watt advantage, how about five 400 watters V.S. two 1000 watters?

the 1000 watter have alot more light intensity which equals to deeper penetration...

so 1k from one source is better than multiple 400s with more spread

Do you want to just grow a couple plants, or quite a few?

PlutonicChronic said:

Could two 400 watt hps pull off a bigger yeild than one 1000 watter since you can more evenly distribute the light? Ok ok the 1k light has a 200 watt advantage, how about five 400 watters V.S. two 1000 watters?

Click to expand...

400w hps are more efficient than 1000w in regards to light to heat ratio and lumens per watt. They both have the same spectrums relatively speaking bulb to bulb.

600w is the most efficient bulb out of any HPS bulb.

600w =90k lumens
600x5=3000w
which = 450k lumens

1000w=140k lumens
1000x3=3000w
140*3=420k lumens


Other issues because light is more evenly distributed and because of Inverse Square Law which states I=L/d squared or Intensity= Light Source Output divided by Distance squared. Given this formula Your Intensity can be roughly uniform throughout your whole canopy with more lightsas opposed to one big light where one you would have to raise your light and two the outer edges on your grow op would receive much less intensity in light.


-potlike

if your grow space is long and skinny like a closet then two smaller lights would work better. but if its shaped more like a square a stronger light in the middle would be best.

another advantage of 2 400W is that you could get a HPS bulb and a MH bulb and rotate plants so they get a better spectrum

Even in a long skinny room the 1k would stomp 2 400's. 1kw lights make fat fat nugs and the weight really adds up compared to a bunch of smaller nugs from 400's.