So I'm growing 5 to 6 plants in a 4 x4 tent. At first I had a thousand watt HPS but the heat was so ridiculous that I had to take it out and get an LED. Plus the humidity just couldn't be controlled with that light I kept on adding things in there to try to control the humidity and it just would not stay at anything beyond 30% . I got the viparspectra 600w in there currently. I was thinking of doing a kind of hybrid LED and HPS grow so a buddy of mine has given me a 600 watt HPS and a 6-inch fan where before I had a 4 inch fan. I'm trying to figure out what is the best way to go here. I can either get another viparspectra 600w or stick with the one I have and try the HPS with the 6-inch fan to try to see if I can control the heat. To make it even more confusing the last option I have is to get a G8 LED 240 Watt light. So together with the viparspectra I would have the G8 LED in there also which is much easier to control but I don't know if my yield would decline significantly would just do those two LEDs. I know everyone has their own opinions on which lights are better, but I would just like help with just the options that I have. Thanks in advance for your help.
Newbie light questions
- Thread starter Negdcom
- Start date
-
- Tags
- led lights viparspectra
kratos015
Well-Known Member
Viparspectra lights are garbage. You aren't going to have issues with heat using a Viparspectra because they simply don't do much. It may say "600w" but the "true wattage" is usually around 260-300w.
Unless you're building a DIY Cob/Cree LED fixture, save your money and find a way to make the HID light work.
The upgraded inline fan should help with the heat, as well as you going down to a 600w light instead of 1000w. 9/10 times, LED lights are garbage unless you make them yourself.
Best of luck with your new grow.
Unless you're building a DIY Cob/Cree LED fixture, save your money and find a way to make the HID light work.
The upgraded inline fan should help with the heat, as well as you going down to a 600w light instead of 1000w. 9/10 times, LED lights are garbage unless you make them yourself.
Best of luck with your new grow.
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
Yeah a 1000w HPS with a 4inch fan probably aint gona work well.
In your position I would go with the upgraded fan and the 600w HPS. Covers a 4x4 nice.
Use only the LED to veg with and switch to HPS for flower. If you still find temps acceptable then you can always add the LED back into the tent.
A couple of things to consider.
Vent your heat out of the room entirely.
Make sure your thermometers are either shaded from direct light or above the light line.
Have circulation fans blowing gently around the room.
In your position I would go with the upgraded fan and the 600w HPS. Covers a 4x4 nice.
Use only the LED to veg with and switch to HPS for flower. If you still find temps acceptable then you can always add the LED back into the tent.
A couple of things to consider.
Vent your heat out of the room entirely.
Make sure your thermometers are either shaded from direct light or above the light line.
Have circulation fans blowing gently around the room.
theshape82
Member
I am going to agree with @coreywebster. Use the 600w with the fan to vent out, then use the LEDs you currently have for propagation, cloning, and veg.
As far as controlling heat with that 600w. Something I've done is run my flower cycle during the coldest parts of the day e.g., from 8pm to 8am. Rather than the opposite. This helps keep the temperature of your growing environment more consistent.
Other than that, the least expensive way to cool that room would not be to buy a different light, but to buy a 6" fan. It will cost much less for an inline fan than it would for a new light setup. Good luck!
As far as controlling heat with that 600w. Something I've done is run my flower cycle during the coldest parts of the day e.g., from 8pm to 8am. Rather than the opposite. This helps keep the temperature of your growing environment more consistent.
Other than that, the least expensive way to cool that room would not be to buy a different light, but to buy a 6" fan. It will cost much less for an inline fan than it would for a new light setup. Good luck!
kratos015
Well-Known Member
Another thing to consider about running during the colder parts of the day is the fact that you aren't running things during peak hours, as some electric companies will ream you if you use electricity between 12pm-7pm typically. For instance, where I'm at peak hours ends at 7pm, so I run my shed from 7:30pm-7:30am. It could be the difference between $0.12/kW and $0.20+/kW, so not only are you saving money by running things at night, but your air conditioner will also likely be on less during that period of time also reducing your bill.
Also, theshape82 is right about grabbing a new inline fan. An 8in fan can be had for $90ish and will do the job and then some. Personally, I go overboard on my fans for the same reason I go overboard on my air conditioning. You can always buy a fan controller for $10-15 and control things as needed.