Things to Know About Lighting

'Bulb' being the key word.. A magnetic ballast can burn 10-20% more, electronic ones are more efficient, but won't have the lifespan of a plain old transformer/capacitor..

thanks mine is digital

is that the same as electronic ?

Yes, digital = electronic in this context..

about the lighting.... I am at the point where I need to make the decision about what kind of lights to buy. people have told me HPS is the best, which looks right if that lumen output is correct. But why have I heard to use a fluorescent light (t5) in the vegetation stage. They told me the t5 uses less electricity or energy so its cheaper on the utilities bill. Wouldn't I want to always be supplying it with the most amount of lumen output as possible. I came across a website that has a bunch of different categories for grow lights... I'm thinking the HPS section. the 1000 watt...but there are some differences, looking for an explanation if at all possible. and I also noticed the "dual system" it seems more expensive than HPS...I naturally assumed the more expensive the better, but figured I'd ask for an explanation on that as well. Heres the link so you know what I'm talking about. http://www.hydroempire.com/store/index.php/cPath/3?osCsid=62267078f3b56737d33b3f13c8be10b3

I also need a general explanation as to how HPS works. I hear theres a bulb, and a ballast. Like how many pieces are there, what does what, what costs what. If I wanted to buy a system used off of something like ebay or craigslist, isn't knowing how long the bulb has been used very important. How often do you normally have to replace HPS bulbs.

All gas bulbs have a ballast. Fluorescents, HID, even the new plasma lights have a ballast. Most fluorescents don't get so hot due to their lower power so they work fine with a self-enclosed ballast. HID lamps have their ballast away from the bulb, because the bulb gets hot and so does the ballast. This makes for loads of heat output.

Basic setup of any gas lamp is power cord to ballast, ballast to bulb.

I use T5HO fluorescents because of the great quality of light and output for power used. Watt for watt, a T5HO at 54watts does 5000 lumens, most of these 50 watt MH lamps I'm looking at are doing about 3400 lumens. T5HO - 93 l/w versus the MH 68 l/w. The CRI and PUR/PAR is better on the T5HO, as well. Until you get to over 250w of power, the MH doesn't compare to the T5HO. My setup using T5HO for veg is awesome. I have nice bushes and it's only week three since I picked up and transplanted, they are almost two feet tall. I'm going to flower after the next week, then I'll kick on the HPS above. Right now, the lights are mounted sideways to keep the entire plant well-lit while they grow upwards for their last week.

Great post, but I am new to this you could say, and trying to wrap my mind around it. I am only interested in these for growing marijuana...I grow my fruits, herbs, and veggies outside lol. Did I understand this correctly. These NLites are better than HPS.

I want blue light during the vegetation stage because it supports foliage, and red light during the flowring stage because it will help mature the buds. ????

sideways!!!! hella good idea.. You think it would work if you had them on the side and on the top....? throughout the whole process...?

Basically if you are doing a lower-power grow, using T5HO for veg works better. If you're doing large scale, you're best off using MH. NLites would work.

And As for the sideways mount - it's the only way to maximize the potential of any linear fluorescent that I've come up with so far for multiple plants. For a singe plant vertical mounting is fine.

Lights on the sides only after sufficient light above.. Forget grow specific lights.. call electrical/lighting outfitters in your phone book and see what they carry for HID.. Both MH and HPS are installed by contractors alot.. Saves ALOT of money..
As for the wattage, it depends on your growspace size, and ventilation..

Hey there guys and dolls, quick we question for my 1st grow. I've currently got a 4 x 4 x 6.5 Mylar grow tent, with a 400w mh, also got a 600w hps system. Going to use both lights at flowerin stage got 8 plants chronic, ardens strawb haze and sweet tooth. Don't want to burn my babies so what's a good distance to put my lights? Oh not got an air intake yet jst relyin on the vents at the side of the tent. Any help will be greatly appreciated

Start high enough, and work them down over a few days, and if you see problems, raise them up..

born2killspam said:

Start high enough, and work them down over a few days, and if you see problems, raise them up..

Click to expand...

Nice 1 that's a perfect idea

I'd probably start them atleast 24" above.. How close you can get them will depend on temps/humidity, but without a cool tube don't go clower than 1ft with the 400W, and maybe 18" with the 600W.. Even if you don't see damage then, you will soon after..

Just looking for some quick advise on a popular thread...thanks guys.

I have a 10ft. wide by 12 ft. wide by 10 ft high room. starting first yield with 6 plants, want maximum yield, and maximum potency. have great ventillation, and great reflection. also ability to set up exhaust for lights.

I want to use three 400w HPS bulbs for flowering...always looking for more opinions on a good kelvin number for the flowering and veg stage.

And then use TFHO lights for the vegetation stage... never used those before though so need all advise on that route.

Thanks everyone.... I KNOW THERE IS SO MUCH CONTROVERSY about lights, even in this thread...so i always ask to put your "why explanation" with anything you advise...

1200W is only good for about 1/4 of that space.. Don't worry about kelvins, just call electrical/lighting places in your phonebook, and stack the hid (HPS/MH mix) for cheap and you won't regret it.. Aim for 40W/sqft of canopy..

great post! everytime i open a thread on this site i learn something new!!! rep+ most definately!

i'm unsure this is the right site to ask this question, but my grow lights are not working. I have an outflowering plant which i give 21hrs light 3 dark. After the last dark period the lights won't turn on. The ballast is still running(well the fan turns on) and i even changed out the lights to make sure it didn't die on me.....has anyone ever had this problem? i check all the outlets to make sure it is plugged in and they are. any help would be appriciated. thank you

Do you own a multimeter?? Is it an electronic or a magnetic ballast??

Please advise if the four T12 fluorescent light bulbs by Sylvania Grolux (two of them are 30 watts and two are 40 watts and 48 inches long) I have are adequate for seedling and vegetative growth phase of 25 seedlings?

For you to have a better idea, my grow area is 1meter by 1meter. I figured that I will be left with 9-10 female plants (with God's grace!), which should do o.k in a space 1 meter by 1 meter.

I am considering using fluorescent bulbs instead of the 600 watt hps light that I have because they run cooler and I don't need to have the a/c crankin 18 hrs a day for the 6 weeks of veg growth. Do u recommend this or am I better off using the 600 watt hps light?

God Bless!