$75 Budget, What type of lights for flowering? [Top 44/Morroc x Afghan]

[xRedDUBdeRx]

Not too sure what I should get for lighting for flowering. About to start in a week or so but I am growing Top-44 and Morroc x Afghan. I am thinking about HID lights but still haven't through out the thought of HPS lights.

Please let me know what type of bulb, how many watts and lumens it is so I can go straight to Lowes/Home Depot to buy them ;)

Also, I have 5 plants. Any advice/tips would be appreciated.

[stinkybudz]

dont know where you live but here is what i would get at what prices




3 pack of 26w 3100k CFLS - $11.99


1 socket prewired - $8.00


Y socket $5.00



Buy 2 packs for 6 26w 3100k CFLS - 23.98
Get 3 sockets or a 3 socket fixture - 24.00
Buy 3 Y sockets and put into the above sockets - 15.00


Theres 6 26w lights ready to go for 62.98


thats 1600l a light x 6 for 9600 lumens at 156w,



This is USD btw incase your not in the US

[xRedDUBdeRx]

Thank you. I have much to think about. I was going to get 2 150 Watt HPS and 4 CFLs (not sure about watts yet.)

I will keep thinking of different solutions and definnalty put this to work ;)

:rastasmoke::rastasmoke::rastasmoke:

And yes, west coast baby.

[stinkybudz]

if you can get 2 150w hps and 4 cfl, go for it! thats plenty more lumens, go for something around 3100k spectrum, 2800k, or 3500k, somewhere between there if you can, plus the hps will yield a little more then its equivilent in cfls, but the cfls will also pack on the bud mass, if you can get 2 150's and 4 cfls 26w 2800k-3500k once again Go For It!

[keeko]

dont forget that with an HID you need to improve on your intake/exhaust if its not up to par.

also, what size is your grow space?

[xRedDUBdeRx]

Won't be getting a HID because of the exhaust problem which isn't great but works.

I will be doing the two HPS with 4 CFL's. It's within my budget and at looking at other people grow logs, they have a good yield using that or similiar.

Grow space is 4x4x4.

[veggii]

which HPS are talking about? walmart has 4pk softwhite cfl's for 7.88$

[xRedDUBdeRx]

150 Watts.

[keeko]

a High Pressure Sodium is an High Intensity Dishcharge......do you have ballasts for those 150's?

you will still need exhaust for those lights. I use a 150 myself and couldnt see it working without intake and exhaust. how do you have it set up?

[Roughrider]

I don't think you're going to be able to get a 150w HPS ballast and bulb for under $75 anyway. Doesn't matter. A 150w HPS is around 13000-14000 lumens. You can do almost as well with CFLs.

I would go with this rig:

4 10.5" Clamp Light from Wal-Mart @ $10 each = $40

4 Y-splitter sockets at $2 = $8

3 3 packs, GE 26w (100 w equivalent) daylight bulbs (6500k) @ $7 each = $21

2 4 packs, Wal-Mart 23w warm white bulbs @ $7 = $15

TOTAL $84

It's a little over $75, but it gives you reflectors to improve light, daylight bulbs for veg, and warm whites for flower. That covers pretty much everything. 8 23w warm whites will put out around 12000 lumens...enough for a good 2.5 sq. ft. grow. That's plenty to veg 5 plants. If you're growing Top44, the plants will be small so you could probably get 3 plants through flower.

[Roughrider]

btw, others are right...HPS is an HID light. So is MH...High Intensity Discharge refers to both High Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide bulbs...either of which will require ballasts that will probably bust your $75 budget.

Just so you know...you don't need anything like a 4' x 4' for 5 plants, especially small plants like Top44. Besides, unless you've got fem seeds or get incredibly lucky, you're a lot more likely to have 2 or 3 girls. You can do that in 3 sq. ft. with the strains you describe. A 4' x 4' area is for something like 9-14 good sized plants, and would need a 600w HPS or MH. Keep it small and you'll be fine with CFLs.

[sedgwick]

What does the prewired socket do? And does the light need a hood?

[stinkybudz]

that 10.5' clamp is what i was refering too, it just makes it so you just put your socket somewhere and plug it in, skips wiring it which is a hassle, and those clamp things come with a hoodlike thing, but there cfls and your doing a good amount i wouldnt reflect it, it would be kind of ackward with the y socket anyhow

[sedgwick]

that 10.5' clamp is what i was refering too, it just makes it so you just put your socket somewhere and plug it in, skips wiring it which is a hassle, and those clamp things come with a hoodlike thing, but there cfls and your doing a good amount i wouldnt reflect it, it would be kind of ackward with the y socket anyhow

Hmmm, okay, this still confuses me! I'm assuming you mean a 10.5 inch clamp and not a 10.5 foot. :) However, I still don't know what this product is or looks like. What are you hooking the wires to that come out of the end of the prewired socket? Also, what "clamp things" come with "hoodlike things?" Do you mean just a regular clip light? If so, can't I just use the cord that is already attached to the light and just plug it into an outlet?

Can you explain this to me like I'm a total complete wiring beginner (which I am?) If you could give links to these products or specific names, it would help a lot! Thank you! :)

[Lit Up]

Here's a shot

http://www.finchaviary.com/Graphics/Maintenance/CeramicHeatLampLg.jpg

And another....

http://featherfever.com/images/large_heat_lamp.jpg

Yeah bud these are what I think you both are talking.

[Roughrider]

Hmmm, okay, this still confuses me! I'm assuming you mean a 10.5 inch clamp and not a 10.5 foot. :) However, I still don't know what this product is or looks like. What are you hooking the wires to that come out of the end of the prewired socket? Also, what "clamp things" come with "hoodlike things?" Do you mean just a regular clip light? If so, can't I just use the cord that is already attached to the light and just plug it into an outlet?

Can you explain this to me like I'm a total complete wiring beginner (which I am?) If you could give links to these products or specific names, it would help a lot! Thank you! :)

Yes, I am sure the 10.5' being talked about is actually the 10.5" clamp/clip light. You're right--just use the cord/plug that comes with it. That way, you don't have any wiring issues.

If you can and/or it you've got them, you should ALWAYS use reflectors. ALWAYS. The reflectors are placed in the opposite direction of where you want light to go. So any light that gets reflected wasn't being used anyway--in other words, all you can do is increase the amount of light on plants. That's what you want.

Other things you have to factor in to lighting costs--power strips, timer, hanging chains. Things add up--that's another $15-20 you'll need to spend for whatever lighting system you choose.