HPS and CFL

[unkownSuperstar]

Hi Guys,

I am looking to do a larger grow for my second attempt. I don't want another HPS bulb due to heat issues. So taking heat and cost (Which has ruled out LED's). I think the path I am going to go down is to hang some CFL's near the each corner of the grow room, to get the light above 2000 lumens thus fitting more plants in. Do you think this will work?

Thanks in advance.:rastasmoke:

[unkownSuperstar]

Hi Guys,

I am looking to do a larger grow for my second attempt. I don't want another HPS bulb due to heat issues. So taking heat and cost (Which has ruled out LED's). I think the path I am going to go down is to hang some CFL's near the each corner of the grow room, to get the light above 2000 lumens thus fitting more plants in. Do you think this will work?

Thanks in advance.:rastasmoke:
Just to point out as I don't think I made it clear I am keeping the HPS lamp too, but I am going to have the lights come on during the night to keep the heat down as my grow room is in the attic.

[BudLuv420]

The only bad thing about doing it in the attic & during summer time is the heat rises. I know it is unbearable to be in & your going to have to cool it with an ac & there goes your cost going up.

How many more do you plan on doing?
How many watts on your HPS?

[moody420]

so you would just be using CFL's as supplemental lighting? I've never worked with CFL's, but there are many on this board that have used them and have been very successful.

How many watts is your HPS? And how many plants were you thinking about growing?

[CovertCarpenter]

...tho it will have to wait a bit until rent and other financial issues are squared away, but this is happening, so I'm not really that worried :)

I was going to hang four 45w 4100k CFLs in my main garden as soon as I could figger out how to fit'em in there, but I am now using them as the 'centre' bulbs of my livingroom garden.

I believe that they can help fill in the gaps in the HPS spectrum, and with this, the plants should be happier, and grow better.

[THContent]

Just wanna cut you guys off real quick, check this, no more heat issues with HPS :):

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-lighting/185819-diy-how-make-your-own-cooltube-inexpensive.html

[unkownSuperstar]

so you would just be using CFL's as supplemental lighting? I've never worked with CFL's, but there are many on this board that have used them and have been very successful.

How many watts is your HPS? And how many plants were you thinking about growing?
Cheers for the repies so far everyone. My HPS is 600w, I am planning on growing about ten plants. That should keep me going for a while!! I will veg them at 4 weeks at the latest to keep them manageable. I vegged my current white widow plant at 5 weeks and its a 5 foot monster and its only three weeks into flowering and its covered in budding sites!!!!(Thanks Canna pk 13/14)

[unkownSuperstar]

Just wanna cut you guys off real quick, check this, no more heat issues with HPS :):

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-lighting/185819-diy-how-make-your-own-cooltube-inexpensive.htmlI have thought about a cool tube, but I don't have anywhere to vent the warm air, I have one outlet for venting the warm air from the room and I have a carbon filter attached to it. As the room is being heated because all the tiles are warm I think an AC unit will be the best way to go.

[Charbud]

I have thought about a cool tube, but I don't have anywhere to vent the warm air, I have one outlet for venting the warm air from the room and I have a carbon filter attached to it. As the room is being heated because all the tiles are warm I think an AC unit will be the best way to go.

Growing in the loft is a bitch !! I get huge heat increases and decreases, cold and night, unbearably hot in the day ! I might by an air-con unit.

[unkownSuperstar]

Growing in the loft is a bitch !! I get huge heat increases and decreases, cold and night, unbearably hot in the day ! I might by an air-con unit.Just had a look on ebay mate. There are loads for under fifty quid, money well spent I recon. If you can get one locally to you with a pick up only only, you should get a bargain.

[THContent]

I understand what you mean as far as being bound by heating conditions, just a thought though so you could manage the HPS...

You could get a 6 inch hole saw and then get a 6 inch inline fan, problem solved, yes it will cost you a little bit of money, but the payoff would be far greater than that of using CFL's. Just throwing idea's around that's all.

If you have the means, by God, don't be stingy lol.

Pro's of HPS:

Higher overall yield vs. CFL or any other indoor lighting.
Higher quality Bud.
More Lumen output (thus imitating sunlight better than CFL)
Longer lasting than CFL, hands down.

Say you have 6 x 42w CFL = 16,200 Lumens
Compare that to say 400W HPS = 50,000 Lumens
No comparison really.

HPS systems have better Lumen per Watt which means less heat per watt. They also have a much higher PAR which is a measure of how much light is actually used by the chlorophyll. PAR stands for Photosynthetic Active Radiation. CFL's are a waste of money, electricity and time.
HPS = More PAR per watt/less heat per watt.


Cons of HPS:

Heating extraction, thus need sufficient air intake/outgoing. (Why I mentioned the DIY cooltube)
Initial cost.
Energy bill goes up about $40 a month using a 400W system 24/7. Really not that bad.


I am not an advocate for either, I just know what lighting is far superior for plants, when growing its better to get the "best bang for your buck" so to speak. In this case, invest a little more money, and get a better payback. But I can tell your mind is already made up, just some additional food for thought. I support you no matter what you choose, just choose wisely :p


p.s. if you do choose CFL, would you be willing to sell your HPS system, I'll take it off your hands, how many Watts is it? :)

[unkownSuperstar]

I understand what you mean as far as being bound by heating conditions, just a thought though so you could manage the HPS...

You could get a 6 inch hole saw and then get a 6 inch inline fan, problem solved, yes it will cost you a little bit of money, but the payoff would be far greater than that of using CFL's. Just throwing idea's around that's all.

If you have the means, by God, don't be stingy lol.

Pro's of HPS:

Higher overall yield vs. CFL or any other indoor lighting.
Higher quality Bud.
More Lumen output (thus imitating sunlight better than CFL)
Longer lasting than CFL, hands down.

Say you have 6 x 42w CFL = 16,200 Lumens
Compare that to say 400W HPS = 50,000 Lumens
No comparison really.

HPS systems have better Lumen per Watt which means less heat per watt. They also have a much higher PAR which is a measure of how much light is actually used by the chlorophyll. PAR stands for Photosynthetic Active Radiation. CFL's are a waste of money, electricity and time.
HPS = More PAR per watt/less heat per watt.


Cons of HPS:

Heating extraction, thus need sufficient air intake/outgoing. (Why I mentioned the DIY cooltube)
Initial cost.
Energy bill goes up about $40 a month using a 400W system 24/7. Really not that bad.


I am not an advocate for either, I just know what lighting is far superior for plants, when growing its better to get the "best bang for your buck" so to speak. In this case, invest a little more money, and get a better payback. But I can tell your mind is already made up, just some additional food for thought. I support you no matter what you choose, just choose wisely :p


p.s. if you do choose CFL, would you be willing to sell your HPS system, I'll take it off your hands, how many Watts is it? :)Hi mate. I am planning to keep my HPS, rather than buy another hps which would use a load more electricity and create more heat I am going to use CFL's to give some extra lighting around the edges where the HPS drops off for my next bigger grow (10 plants hopefully).

I currently have a single white widow plant in my grow room and it won't stop growing, so I am going to try a couple of cfl's around the bottom and see what sort of effect they have. Can't do any harm, and CFL's are reasonably priced so I thought I would try it out.

Cheers for your advice, its good to chat with other growers as I can't tell any one I know about my little hobby.

[seventhchild]

you have a 5' tall WW?3 weeks into flowering?and its your only plant? imho it is too tall for your 600.there is no reason to keep growing straight up. transplant sideways into a larger pot to reduce the hight or LST that monster.with your plant laid down you will not need to add CFL's, the 600 will be enough. it is also not to late to screen of green that giant.

[seventhchild]

Hi Guys,

I am looking to do a larger grow for my second attempt. I don't want another HPS bulb due to heat issues. So taking heat and cost (Which has ruled out LED's). I think the path I am going to go down is to hang some CFL's near the each corner of the grow room, to get the light above 2000 lumens thus fitting more plants in. Do you think this will work?

Thanks in advance.:rastasmoke:yes but remember light gets trapped in 90 degree angles so put some type of reflecter behind your CFL's.batwings made of white cardboard would be safe with CFL's.