About to purchase first lighting system

[brisey]

HI All,

Well im finally going to take the plunge and go for my first grow.

Just wanted to check the lights I am going to buy from ebay with you more experienced growers out there.

400w HPS Dual Spectrum Grow Light! - Hydroponics HID! on eBay, also Hydroponics, Plants Seeds Bulbs, Garden Plants, Home Garden (end time 15-Mar-09 12:55:07 GMT)

What do you think. comments greatly welcomed.
Will cost me around £100 including p&p so want to be as sure as possible that im making the right choice.

I shall be using a cupboard measuring 3.5'L x 2.5'W x 6.5'H.
Looking to grow 4-6 plants.
Will have hole in roof that goes staight into the loft.
Also using at least 2 fans.
Other concerns are about getting enough air in and odour problems but beleive I can work these out.

So, any advice would be greatly welcomed.
Loving the forum, learnt so much, havent stopped reading for about a month now )

brisey Reviewed by brisey on 03-11-2009. About to purchase first lighting system HI All, Well im finally going to take the plunge and go for my first grow. Just wanted to check the lights I am going to buy from ebay with you more experienced growers out there. 400w HPS Dual Spectrum Grow Light! - Hydroponics HID! on eBay, also Hydroponics, Plants Seeds Bulbs, Garden Plants, Home Garden (end time 15-Mar-09 12:55:07 GMT) What do you think. comments greatly welcomed. Will cost me around £100 including p&p so want to be as sure as possible that im making the right Rating: 5

[Dutch Pimp]

400 watts is a strong light. You must keep your temps between 70-85 degrees and with a 400 watt light; about 15 inches above the canopy, the whole grow.

People report a lot of trouble with the ballasts and bulbs, they order online. You have to ask yourself, this? If this doesn't work right?..whats, involved in sending it back? There are advantages to buying locally.

Something to think about....enjoy.

[bigtopsfinn]

I say get everything at once from a reputable company, especially when ordering from online. This way you save on postage, and sometimes you can get a deal if you spend a certain amount.

This is the site where I recently ordered a fan, carbon filter, and cooltube for my 400w hps, and I am very satisfied. They have everything you need individually, but you can also buy a complete package at discount...

Udopea | Headshop | Growshop | Shishashop | Shishas | Bongs | Pfeifen | Pflanzenzucht - Minimum-Set, 400W mit Abluft und Kohlefilter Minimum-Set, 400W mit Abluft und Kohlefilter SET17

If I were you, I'd buy this and add a cooltube, and you should have no problems with the heat from the hps... (BTW- they say to put the fan before the cooltube so the fan doesn't overheat, but the fan can take up to 75C, so it CAN pull the air through the cooltube, which I found out was MUCH more efficient.)

Good luck:jointsmile:

[brisey]

Thanks for the replies. Definately things to think about.
I think part of me was wishing people would say everything was absolutely perfect ) but when is that ever the case )

Things that attracted me to this light was the price and also the fact of only using one bulb throughout the grow.
Do you feel a 250w hps would be more suitable for my situation?

Thanks also for the link, going to have a good look through that site now.

I know I have to spend money to get a succesful grow but like most people money is a wee bit tight.

all the best.

[Dutch Pimp]

250 watts works well with 2-4 flowering females...IMO

...http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...inet-grow.html

[bigtopsfinn]

The problem again with the 400 is the heat. I grew with a 400 and just a 15" axial fan blowing directly on my one plant (NOT RECOMMENDED-but it worked for me somehow), with the door open at all times when the light was on. Problem was the smell. Now I have the heat and smell under control, but I had to get the right equipment.

The 250 sounds like a better idea for you... (Not sure about the footprint and if it will reach 3.5', but it should) You will still need to have some kind of active exhaust, but shouldn't have to be anything fancy. Get the hang of that first, then you can get the 400w or 600w or 1000w package if you really get serious.

[cannakeeper]

I think Dpimp and finn have very good advice(as usual):thumbsup:, I used egay religously until I got dicked by them and Gaypal so I'll NEVER buy anything off there again. I ended up searching the net for bout 5 hrs until I found EliteHydro...they had the best price for the best eqip and shipped light speed. I bought a Lumatek digi ballast, Eclipse centif fan, cooltube and an HPS bulb for bout $400. They are in Cotati Cali but they drop-ship from distrib nearest you and they vowe to stand behind their products. This chic had the most professionalism i've ever dealt with. I am very happy with them. Depending on the temps outside your cabinet, you could prob get away with a 400. Good luck to ya.

[brisey]

Thanks all.

Ive been convinced then to lower my light to 250w, i'll try 4 plants and see how it goes. Can always take away a runt if there is one.
I'll probably start a grow log because I have found reading other peoples the most informative and hopefully i'll be able to get some advice along the way.

Would you guys be able to point me in the direction of some simple instructions for setting up an extraction. Extraction fan, tubing, cooltube, carbon filter. I dont think I have properly got into my head the way everything should be, think ive confused myself :wtf:

All the best.

[brisey]

Oh, P.s.
Dutch pimp, thanks for your help but that avatar is distracting me.

[bigtopsfinn]

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-gr...-progress.html

That goes through it pretty thoroughly...

Basically, best to always pull air through the fewest bends possible. I have mine like this: carbon filter at the top of my closet, tubing from the cf bends down and around to my cooltube (don't use duct tape around the cooltube because it can melt), tubing then from the cooltube goes out my closet and to my fan. I put some duct on the other end of the fan to dampen the noise a little.

There's a nice little formula in that thread concerning how many cfm's you need for your space and light.