would this be a good light setup for a C13

[stewie420]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

i found this 400 watt switchable system that comes with
both bulbs... there was a cheaper one, but the ballast
wasnt UL listed for safety... and with this kit both bulbs
are agromax.

i have a 150 watt HPS right now and a bunch of cool tube
flourescents...

is the price about right 270$ shipped?

i plan to get it when i get paid, but wanted some opinions first.

thanks.

stewie420 Reviewed by stewie420 on 08-23-2005. would this be a good light setup for a C13 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4355168007&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1 i found this 400 watt switchable system that comes with both bulbs... there was a cheaper one, but the ballast wasnt UL listed for safety... and with this kit both bulbs are agromax. i have a 150 watt HPS right now and a bunch of cool tube flourescents... Rating: 5

[Zandor]

There is no chance of installing glass insulators for heat. The problem with HID lights is the heat; you need to have an aircooled hood with glass as an insulator.

I like cool tubes with a vortex blower to keep the air moving. If you want to use HID lights in a C-13 cabinet you can either use AC or you can use aircooled hoods to keep the temperature down.

[stewie420]

would i be better off with CFL's??? whats the best place to get
them and the sockets? which spectrum do i need?

thanks.

[Zandor]

http://www.discount-hydro.com/GardenLightFluor.asp

The DH 125w Economy Compact Fluorescent Fixture & bulbs.
Warm bulbs are (2700k) are best for general growth and flowering. Cool bulbs (6500k) are best for seedling, cloning and vegetative growth

You can use 400w HPS, I do but I also run AC and air cooled hoods too.

With air cooled hoods (you will spend more money) and good air flow air in and air out as well as a good fan for air movement you can run 400w HPS lights. I don't want you to think you can't use HID lights in C-13 cabinets because you can.

[stewie420]

http://www.discount-hydro.com/GardenLightFluor.asp

The DH 125w Economy Compact Fluorescent Fixture & bulbs.
Warm bulbs are (2700k) are best for general growth and flowering. Cool bulbs (6500k) are best for seedling, cloning and vegetative growth

You can use 400w HPS, I do but I also run AC and air cooled hoods too.

With air cooled hoods (you will spend more money) and good air flow air in and air out as well as a good fan for air movement you can run 400w HPS lights. I don't want you to think you can't use HID lights in C-13 cabinets because you can.

thanks for the link zandor... i run a 150 mini floralux right now and
my cabinet is not even 80 degrees most of the time... i have a series
of holes cut out of the back of the cabinet where i have fans running
on the lamp all the time that its on... the fans are mounted outside
the cabinet and bring in the new air from the outside...

ive got one plant flowering now and in over a week i dont have anything
that looks like a bud... just lots of pistols... i figure the 150 HPS and all
my cool tubes may not be the best setup for getting good buds out of
my cabinet...

would the 400 watts HPS be A LOT hotter in the cabinet? i know its
over double the power, but how does the heat ramp up? would i
be smarter to maybe just "add" like a 250 watt HPS to my current
150???

[Zandor]

no the light penetration of a 150w is way less then the 250w. In a cabinet you mostly light from the top down so you would need to stagger the lights to make the penetration factor the same.

400w is great you just need air cooled hoods to vent out the heat.

I assume odor is not an issue with you then?

[stewie420]

odor hasnt been too much of an issue. the gear is all in my
basement and weve got air fresheners coming up the stairs...
plus the cat box is down there too so it smells like all kinds of
sh1t anyways...

i stopped at my local harvest moon and talked to them, they have
a 400 watt setup that comes with both bulbs and is esentially the
same light i have now on steroids... ive got a mini floralux right
now which is white with the ballast built in and the glass shield
like you said... the 400 watt version is 299.99 ? is that an "ok"
price???

i may be going out on a limb, but would a 600 watt setup just
be overkill for my situation??? which is basically 4-6 plants
in a C13...

thanks.

[Zandor]

A 600w is great but again you must have an air cooled hood and a good blower to move cool air in and hot air out quickly. I assume you have Mylar on the walls of your C-13 too?

[stewie420]

A 600w is great but again you must have an air cooled hood and a good blower to move cool air in and hot air out quickly. I assume you have Mylar on the walls of your C-13 too?

yes, there is mylar on everything but the ceiling. would the 600
be WAY hotter than the 400? also what should i expect to pay for
a 600?

[69NovAss]

Hey stewie, I wouldn't try to run a 600watter in a C-13
cabinet, they're too high maintainence for the C-13.
The 400 watter is the perfect HID for the C-13. It'll
give you 50++watts/sqF. Which you'll love.

Zandor is right about the cooling method. An aircooled
hood with glass shield is a must for the 400watt sorry.
The vortex power fans are great for this situation, I meyslef don't have one yet,
but soon will.
Right now I"m running a 265cfm hydrofarm blower which works
great. Now my cab only runs with a 250watt hps, yet I"ve heard
it can keep it cool with the 400watt as well .

What I would do if I were you, is look into a vortex somwhere
in the range of 200cfm, not only can you keep your whole cab
cool with that bad boy, includes venting your light, but it requires
about half the power a dyton or hydrofarm blower does.
To give you an idea, my hydrofarm blower requires 250watts of power.
A 200cfm vortex requires around 175watts of power. HUGE difference
when it comes to the total project consumption of electricity
Good luck and great choice with your choice in a cabinet.

Two yeilds out of that cabinet got me 1/2 pound, with a 250watt hps.
peace.