newbe looking for best deal on hps

[sailfish7]

:rasta: first post. looking for a place to get hps lights (son agro). ive seen so many different prices out there any help would be apprecieated

sailfish7 Reviewed by sailfish7 on 06-05-2006. newbe looking for best deal on hps :rasta: first post. looking for a place to get hps lights (son agro). ive seen so many different prices out there any help would be apprecieated Rating: 5

[Opie Yutts]

It is my honor to be the first to welcome you. I hope your first post goes well.

I suggest a digital ballast. They are a little more money up front, but they run cooler and flicker free, take less energy, and make the bulbs last longer. Eventually the price difference is more than made up for. Or so they say, I bought one and it is much cooler and the light seems to come on easier and faster. Keeping your grow area cool is a big concern with HID lights and a cool ballast will help. I haven't measured electricity though, and I probably won't.

As far as the best deal, they are usually on the internet, often on Ebay. Go to several online hydro stores and compare prices and policies (I'd try searching "lights hydroponic"). Sorry I can't help with specific stores. I usually just end up going to the real life hydro store and spending a little more money. I get my stuff now, and it's fun to browse. Also you can use cash, if that's a concern for you. And if it is, you can be stealthy with your online purchases also. This isn't a concern for me because I have a medical permit, but I am rambling.

Of course if you are really on a budget, you may want to consider building all your stuff from scratch. If you search forums like these you will find how to build your own HID lights for much less money.

[Opie Yutts]

I don't know how much planning you've done, but be sure to drop some coin on ventalation. Like I mentioned before, HID lights run hot. You will be sorry in the future if you don't ventalate now. Also don't do like I did with regards to co2. If you are thinking of ever adding this, be sure to research it so you will know how to arrange your ventalation accordingly. (You can't have room exhuast on, while the co2 is on, but the HID light still needs to be cooled.)

[sailfish7]

hey thanks for the info. i have 4 plants now that are about 5-6 inches but i started them outside and have ben bringing them inside for extended light periods in the closet under some shitty light that doesnt seen to do a damn thing. so ive been trying to find good info on the right lights, ive read so many different ideas its mind boggling. any idea on the best solution thanks again

[Dimebonic333]

http://www.insidesun.com/index.php?a...=2&prevstart=0

copy and paste this link. 400 watter for a c-note.

[Opie Yutts]

The best solution is a cool tube. The faqs show how to make one for cheap, or you can buy a good one for about $120. If you have a 3' x 3' closet or something similar, 400 watts would be great. I used to have that but recently upgraded to 600, and started a separate veg area with the old 400. I highly recommend a setup like this because you can harvest twice as often. I was sick and tired of going through all the effort and still not having enough weed.

You'll also need a good fan like a 4" inline fan. I think good inline fans are much quieter than blowers. I use Can Fan brand becuase for the same supposed CFM, one of theirs outsucked two of the competition.

[Opie Yutts]

Some shitty light that doesn't do a damn thing will do just that. Take a little money and effort and do it right the first time with HID lights. If you choose flouros, you'll need a shitload of them to get any results, but it is possible. Nothing like HID though.

[sailfish7]

thanks dimebonic333 best deal ive seen yet

[sailfish7]

thanks opie ive heard that i can get away with a 400 hps through the entire cycle rather then a hps and a mh ???? thanks again for the info

[Opie Yutts]

That does seem like a good deal if you are on an extremely tight budget. But consider:

- It's not digital. Digital will pay for itself.
- It's not ventilated like a cool tube or enclosed hood would be. You will not be able to get it very close to your plants, so it will greatly reduce it's efficiency. With my 400W cool tube the plants can touch the glass with no harm. Since you are a newbie you probably have not researched how much intensity goes away when the light is at greater distances, but it is very important to consider. That 400W may have the same intensity as a 200W cool tube would have, when you consider how far away you will have to keep it. Just my opinion, but it happens to be right.
- I've found that you nearly always get what you pay for. What about warrantee, references, shipping, returen policies, etc.?
- Zandor, moderator of this forum and evidentally the all-being, master of time space and dimension, says that if you go cheap you'll grow cheap. I happen to agree with him.
- Non enclosed hoods can be dangerous, especially with HPS bulbs. Spray a little water on it and it may explode.