Question for those w/ HPS experience

[hossua34]

I recently came accross an old bread locker (Subway was throwing it out) and figured it would make a great flowering box for no more than a couple plants. I'm trying to figure out what type of light I should buy...

The locker has a floor area of about 18x25" and is 55" tall. I was thinking of going for a 250w HPS mini-system, the type with an enclosed ballast. I'm wondering though, about heat becoming an issue in that small a space (although I will have fans for flow-through ventilation). How hot does a 250w compact HPS get, anyway? Anyone have one? Also, I was wondering if it's a bad move to get the enclosed-ballast system, as I notice they're always cheaper than normal HPS systems of the same wattage. There's got to be a reason for that.

I went to a garden store near my house today, but it was a piece of shit. What I'd really love is to see and feel a couple of these different lights in action, but since that doesn't seem to be an option I figured I'd turn to the boards.

hossua34 Reviewed by hossua34 on 08-03-2006. Question for those w/ HPS experience I recently came accross an old bread locker (Subway was throwing it out) and figured it would make a great flowering box for no more than a couple plants. I'm trying to figure out what type of light I should buy... The locker has a floor area of about 18x25" and is 55" tall. I was thinking of going for a 250w HPS mini-system, the type with an enclosed ballast. I'm wondering though, about heat becoming an issue in that small a space (although I will have fans for flow-through ventilation). Rating: 5

[dryst]

well i used to work at subway...and those bread holders are metal...i think which will make it extremely hard to control the heat...itll be like an oven in there...

how much was that 250w hps light u were going to buy? (just out of curiosity)

[hossua34]

I was looking at one about $175.00 online. But, I figure this box is just too small for an HPS and I'll stick with the two 75-watt floro grow tubes. They put off virtually no heat. Maybe a small halogen at the top or something.

[olympus999]

add more fluor, not halogen

cheers.

[dryst]

halogen isnt the right kind of light so its useless not to mention all the heat it gives off...

[HARDDON]

A 250W HPS bulb, if it has a fan blowing right on it and the incoming air is cool or airconditioned, you can hold the HPS bulb in your hands.

Cool air IN, hot air OUT, add a fan blowing right on the bulb and you can hold a 600W HPS in your hands.

I havent tried this with the 1,000Watter and wouldn't but yes, you can do this if your air exchange is proper...NO PROBLEMS.

You dont wanna grow with floros beyond the sprout / clone / early veg stage.

And you never wanna mess with halogens. Might as well try and grow them with a flashlight or BIC lighter.

[Dutch Pimp]

The master grower has spoken.