MH and HPS lights, expensive electric bill

[Tupamaro]

I know lot of the people who have grown and have told me that there electric bill went up, of course because of the high watt of the MH and HPS lights. that's why i was thinking it be better for me to get flourescent lights, yet everyone on this board seems to say that it's worth it and you'll make your money back. and i was just wonder maybe you guys have some specail way, or special HID lights that use very less electricity. just very confused and wondering, thanks very much.

Tupamaro Reviewed by Tupamaro on 08-20-2006. MH and HPS lights, expensive electric bill I know lot of the people who have grown and have told me that there electric bill went up, of course because of the high watt of the MH and HPS lights. that's why i was thinking it be better for me to get flourescent lights, yet everyone on this board seems to say that it's worth it and you'll make your money back. and i was just wonder maybe you guys have some specail way, or special HID lights that use very less electricity. just very confused and wondering, thanks very much. Rating: 5

[the image reaper]

a 400-watt HPS light draws the same, or less, than a good color TV ... no big deal ... my lights, fans, etc., raise my electric bill $22/month ... :smokin:

[graph]

1000 watt HPS at 11 cents per kilowatt works out to about 20-30 bucks. I used to do the math, I'm getting lazier.

Hey, think about what you would yield at 1000 watts, and you won't give a second thought to the electric bill.

[hoodrider]

Just replace all your other lamps in the home with CFL's and turn of lights when you don't need them. Try to save as much energy as possible and a 150-250 watt light will make no change in energy use.

[Tupamaro]

alright,thanks a lot. where can i get an hps light. mostly on internet or can i get it at like home depot or somthing? also what is a good wattage range for 3 plants?

[Tupamaro]

also the HPS is for veg and MH for flowering, correct?

[MegaOctane12]

You have to keep in mind the quality of the light your buying. One type of HPS can require ALOT more electricty than an HPS bought at another store of the same wattage. You have to take into consideration the ballast, some give off more heat, some are deliberately designed to be cheaper running. Most people already know all this.

[Tupamaro]

well sorry i don't know that. is there any way to know which ones will be more cheaper running?

[MegaOctane12]

You have to read around alot on what are the most cost effective lighting systems. Expensive lights arn't always the most efficient because generally, the more powerful systems are bought by commercial growers who don't really have much concern over whether the light or ballast will be too loud or too hot, for example, because their dealing on an industrial scale, they'll have a big fuck off ventilation setup which will just 'take care of it'. Its different for a small hobby grower where these concerns are paramount. If I was you I would find the most talked about grow shop, or most commercially known grow shop and review what they have in relation to other websites and the thousands of ebay dealers. I've seen lights, well priced that offer 25% reduction on energy requirment whilst offering an increase in light output for a fraction of what just one HPS would cost at the very best quality. Check out Cannatronics, they specialise in low cost, high output, cheaper running lighting systems.

[Tupamaro]

alright, thanks a lot man. also is it the HPS or the MH that is better for flowering?