Growers using multiple HID lights

[SeedlessOne]

I have a question for some of you growers using multiple 1000w HID lights. If you could do it all over agian and rebuy lights- would you stick with your 1000w or switch it up to 600w?? im thinking of switching to 600's, that is why I ask. thanks for any input!!

SeedlessOne Reviewed by SeedlessOne on 01-15-2007. Growers using multiple HID lights I have a question for some of you growers using multiple 1000w HID lights. If you could do it all over agian and rebuy lights- would you stick with your 1000w or switch it up to 600w?? im thinking of switching to 600's, that is why I ask. thanks for any input!! Rating: 5

[xcrispi]

w/o having actually trying the 600's i can't honestly say .
might be nice to have 3- 600's verses 2-1000's though .
peace
crispi

[dusto2k3]

i have 1 1000 and wish i had 2 600s, maybe

[JackdaWack]

i dunno, does it matter? no. u do get more lumens per wtt on 600. the 1000wtters give u more space capacity.

[BlueBear]

I have found multiple growers getting the same results off of there 600W's as their 1K's, but with the 1K's they averaged approx a pound to 1.5 LB per 1K. I haven't found anyone pulling 2LB or more with 1 600 like I have with the 1K's. I myself have 2 1K Horti's and will probably switch out 1 if not both to 600's this summer to better control heat and reduce power consumption making for a easier to control environment IMO. I could put 3 digi 600's in there for 300000 lums and still be saving electric and equal to the 2 1K's.
Lumatek and Galaxy seem to have the best reviews from MJ growers at this point for digi's and Maryland Hydroponics carry the Lumatek for under $200 which you will find is the best price on the net.
There is also a digi 750 HPS made by Lumatek, but it is only 240V compatible and IMO still in the first stages of trial and error.
Back to the 600's though, the Lumatek Digi 600 is supposed to have with in 5% of the usable light as a traditional magnetic 1000W HPS, who knows if it's just market hype, but doesn't sound to bad to me considering that you can put them right on top of your plants without the same heat issues of the 1K's and you run only half of the electricity as a magnetic if not less and the bulbs last longer with the soft start technology as well as the higher cycling of the ballasts. One thing to remember, most digi ballasts don't run on generators because generators do not provide a constant cycle of power which the digi needs, but I came across one brand that did.
Well, hope this helps.

[santacruz_organic]

multiple 600w with digital balasts.

[Weedhound]

I use a 1k and when I bought I asked my hydro guy which would be better, multiple smaller ones vs 1k-- he said 1k and he's never steered me wrong yet. I think, like Bear says, the main difference comes out in the yield. I sure wouldn't mind trying them tho as they may give more grow space.....but not enough to buy them.

[Ingsoc]

I have found multiple growers getting the same results off of there 600W's as their 1K's, but with the 1K's they averaged approx a pound to 1.5 LB per 1K. I haven't found anyone pulling 2LB or more with 1 600 like I have with the 1K's. I myself have 2 1K Horti's and will probably switch out 1 if not both to 600's this summer to better control heat and reduce power consumption making for a easier to control environment IMO. I could put 3 digi 600's in there for 300000 lums and still be saving electric and equal to the 2 1K's.
Lumatek and Galaxy seem to have the best reviews from MJ growers at this point for digi's and Maryland Hydroponics carry the Lumatek for under $200 which you will find is the best price on the net.
There is also a digi 750 HPS made by Lumatek, but it is only 240V compatible and IMO still in the first stages of trial and error.
Back to the 600's though, the Lumatek Digi 600 is supposed to have with in 5% of the usable light as a traditional magnetic 1000W HPS, who knows if it's just market hype, but doesn't sound to bad to me considering that you can put them right on top of your plants without the same heat issues of the 1K's and you run only half of the electricity as a magnetic if not less and the bulbs last longer with the soft start technology as well as the higher cycling of the ballasts. One thing to remember, most digi ballasts don't run on generators because generators do not provide a constant cycle of power which the digi needs, but I came across one brand that did.
Well, hope this helps.

I know it's a little roundabout(and expensive), but you could probably use a power conditioner/UPS to get around this, right? You would just need one to handle the wattage necessary.

[BlueDevil]

I believe you are correct - using a digital ballast in conjunction with a Uninterruptable Power Supply (like a big honkin APC unit) is fundamentally the same as when a PC is hooked up to one. For a 1k Watt HID setup, it would have to be a good UPS though.

Makes me ponder going after some used server-room grade batteries....hrmmm