Does anybody use 600 watt hps in a 3x3?

[chronnie49]

I have a 1000 in a 4x4 just, no reason you couldn’t run a 600 in a 3x3 especially if it’s cold, worst case scenario and it gets to hot you dim it back to 400 or increase exhaust speed maybe get one of those co2 shaker cans in the tents room to help your plants handle it if needed.

Thanks for your input. I can definitely turn the fan up since its only running at 40% right now but the ballast is old school magnetic I bought a few years ago so its not dimmable.

 

[myke]

600 in a 30x30 worked well,nice and warm.I cut the floor of the tent and added 20" of height.

 

[chronnie49]

600 in a 30x30 worked well,nice and warm.I cut the floor of the tent and added 20" of height.View attachment 5055858

Nice. What kind of hood are you using and whats the ambient temp?

 

[myke]

Nice. What kind of hood are you using and whats the ambient temp?

One with glass but it’s been removed. This tent was beside my grow room so the heat got sucked out from there. 80-85f was the norm. Was during the winter so cold in that room.

 

[Lenin1917]

You really should pick up a cheap modern ballast, you can find em $80-$100 pretty much anywhere cheaper if you used on eBay or something. Shit I picked up 3 1000w phantom 2 ballasts up for $50/ea less than a year ago.

 

[Porky1982]

Nice. What kind of hood are you using and whats the ambient temp?

Buy a greenhouse bar heater. 100w and put it on the floor some have heat adjustment dials. I got mine for $100 had it for 2 years now.

 

[chronnie49]

You really should pick up a cheap modern ballast, you can find em $80-$100 pretty much anywhere cheaper if you used on eBay or something. Shit I picked up 3 1000w phantom 2 ballasts up for $50/ea less than a year ago.

I used to have a digital ballast but I stopped growing for a while and sold everything.

I don't live in America anymore and weed is illegal where I live now so I bought a magnetic because i read a few stories about RF interference affecting the neighbors cable or internet and got paranoid. I know its rare but I cant take the risk of getting caught over something like that.

I haven't used hps for quite a while and dont plan on using it again after this run so I don't want to spend the cash. My cmh ballast is digital but its high frequency so RF interference isn't an issue.

 

[Gemtree]

I just ran a 315 in a 3x3 and it was 82 the whole time

 

[chronnie49]

Buy a greenhouse bar heater. 100w and put it on the floor some have heat adjustment dials. I got mine for $100 had it for 2 years now.

I was thinking about that but I would rather have the extra 100 watts produce light as well as heat.

 

[chronnie49]

I just ran a 315 in a 3x3 and it was 82 the whole time

Nice. You must have higher ambient temps than me.

 

[UpstateRecGrower]

I'm just too lazy to switch my 600w in LED's for my 1000w HPS since I gotta move after this grow in March. 4x4 tent.
Dont wanna do all the work for 60 days in flower to pack it all up. Again. lol.

You're 600 isnt overkill imo, I wanna see these nugs in a few weeks! Happy growin bro

Agreed, 600 isn't overkill.

 

[Star Dog]

Thanks for your input. I can definitely turn the fan up since its only running at 40% right now but the ballast is old school magnetic I bought a few years ago so its not dimmable.

You can buy a dimmable ballasts + reflector and bulb for £60.

 

[Markshomegrown]

What were your ambient temps and were you using an air cooled hood?

I'm really hoping I dont have to get an air cooled hood since I dont plan on using hps after this. Last winter I was in a 5x5 with led and cmh but decided to get a 3x3 and 2.5x2.5 so I could get a perpetual grow going.

I used all the space for the plants and light, cut a hole, and used an 8"rvk fan and filter, so the air was forced into the filter(outside of the cupboard) and pulled the air under the doors into the cupboard, no air-cooled hood or extra fans needed.
There was no problems with heat, well under 30c

 

[jimihendrix1]

600w HPS is made for a 3 x 3 area. Its only 4 more watt sq/ft than a 1000w is in a 4 x 4, and a 1000w HPS is made for a 4 x 4 area.

I would use a Hortilux HPS bulb though.

 

[Markshomegrown]

600w HPS is made for a 3 x 3 area. Its only 4 more watt sq/ft than a 1000w is in a 4 x 4, and a 1000w HPS is made for a 4 x 4 area.

I would use a Hortilux HPS bulb though.

3 x 3 = 9ft2
4 x 4 = 16ft2
but 600w HPS do work really well in a 3ft x 3ft

 

[jimihendrix1]

3 x 3 = 9ft2
4 x 4 = 16ft2
but 600w HPS do work really well in a 3ft x 3ft

Yes a 600w in a 3 x 3 = 66.6w Sq/Ft.

A 1000w in a 4 x 4 = 62.5w Sq/ft.

1000w has always been the standard in a 4 x 4. So a 600w in a 3 x 3 is slightly more powerful than a 1000w HID in a 4 x 4 area.

 

[chronnie49]

You can buy a dimmable ballasts + reflector and bulb for £60.

I don't usually use hps anymore. I might have to just for this run but I doubt I will use it again in the future.

I also wouldn't trust equipment that is so cheap.

 

[chronnie49]

Well I solved the problem without the hps.

I don't have a fan for the veg tent yet since it was originally going to be for drying. I attached some ducting to both tents so the fan in the 3x3 pulls the warm air from from veg with the cmh into the flower tent with the led. Temps went from 70 to 79 with a leaf surface temp of 76 so It's looking good now.

This will also help when I flip to 12/12 in week. I'll run the veg tent 20/4 so I wont have to use a heater during lights off in the 3x3.

 

[ilovetoskiatalta]

Yea i figure its a little overkill but if i can keep it below 80 i think I should be ok.

Guess Ill pack up the led's until spring.

Is your ballast dimmable ?

 

[hotrodharley]

Thanks for your input. I can definitely turn the fan up since its only running at 40% right now but the ballast is old school magnetic I bought a few years ago so its not dimmable.

Is the ballast well away from the tent? Heck yes run a 600 and just use enough fan to move the air. Nothing wrong with magnetic ballasts.