So I hooked up the HPS with ribbon, And did a test run, did a light cycle with the HPS.
I wanted to make my observations on the HPS.
Things I noted, the HPS draws more electric but not that much more than the 4Tube T5. I thought there would be more of a saving with the T5.
But on the flip side of that, I was kinda cool with it because it meant that I wouldn't have to worry about the cost of using it, in flowering.
I also observed that the HPS seemed to cast more shadows, it has to be kept higher up to avoid plant burn. I thought it would have better penetration but to the naked eye, the T5 seems to have deeper penetration and there seems to be more light with all those tubes closely packed together, I think it hits spots the HPS misses.
HPS has it's place and applications no doubt, but this T5 system is for real, I see it.
I intend to use the HPS at times during flowering. If each system has its advantages and disadvantages, I'm thinking if I use both it will be like using two coats of paint instead of one.
Two coats should get it covered.
My plan is to use the lights on alternate weeks in the first month and then may switch in month two of flowering to primarily the HPS.
Maybe HPS during the weekdays, then the T5 on the weekends, 5 days HPS and 2 days Fluorescent.
I will also need to have my ventilation/exhaust system up and running before using the HPS properly, due to the heat they create.
Week 5 will be the start of flowering.
Anyway pics of the HPS in action, it turned the inside of the tent a lovely shade of Reddy orange.
It looked like a boudoir, kinda like the duel spectrum light was seducing the plants to grow and open their buds.
Here are the pics.










For this test run I used the fan from the Carbon Filter exhaust kit, as an intake fan to bring cool air into the tent.
You can see the ducting I attached to the fan on the left side of the in tent pics.
From the experiment I know that I will need an intake and an out-take fan when I'm running my 400w HPS.
The fan I was using as an intake is a 5 inch and moves up to 280m3, much more than I should need, but nice to have. It is from the exhaust kit (I'll take some pics of the kit soon) and will be used as an exhaust with the Carbon Filter.
I will buy a 4 inch intake around 187-200m3, (the intake must be lower capacity than the out-take) within the next week in preparation for the higher temps flowering will bring.
This was a one day dummy run during week three and I then reverted back to my T5 set up, after the assessments and observations had been made.


