Relative safety of low watt sodium bulbs

[sawhit6]

Well, as of a few weeks ago I managed to successfully grow a plant to maturity. Although it was a success, the yield was understandably low given that I am using cfl bulbs for the secrecy of it.

Given the low yield and relatively low quality, I've decided to give a low watt sodium bulb a go. Seeing as I am trying to keep stealthy, I'd like to avoid the likelyhood of being caught. So, I've been pondering the idea of using 250 watt sodium bulb, and using 4 or 5 cfl bulbs as supplemental lighting.

My question is, can a grower successfully use a 250 watt bulb without running the risk of a huge spike in my energy bill, or a sudden increase of heat signature? I just know the quality of lighting is far too closely related to the quality of bud, and I'm all about quality bud.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[JCave]

Here is what I know, I pulled this out of http://forum.grasscity.com/lighting/321592-thinking-about-using-150w-hps-dont-bother-heres-why.html

Watt for watt, anything under 250watts power consumption you should use CFL, but anything over 250-400watt HID lights is needed.

I am am in simular situation as you, I been vegging with CFLs, but my next move is to go flowering, and I am in the market for HPS lights but I too don't want to heat associated with it.

So how much bigger do you have to make the HPS lamp before it starts kicking CFL's ass in terms of power efficiency? Below you will find I have done the math for the popular sizes of High Pressure Sodium bulbs:

70w(90Watts actual)- 6000Lumen 67Lumen/Watt
100w(124Watts actual)- 9500Lumen 76Lumen/Watt
150w(199Watts actual)- 15000Lumen 76Lumen/Watt
250w(300Watts actual)- 29000Lumen 97Lumen/Watt
400w(468Watts actual)- 50000Lumen 107Lumen/Watt
600w(660Watts actual)- 90000Lumen 136Lumen/Watt
1000w(1140Watts actual)- 140000Lumen 140Lumen/Watt

As you can see, the efficiency doesn't start to get worthwhile until you get up into the 250W-400W+ range. So I guess you could argue that CFL is the obvious choice for someone who wants to stay under 250 watts...

So, are you bummed out because you think $60-$100 bucks for one of those huge 150watt cfl lights is unfair? So do I. The GOOD news is that in terms of light output per watt, the smaller CFL bulbs are more efficient than their larger counterparts. See the enclosed data below

CFL Chart
26W- 1700Lumen 65Lumen/Watt
42W- 2600Lumen 62Lumen/Watt
65W- 3400Lumen 52Lumen/Watt
85W- 4200Lumen 49Lumen/Watt
105W- 6900Lumen 66Lumen/Watt
150W- 8200Lumen 55Lumen/Watt
200W- 10000Lumen 50Lumen/Watt

 

[qwizoking]

Dude seriously get a 4-600 watt hps. And you might see a 20 dollar increase on your elec bill. No power company will notice a 600 watts. My microwave is 1200. My stereo is a 1000. The average household uses more elec than what your talking about wat hing television...... I also pull a lb out of a double stacked Rubbermaid, with homemade hood holding 24 23 watt cfls. Cost under a 100 including soil nutes lights everything......no excuses......but seriously upgrade, 600 watt apollo cool tube shipped to me for 187 on amazon comes with everything

 

[willy0405]

Hmmm 20 dollar increase for a 600watt light isn't quite right I would say. Yes the electricity company won't notice it but my 250 watt light increased my electricity bill for the quarter by about 90 dollars or so, however I had it on for 24/7 for a while whilst vegging. So you will save some money whilst on 12/12. I am quite happy with my 250w and am nearing harvest and the buds are looking quite big. But it would depend on how much you are looking to yield and also how much space you have

 

[qwizoking]

Hmm well my rates are bout .08 per kwh. A 1000 watt hps on constantly would cost about 60 a month. You must have pretty high rates where you are

 

[willy0405]

Yeah I'm in aus and The rates are quite high here. Wish I was paying .08 per kwh. Pretty sure I'm paying over .20 per kwh

 

[JCave]

Hmmm 20 dollar increase for a 600watt light isn't quite right I would say. Yes the electricity company won't notice it but my 250 watt light increased my electricity bill for the quarter by about 90 dollars or so, however I had it on for 24/7 for a while whilst vegging. So you will save some money whilst on 12/12. I am quite happy with my 250w and am nearing harvest and the buds are looking quite big. But it would depend on how much you are looking to yield and also how much space you have

How big is your grow space for that 250watt, and how much noticeable heat does it output?

I am thinking about buying a 250watt for my first HID grow, then move up to 400watt and maybe 600watt depending on how much heat they output. (My grow space is to be 2x2 or a 3x3 tent whenever I found one I like)

EDIT:

600 watt apollo cool tube shipped to me for 187 on amazon comes with everything

http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-GLK600CT24E-Digital-Dimmable/dp/B00521B894/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2Q2QAOMZVLG0Q&coliid=I1KAQOMQQNUAOA that one?
That looks like a good deal for me but its a 600watt, the ballast says its dimmable but I don;t really know what that means, does it lower its output from 100% to 75% making it no longer a 600w bulb into a ~400watt bulb less light and less heat?

 

[willy0405]

Check my thread just below this one "first ever grow fridge grow" if you're interested.

I have noticed as long as you have a decent exhaust, the heat isn't bad at all. I did however leave my exhaust fan off one night and temps got well above 40 degrees celsius and fried my plants. They did recover though

 

[sawhit6]

Thank you for the replies. I will have to look into a higher watt bulb, maybe, and see what my charges would be.

 

[qwizoking]

Yea you twist a dial and it turns the power back, some people like to veg on a lower watt or clones and what not, it does make the spectrum a little redder ..a 400 is good for 2x2 a 600 is good for 3x3...I like em, hook a fan up to the cool tube they really don't get that hot