250W vs. 400W vs. 600W

[Pistil]

Ok. 1 to 2 plants. Which one would you use? I have heard that a 600W MH is more efficient than a 400W MH. I was told the 400W puts out 30% light and 70% heat. Is this true? Just wondering what would be best for 1 or 2 plants. I am leaning toward the 400, but seems like 250 might work too. 600W seems like overkill?

 

[Jerry68W]

I think you're right about the 600w being overkill, but it depends on the size of the plants you're going to grow too. You could spread a single plant over a 4x6ft space and use a 1kw light on it.
So we're at 1-2 plants, but what about space? Are you going to use a tent, cabinet, closet?
What kind of ventilation options do you have? The bigger the light, the more vents you'll need.

 

[Indoor Sun King]

I have a 600w....it really wasn't much more than the 400w...which isn't much more than the 250

mine will dim down to 50% or 75%, but I always run at 100%

 

[Jimmy Luffnan]

It is relative to the size of your growing area and to the maintainable climate/temperature you can provide.
If you could maintain good ventilation to your area, and 600w is your maximum, run the 600w HPS for flowering.
I use 50% strength of my MH for veg, which for you would be the 250w MH and double for flower (600w HPS for you)
The more light the better, but only if you can handle temperature effectively.
Not uncommon to see 400w per plant
The tradeoff between heat on a 400w and a 600w is minimal, but the lighting is worth the small amount of extra power used (easily compensated in extra harvest)
50% less power in MH vegging trades off light, but is compensated by spectrum keeping the nodes short and growth healthy

Cheers Jimmy.

 

[bullwinkle60]

I grow 4 plants at a time in 3 gal smart pots with 400 watt digital MH/HPS great results.

 

[Jerry68W]

I always forget about the dim option, even though I have 3 dim able ballasts and do occasionally use the feature.
My 600w dim amble lights are from Virtual Sun, I got them from Amazon for about $300/ea. They come complete with everything you need including MH and HPS bulbs, and I've been happy with mine.

If you can fit that in your space, vent it, and its in your price range, it's worth consideration IMO.

 

[Pistil]

It is relative to the size of your growing area and to the maintainable climate/temperature you can provide.
If you could maintain good ventilation to your area, and 600w is your maximum, run the 600w HPS for flowering.
I use 50% strength of my MH for veg, which for you would be the 250w MH and double for flower (600w HPS for you)
The more light the better, but only if you can handle temperature effectively.
Not uncommon to see 400w per plant
The tradeoff between heat on a 400w and a 600w is minimal, but the lighting is worth the small amount of extra power used (easily compensated in extra harvest)
50% less power in MH vegging trades off light, but is compensated by spectrum keeping the nodes short and growth healthy

Cheers Jimmy.

I have a pretty small space of 2.5' x2.5 'x 4'. I like the dim able option that I have been checking out. The reason being that if I want to conserve energy and sometimes do 1 plant, and then sometimes do more, I would have the option all in one. Jimmy are you saying it is good to power down during veg, then power up during flowering?