250w ballast OR 400w dimmable ballast

Decs

Decs

Well-Known Member
for my situation its simple, i have a 32x32 tent, upgrading my lights next week
and i was set on buying a 250w hps but someone said to buy a 400w with a dimmable ballast.

my question is... does anyone ever dim their 400w ballast down to 50% when their vegging
and turn it back up to 100% when their flowering?

is it efficient?

i would love 400w to flower with but i dont want 400w running 18/6 for veg, i would rather have half that to save electric costs.

ALSO, how bad would the heat from a 400w be if i keep the ballast outside the tent? it has a simple wing reflector.

thanks in advance for the help

-Decs
 
Jeep4x44life

Jeep4x44life

Active Member
I run a 600 watt dimable light in my 3' x 3'. I used the dimmer to control the heat on hot days but have since gotten a cool tube and inline fans so heat is no longer a factor. IMO I wouldnt get anything less than a 600 watt. The increase in flowers will easily make up for the 30-50 dollar difference in your power bill. Hit me up if you have anymore ?'s and goodluck!
 
Oo S0uP oO

Oo S0uP oO

Active Member
I run 1k in that space meh...200w/sqft (course I run lots of cfm) but anything is possible! I would go with a dimmable 1k could run at 50% if needed. Gonna need an 8" exhaust and reducers though :) -S0uP
 
Xrangex

Xrangex

Well-Known Member
Decs said:
for my situation its simple, i have a 32x32 tent, upgrading my lights next week
and i was set on buying a 250w hps but someone said to buy a 400w with a dimmable ballast.

my question is... does anyone ever dim their 400w ballast down to 50% when their vegging
and turn it back up to 100% when their flowering?

is it efficient?

i would love 400w to flower with but i dont want 400w running 18/6 for veg, i would rather have half that to save electric costs.

ALSO, how bad would the heat from a 400w be if i keep the ballast outside the tent? it has a simple wing reflector.

thanks in advance for the help

-Decs
Click to expand...

If you got the cash for a 400w dimmable then go for it man, it can get pretty hot in a open wing reflector but it's (obviously) much better for flowering.. You'd be happy with a 250w if it's your first hps, but if you plan on upgrading, might as well skip a step.

Goodluck either way!
 
Decs

Decs

Well-Known Member
Xrangex said:
If you got the cash for a 400w dimmable then go for it man, it can get pretty hot in a open wing reflector but it's (obviously) much better for flowering.. You'd be happy with a 250w if it's your first hps, but if you plan on upgrading, might as well skip a step.

Goodluck either way!
Click to expand...

right now im running a 150w hps + a 125w cfl (6400k)

this is intended as an upgrade, and the 250w hps is $109, the 400w hps is $114 (comes with dimmable ballast)
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
What fans are you currently using to exhaust?

If you go with 400w you need to make sure you can control the heat.

I use a good 6" inline fan and filter combo with my 400w on a temperature sensored fan speed controller.

It automatically reduces speed during winter and increaes it during summer dependant upon the temp I set.

My fan is around 300CFM.



J
 
Decs

Decs

Well-Known Member
jondamon said:
What fans are you currently using to exhaust?

If you go with 400w you need to make sure you can control the heat.

I use a good 6" inline fan and filter combo with my 400w on a temperature sensored fan speed controller.

It automatically reduces speed during winter and increaes it during summer dependant upon the temp I set.

My fan is around 300CFM.



J
Click to expand...


right now im using two 4" booster fans, both are rated 80 CFM... but im experimenting with passive intake as well.

but as i said i would be turning the 400w down to 50% power to veg
 
redeye jedi88

redeye jedi88

Active Member
running a 250w bulb on 18/6 cost's the same as running a 400w bulb 12/12, the settings on my dimmable ballast is 250,250 super lumen.400,400super lumen, so i run the 250 in veg then swap bulbs and run the 400 for flower for the same cost of electricity
 
Decs

Decs

Well-Known Member
redeye jedi88 said:
running a 250w bulb on 18/6 cost's the same as running a 400w bulb 12/12, the settings on my dimmable ballast is 250,250 super lumen.400,400super lumen, so i run the 250 in veg then swap bulbs and run the 400 for flower for the same cost of electricity
Click to expand...
so in other words, using a 400w dimmable on half power for veg and running it on full power for flowering should cost the same for veg as it does for flower? if its on half power for 18/6 and full power for 12/12?

correct?
 
Decs

Decs

Well-Known Member
btw, sorry everyone if im buggin lol... just trying to make this upgrade COUNT :) so im digging up all the info i can get on what im buying
 
redeye jedi88

redeye jedi88

Active Member
should do but your dimmable ballast is in % right? mine aint and when i run my ballast on 250 i use a 250 bulb when i run it 400 i use a 400 bulb this way costs the same
 
Decs

Decs

Well-Known Member
yeah it has 50% - 75% - 100% power settings... so i could dim it to 200w, 300w, or 400w
 
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