2x400w versus 1x1000w

onkulas

onkulas

Active Member
i have 1 400w for my first grow now, in a 4x4 tent and i would like to upgrade it for the next run

talking only from a light eficiency point of view:
what is the best choice to make? 2x400 or 1x1000?

the 1000w has the advantage of power of penetration
the 2x400 would give me the advantage of footprint

and, what i really didn't find an answer to is this:

is the power of penetration of a 400 still weaker no matter how many of them i have? for example, 3x400w will they still not compare to the power of a 1000w? in terms of "quality" of light, penetration of canopy etc.

because if they are the same, just different watts, i would go for the 2x400w for the footprint advantage. and i think they will get less hot than a 1000w

thank you!!
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Well, it all depends on your space. If you have good ventilation and beat won't be a problem, I'd get 2 400w. It'll be more heat than a 1000w, but you'd get better ppfd
 
onkulas

onkulas

Active Member
Airwalker16 said:
Well, it all depends on your space. If you have good ventilation and beat won't be a problem, I'd get 2 400w. It'll be more heat than a 1000w, but you'd get better ppfd
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thanks!!
from what i read i thought a 1000w will be hotter than 2x400w... so, being 2 sources of heat will make it hotter than one, even if they will have less watts together?
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
onkulas said:
thanks!!
from what i read i thought a 1000w will be hotter than 2x400w... so, being 2 sources of heat will make it hotter than one, even if they will have less watts together?
Click to expand...
Ive never used hps but that's just what I would think. But who knows.
 
onkulas

onkulas

Active Member
vostok said:
2x 400w any-day you can work on the Dutch lean method and save cash when its too hot
Click to expand...
thanks!!!
so, for example: 1x1000w kept at a normal distance, like 60cm away, will not be more powerful and better quality light for growing buds than 2x400w at 25cm distance? because this is my only concern. if the light is the same, then of course i will be so happy to chose the 2x400w because of the much better coverage and much cheaper price
that is why i asked it that way: from a light quality point of view" because i don't have a great exhaust and all but i know i will have to upgrade it, but, comparing only the quality of the two lights:
is the quality of the 1000w better for growing bigger buds? no matter how many 400w i will gather, they will still give me smaller buds than 1x1000w?
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
It all depends on the space. 1000w can be too much in say a 3x3. But in a 4x8 a 1000 w wouldn't be as effective as 2 400-600w.
 
Gquebed

Gquebed

Well-Known Member
If youre air cooling your hoods then fitting 2x 400 is going to be tight in a 4x4. I used a 5x5 and fitting two air cooled hoods in it was so problematic i gave up and built a bigger space...
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
1K watt with an air cooled hood and adequate ventilation & your 4x4 will rock! The footprint in a 4x4 is perfect for 1K watt HPS (with proper height limit & minimum factored in of course).
 
cat of curiosity

cat of curiosity

Well-Known Member
considering your outcome of one 1kw will be twice what two 400w's can do, it should be self explanatory. less heat, better penetration, higher concentration, and all around better product. as for the 60 cm thing, my plants are about 4'' below the glass of a 1kw aircooled hood. bleaching? burning? hahaha..... nope. i've had plants wrap around a cool tube with a 1kw with no burns.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Nonononononono!!!!!!!!!

315W CMH lights x 2 and that tent will RAWK, with less heat and a lower power bill to boot. Less stretch, less dreads, less AC, more frost, better flavor, harder nugs. Any questions?!

I'm sorry, but single ended HPS of any wattage is obsolete and should no longer be used in horticulture.

That streetlight outside? My city is replacing HPS with COB LED, too.

'Hint, hint' Maybe the fucking things are outdated?
 
cat of curiosity

cat of curiosity

Well-Known Member
ttystikk said:
Nonononononono!!!!!!!!!

315W CMH lights x 2 and that tent will RAWK, with less heat and a lower power bill to boot. Less stretch, less dreads, less AC, more frost, better flavor, harder nugs. Any questions?!

I'm sorry, but single ended HPS of any wattage is obsolete and should no longer be used in horticulture.

That streetlight outside? My city is replacing HPS with COB LED, too.

'Hint, hint' Maybe the fucking things are outdated?
Click to expand...
maybe, but they sure do work, esp if you're growing enormous plants indoors...
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
HydroRed said:
1K watt with an air cooled hood and adequate ventilation & your 4x4 will rock! The footprint in a 4x4 is perfect for 1K watt HPS (with proper height limit & minimum factored in of course).
Click to expand...
It's still an obsolete light source. He'll get better results with less watts using 2 x 315W CMH lights.

@TheChemist77 has done the head to head runs and proved it, at least to my satisfaction.

If the OP is dead set on running just one lamp, find a low frequency square wave thousand watt ballast and run a Philips 860W CDM Allstart lamp on it. Badass made one, as did Hortilux. Both are now discontinued.

@Revolution Micro has a compliant ballast, I'm trying to talk their engineer into offering a unit with plugs for fixtures, as opposed to the one piece DE only unit they're making now.

You want lighting answers, ask an expert. Guys with streetlights in their closet tent are not lighting experts, by and large.
 
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