70 watt HPS-42 watt CFL combo?

Bud Frosty

Bud Frosty

Well-Known Member
Has anyone here ever used 70w HPS security lighting? You can get em cheap ($35) and with a little electrical knowledge they can be wired for remote mounting of the ballast.
I like to use multiple reflectors for different plant heights and think that these may make better sense than cfls as a main light source for 4 plants in a 4'x3' area. Although, I would still like to use 5-42w cfls dropped in the canopy for side lighting.
With 4 of the hps and 5 of the cfl, the total would still only be 490 watts consumed but, with an output of 40,000 lumens. All of which could be kept right up close to the plants.
Plus, I can get both the hps and cfl bulbs for $5 apiece.
Using 150cfm of airflow and remote mounting the ballasts to a steel panel outside the room, it should make a very efficient setup for 4 plants.

Whatta ya think?


 
Bud Frosty

Bud Frosty

Well-Known Member
After doing more homework on the matter, I may tweak the setup and do away with the cfls. Replacing them with a 100w hps hanging vertically in the middle of the 4 plants and running the whole setup off 1-400w ballast.
This should simplify things and still give me the up-close and personal lighting that I'm looking for. I'm gonna have to buy SO cord and mogul sockets for the 70w lights anyways, and one ballast will make the setup much cleaner.
 
greenlanter

greenlanter

Well-Known Member
yeah , sounds like u are going to grow sum budd , but dont forget the blue xpectrum is important as well . in my set u i only use cfls by choice . i do have a 150 hps but just to mention the cool white light bulbs could be place hangin low rigth next to the canopi and improve the plants life and ultimatly ur budds , remember this is just my personal xperience. 4 70w sounds like enough for 4 ladies . may be 4 floreent tubes on the side verticly hanging would improbe ur yield . good luck farmer:weed:
 
Bud Frosty

Bud Frosty

Well-Known Member
greenlanter said:
yeah , sounds like u are going to grow sum budd , but dont forget the blue xpectrum is important as well . in my set u i only use cfls by choice . i do have a 150 hps but just to mention the cool white light bulbs could be place hangin low rigth next to the canopi and improve the plants life and ultimatly ur budds , remember this is just my personal xperience. 4 70w sounds like enough for 4 ladies . may be 4 floreent tubes on the side verticly hanging would improbe ur yield . good luck farmer:weed:
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Thanks.
Maybe a 100w MH bulb hanging in the center would be more appropriate.
I used to have flouro tubes in my room until recently, the ballasts created alot of heat for the amount of light they produced.
I'm currently using all cfl's with good results.
My goal here is;
1) Streamline things while still keeping an individual reflector for each plant station.
2) Increase light intensity and efficiency.
3) Keep power consumption for lighting below 500w.
 
tom__420

tom__420

Well-Known Member
Just get a 400 watt HPS ballast and split up the power between like 4 100 watt bulbs or two 150 watt bulbs and a 100 watt bulb
 
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