hps ?

FATBOYFRESH

Well-Known Member
i have a ?...i have been debating on this situation...i have limited knowledge on these subjects but i will explain....should i buy a 68 watt cfl that is equal to 300 watts incandescent(that would equal to around 4080-4760 lumen) or should i purchase a 50 watt hps..im not sure if the watts are exactly as it states..(which would give me 5350 lumen)

there are pros and cons to each for my specific situation

CFL:if im not mistaken..isnt cfl's safe to use in lamps..and i could utilize the 68 watts with a simple screw in

HPS:i know the 50 watt bulb isnt too high end..but im not trying to grow a million plants right now...lol...i need something simple i cfan hang ir post..plug in the wall...i seen wiring guides and much more...is there anyways to utilize a easy 50 watt hps set up

then...is a 50 watt hps good for the lumen..and i still need 300 watts.....lol..im confused

also..i live in an all electric home...im about to change all the light to the lowest possible watts for cfl..which i believe is 2-3 watts...
so i can run my 50 watt hps or 68 watt cfl more effecient

any feedback is welcome...i need help soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

dusty26

Well-Known Member
Ok look... I personally have nothing against cfl's but.. in your case..
Why not use the 50 watt hps and a few cfls ... i'm saying for a very small 2 plant grow.. I definately wouldn't go more than 2 plants... hps will give you more output and light intensity... will penetrate your plant farther than a cfl would... which means more bud... I would place a few cfls around the side of the plant and the 50 watt hps ontop... and keep your grow space small in width x length... and have a reflective inside... incandescent means nothing when your growing marijuana ... nothing.. they are junk... only thing they are good for is growing a stretched out vine lol... and burning plants lol
 

FATBOYFRESH

Well-Known Member
which do you think would be easiest for you? There ya go you got your answer
well..the cfl would be easier..but uses more energy at 68...is there any cheap 50 watt hps set-ups that are plug and play..lol...
Will 50 watts be enuff for 1-2 plant set up
 

Boneman

Well-Known Member
Dood, I have nothing against CFL's either but you should just get a 250w MH/HPS set up from this place and be done with it. I've used flouro's and cfl's but nothing compares to the mh/hps setup. Dont even waste your money on the other stuff.
 

FATBOYFRESH

Well-Known Member
I cant swing 250 watts...i was looking for a low end soluytion..one-two plants...50 watts isnt good enough for that.....lol..i wish i could get 1000 watter..lol..but 50-70 watts...affordable
250--not so much
 

Boneman

Well-Known Member
I did a grow when I moved and didnt have much cash. I bought 2 shop lights from Lowes and 4 bulbs. Did the entire grow under them and it works. Maybe not the best results but the light fixtures cost about 20 bucks and the bulbs about the same.
 

FATBOYFRESH

Well-Known Member
i did a grow when i moved and didnt have much cash. I bought 2 shop lights from lowes and 4 bulbs. Did the entire grow under them and it works. Maybe not the best results but the light fixtures cost about 20 bucks and the bulbs about the same.
what type of lights
 

panhead

Well-Known Member
I use standard off the shelf shop lights from home depot to keep mothers & clone,the 4 ft dual light fixtures cost $8 each,i also use off the shelf cool blue natural light floro tubes in these lights & they cost $3 each for a grand total of $14 per fixture.

I use 4 fixtures with a 6 inch seperation between them for a total of 8 floro tubes & they kick ass,floros can grow some pretty good dope if your not in a super hurry.

 

GRiMCreeper

Well-Known Member
i bought a 150w hps flood light...cost me like 50 bucks or so at an electrical supplier. i had to mount it to a box and hang it by wire...but it was working good....being an electrician i had access to the box i needed for mounting so it didnt cost me anything..even still the box i used couldnt be more than 4 bucks at lowes or home depot....then i ugraded to the 400w hps...and thats working great...only regret was i didnt buy the combo light that was set up for mh and hps :s
 

panhead

Well-Known Member
does anyone know how i can get a low end hps setup..for cheap...that will be plug and play..no wiring and such
It would help if you told us what you think cheap is & how much you want to spend,the number of plants you plan on growing are irrelevant at this point,
There are only so many options that you can have,you hace cfl's as allready suggested,you have floro tube shop lights as allready suggested,then you have HPS or MH as suggested.

If you want plug & play,you camn find cheaper less wattage lights but those lights are a more specialty item,when you campare the dollar vs watt ratio you pay much more per watt running a 70 watt or even a 250 watt hps.

Most people who must have the cheapest light source they can find who start out thinking they are only going to be growing 2 plants so they donr need much lighting quickly find out they need to spend more cash,they end up with a conveluted mixture of cfl's & or small security lights trying to give the plants enough light,after about 6 weeks growing under a cobbled up mess of lights they realize they need more light,this hobby's main expense is from people trying to get off as cheap as possible,they buy the smallest & sheapest whatever,they on the next grow or in the middle of the grow end upbuying more lights or the bigger light they should have bought to start with.

This is the cheapest plug & play system you'll ever find & still retain any quality,if spending $120 on a 400 watt hps system is way out of your budget you might want to rethink even trying to grow,you'll need to buy soil,perlite,pots,reflective material/paint,odor control,fertilizer,ph test kit,ph controls ect.

If ya cant afford this light system here i'd reccomend forgetting about growing as you'll never afford the other needed supplies & end up with an utter faliure of a grow.

http://cgi.ebay.com/400-watt-HPS-GROW-LIGHT-400w-System-Hydroponic-sun-lamp_W0QQitemZ120346852510QQcmdZViewItemQQptZHydroponics_Seed_Starting?hash=item120346852510&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1308|301:1|293:1|294:50
 

FATBOYFRESH

Well-Known Member
It would help if you told us what you think cheap is & how much you want to spend,the number of plants you plan on growing are irrelevant at this point,
There are only so many options that you can have,you hace cfl's as allready suggested,you have floro tube shop lights as allready suggested,then you have HPS or MH as suggested.

If you want plug & play,you camn find cheaper less wattage lights but those lights are a more specialty item,when you campare the dollar vs watt ratio you pay much more per watt running a 70 watt or even a 250 watt hps.

Most people who must have the cheapest light source they can find who start out thinking they are only going to be growing 2 plants so they donr need much lighting quickly find out they need to spend more cash,they end up with a conveluted mixture of cfl's & or small security lights trying to give the plants enough light,after about 6 weeks growing under a cobbled up mess of lights they realize they need more light,this hobby's main expense is from people trying to get off as cheap as possible,they buy the smallest & sheapest whatever,they on the next grow or in the middle of the grow end upbuying more lights or the bigger light they should have bought to start with.

This is the cheapest plug & play system you'll ever find & still retain any quality,if spending $120 on a 400 watt hps system is way out of your budget you might want to rethink even trying to grow,you'll need to buy soil,perlite,pots,reflective material/paint,odor control,fertilizer,ph test kit,ph controls ect.

If ya cant afford this light system here i'd reccomend forgetting about growing as you'll never afford the other needed supplies & end up with an utter faliure of a grow.

http://cgi.ebay.com/400-watt-HPS-GROW-LIGHT-400w-System-Hydroponic-sun-lamp_W0QQitemZ120346852510QQcmdZViewItemQQptZHydroponics_Seed_Starting?hash=item120346852510&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1308|301:1|293:1|294:50
thanx for the info...i have seen 50 watt hps bulbs...i wonder if tht will be suffecient to grow 1-2 plants in a somewhat small space...i know about cfl's...i can buy a 68 watt cfl...and be cool..but if i can use a 50 watt hps setup..thats plug and play....it will use less energy but with more upfront money...also..wont the 50watt hps have enough lumen for the plant whioch i believe come out to 5.350 lumen...and the plant needs a minimum of 3.000 lumen.....the 68watt cfl is good because i can screw it in to a lighting fixture and go...pretty cheap and uses only 68 watts...both are good but the 50 watt hps would be more effecient on the back end..i live in an all electric home...but a concern is....is a 50watt hps kicking out enough watts....is the lumen ok but not enough watts??...and if i buy a 68watt cfl..is it gonna be good to grow a descent amount....
 

hypnotiQ

Active Member
if you're in USA here`s a 150w HPS for 20 bucks.

http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/EProductDetail.asp?ProductFamilyID=7&FGNumber=E-MT6H151G

That thing`s going to put out a bit of heat so you`re going to need some fans to exhaust the hot air around the lamp. so you put the fan blowing out of the box. Then you`re going to want to have air blowing over your plants, this will help thicken the stems and aid in cooling. It`s not necessary to have an intake air fan.

This would be ideal, but you indicated to me that CFL would be easiest so maybe that`s the right solution.

Your decision.
 
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