Switching from 400w hps to CFL- need advice

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Cannabachus

Active Member
I currently have two plants just under 2 feet tall under, a single 400 watt hps, in a closet about 4 x 5 x 7. They are now about 3 or 4 days flowering. I intended on flowering them in there all the way through but things have changed and I have to put them into a small cab, about the size of a regular dresser, for the rest of flowering.

I figured that i should forget about putting the hps in there to save myself from combating heat issues. So my question is, would it even be a good idea to switch from a 400w hps to cfl's and how many cfl's would it take to equivalent the hps. Spectrum wise, wattage wise, low wattage cfl's or high wattage cfl's. i have to have this done by the end of the month.. please help..
 
Mr. Pacific

Mr. Pacific

Well-Known Member
If the plants are 2 feet tall before flowering, switching to CFLs doesn't really seem like an option. I'd figure something out with the 400w and wait until next go around for CFLs.
 
Tanuvan

Tanuvan

Well-Known Member
The above poster is correct. You do not want to flower really tall plants with CFL's unless you plan on positioning them all around the plants. Also, as to how many CFL's ...you need approx 4-6000 lumens per square foot for optimal flowering.
 
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sanklovich

Active Member
for a plant that tall, you are going to need alot of CFLs, or get some of the bigger 100+W ones, but still, to even try and match the HPS power, you are still going to run into heat issues
 
C

Cannabachus

Active Member
Ya I was thinking of running like 6 150watt cfl's, Im not sure what kind of heat they generate.. i wouldn't imagine more that the hps? I plan on ventilating the cab real well, i was trying to avoid having to run separate ventilation just to cool the lights.. i suppose if i built a cooltube, that wouldn't take much airflow to stay relatively cool?
 
C

Cannabachus

Active Member
Im thinking ill go with a homemade cooltube with the 400 hundred in it, with 6inch duct booster to cool that. Then i figure i will run a 4inch s&p td 100x inline fan to pull through a carbon scrubber. I hope that will keep things cool enough with minimal noise.
 
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atombomb

Well-Known Member
Wanna sell that HPS, or better yet Ill trade ya my 18 bulb 600w CFL set up for your 400 HPS With bulb and reflector
 
Greendude

Greendude

Well-Known Member
You might want to consider building a reflecter for your dresser set up with a cool tube. It would be cheaper then buying the CFLs you'll need . There will still be a heat issue with that many CFLs.
 
C

Cannabachus

Active Member
atombomb said:
Wanna sell that HPS, or better yet Ill trade ya my 18 bulb 600w CFL set up for your 400 HPS With bulb and reflector
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Sorry atombomb im not trying to sell that setup, the cfl's would only be a temporary thing, im going to keep it and build a cool tube.
 
C

Cannabachus

Active Member
Greendude said:
You might want to consider building a reflecter for your dresser set up with a cool tube. It would be cheaper then buying the CFLs you'll need . There will still be a heat issue with that many CFLs.
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Yea i think that it what ill do. I need things to be extremely quite, near silent, not sure how that will go but ill do my best.. i'm just very worried about the heat and or the noise it'll make to keep it cool.. any suggestions?
 
7th1der

7th1der

Well-Known Member
Check out my sig for a simple cheap cool tube. Your setup sounds a bit like mine. I have a 400 w HPS but had to veg with CFL's cause the fans I have are shit. Will get a better fan in a few weeks or so and then run my cab 12/12. Good Luck!
 
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newbi101

Active Member
I was also looking at changing to CFL's! So here is my situation, I have 2 rooms going 1 room is for the mothers that are in veg all the time, and the second room is my flowering room! I just got laid off from work and need to take down 1 of my hid light's (both are 400w)! The veg light is A 400w MH and was gonna take that down util I go back to work. There are 4 mothers in that room what size CFL could I go with? I have A sun system reflector that I was gonna put the lamp into! My main goal is with 1 lamp for all 4 mothers any help would be greatful!
 
del66666

del66666

Well-Known Member
Cannabachus said:
I currently have two plants just under 2 feet tall under, a single 400 watt hps, in a closet about 4 x 5 x 7. They are now about 3 or 4 days flowering. I intended on flowering them in there all the way through but things have changed and I have to put them into a small cab, about the size of a regular dresser, for the rest of flowering.

I figured that i should forget about putting the hps in there to save myself from combating heat issues. So my question is, would it even be a good idea to switch from a 400w hps to cfl's and how many cfl's would it take to equivalent the hps. Spectrum wise, wattage wise, low wattage cfl's or high wattage cfl's. i have to have this done by the end of the month.. please help..
Click to expand...
:weed:how about envirolites:weed:
 
7th1der

7th1der

Well-Known Member
Do envirolights plug into a standard light socket or is the socket big like for my 400w HPS?
 
boabbymac

boabbymac

Well-Known Member
yeah if youve got the money go with envirolites.they use e40 holder the same size as HID lighting but are self ballasted and produce basically no heat i use them and they realy are great.good luck man
 
C

Cannabachus

Active Member
7th1der said:
Check out my sig for a simple cheap cool tube. Your setup sounds a bit like mine. I have a 400 w HPS but had to veg with CFL's cause the fans I have are shit. Will get a better fan in a few weeks or so and then run my cab 12/12. Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks 7th1der, in fact i have spent a lot of time looking over your journal and I am waiting on my Pyrex Bake A Round to get here so i can build basically the same cooltube as you.. is there anything you would recomend to do different?
 
C

Cannabachus

Active Member
So obviously I've decided to go with the 400 watt cooltube for now just because i want these plants to be the best they can, so after i harvest these two ill convert my cab to a cfl or envirolights. Thanks for your input, ill be starting a construction journal on the cab real soon so ill post a link too it, i would appreciate any input as i go.
 
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