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John in WI
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400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions
#26945965 - 09/20/20 10:46 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I have a 400W HPS. Pretty much a bottom end unit--batwing reflector. I've been using it over the years, generally growing 4 large or 6 smaller plants at a crack. I recently inherited several extra plants, and will need to use the entire area (about 3x5'). I'm afraid the ends are not receiving enough light. (wish I had spent the extra couple bucks on a 600W :-( )
Anyway, I'm considering adding some supplemental light on the ends. It's too narrow for 4' shoplight flouros, so maybe I could get some LED grow lights (the kind that screw into standard light sockets). Alternatively, I could rotate the HPS 90 degrees, and run a pair of shop lights the long way.
What do you guys think? I have close to enough light, but I think the plants on the ends are going to struggle.
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PopaCap
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: John in WI]
#26945983 - 09/20/20 10:57 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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What’s your budget? If you don’t have much to spend, I would throw a 2 bulb 2’ T5 on each end of the HPS and call it a day.
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greenmachine78
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: John in WI]
#26946008 - 09/20/20 11:15 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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If it were me I would look for something with some UV LED in them. I love my LED lights but I bought a Black Dog Phytomax 600 for my tent. I use a Vipar Spectra in my veg and it does great.
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John in WI
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: PopaCap]
#26946016 - 09/20/20 11:20 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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That's kind of what I'm thinking. I don't want to go in a lot of money--I just grow a little bit for personal use/friends. normally, I light a 3x3 area, and that's enough. I just need about another foot on each end.
I seem to remember the trick with 4' "shop lights" was to use one warm and one cool white. Is that a good plan, or should I go with Gro-Lux tubes? Those ones with the twist, that in theory emit more light.
I could probably skip it, but if I'm going to take care of them, I'd like to maximize the yield. Thanks for the advice.
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PopaCap
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: John in WI]
#26946049 - 09/20/20 11:41 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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If you have the coin to buy a few bulbs, get bulbs with higher color temps for veg (3500K-4500k) and switch them out during flowering with something in the 2700k-3000k range. I know you’re not trying to redo your entire lighting system, but what kind of budget are we talking, if you don’t mind me asking.
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John in WI
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: PopaCap]
#26946176 - 09/20/20 01:06 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I just did a bit of window shopping at the local home improvement store. I might build a quick custom end light with 2' tubes and standard sockets for LEDs. I need to do a little math, but if I could crank up the light by 100W on either end (in the correct spectrum), it would essentially give me 600W total.
They were about to close, so I ran out of time, but it should be straight forward to wire up several sockets on a strong back. Years back I had a flourescent shop light that had 2 built in sockets for incandescents too. I wish someone still made that!
Anyway, I should be able to cobble something up fairly cheap. The sockets were just a few bucks a piece, I probably have enough LED grow lights. Then get some tubes (they had several 2700K tubes, that should be perfect). Then I can use them for cloning or vegging when this grow is over.
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PopaCap
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: John in WI]
#26946248 - 09/20/20 01:50 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Sounds like you have a solid game plan For no reason at all than to show off Mother Nature’s quality work, here’s a shot of 1 of 4 outdoor plants that make up cola city. None of them are under 9 ft tall. Good luck with your grow!!!
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John in WI
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: PopaCap]
#26946283 - 09/20/20 02:20 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Bloody hell! Those are some monsters! I' Those monotub shots are nothing to sneeze at either. I'm too far north to try anything outdoors. I did some Early Girl years back outside, but they really could have used another 2 weeks before the frost got them :-( Indoors is fun, but someday, when I buy my dream house/property, their will be a real greenhouse. Not just for cannabis, but all the veggies too.
Thanks for the advice. I think I nearly have enough light already. In a pinch, I'm sure I could do ok with it. But I'm pushing it--using a 400W where I really could use a 600W.
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PopaCap
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: John in WI]
#26946316 - 09/20/20 02:38 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Np, any time 👍🏼 If/when you ever expand, look into Kingbrite LED quantum boards from Alibaba. They use Samsung diodes and Meanwell drivers and at just over $100 a piece, they are impossible to beat. Shipping is expensive, so buy as many as you need at one time. They ship from China, but I got mine in like 4 days. https://m.alibaba.com/product/62197956712/240W-quantum-panel-KingBrite-Samsung-qb288.html?spm=a2706.8172434.mod-recommend-list-product-new.2.402948daagDghu&__detailProductImg=%2F%2Fs.alicdn.com%2F%40sc01%2Fkf%2FHTB1vyqLXAT2gK0jSZPcq6AKkpXaI.jpg_220x220.jpg_q50.jpg
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John in WI
Neo-Luddite


Registered: 12/18/13
Posts: 357
Loc: On a hippy trail head ful...
Last seen: 2 months, 3 days
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: PopaCap]
#26946551 - 09/20/20 05:05 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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If I could do it again, I would have gone LED from the start. I got my HPS and ballast I guess about 15 years ago now. Works great--can't complain--but LED technology has really gotten cheap and good since then. I'll totally look into the system. If my new career takes off, I'd have a few bucks to invest.
I do a lot of electronics as a hobby (mostly music related stuff), and work in physical chemistry. Some time ago I priced out making my own LED unit--but it's really not possible to build one as cheap and good as a commercial unit. All the issues with heat dissipation, etc. I'd love to have a couple of LED units for this exact situation, or some smaller ones devoted to vegging/cloning. I'm also heading that direction for my mushroom project. They cost a bit, but the LEDs run for a very long time!
What strains are those monotub cubes? They look beautiful!
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PopaCap
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Re: 400W HPS in a 3x5 space--supplemental light questions [Re: John in WI]
#26946627 - 09/20/20 06:05 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Why thank you, sir! From left to right those are APE, Cambodian, and Rustywhyte. With soooo many varieties of cubes, I try to work with the most unique and eye-catching. One of my favorites is this Redboy clone I’ve had for a couple years. I don’t know what it is about them, but they always just seem to glow.
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