3x 400HPS Vs 2x 600HPS?

[Sir Crop Alot]

The ratings for area of covered light are as follows

 

400HPS with medium adjustashade - 1m x 1m (aprrox $175 complete kit with ballast & lamp included)

600HPS with medium adjustashade - 1.5m x 1.5m (aprrox $200 complete kit with ballast & lamp included)

 

I'm using the room for veg and flower, although I might start the veg in the wardrobe then transfer once they start to get big.

 

Nitram the adjustment refers to the ability to adjust the shade in or out

eg. close the 600HPS in from 1.5m x 1.5m coverage down to 1m x 1m coverage, it's not a height adjustment

[Pure]

think you have enough advise on the lights so I'll stick to the shade

 

 

Definalty go for the medium sized they dispurse heat far better than the others and with summer comming up the last thing you want is a whole lot of heat trapped at canopy level

[Sir Crop Alot]

Thanx Pure I was thinking the same thing

[Sir Crop Alot]

Does 3x 400watt = 1200watt?

and

Does 2x 600watt = 1200watt?

 

This works in theory I guess, but does it work in practice?

 

If so then I think I'm better off with the 3x 400HPS for a better spread of light and hopefully a little less heat.

 

Also I read a post in another thread where Eikel said he recommends that if people are buying two lights, they should buy 1x HPS and 1x MH.

 

In my situation if I was to run 3 lights, would I be better having a 1x HPS / 1x MH / 1x HPS so I get a better light spectrum?

 

Thanx for all your help and comments people :thumbsup (please forgive the newbieness of my questions )

[Tom]

I'm using the room for veg and flower

Then go for the globes designed for that purpose, Son-T, Lucagrow, etc.

 

Here's some information from Hydro Shop.

 

At Hydro Shop we stock a variety of excellent lamps suitable for plant growth. The most popular lamps are :

400 watt Agro Master AGRO400, Agro Master 400W HPS -lamp

400 Watt HPS Son T Agro, Lucagrow and Sunmaster

600 Watt HPS Lucagrow, Son T, Sonic and Sunmaster.

1000 watt HPS Lucagrow

1000 and 1100 Sunmaster Dual Spectrum Metal Halide What are the Differences between them? Metal Halide Metal Halide lamps emit primarily in the blue/violet end of the spectrum. This coloured light is essential for lush vegetative growth. Blue/Violet light promotes photosynthesis and encourages the plant to grow, encourages branching and increases foliage development. If a Metal Halide lamp is used during the grow cycle yield and quality will be increased by approximately 30% by using HPS in the bloom cycle. Recently SUNMASTER have released a dual spectrum Metal Halide lamp. Metal Halide lamps replicate bright, summer light and now also come in dual spectrum variteies ie you can grow and bloom with the same lamp. High Pressure Sodium High Pressure Sodium lamps emit primarily in the orange/red end of the spectrum. This coloured light enhances the flowering stage of a plants growth. Orange/red light combined with correct timing triggers a hormonal response in the plant to set flowers. High Pressure Sodium light is most effective for the flowering stage of growth however again the latest technology lamps emit dual spectrum and now these lamps can be used for growing and blooming. High Pressure Sodium lamps replicate soft, autumn light. Dual Spectrum Dual Spectrum lamps are specifically designed for all stages of plant growth. The Son T Agro, Sunmaster and Lucagrow are all High Pressure Sodium lamps and they emit varying degrees of Blue Light & Red light. All lamps emit both the blue (grow) spectrum and in the red (flowering) spectrum. This makes them more effective than just single spectrum Metal Halide or HPS and eliminates the need to change lamps for the grow or bloom stages of growth. Where do you get these lamps? At the Hydroshop of course! At the Hydroshop we stock an up-to date range of the latest lamps and our staff are trained to answer all your questions. We love showing off our extensive range of high quality H.I.D. lights. For detailed information about growing under HID Lights refer to our Artificial Lighting Information Sheet. About Artificial Lighting by Hydroshop or for help choosing an HID lamp - Choosing an HID Lamp by Team Hydroshop

[Sir Crop Alot]

Thanx Tom, it comes with a 423W Phillips Son T Agro Agriculture grow lamp in the kit

[Guest Eikel]

Hey SCA, I was gonna respond earlier but I was afraid I might offend or put noses out of joint.

 

Does 3x 400watt = 1200watt?

and

Does 2x 600watt = 1200watt?

 

This works in theory I guess, but does it work in practice?

 

Yes, but at lower intensity.

If you want to understand wavelengths and frequencies of the EM spectrum (which includes the visible and invisible light spectrums), this is a great resource:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EM_spectrum

 

If so then I think I'm better off with the 3x 400HPS for a better spread of light and hopefully a little less heat.

 

Also I read a post in another thread where Eikel said he recommends that if people are buying two lights, they should buy 1x HPS and 1x MH.

 

In my situation if I was to run 3 lights, would I be better having a 1x HPS / 1x MH / 1x HPS so I get a better light spectrum?

 

You already know my answer - yes.... do some research on plant biological processes (photosynthesis, osmosis, etc etc..) and you will understand why I believe this to be the best setup for personal growers (i.e. where quality over quantity matters).

 

You will be buying "Horticultural" globes for the lights yes? (see Tom's post above), if so I reccommend the Sunmaster "Warm Deluxe" bulb - best all round MH I've seen (and read about) so far.... at the 400w mark SunMaster beats Phillips (Son-T), but if you go up to 600w the Son-T's are superior value.

 

When running the lights - use both for veg and flower, and every week (or fortnight), rotate the MH bulb from one shade to another - I only run a 400w MH and 600w HPS currently so I alternate their positions fortnightly.

 

Thanx for all your help and comments people  :thumbsup (please forgive the newbieness of my questions  )

 

No problems mate - we all asked the same questions at one stage

[Sir Crop Alot]

Thanx Eikel!

[Sir Crop Alot]

Anyone know how many amps a 400HPS and a 400MH draw?

[Guest Eikel]

Anyone know how many amps a 400HPS and a 400MH draw?

 

Not exactly, but less than 10 definately.

 

You can easily run 2x 600w or 3 x 400w lights of a single 10a circuit (I run my lights offa a single power-board).