3x 400HPS Vs 2x 600HPS?

[WantDaChronic]

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

 

my 400s draw 2.8amps each so i imagine 200watts draws 1.4amps, based on that, 600s should be about 4.2amps each

[Sir Crop Alot]

Geeze thats bugger all! I was expecting to have to upgrade my wiring to the garage when I start my indoor grow

[Sir Crop Alot]

What amperage is the standard wiring from the fuse box to a power point? 10A?

 

Is there some sort of overload protected/safety switch power board I can buy, or individual overload protected/safety switches if that makes sence? :scratchin

[postman]

10 amp is the normal but the stove and hot water wiring is 15 amp.

[Sir Crop Alot]

Well I'm finally starting my growroom this weekend and still cant make a decision on lights.

 

I can now confirm the room will be 3m wide x 3m deep x 2m-2.2m high

 

I'll be growing 9 large plants in there (approx 5-6 foot) which means they'll all equally sit in their own sapce of 1m x 1m

 

The following 2 pics display what I believe my 2 best options are, I already have 1x 400HPS which I was going to use a conversion lamp in. I'm worried that 4x 600W will be an overkill, maybe I should use the same plan but with 2x 400HPS and 2x 400MH (conversion)?

 

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c339/Cultivator/4x600W.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c339/Cultivator/2HPS1MH.jpg

 

 

 

Thoughts? Comments?

Edited January 6, 2006 by Sir Crop Alot

[Guest Eikel]

The following 2 pics display what I believe my 2 best options are, I already have 1x 400HPS which I was going to use a conversion lamp in. I'm worried that 4x 600W will be an overkill, maybe I should use the same plan but with 2x 400HPS and 2x 400MH (conversion)?

 

Do you already have 4 x 400w HPS or 4 x 600w HPS ballasts? If not, why do you want to use a conversion bulb?

 

Personally I like your idea of the 3 lights in a row with 2 x 400wHPS and 1 x 400wMH. Rather than having fixed positions I like to rotate the positions of the bulbs so each area gets at least 5 weeks under the MH (assuming a 16 week grow cycle).

 

But this is all moot really, the reccommended lighting/square foot is 50w (think mine is around 46w/sqft)... So then, based on your grow area...

 

3m x 3.28 = 9.84ft

 

9.84 x 9.84 = 96.82sqft

 

So at 97 square feet x 50 watts, you need 4850watts, 400w ain't gonna cut it mate

 

You need to squeeze things in a bit more to the footprint of your light.

[Sir Crop Alot]

I have 1x 400HPS at the moment, just thought it would be easier getting all HPS gear but I could easily just buy another HPS kit and 1x MH kit. The 3 light option was actually 2x600HPS + 1x 400MH.

 

But by the sounds of it maybe 2x 600HPS and 2x 600MH is the best option and rotate the plant.

 

Or make the room smaller I guess.

 

Other reason I thought to get conversion lamps was so I could swap globes easy without having to swap ballasts for rotation.

Edited January 6, 2006 by Sir Crop Alot

[Guest Eikel]

I have 1x 400HPS at the moment, just thought it would be easier getting all HPS gear but I could easily just buy another HPS kit and 1x MH kit. The 3 light option was actually 2x600HPS + 1x 400MH.

 

That's what you'll be after, 2 x 600w HPS and 1 x 400wMH - get a normal MH ballast and the SunMaster Warm MH bulb - it's the best MH on the market currently, good for both veg an flower.

 

But by the sounds of it maybe 2x 600HPS and 2x 600MH is the best option and rotate the plant.

 

Or make the room smaller I guess.

 

Other reason I thought to get conversion lamps was so I could swap globes easy without having to swap ballasts for rotation.

 

Well, make the room around 2m x 2m and that lighting will be a bit better for you.

 

Either that, or sell your 400wHPS and get 2 x 1000w Hortilux HPS lights and 1 x 1000w Sunmaster Warm or Natural MH light.

 

This table on OverGrow has some great details on the technical specs of lights and their various ratings. http://www.overgrow.com/growfaq/945

 

Good luck - I'd love to see a 3kw grow with the bulbs I mentioned, that would be something special! (Although expensive on electricity heh).

 

[Sir Crop Alot]

Thanx for the advice Eikel :thumbsup I'll give the 1000W a miss though, not to keen on them

 

So was the 4x 600W an overkill? (2x 600HPS, 2x 600MH)

 

I really don't want to stuff this part up, I hate buying shit 3 times when I could buy the right stuff at the start

Edited January 6, 2006 by Sir Crop Alot

[Nath]

If u get son-t-agro globes, that would be 3x430w = 1290w, covering a larger area, but producing way more inferior quality buds. I went from 430w - 600w, and there is no looking back. Stuff the heat, get a bigger fan, or get an oscillating fan for $20 and aim it right at the light on full.. good way to disperse heat.

 

Also, the 1000w's are a waste, 600's are excellent for heat, for coverage, and most importantly, lumens per watt. If you want fat large colas though, nothing beats the 1kw! But 600's still give u massive colas with the right strains.

Edited January 6, 2006 by Nath