250w HPS cooltube for flower in closet

[minutetaker]

Alrighty, so my cupboard with 125w cfls for both veg and flower has failed and reverted my Barney's Pineapple Chunk back to veg. I know of someone having had this occur twice while using cfls, so those are getting chucked in a chest of drawers. But what kills your plants only make you knowledgable. Will a 250w cooltube kit suffice for a cupboard that you could fit two 6ft adults in facing each other. Sorry for bad description, i cant be bothered finding the tape measure haha. I'd rather not go a 400 if possible due to power bill.

[Pleb Scrubber]

250W hps for a 2 plant cupboard grow is fine, but 6 foot plants is a bit tall for a cupboard

 

using cfls wont make your plants re-veg, its the photoperiod - how much light vs dark per day

 

but still a good move to go HID lighting in a cooltube...

you will be able to let the plants press against the tube without burn

 

what made your plants re-veg was probably a light leak on the cupboard during your 12/12 cycle, check it for light leaks

Edited June 13, 2011 by Pleb Scrubber

[wietlover]

Hi minutetaker

I run a 250watt in a cupboard with cool tube and the dimensions are 140tall x 60 wide x 40 deep with 2 plants

I would go a 400 watter mate as you will get bugger all light penetration thru the canopy with a 250 watt Especially with 6ft plants!! .. more light = more buds !!!..I wish i could get a 400 watt in mine

The extra power usage would be minimal -only an extra 150watts of power..the extra on my power bill each quarter is only around 100bux(250watt)

The extra buds you would get with the 400 would well and truly pay the extra on ya powerbill!!

 

best of luck

wiet

Edited June 13, 2011 by wietlover

[minutetaker]

The plants themselves wont be 6ft, but that is roughly the full space I have to work with. Take away room for the pots and soil. plus the lighting itself and I was figuring 250 would do the trick. Wouldn't the power diff be 300w due to the ballast also?

Also I think I got some bad advice cause the plants have kicked back a bit since getting turned off, so the cfls are back on and the fingers are crossed, but I ws considering 250 hps in future anyway.

Edited June 19, 2011 by minutetaker

[buzzo]

I have 250 Watt HPS with cool tube in my fridge with very good ventilation.

 

I can get 90 grams every 10 weeks with Autoflowering plants. Don't underestimate the amount of airflow required even with a cool tube.

 

I have 2 X 150mm ducts with a seperate axial fan for each. One sucks air through the cool tube and ducts out through the top of the fridge and the other ducts air from the top of the fridge.

 

the absolute minimum you will need as airflow will be 1 X 200 mm duct with a good inline fan.

 

I believe 400 watts is to much for any cupboard grow.

[minutetaker]

Sick set up man, what type of autos do you use?

[Naycha]

I have 250 Watt HPS with cool tube in my fridge with very good ventilation.

 

I can get 90 grams every 10 weeks with Autoflowering plants. Don't underestimate the amount of airflow required even with a cool tube.

 

I have 2 X 150mm ducts with a seperate axial fan for each. One sucks air through the cool tube and ducts out through the top of the fridge and the other ducts air from the top of the fridge.

 

the absolute minimum you will need as airflow will be 1 X 200 mm duct with a good inline fan.

 

I believe 400 watts is to much for any cupboard grow.

 

I have to disagree with 400 watts being too much for any cupboard grow. This is a pic of the first hydro plant I ever grew using 400 watts in a cupboard. Yeild was 260 grams. Ventilation provided by a 250mm centri. If I had a cooltube it would have yeilded even more.

 

[Auntynorm]

G'day Minute.

 

My seedling area is about the same as you have and it's most definately getting a 400w HPS as soon as I have enough cash to set up a 1000w HPS. The difference in power consumption between 250 and 400 will be virtually un noticed on your bill. You can use the CFL's down the sides or underneath the plants. You want heads or you want a small power bill? Your call. If you use the 12-1 lighting method, you will save a fair bit more. I'm using the 12-1 and it works. I'm running 2 x 400w and 1 x 600w HPS, and my power bill is reasonable. Soon it will be 1 x 1000w and 1 x 600w HPS, both in tubes, in the tent with a 400w HPS, with a shade for now, in the seedling/breeding cupboard. More light = more buds. :guitar: