Worth it to upgrade from 400w to 600w?

[ScrappyD]

Title says most of it. Will there be much of a difference? Does it depend on other factors?

Discuss

 

[churchhaze]

Imo, probably not.

Yes, there will be a difference, but it's probably not worth the cost of upgrading.

You could consider 200W of cob lighting to supplement.. or get another 400W hps!

 

[jeffro]

400 w is goot for 8 sq ft. 600 w is good for 12 sq ft. The bigger your grow area, the more light you need. Good luck.

 

[KBkiller42]

If you are replacing your 400 w a 600 I'd say instead just go for the 1000 or run both 400 and a 600. But like someone said the extra 200 watts could be easily supplemented with a few cfl and you could customize your spectrum that way.

 

[ScrappyD]

If you are replacing your 400 w a 600 I'd say instead just go for the 1000 or run both 400 and a 600. But like someone said the extra 200 watts could be easily supplemented with a few cfl and you could customize your spectrum that way.

My tent would not likely have room for 2 lights unfortunately. I think you guys are right in that I should just invest in a few more CFL's to put around some dark areas or just emphasize the tops more.

 

[churchhaze]

Instead of cfl, you should look into vero 18 or vero 29 to add to the HPS. (fried eggs)

They're as efficient as HPS, and all the light aims down. The startup cost is a lot higher, but the efficient and results are a lot better than CFL can deliver.

 

[churchhaze]

Take a look at my vero 18 "UFO killer" design if you're looking for ideas.

http://rollitup.org/t/diy-80w-vero-18-ufo-killer.846752/

 

[gucio19]

The 600 watts hps is the most efficient lamp.

400w put 55 000lm
600w put 100 000lm
1000w put 135 000lm.

Don't mess with cfl, buy 600w. It is hot, you should have got good ventilation.

 

[Sleepybud]

I use 1 x 600w MH HID in my veg room and 2 x 600w HPS HID in my flower room and am quite pleased!

I've never had anything but, besides my 8 x T-5's in a hood for clones and newly planted clones.

Summer was fine. I installed a 6" exhaust fan and put some fans in the hallway outside of both grows to exchange. Plenty of fresh air and happy plants!

 

[tre274]

I use 400 to veg and 600 over 3x3ft tables. I love my 600's

Sent from my SPH-L600 using Rollitup mobile app

 

[Greengenes707]

600hps are the most efficient hps. A 600w digital ballast actually outputs really close to the same as a 1000w magnetics system.

HPS efficiency rankings(based on brand new bulbs...their own heat kills the efficiency quickly with use)
600w(42%)
1000w(38%)
400w(36%)
250w(32%)
150w(28%)

So going from 400w to 600w is not just more of the same power...
400w@36% efficiency is 144 PAR watts of energy emitted...
600w@42% efficiency is 252 PAR watts of energy emitted...

So the 200w(50%more than wattage than before ) increase will come with a 75% increase in actual output thanks to the better efficiency of the 600w.

 

[GroErr]

If you simply want more output running the same footprint, check out 315w CMH Elite Agro setups. They're great for a 3x3', will pull less than your current 400 and yield like a 600, less heat than both and incredible flowering capabilities, drawing ~345w total @240v, 385w @120v. Check out my (sig) thread for more details. Have a 3x3 running right now, plus another over a single blue dream in a 24" x 36" footprint.