What grow light should I upgrade to?

C

cohokiller

Member
Got my medical authorization and getting ready to finish up my first trial run grow with CFL's. I'm using approx. 500 watts worth of CFL 23 & 42 watt bulbs. I think I need to upgrade to something better next go around, which probably won't be still this fall due to heat. I want something that's going to run cooooool and be safe so I don't burn down. Right now I'm using 2x 4 inch duct fans for exhaust , putting a black-out curtain over the closet to cover leaks, but I have to open the closet every time the lights come on to combat heat from the CFL's. Then I have to cover them back up when the lights go out. Can be a real pain sometimes because I HAVE to be home when the lights come on or they could burn or worse .
I'm thinking of upgrading to a REAL grow light, but I'm worried about heat. Would it be better to run autoflowering plants, that way I can keep the closet door open 24/7 for ventilation? How much would a good HPS and EXHAUST system for that closet run? I'm trying to be CHEAP but safe as possible here. Thanks guys
 
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bryan oconner

Well-Known Member
I really hate to say it . not a lover of led here . but in your situation I think led will be the way to go those cfl bulbs are not that efficient and they produce a lot of heat . get a good led fixture ask them what one to get . I am currently looking at a
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLife_Halo_Basic_Marine_LED_Aquarium_Light_Fixture_High_Output_LED_Lighting-AquaticLife-AK01337-FILTHO-vi.html
why marine because it is proven to work very well no bull shit hype they sell these in a red as well the par is far superior then a t5 high out put set up . one of these lights is the same as a 250 hps according to the specks . check out a you tube video how you can adjust the pattern and wavelengths bad ass . unless you want to drop 1000 on a grow led for the brand name .
 
tyke1973

tyke1973

Well-Known Member
Great job you are doing with the cfl's love to see grow's like this just show's you what you can do if you put your mind to it..Bud's look fairly dense,never done a cfl grow i do use them to start seed's and to start clone's, but really gotta take my hat of to you dude, great job..

tyke peace
jha bless
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
bryan oconner said:
I really hate to say it . not a lover of led here . but in your situation I think led will be the way to go those cfl bulbs are not that efficient and they produce a lot of heat . get a good led fixture ask them what one to get . I am currently looking at a
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLife_Halo_Basic_Marine_LED_Aquarium_Light_Fixture_High_Output_LED_Lighting-AquaticLife-AK01337-FILTHO-vi.html
why marine because it is proven to work very well no bull shit hype they sell these in a red as well the par is far superior then a t5 high out put set up . one of these lights is the same as a 250 hps according to the specks . check out a you tube video how you can adjust the pattern and wavelengths bad ass . unless you want to drop 1000 on a grow led for the brand name .
Click to expand...
BULLSHIT of the highest order!

The real only GOOD LED's are built at home and it has to be COBB!

Store bought LED's are really only good for vegg. They lack far to much for real quality blooming! They'll do the job but you would be wasting money that could have been much better spent!

That closet looks to be a nice spot for a cooling hood with a 600w that would work nicely with even a bathroom vent fan used to pull the air through the hood and out of the closet. Simply put a piece of nylon over the open end of the hood to keep dust and bugs out. Make a space at the bottom of the door to draw cool air in and if you like - cool the room the closet is in....

That's money well spent as you won't have to "upgrade" from there!
 
Richard Drysift

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
I have to agree with dr who. LEDs are great for veg and as side lighting but unless you spend a lot on them you may not get the results you want. You cannot go wrong with an HPS or mh but I think a lower wattage like a 400w would be good in your space. You can find full starter setup around $120 on eBay. Only trouble is the extra heat; an exhaust fan and ducting with a carbon filter solves that but that's kind of a bitch in a closet because you'll need to cut a hole and/or get creative about venting it out somehow. Figure out what will work for your closet or get a tent but either way dr.who is right that is money well spent.
 
C

cohokiller

Member
This is what I'm using right now for exhaust. 2 of these 4 inch duct fans with some flexible ducting, with one of the sliding doors cracked open to allow the ducting to come it, then sealed over with black out drapes and duct tape. It doesn't seem very efficient when we have hot weather. Everyday when the lights come on I have to open the sliding door and keep a box fan at the entrance. Wouldn't a 400 watt hps could stay cooler since I would be able to hook the ducting right up to the reflector, right? Would a 400 watt HPS produce more YIELD than this current setup? I think I'm going to get approximately a half pound with what I have going now, since I harvested 3 plants that matured already and got 2.5 ounces off of those alone. But I think I could get more if I used the same setup for another run since I have f'd a lot of things up this run
 
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mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
bryan oconner said:
I really hate to say it . not a lover of led here . but in your situation I think led will be the way to go those cfl bulbs are not that efficient and they produce a lot of heat . get a good led fixture ask them what one to get . I am currently looking at a
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLife_Halo_Basic_Marine_LED_Aquarium_Light_Fixture_High_Output_LED_Lighting-AquaticLife-AK01337-FILTHO-vi.html
why marine because it is proven to work very well no bull shit hype they sell these in a red as well the par is far superior then a t5 high out put set up . one of these lights is the same as a 250 hps according to the specks . check out a you tube video how you can adjust the pattern and wavelengths bad ass . unless you want to drop 1000 on a grow led for the brand name .
Click to expand...
that led is only 85 watts and has almost no red. a 250 watt hps would give you the same amount of light as those 400 watts of cfl. a fixture capable of running MH for vegging and hps for flowering would be a good option. a 6 tube T5 would give you about 20% more light and a lot less heat than those CFLs and are inexpensive on E-BAY. cheap leds are junk and a good 400 watt led light (400wat leds have an actual power of around 250 watts) would be a very expensive option. i'm an mmj patient growing in my closet and stealth is important I use T5s to keep the heat down
 
TopDogTHC

TopDogTHC

Well-Known Member
From the research I've done of your going to go led then you need to pay out for it to be worth while. MH/HPS is good get a air cooled hood or tube.

Most of us complain about things but realistically a relatively small investment would be worth the outcome. It's just taking the plunge.
 
kiwipaulie

kiwipaulie

Well-Known Member
I agree with Dr who. But you need to get a proper fan. You need at least a centrifugal fan. Inline fans suck arse and are designed more to be just another fan in the duct to boost the air along.

For example I used to use a inline 6" inch fan to cool a 600w mh and my temps where 25c, that fan fucked out as they do and I replaced it with a good 4" inch centrifugal fan and now I've had to chuck at thermostat on the fan as my temps have been hitting below 20c.

A few mixed flow fans are ok. But stick to centrifugal imo
 
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