lilroach
Well-Known Member
I first want to say that I'm no expert on the characteristics of various lighting. You can blast me with numbers and I can tell you it's all been said before.
And I still am here to defend growing under HPS lighting.
I've been growing under HPS for over 10 years. During those years I've read over and over again that LED is as good as HID's....only to witness the limitations of that type of lighting. First it was the red/blue/green was the end all....then COB lighting....and numerous variations then and since. Most of the time the LED lighting was pricey and often the cheaper look-alike versions were a waste of time. If I bought the "latest" LED's of the day through all this, I would have probably needed to upgrade several times....and while my grow rooms were not huge, it would have been pricey each time.
Through thick and thin....I've stuck with my old HPS set-ups. I do have a couple CMH's to broaden my spectrum, but my primary lighting has been various numbers of 600w HPS's. I don't want to try to tell you that HPS is the answer to all growers needs.....as HPS has it's challenges too. Right now heat is my biggest issue. Even though they are vented outside.....it's very hot in my grow room during the summer months. It's a bitch for 4 out of the 12 months of growing. Then there's the power consumption. Currently I'm running four 600w HPS's and two 315w CMH's and my best guess it cost me about $100 a month...my biggest expense growing. I also replace HPS bulbs about every six months at around $70 each....sometimes less if I catch a sale.
Good growers I respect tell me that "they'll pay for themselves" over time. Well I did the math and depending on which way I go...it'll take about six to seven years before I see a return on investment. The reality is that I'm 66 years old, and while I'm not at the "don't buy any green bananas" stage, I can't guarantee I'll be around in six years or be able to still grow if I am.
And finally......I look at commercial grow ops and what lighting do these big-buck operations most often run? Yep.....HPS/CMH. They have the funds to go LED and considering the cost of lighting a huge room with HID's.....it would seem they'd opt to go with LED's....but still go old school. Apparently they did some math too. I'm not saying ALL big ops run HPS's.....but many do.
So if you're new to this whole growing thing......and are on a budget but want quality lighting....don't overlook HPS.
And I still am here to defend growing under HPS lighting.
I've been growing under HPS for over 10 years. During those years I've read over and over again that LED is as good as HID's....only to witness the limitations of that type of lighting. First it was the red/blue/green was the end all....then COB lighting....and numerous variations then and since. Most of the time the LED lighting was pricey and often the cheaper look-alike versions were a waste of time. If I bought the "latest" LED's of the day through all this, I would have probably needed to upgrade several times....and while my grow rooms were not huge, it would have been pricey each time.
Through thick and thin....I've stuck with my old HPS set-ups. I do have a couple CMH's to broaden my spectrum, but my primary lighting has been various numbers of 600w HPS's. I don't want to try to tell you that HPS is the answer to all growers needs.....as HPS has it's challenges too. Right now heat is my biggest issue. Even though they are vented outside.....it's very hot in my grow room during the summer months. It's a bitch for 4 out of the 12 months of growing. Then there's the power consumption. Currently I'm running four 600w HPS's and two 315w CMH's and my best guess it cost me about $100 a month...my biggest expense growing. I also replace HPS bulbs about every six months at around $70 each....sometimes less if I catch a sale.
Good growers I respect tell me that "they'll pay for themselves" over time. Well I did the math and depending on which way I go...it'll take about six to seven years before I see a return on investment. The reality is that I'm 66 years old, and while I'm not at the "don't buy any green bananas" stage, I can't guarantee I'll be around in six years or be able to still grow if I am.
And finally......I look at commercial grow ops and what lighting do these big-buck operations most often run? Yep.....HPS/CMH. They have the funds to go LED and considering the cost of lighting a huge room with HID's.....it would seem they'd opt to go with LED's....but still go old school. Apparently they did some math too. I'm not saying ALL big ops run HPS's.....but many do.
So if you're new to this whole growing thing......and are on a budget but want quality lighting....don't overlook HPS.
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I got my digital 600s on a trip out to BC for $60 each and they came with lightly used Hortilux Super HPS bulbs and batwing style reflectors. I walked into a hydro store in Chilliwack, BC and they had 24 sets from a shut down grow op so I picked through the lot of it to get the newest looking bulbs and ballasts and bought 5 sets. Gave two to my buddy up here for a Xmas present and kept 3 for myself. Couple of spare bulbs for $10 each too.
