Trying to beef up lighting

[Cydaka420]

Currently using 400w hps 240w fluorescents and 130w led. Just upgraded to a 10x10 Was wondering I can get several t12 units 4ft 4 bulb 60w each just gotta buy bulbs. I’ve heard a little about converting them to led I have the know how to remove the ballast if needed finding the t12 60w led lights are proving difficult to me I can find equivalent but not true 60w I would like to use the fixtures only and do away with all other lights
The fixtures are free…… is it worth converting to the led ? Should I buy the fluorescent bulbs for them will it be enough lighting If led any ideas where to find the bulbs I need

 

[Cydaka420]

I’m sorry they 40 watt question still stands

 

[TCH]

Are you looking to flower with those lights? T12's aren't gonna cut it for any decent flowering. This is pure speculation, but by the time you invest time, money, and effort into converting the "free" fixtures, you probably could have bought a couple entry level LED bar or board lights to at the least, cover your flower area. Now, if you want to use the T12 for clones and early veg, they would probably work for that.

Be wary of "free" older technology that needs to be reconfigured and converted because most of the time it isn't going to be near as good or even much cheaper than current technology.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

TCH hit the proverbial nail on the proverbial head.

Lurk the best deals thread over in the grow room design subforum. Keep an eye out for deals on updayday or samophon brand lights. Or surf on over to the den of thieves, check out Sundopt lights. Can order them from US warehouse if you are in the states. Sundopt makes many re-branded lights, including Medicgrow brand.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Alibaba

 

[Boatguy]

What's in Your Garden ???

Week 9 in my garden, got several strains going, some are my own Colorado Thunderfuck and Thunder Express some are popular C99, Durban Poison & Wappa to name a few (there are several more) I flower under T5's and use chem nutes in a 50/50 mix of peat & kitty liter What's in Your Garden ???

www.rollitup.org

 

[Cydaka420]

What's in Your Garden ???

Week 9 in my garden, got several strains going, some are my own Colorado Thunderfuck and Thunder Express some are popular C99, Durban Poison & Wappa to name a few (there are several more) I flower under T5's and use chem nutes in a 50/50 mix of peat & kitty liter What's in Your Garden ???

www.rollitup.org

I only supplement the lighting with 160w t12 fluorescents can get the ballast hoods for free ( up to 12 40w 4 bulb) and was going to get a bulk pack of full spectrum either plug and play led or remove the ballast for ballast bypass led lighting just trying to compare my options but will probably stick with hps and mh lighting for now I’m growing do si dos auto fem and critical fast buds auto fem inn ffof with ff nutes

 

[tstick]

The light intensity from those fluorescent tubes degrades very quickly. They will continue to draw the same amount of power from the wall, but the tubes will dim. This is somewhat counterintuitive to what growing marijuana requires -being that you need MORE light intensity as the plants mature.

You can grow with them, but you will be going through lots of tubes. Then, you have to dispose of the used tubes....I would only take that option if it was the only one available.

Fortunately, there are ready-to-go, plug-and-play LED fixtures that would give you the most bang for the buck in terms of light output.

Having said that, I'm currently doing a run using a 400 watt MH for veg. and then switching to an HPS conversion bulb for flower and the results (so far) are superior to my LED runs. I think the plants really prefer to have the light AND the heat source coming from the same place....That's just my observation, but FWIW...

Best of luck with your grow!