Electric Bills CFL vs HPS

[bunnyweed]

I'm just a bit confused. Can someone explain to me how a 250 watt CFl system, something like ten 25 watt CFL bulbs, uses less electricity than a 250 watt HPS system?


I see all the faqs and threads saying that CFLs are more energy efficient. But if you're using 250 watts, isn't it the same amount of electricity used?

sorry for stupid question

 

[tkufoS]

yes using a 500w hps is just the same as using 10 50w cfls..the cfls just run cooler..not cheaper ...cooler

 

[snyder007]

Amperage x Voltage = Wattage Consumed.

My 150 watt HPS actually consumes about 400 watts of power to run.

It boils down to efficiency. The more efficient the system the less wattage you use.

 

[bunnyweed]

ok, so that's two different answers. Still confused.

 

[snyder007]

Your average house electrical outlet is 120 Volts. Most's Ballasts give you an Amperage draw on there serial number tags or somewhere on the device. My ballast draws 3.3 amps.

120 Volts x 3.3 Amps = 396 Watts.

 

[vh13]

Your average house electrical outlet is 120 Volts. Most's Ballasts give you an Amperage draw on there serial number tags or somewhere on the device. My ballast draws 3.3 amps.

120 Volts x 3.3 Amps = 396 Watts.

I think the 396w draw is only to get the bulb lit. Once lit, it shouldn't be drawing nearly 3x the wattage of the bulb.

 

[snyder007]

It initially draws around 4.3 amps on start up. After an hour it drops to 3.3 amps.

 

[snyder007]

I suggest if you are interested in finding out how much wattage your setup is using you should pick up one of these handy dandy devices:

http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html

 

[vh13]

Verified numbers then, eh? Now that's interesting.

I don't use HD lighting myself, ambient temperature is my biggest limiting factor, so I've never looked this closely at HD ballasts, but I'm very surprised by this bit of info.

 

[joker152]

cfl's are efficient compared to regular household light bulbs not hid lighting, hid produces more lumes per watt than cfl, also i believe watt for watt cfl lights produce more heat than hid

 

[armlengthbuds]

cfl's are efficient compared to regular household light bulbs not hid lighting, hid produces more lumes per watt than cfl, also i believe watt for watt cfl lights produce more heat than hid

I believe i can fly, I believe i can touch the sky. lumens, kelvins, HId's, CFL's, It's all good!! But fuck incandescents. hahaha

 

[bunnyweed]

cfl's are efficient compared to regular household light bulbs not hid lighting, hid produces more lumes per watt than cfl, also i believe watt for watt cfl lights produce more heat than hid

if that were true, why do people use like 300 watts of cfl bulbs, when they can just use a 300 watt hps system?

It's not like the CFL setup is any cheaper. On 1000bulbs, they have the ballast and bulbs total for like 120 dollars.

Just doesn't make sense to me how CFLs are in annyway better than HID systems? If they put out same or more amount of heat, and use same amount of electricity.

 

[Brick Top]

I'm just a bit confused. Can someone explain to me how a 250 watt CFl system, something like ten 25 watt CFL bulbs, uses less electricity than a 250 watt HPS system?

The answer is no it is not more inexpensive/more efficient and you have less light for the same amount of wattage using CFL’s.
　
Look at the attached image. It shows you how many different types of lights it takes to equal one 400-watt HID HPS.

 

[joker152]

if that were true, why do people use like 300 watts of cfl bulbs, when they can just use a 300 watt hps system?

It's not like the CFL setup is any cheaper. On 1000bulbs, they have the ballast and bulbs total for like 120 dollars.

Just doesn't make sense to me how CFLs are in annyway better than HID systems? If they put out same or more amount of heat, and use same amount of electricity.

where did i say that cfl's are better than HID? dont get me wrong, they serve a purpose in the grow room, i swear by them for vegging and for side lighting and they work great for micro grows. the reason some people opt for cfl's is because though they put out more heat per watt that HID, they put off their heat off a much greater area than one round HID bulb, thus why cfl's are only warm to the touch when they are running and while using them you can put the lights alot closer to the plants making them ideal for a micro-grow

 

[bunnyweed]

Oh, i never meant that you said that CFLs were better. It's just that i read in the FAQ that CFLs were the most energy efficient and put out the least heat.

But what you just told me does make sense, and clarifies things up for me. I guess HPS for flowering would be the most cost efficient.

Thanks for your replies.