Hello, guys.
No, this is not quite the same topic about HPS vs CFL. Personally, I do think that HPS are better choice for big boxes, because you just need to install one or a couple (ok, or a few) of HPS lamps and that will be great, and you will not need to spend time installing tens of CFL lamps and consuming 1.5 times more energy.
I am from Russia and I don't know about this forum and other regions, but in Russia growing in small boxes (a.k.a. micro growing, or stealth growing) is quite popular.
Why would someone want to grow in a small box to get 10-20 grams of weed? Well, for some people that will be enough for a year (or two)! Other people just don't have place or possibility to use big boxes.
*And yes, I know, that HPS are more efficient, that is why to make a fair compare we need to compare lamps that give same amount of light (in lumens).
As I see HPS usually gives 1.5 times more light than CFL (although if you take poor HPS lamp and best CFL lamp they will give same amount of light, but let's take that usually HPS is 1.5 times more efficient).
So what is better for growing in a small box: 100W HPS or 150W CFL? They both give same amount of light.
What is a small box? Well, let's say it's 1.5'x1.5'x3' (45x45x90 cm)
Here is what I personally think (I may be wrong):
CFLs advantages for small boxes:
- CFLs are cheaper
- CFL are easier to find and buy and it's ready to use
- CFL can have better light temperature (you can find it 2700K, you can find it 6500K, and for example Phillips 100W HPS lamp that is popular in Russia has light temperature of 2000K, which seems not ideal for flowering (given that ideal is 2700K))
- CFL can give better light distribution (I think 3 x 50 W CFL will distribute light better than 1 HPS lamp)
- CFL can not burn your skin
HPS advantages:
- Takes less space (1 HPS lamp will take less space in a small box than 3 CFL lamps)
- Takes less electricity (though there is not a big difference when we talk about 100 vs 150 W and in some countries, like in Russia, electricity is cheap)
- Maybe lasts longer (I am not sure)
- Damn, so many growers recommend it.
No, I am not a fan of CFL lamps. I'm just a beginner who wants to understand what is better for a small box (and by better I mean bigger yield) and if there is any real difference at all!
I tried to search web for a few hours but I didn't find really adequate experiments. I found a few experiments where people compare yields under HPS and CFL but they use different amount of light! For example, on this forum, one guy showed his yields from HPS and CFL, and HPS yield was better but he used 600W HPS and 360 W CFL, that's absolutely not fair. On youtube I found another compare, but again, the guy used 400W HPS and 200W CFL, damn that's not smart.
So, what is your opinion? And please, together with your opinion add some arguments, facts, numbers, links, etc.
No, this is not quite the same topic about HPS vs CFL. Personally, I do think that HPS are better choice for big boxes, because you just need to install one or a couple (ok, or a few) of HPS lamps and that will be great, and you will not need to spend time installing tens of CFL lamps and consuming 1.5 times more energy.
I am from Russia and I don't know about this forum and other regions, but in Russia growing in small boxes (a.k.a. micro growing, or stealth growing) is quite popular.
Why would someone want to grow in a small box to get 10-20 grams of weed? Well, for some people that will be enough for a year (or two)! Other people just don't have place or possibility to use big boxes.
*And yes, I know, that HPS are more efficient, that is why to make a fair compare we need to compare lamps that give same amount of light (in lumens).
As I see HPS usually gives 1.5 times more light than CFL (although if you take poor HPS lamp and best CFL lamp they will give same amount of light, but let's take that usually HPS is 1.5 times more efficient).
So what is better for growing in a small box: 100W HPS or 150W CFL? They both give same amount of light.
What is a small box? Well, let's say it's 1.5'x1.5'x3' (45x45x90 cm)
Here is what I personally think (I may be wrong):
CFLs advantages for small boxes:
- CFLs are cheaper
- CFL are easier to find and buy and it's ready to use
- CFL can have better light temperature (you can find it 2700K, you can find it 6500K, and for example Phillips 100W HPS lamp that is popular in Russia has light temperature of 2000K, which seems not ideal for flowering (given that ideal is 2700K))
- CFL can give better light distribution (I think 3 x 50 W CFL will distribute light better than 1 HPS lamp)
- CFL can not burn your skin
HPS advantages:
- Takes less space (1 HPS lamp will take less space in a small box than 3 CFL lamps)
- Takes less electricity (though there is not a big difference when we talk about 100 vs 150 W and in some countries, like in Russia, electricity is cheap)
- Maybe lasts longer (I am not sure)
- Damn, so many growers recommend it.
No, I am not a fan of CFL lamps. I'm just a beginner who wants to understand what is better for a small box (and by better I mean bigger yield) and if there is any real difference at all!
I tried to search web for a few hours but I didn't find really adequate experiments. I found a few experiments where people compare yields under HPS and CFL but they use different amount of light! For example, on this forum, one guy showed his yields from HPS and CFL, and HPS yield was better but he used 600W HPS and 360 W CFL, that's absolutely not fair. On youtube I found another compare, but again, the guy used 400W HPS and 200W CFL, damn that's not smart.
So, what is your opinion? And please, together with your opinion add some arguments, facts, numbers, links, etc.
*And even if you choose to pay by meter, it costs about 6 cents for KW, so if decide to grow a couple of times per year, than the difference between 100W HPS and 150W CFL will be around $10.