Looking to purchase my first HPS

[TalonToker]

I've been growing with cfls for a few years now and finally find myself in a position to upgrade. For now, it is my intent to continue to veg with the cfls, but I would like to get a 400w hps for flowering.
I found two rather quickly on ebay. If I bought either one of these I would choose the same options of the 6" cool tube with XL wing and only the hps bulb. They both cost about the same, at $161.

This first one is made by Green House: My Green House option
The one is made by IPower: My IPower option

Is $161 a decent price for one of these? Is one of the brands better than the other? Do you think I should just go ahead and buy one of these, or should I keep looking? Any help and/or tips on this will be greatly appreciated.

Keep 'em green
TT

 

[tbird25069]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400w-400-watt-HPS-MH-Grow-Light-System-Set-Premium-Kit-Dimm-Green-House-iPower-/160683199645?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2569770c9d

new 400w iPower dimmable w/ wing and bulbs $116

im using one of these currently (dimmed w 250w HPS bulb), i cant say anything bad about it

 

[TalonToker]

Wow, thats the same thing I posted a link too, but with the base reflector hood instead of the cooltube with XL wing. I see you have a small fan blowing on it. Is heat an issue for you at all?

 

[tbird25069]

its an upstairs room, a bit warmer up there than i'd like, but so far w/in tolerance, the mini-fan lets me drop the light just a bit closer to the plants

 

[TalonToker]

Hmmmm, I think I'm going to get it, but they won't ship until Tuesday so I still have some time.

May I ask how long you've had it in use?

 

[tbird25069]

5days later under 250w HPS

 

[silasraven]

dont do it. go for LED ufo is the best. they work but LED is better for growth. i never knew, so i tried it.

 

[whitnasty1]

If you are set on getting an iPower light, make sure to get one with an air cooled reflector, the small increase in price is worth it ten fold, I have the 600W with the air cooled hood and you really can not beat it for the price.

 

[TalonToker]

dont do it. go for LED ufo is the best. they work but LED is better for growth. i never knew, so i tried it.

Isn't that going to cost considerably more to equal what I'll get out of a 400w hps? I'll look into it a bit, but I don't know jack about LEDs.

If you are set on getting an iPower light, make sure to get one with an air cooled reflector, the small increase in price is worth it ten fold, I have the 600W with the air cooled hood and you really can not beat it for the price.

This is what I'm wondering about. The cost if you select the cheaper hood is $116 and the cost if you select one I was thinking of (which is air cooled) is $161. So that $45 difference is worth it, huh? That's what I was thinking, but wanting to know. I'll spend the extra $ if it's really worth it.

 

[Grandpapy]

If you decide to add a 2nd light you'll be happy you bought a cool hood as your first.
It also gives you options to where you want the heat to go you just paid for.

 

[doniboy]

Isn't that going to cost considerably more to equal what I'll get out of a 400w hps? I'll look into it a bit, but I don't know jack about LEDs.

This is what I'm wondering about. The cost if you select the cheaper hood is $116 and the cost if you select one I was thinking of (which is air cooled) is $161. So that $45 difference is worth it, huh? That's what I was thinking, but wanting to know. I'll spend the extra $ if it's really worth it.

Yes either get a Cool Tube or an air cooled hood. The Cool Tube is cheaper than the latter..

 

[TalonToker]

That's a good point, Grandpapy. I really don't plan on getting a second light while at this residence, but you never know.

With cfls I'm currently pulling about 2.5 to 3oz per plant, but I can only grow 6 to 8 at a time. It's all just personal stash for me as I don't sell any, so I have no plans to expand. I just think it would be nice to be able to get 4 to 5 ounces per lady for the same amount of work.

 

[TalonToker]

Yes either get a Cool Tube or an air cooled hood. The Cool Tube is cheaper than the latter..

The one I'm thinking of is the cooltube. I didn't see that an air cooled hood is offered in this deal. Is an air cooled hood much better?

 

[doniboy]

The one I'm thinking of is the cooltube. I didn't see that an air cooled hood is offered in this deal. Is an air cooled hood much better?

They each have pros and cons. Just buy one that can be cooled and that fits within your budget and you'll be okay.

Edit: okay don't spend $169 for the bigger hood with a 400w ballast... Yea the hood might spread light better, but you'd be better off and your plant would receive more light with the 600w and the cheaper tube for $172 than the 400w with the expensive hood for $169...

 

[kinddiesel]

get the 8 inch cool tube, unless you have a large room not as worried about getting rid of that heat, 8 inch is a hugeeeeeeeeee difference in cooling then the 6 inch, a mistake I learned, spend the extra cash now . and you wont have to upgrade later . also just buy the magnetic. those dimable are not worth it. waste of money. your never going to dim it , why would you , and it does not save electric. 400 watts is 400 watts, digital or magnetic . I have both bought the dimable digital and see no difference, waste of 300 bucks more, when I did not have the money,

 

[doniboy]

get the 8 inch cool tube, unless you have a large room not as worried about getting rid of that heat, 8 inch is a hugeeeeeeeeee difference in cooling then the 6 inch, a mistake I learned, spend the extra cash now . and you wont have to upgrade later . also just buy the magnetic. those dimable are not worth it. waste of money. your never going to dim it , why would you , and it does not save electric. 400 watts is 400 watts, digital or magnetic . I have both bought the dimable digital and see no difference, waste of 300 bucks more, when I did not have the money,

One of the points of dimming is to assist in lowering heats and/or light intensity on an as needed basis. Plus you can not run both hps and mh with a magnetic ballast as far as I know...

 

[TalonToker]

This is some good stuff guys, I really appreciate it.

As far as getting a 600w light goes, I never have more than 4 plants in flower at a time and I keep them fairly small in height. Do I really need a 600w? If I buy a 600w with a cheaper hood, aren't I inviting possible heat issues? I'm open on this, but it just seems like a little overkill to me. In going from cfls to a 400w hps, won't that be enough to make me happy?

As far as ballasts go, I would actually rather get a magnetic. Pretty much all I know about them is that they are an older technology than the digital ballasts and they also run a little warmer. I am also aware of the problems with digital ballasts and cable tv. I think I would be happy with a magnetic ballast, but didn't see one when I looked at ebay. Maybe I should look a little harder, I'm sure they have some. I understand the benefits of dimming, but don't think I would use it much, if at all so that part of it really doesn't concern me.

I have the cash to spend, but all I'm really looking for is an upgrade to a 400w hps with as little heat isssues added as possible.

 

[doniboy]

This is some good stuff guys, I really appreciate it.

As far as getting a 600w light goes, I never have more than 4 plants in flower at a time and I keep them fairly small in height. Do I really need a 600w? If I buy a 600w with a cheaper hood, aren't I inviting possible heat issues? I'm open on this, but it just seems like a little overkill to me. In going from cfls to a 400w hps, won't that be enough to make me happy?

As far as ballasts go, I would actually rather get a magnetic. Pretty much all I know about them is that they are an older technology than the digital ballasts and they also run a little warmer. I am also aware of the problems with digital ballasts and cable tv. I think I would be happy with a magnetic ballast, but didn't see one when I looked at ebay. Maybe I should look a little harder, I'm sure they have some. I understand the benefits of dimming, but don't think I would use it much, if at all so that part of it really doesn't concern me.

I have the cash to spend, but all I'm really looking for is an upgrade to a 400w hps with as little heat isssues added as possible.

I searched and do not see many options for a magnetic 400w, and the offers I do see are expensive. If you're only going to ever grow 4 at a time, just get the cheapest hood/tube that's air cooled with the 400w. I say just go with a cool tube being that they're cheaper, stay cooler, and you're not too worried about light coverage with 4 small plants, so you do not need the extra coverage that the bigger more expensive hoods might offer. With a huge hood and only 4 small plants, you'd just be paying $50-$60 more dollars for light to hit the floor... That's all up to you though.

These are the only two sites/companies (Ive done business with both before) that I see offering the magnetics (they have ebay and amazon stores too). htgsupply.com and Virtualsunhydroponics.com They're more expensive than all the others. I do not know much about the magnetic, but I guessing there's probably cons/reasons for them dying off. Hopefully kinddiesel will stop back in and point you to the cheaper alternatives to the digital ballistic.

 

[TalonToker]

I'll probably get the IPower set up with one of the 6" inch cooltube option since that's all they offer. Thanks for the help doniboy, the info you probided was most helpful. It would be a good idea for me to look at those other stores, too. I might also look at 1000bulbs.com, I forgot about them. I plan on ordering sometime later today, yet still open to any suggestions.

 

[whitnasty1]

Definitely go with an air cooled hood or the cool tube. I got the 600w ipower with the air cooled hood for $208. It will help out alot with temperatures. check amazon, they have the full air cooled hood that has a larger reflector than the cool tube. they have a 600w with the normal non air cooled hood for $170, all depends on how much light you need.