Questions regarding a 400w hps light.

[BBN8]

Im currently using 400w worth cfls and im looking into upgrading to a hps. I have a few questions...

1. How hot do they generally get? I use a cellar of sorts for my grow room and can't really put an a/c in there. I plan on using a cool tube with a fan exhausting/blowing the heat out of the room. Will this suffice?

2. The space I use in the room is 3x4 im hoping to just pull of two medium sized plants, I'm pretty sure a 400w can pull it off, but I might as well ask if that would be enough?

3. Compared to the 400w worth of cfls will the hps take more electricity? I'm assuming its as simple as it sounds and will pull the same.

Thanks for taking the time to answer!!!

 

[amgprb]

#1: YES (cooltube)

#2: YES - i have a 3x3.5 room and i grow 4 bushes at a time

#3: It uses a bit more power, i read a few different places that it is like 10% more wattage. Also additional power use for your extraction fan (100 watts +/-)

Definitley worth the upgrade. CFLs have very little penetration and lumen output. Plus for every cfl you have, u lose intensity as half the bulb is directed at the reflector and not the plant. The same can be said for hid, but you are only using 1 bulb as opposed to multiple.

 

[Pop The Trunk]

i have a 400 watt Super HPS in a 4x4x7 tent with just a normal reflecting hood, running a 4 inch intake fan and a 6 inch exhuast fan and my temps stay at a steady 78 degrees. if it gets to 90 plus outside in the summer the temps will raise alittle over 80 but overall 400 watt doesn't get that warm, but i also grow in my basement which is normally 65 degrees.

 

[smoke and coke]

do you have 400 actual watts of cfl's or 400 watt equivelent cfl's ?

either way a 400w hps is still better than 16 cfl's in my opinion.

 

[BBN8]

do you have 400 actual watts of cfl's or 400 watt equivelent cfl's ?

either way a 400w hps is still better than 16 cfl's in my opinion.

I have three 85w and six 26w. It's annoying to constantly have to reposition the cfls. It just makes sense to do the upgrade.

 

[rwbrock]

Yep will make a big difference. I run A 400w in a closet that is 2x4x8, where I live it gets hot in summer. I have a efficient setup, with 4" inline fan running through ducted hood (glass in) and exhaust into attic. I run about 3-4 degrees hotter than the room ambient temps. Ambient temps being key to how hot it is going to be in your space. I just run two plants in a 2x3 foot area of the closet but train them and veg a little longer. Upgrade for sure, cool tube and pull hot air out of grow space. CFL do get hot, I made a little make shift fixture that holds 6 26W for starting I just have an oscillating fan in that part of the closet and it is around 82/84 where my closet with 400 and venting out will be around 79-80. That is based on my room being around 76ish