4'x4' area, 400w on a mover or a 600w?

jaibyrd7

jaibyrd7

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, thanks for any input! I have a tent thats 4'9"x4'9"x7' I.D. and i've just started shopping for lighting. I will be using the Daystar AC reflector. I'm thinking about 6-5gal plants using about 3/4's of the floorspace. I'm looking to light about a 3.5'x4.5' canopy. Here's my question, should i use a 400wMH/HPS on a light mover or a 600wHPS? I have to watch heat (either will be air cooled), my tent is in an outbuilding and also wondering about the electricity use. Thanks again.
 
stickybob

stickybob

Active Member
throw some 100mm kingspan on top of your tent, my whole room is built out of it:) id go 600 w myself as your light mover would only move a ft each way.
 
stickybob

stickybob

Active Member
the electric costs disappear whet you look how much your crop will save you buying dodgy 2g bags for 20!
 
N

NateDizity1420

Active Member
in a tent that size id go w/ a 600w system and i dont think youll need a light rail but a few years ago when all i had was a 400w system i ran it in the same size area that you have and i got between a 1/2g to 1g per watt so the 400 worked out well also
 
jaibyrd7

jaibyrd7

Well-Known Member
Thanks guys! I'm feeling like a kid getting ready to get on santas lap! So the 600's temps are still managable with the scrubber/6" duct/sealed light/ 400ish cfm inline fan/ air out of tent but still in shop building? Also, should i try a MH conv bulb for Veg or just go hps the whole time? This is so cool asking people exactly what i want to ask and them not going "why, what are you trying to do?" I live in the dirty south/ bible belt, and EVERYONE is suspicious! Lol! It's hard to find out the truth when you have to ask with lies!!!
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
I'd go 600 watt as well. The important thing is the light foot print of the hood you are using. If you have to go with an air cooled hood, like many of us do in tents, make sure that your hood reflects light from the ends too. The hood can make the difference in whether plants on the sides get enough light or not. that is why I have a light meter, to ensure that all the plants are receiving at least 5k lumen. You can use a photog light meter, or one made for greenhouses. I have the greenouse version, it measures light, PH ( which i never trust) and moisture. This one tool costs about $8 at Lowes but is a life saver for figuring out hood height and if the plants need watering.

View attachment 1273787
 
legallyflying

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
I would go dimmable electronic ballast 400 for veg and 600 for flower. That way you have a better ballast and you can use a $35 400 watt MH bulb and not screw with the conversion bullshit (for some assanine reason they do not make 600 MH bulbs). Spend the cash and get a GOOD HPS bulb. Like other have said, hood design is KEY. There are HUGE differences in hood footprints and reflectivity. You are going to want a wide hood, not a deep one to cover that area.

Your heat should be manageable. Rig your scrubber t exhaust out of the tent and have a couple passive intakes down low.
 
AdamBlack760

AdamBlack760

Well-Known Member
4x4 1k hps all day every day.In your out building set up one intake and one exhaust. On the intake place a y pipe. one goes to your ac hood outher go to bottom of tent. Same with the exhaust one comes from your ac hood outher comes from your scrubber in the top of the tent. Have the fan on your scrubber on a thermostat and its all good. If you have windows build window boxes if not get the dryer vents at home depot make a hole mount the vent and your good to go. get a switchable ballest run mh druing veg and hps in flower
tent.jpg
 
D

durbanmistyman

Well-Known Member
AdamBlack760 said:
4x4 1k hps all day every day.In your out building set up one intake and one exhaust. On the intake place a y pipe. one goes to your ac hood outher go to bottom of tent. Same with the exhaust one comes from your ac hood outher comes from your scrubber in the top of the tent. Have the fan on your scrubber on a thermostat and its all good. If you have windows build window boxes if not get the dryer vents at home depot. get a switchable ballest run mh druing veg and hps in flower
View attachment 1273833
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what kind of window box are you talking here ia need to exhaust out my window but it needs to be stealth from outside
 
jaibyrd7

jaibyrd7

Well-Known Member
legallyflying said:
I would go dimmable electronic ballast 400 for veg and 600 for flower. That way you have a better ballast and you can use a $35 400 watt MH bulb and not screw with the conversion bullshit (for some assanine reason they do not make 600 MH bulbs). Spend the cash and get a GOOD HPS bulb. Like other have said, hood design is KEY. There are HUGE differences in hood footprints and reflectivity. You are going to want a wide hood, not a deep one to cover that area.

Your heat should be manageable. Rig your scrubber t exhaust out of the tent and have a couple passive intakes down low.
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how does the Daystar AC rate on the wide reflector scale?
 
legallyflying

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
Jaibird. There is a really good thread out there somewhere ( not on riu) where the tested a bunch if different reflectors. I seriously don't know why the soo called grow magazines and what not (or hydro shops for that matter) don't have hard numbers on hood performance. I'll try and find the link. I bought my supersun2 hood after reading that thread. Very intense and very even light. Not the widest of the bunch by anymeans but it throws some light fir sure
 
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