Closet grow: 150w HPS better than ~300w in CFL?

So I spent a lot of time researching CFL growing on the assumption that it would be significantly cheaper and easier than getting an HPS.
I had intended on getting 4 42w and 2 65w CFLs, which would run me about 80 bucks for just the bulbs.
I found out tonight though that for 80 bucks I could also get a 150w HPS light (ballast, reflector and everything).

Now, since I know HPS produces more light per watt, I'm estimating that the 150w HPS ends up being only a little less light than all the CFLs. Also, how is the relative heat generation of the two. Given similar wattage are HPSs hotter than CFLs?

I looked at 250 w HPS but since they'd end up at 160, including shipping (the 150w has free shipping) it didn't seem worth it for my small space.

I plan on growing in a little closet with 1.5 x 3 feet of floor space, plus another 1.5 x 3 of space on a shelf a couple feet up (with a slanted roof so I can't grow anything on there) that I could put fans and stuff on.

With one overhead light, as opposed to many CFLs, I could fit more plants under it, as I wouldn't be limited by the number of bulbs I had that I needed to put right up on the plants.

Any info is much appreciated. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I continue to design my closet.

ebay dude 400 watters for 150 with shipping just look up home made cool tubes that will help with heat no matter what watt. remember Go cheap GROW cheap good luck

I'm trying to keep this relatively simple. I don't want to have to set up an elaborate cooling system, especially since this closet is in the hallway of an apartment I share with some roommates.

Hm... looking at ebay I can get a 250w ballast for about 75 bucks, shipped. So then I'd just need light bulbs (about 10 bucks?) and I could make a hood/reflector. Is there anything else I'd need to get a functional light?

just worry about heat . but no that should be good. your biggest worries are heat and smell both require you to get pricey fans to pull air through a cool tube and to pass air through a carbon filter do your homework and if your going to do anything worth doing its worth doing right the first time.

sickstoner said:

just worry about heat . but no that should be good. your biggest worries are heat and smell both require you to get pricey fans to pull air through a cool tube and to pass air through a carbon filter do your homework and if your going to do anything worth doing its worth doing right the first time.

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Everything sickstoner says is right. Every mistake you make in the beginning, costs you money you could have used the right way from the get go.

I started with CFL, it was a huge mistake. The people on this forum talking about getting pounds per plant from their CFL's are lying.

You can buy 120 CFM cpu fans at Radio Shack for 9.99 and 12 volt adapters to run them at GoodWill also.

That is the best one I have found do it yourself, they fit in six inch ducting and with a little packing tape can be made to seal in the ducting by fitting two pieces together.
Here is a link to the do it yourself thread.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/308311-homemade-diy-show-off-your.html#post3860270

MatanuskaValley said:

Everything sickstoner says is right. Every mistake you make in the beginning, costs you money you could have used the right way from the get go.

I started with CFL, it was a huge mistake. The people on this forum talking about getting pounds per plant from their CFL's are lying.

You can buy 120 CFM cpu fans at Radio Shack for 9.99 and 12 volt adapters to run them at GoodWill also.

That is the best one I have found do it yourself, they fit in six inch ducting and with a little packing tape can be made to seal in the ducting by fitting two pieces together.
Here is a link to the do it yourself thread.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/308311-homemade-diy-show-off-your.html#post3860270

Click to expand...

thanks man! and thanks for the link