From CFLs to HPS

Hey All, I decided to buy a 150w HPS and it arrived yesterday. I had been useing 168w of CFLs ( 4x42w ).

Well anyway, I hooked up the HPS , 1st time i had seen one in action , its pretty cool it charges up or whatever and get pretty bright but im not seeing a whole lot of added light going on compared to the CFLs.

It looks like MORE of my grow area is lit up compared to the CFLs but it seems just as bright if not a little LESS bright on my plant.

I have my plant about 6 inches away from the light compared to only an inch or 2 from the cfl is probly why but im not 100% sure.

Did i waste my money on the 150w HPS? Will it eventually make me happier than the 4 CFL bulbs? Keep in mind i lost 18w in the switch

reckon you can get closer than that................you didnt waste your money mate but why not chuck the cfls in too.........

May give you slightly denser buds perhaps but in reality like you say you lost wattage and wasn't really an upgrade to be honest. Why dont you throw the old CFLs back in there with the HPS?

yep shoulda gone with a 250w hps, like the other lads have said you should have your cfl's in there aswell maybe 2 down either side of the plant as supplemental lighting with the hps on the top

I can put the CFLs back in , i can probly only fit 2 in my space now though. Thanks for the answers guys.

The hps is more intense and penetrates better, so I don't think you lost wattage but you didn't gain all that much. Maybe you can find a buyer for the 150 and go to a bigger one.

Add up the lumens. You upgraded.

bigv1976 said:

Add up the lumens. You upgraded.

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Thats why i bouht the 150w to begin with the 42w CFLs are 2800 lumens each equaling 11200 , this 150 puts out 16000.

Hoja said:

Thats why i bouht the 150w to begin with the 42w CFLs are 2800 lumens each equaling 11200 , this 150 puts out 16000.

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i would go with the 150w, and put the CFL's in like all others have said. if you dont got enough room, just finish this grow and get a slightly bigger cab/tent if possible. the lower buds wont be as dense and stuff without lighting there or so i have heard.

Hoja said:

Thats why i bouht the 150w to begin with the 42w CFLs are 2800 lumens each equaling 11200 , this 150 puts out 16000.

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Your math is off. It's a common mistake. You cannot actually multiply overall lumen output by adding even (10) 42w CFLs. It does add some coverage and seems to be brighter. But 2800 lumens is about all you'll get. Taste, potency and bud size/development are greatly improved with HPS over CFL lighting. You didn't waste your money at all. But a 250 or 400w HPS would put out even more lumens per watts consumed than a 150. Sure, throw those CFLs back in there around the HPS. The more lumen dispersion over a larger area, the better.

What I've said to some who argue about the use of CFLs instead of HPS is the idea is to replicate the outdoor sunlight intensity and color spectrum in mid summer. And HPS or MH matches the sun closer than CFLs, hands down.

Jar Man said:

What I've said to some who argue about the use of CFLs instead of HPS is the idea is to replicate the outdoor sunlight intensity and color spectrum in mid summer. And HPS or MH matches the sun closer than CFLs, hands down.

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I agree HPS are better..