HID question regarding 600 watt vs 1000 watt
Final Phase
Well-Known Member
I'm guessing they are about the same... I really like being able to change the light settings all around the grow space and mother room. It has made finishing up a grow in So Cal. a lot easier controlling heat.
Alec420
Well-Known Member
yeah, I was thinking of getting a 1000 watt dim-able, but i have the same problem with So Cal heat... I always read the arguments about 600s being more efficient and whatever, however i like the idea of having the extra 400 watt wiggle room if my plants get alittle to big for the 600
bryan oconner
Well-Known Member
yes same brightness . but ! if you dim a 1000 watt bulb to 600 watts . it changes the spectrum . so will this dimed bulb grow the same . no .. my info I coming from hortilux .com . please don't just bash my answer take the time to read some data . I know a lot of people do dim the bulbs and get great results . but why would you dim ? only for a super hot day . or take advantage of the ballast for veg .
Alec420
Well-Known Member
the reason I would want a dimable light is 1.for heat 2. unitll i can buy a portable A/C i dont need to buy a 1000 watt cause i already have one 3. so i can slowly increase the light over time to get more efficient use of my light and save some money on electricity.
Im doing a perpetual harvest, so in my veg tent ill have like 400 watts, once plants are read to flower I'll set my 1000w light to 400w then slowly increase it when plants get bigger
Alec420
Well-Known Member
Huh? so you have to change the bulbs for different settings?Both my 600w dimmables instructions said to change down the bulb when dimming...
bryan oconner
Well-Known Member
what I do . I can dim mine as well . I just own more then 1 bulb wattage . throw in a 600 and turn it to 600 switch . also never dim a mh bulb . I killed a hortilux 220 dollar bulb ! it was a 7200 k blue very good bulb . hortilux warrantied it told me not to do it again . it will not kill a hps .
sworth
Well-Known Member
Yup...
kiwipaulie
Well-Known Member
My 1k is so fucken bright haha. Way more than my 600, but the 600's I believe give better bang for buck.
Alec420
Well-Known Member
okay, so as long as i have a digital dimmable ballast and both 600 and 1000 bulbs Im free to change when ever i want without losing the efficiency of the 600 because they are separate bulbs
sworth
Well-Known Member
Both bulbs, and you're good to go.
I have run a 600w bulb dimmed to 400w, but in a couple of months the bulb was dead. First time I've had a bulb actually die on me, so dimming below wattage really takes it out of the bulb, and as mentioned; you're not going to get the right light spectrum anyway.
Adds a bit to overall costs getting extra bulbs...but not as much as a 1000w and 600w ballast
I have run a 600w bulb dimmed to 400w, but in a couple of months the bulb was dead. First time I've had a bulb actually die on me, so dimming below wattage really takes it out of the bulb, and as mentioned; you're not going to get the right light spectrum anyway.
Adds a bit to overall costs getting extra bulbs...but not as much as a 1000w and 600w ballast
Alec420
Well-Known Member
that sucks! so this is not an isolated indecent? have you head of other people having that happen to them?Both bulbs, and you're good to go.
I have run a 600w bulb dimmed to 400w, but in a couple of months the bulb was dead. First time I've had a bulb actually die on me, so dimming below wattage really takes it out of the bulb, and as mentioned; you're not going to get the right light spectrum anyway.
Adds a bit to overall costs getting extra bulbs...but not as much as a 1000w and 600w ballast
sworth
Well-Known Member
I haven't heard anyone here on RIU have the same thing.
I had to get a "safe" electrician over to the grow because I couldn't work out why the light would work for a few minutes then cut out. I had changed the contactor, and the timer, and the ballast, and the hood...every-bloody-thing except the bulb!
Still, the electrician had a laugh, and explained why the bulb gets f**ked running lower wattage (No, I cannot recall why
)
Since then, if I dim the ballast I change the bulb. And everything's been fine.
(and I now have a cool electrician to call on
)
I had to get a "safe" electrician over to the grow because I couldn't work out why the light would work for a few minutes then cut out. I had changed the contactor, and the timer, and the ballast, and the hood...every-bloody-thing except the bulb!
Still, the electrician had a laugh, and explained why the bulb gets f**ked running lower wattage (No, I cannot recall why
)Since then, if I dim the ballast I change the bulb. And everything's been fine.
(and I now have a cool electrician to call on
)
kiwipaulie
Well-Known Member
Sorry i don't know I have different ballasts for 400, 600 & 1000. I'm still old school with mag ballasts lol