Hps questions

So I just finished my first indoor grow using a 450w viparspectra and 300w marshydro I pulled a little over 4 ounces of high quality bud towards the end it became obvious that they needed more light so this go around I'm thinking a 400w air cooled hps along with the 450w viparspectra my questions are

How can I tell if my breaker can handle a 400w hps? My computer is 550w gaming computer used to be on that breaker no problems and this past season my 450w viparspectra and 300w mars were on that breaker all season no problems which actual draw would be about 350w with both lights it would be just the 400w on the one breaker

And would a 2x4x5 tent even be big enough for 400w hps?

yes, a 400hps is plenty for that tent alone. that and a 450w vipar is too much IMO. unnecessary. regarding your breaker, its probably a typical 15a household line, in which case you dont want to go over 10a. first, confirm the breaker size on the line you are on (flip breakers till you find it if its not labeled). then count your amps for your pc, lights, fans, pumps. keep utilization under 80% of breaker rating, you'll be fine

visajoe1 said:

yes, a 400hps is plenty for that tent alone. that and a 450w vipar is too much IMO. unnecessary. regarding your breaker, its probably a typical 15a household line, in which case you dont want to go over 10a. first, confirm the breaker size on the line you are on (flip breakers till you find it if its not labeled). then count your amps for your pc, lights, fans, pumps. keep utilization under 80% of breaker rating, you'll be fine

Click to expand...

Sounds dumb but how do you flip breakers on purpose ? Over load the wall socket till it flips off?

714steadyeddie said:

Sounds dumb but how do you flip breakers on purpose ? Over load the wall socket till it flips off?

Click to expand...

Going to the wall and flipping the switch on the circuit? Also, Vipar 450s are only 206w and put out 420 PPFD @ 12-16", which is fairly low.

Olive Drab Green said:

Going to the wall and flipping the switch on the circuit? Also, Vipar 450s are only 206w and put out 420 PPFD @ 12-16", which is fairly low.

Click to expand...

Safer and smarter. Lol

Olive Drab Green said:

Going to the wall and flipping the switch on the circuit? Also, Vipar 450s are only 206w and put out 420 PPFD @ 12-16", which is fairly low.

Click to expand...

Yea the viparspectra is alright but not good enough for me I live in a apartment and have to figure out how to get a relentless crow nesting off my breaker box first lol

How much should I really worry about a 400w? My computer used to be on that breaker it isn't anymore but it was 550w it's been moved was planning on putting the light on that one then the fans on a different breaker

BlazingGunner said:

Yea the viparspectra is alright but not good enough for me I live in a apartment and have to figure out how to get a relentless crow nesting off my breaker box first lol

How much should I really worry about a 400w? My computer used to be on that breaker it isn't anymore but it was 550w it's been moved was planning on putting the light on that one then the fans on a different breaker

Click to expand...

Well, each breaker is probably 15-30 amps each, usually 15-20. That is the pertinent information you should find out. Maybe rethink the devices on your circuit.

I will say that if you have the scratch to buy a new system? ~250w of COBs or 315w of CMH will put out the PPFD of a 600w HPS, and you should go that route.

The breaker probably has a sticker or amerage indicator of some sort in the box, usually 15a in an american bedroom. Your 500w cpu could only momentarily draw that upon heavy demand (3d gaming at max setting ect) but a light, atleast once warmed up will be a constant demand.

Olive Drab Green said:

Well, each breaker is probably 15-30 amps each, usually 15-20. That is the pertinent information you should find out. Maybe rethink the devices on your circuit.

I will say that if you have the scratch to buy a new system? ~250w of COBs or 315w of CMH will put out the PPFD of a 600w HPS, and you should go that route.

Click to expand...

I wish I had more to drop I'd probably look into a cob kit I have like 200 at most right now I may just wait and save for a kit of some sort I got 4 ounces of good smoke off the viparspectra and mars combined but I KNOW I can do better lol

BlazingGunner said:

I wish I had more to drop I'd probably look into a cob kit I have like 200 at most right now I may just wait and save for a kit of some sort I got 4 ounces of good smoke off the viparspectra and mars combined but I KNOW I can do better lol

Click to expand...

Oh, I'm aware. My second set of lights were two 450w ViparSpectras. Got 4 ounces in two or three months from two plants using 412w. But why waste time with that when I can grow a pound from 241w with the same number of plants?

Olive Drab Green said:

Oh, I'm aware. My second set of lights were two 450w ViparSpectras. Got 4 ounces in two or three months from two plants using 412w. But why waste time with that when I can grow a pound from 241w with the same number of plants?

Click to expand...

That's pretty much where I'm at but have no idea where to start being in a apartment I have to be discrete what kind of light you using? A pound could tide me between grows lol eh I think lol I smoke a lot

I miss my outdoor grows lol

BlazingGunner said:

That's pretty much where I'm at but have no idea where to start being in a apartment I have to be discrete what kind of light you using? A pound could tide me between grows lol eh I think lol I smoke a lot

I miss my outdoor grows lol

Click to expand...

I told you. COBs.

Example: https://www.tastyled.com

Olive Drab Green said:

I told you. COBs.

Example: https://www.tastyled.com

Click to expand...

Which tastys are running the T1 is within my budget wonder if that plus the viparspectra would be any better

BlazingGunner said:

Which tastys are running the T1 is within my budget wonder if that plus the viparspectra would be any better

Click to expand...

The T1 will cover an 18x18, but with double the power of one of your Vipar. Even just one of those until you buy more will be immediately and noticeably better. This is exactly what I did. I now have 3. I recommend just working on one plant under a single T1. I suspect it will outperform your expectations.

For fuck's sake, I had trichomes on 3-day-old seedlings.

Olive Drab Green said:

The T1 will cover an 18x18, but with double the power of one of your Vipar. Even just one of those until you buy more will be immediately and noticeably better. This is exactly what I did. I now have 3. I recommend just working on one plant under a single T1. I suspect it will outperform your expectations.

For fuck's sake, I had trichomes on 3-day-old seedlings.

Click to expand...

Sounds like the route imma go thanks Man. Is that setup what you pulled a pound with? If I can even get half a pound I'd be happy lol realistically I'd need at least 12 ounces to hold me over a 3 month cycle but anymore then 4 will be a win until I'm used to growing indoors

Honestly the biggest cripe I had with the viparspectra/marshydro combo was veg time took forever

This was close to harvest you can see the lack of light on the left side they obviously can be used just not very well

BlazingGunner said:

Sounds like the route imma go thanks Man. Is that setup what you pulled a pound with? If I can even get half a pound I'd be happy lol realistically I'd need at least 12 ounces to hold me over a 3 month cycle but anymore then 4 will be a win until I'm used to growing indoors

Honestly the biggest cripe I had with the viparspectra/marshydro combo was veg time took forever

This was close to harvest you can see the lack of light on the left side they obviously can be used just not very well

Click to expand...

241w = 1lbs. I'd expect near or around 8 ounces from a plant under a single T1. Maybe two, but one would be an immense upgrade.

visajoe1 said:

yes, a 400hps is plenty for that tent alone. that and a 450w vipar is too much IMO. unnecessary. regarding your breaker, its probably a typical 15a household line, in which case you dont want to go over 10a. first, confirm the breaker size on the line you are on (flip breakers till you find it if its not labeled). then count your amps for your pc, lights, fans, pumps. keep utilization under 80% of breaker rating, you'll be fine

Click to expand...

Are the watts of the ballast(400w)and bulb(400w) put together to make 800 divided by 120v making 6.6? I'm sorry if that's a stupid question just trying to figure that part out

BlazingGunner said:

Are the watts of the ballast(400w)and bulb(400w) put together to make 800 divided by 120v making 6.6? I'm sorry if that's a stupid question just trying to figure that part out

Click to expand...

not stupid question, electrical is confusing, but important to understand. your 6.6 number would be correct assuming both actually pull 400w, but they probably dont. you should grab a killawatt, about $20 on amazon

Watts= voltage x amperage

find the specs for your ballast and vipar (electrical tag on unit) and find the amperage. find this tag on all your devices and add the amps up. for example, the meanwell driver pictured below is pulling 4 amps on a 120-240v lines

714steadyeddie said:

Sounds dumb but how do you flip breakers on purpose ? Over load the wall socket till it flips off?

Click to expand...

just turn a breaker off until it turns off the one you're looking for. check a couple nearby outlets to confirm whats on the circuit by plugging something in.

when i checked my apt, i just turned everything on, then turned breakers off one at a time and noted which items were on which line. never a worry of overloading a line

visajoe1 said:

not stupid question, electrical is confusing, but important to understand. your 6.6 number would be correct assuming both actually pull 400w, but they probably dont. you should grab a killawatt, about $20 on amazon

Watts= voltage x amperage

find the specs for your ballast and vipar (electrical tag on unit) and find the amperage. find this tag on all your devices and add the amps up. for example, the meanwell driver pictured below is pulling 4 amps on a 120-240v lines

Click to expand...

Thanks that simplified it a lot problem is I don't have the kit yet to see what it would be lol I figured over estimate is better then under