modified lighting setup/schedule

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gr33nranger

Member
i was wondering if it would be a good idea to run a 400w MH @6700k along with 4 65w CFLs @ 6500k (for veg only)? i was thinking since the MH will eat electricity like candy maybe i could run the CFLs 24/0 and run the MH 12/12. would this be ok? it would certainly seem that it would save some power and reduce the total amount of heat. the only problem i could think of was what if the plants "sensed" the light change when the MH went off and went into flowering way too early. after veg i plan to use a 400w hps full spectrum to flower. 4 plants in a 5x4x2 (height x width x depth) tent hydro grow. any input would be greatly appreciated. i want to figure out a way to get the big benefits from using HID during the veg and flower periods but i want to save as much power as possible. :eyesmoke:
 
cacamal

cacamal

Well-Known Member
i think you would be fine with that idea but if you want to save even more juice i would go buy a t12 shop light for 15 bucks and rock that for veg. more light spread out and two 4 foot t12s would only be 2x40w at 80 watts compared to 4x65w at 260watts
 
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gr33nranger

Member
a good idea. however, i already have the cfls and mh/hps. what about the change in lighting from the mh? does anyone think it will fudge up the veg?
 
T

theTinker

Member
Hey, this idea should be fine. It will work without problems caused by the change of lighting.
Its no different than heavy clouds blocking the a bright sun. As long as there is enough light so that light hits most of the plants even at low levels, it will stop it from flowering and continue to veg.

I have a heat issue at the moment due to summer temperatures. If i may suggest my idea, i think you might like it slightly more.
Having the MH/HPS on 12/12 will be less efficent for the plant than alternating between 2on/2off. It just comes down to the simple logic and maths i think. The plant will only use a certain % of the light to process into sugars and fill its reserves. As it continues to process, its likely it will have diminished returns as most things in the world does. eg: a plant starving for light will waste less as a plant that is fullish.
In my opinion (and its only an educated guess tbh), allowing the plant to absorb as much as light possible for 2 hours, then allow it to process whatever light it can and then continue to process the light energy in the dimmer times. Depleting its reserves a little, then recharging them shortly later when lights come back on.

Hope that explains my theory well enough.
 
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gr33nranger

Member
gotta go to work. the two hour interval definitely wont work with that. i dont know if a timer will work with my ballast. its a hidhut digi hps/mh and it seems i have to mess with the fuse to get it on. after that it works fine.
 
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cfh1985

Member
I think the more important point to make is that HID bulbs are more efficient than CFL's/T5's, so although you will save money you'll ultimately be spending more per lumen. If you leave the MH on constantly you will either finish vegging sooner or finish vegging with bigger plants
 
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