thinkin of uprading from 150w hps to 250w

howhighru

Well-Known Member
i have a 150w HPS and i was gonna upgrade to a 250w also, i found a great deal on Ebay for 149.00 w free shipping. you get the light, timer and hangers with it..
 
if you do upgrade just go with a 400W hps.. NO sense in "upgrading" from a 150 just to a 250.. IMHO your wastng money.. You can get a 400HPS for 120.00 shipped.
 

Brick Top

New Member
these are the two hps that i'm looking at.


can you tell me which one is better, and why?

i like the $191 cuz that wud fit my wallet just right. but if the $211 has a much bigger advantage then i would like to know



ty in advance


Unless you are dealing with a very limited amount of space and a space where providing adequate ventilation would be almost impossible do not waste your time or money stepping up from a 150-watt to a 250-watt light.
 
Unless there are some totally unalterable limitations preventing you from going to a 400-watt light jump over the 250-watt and get a 400-watt light.
 
It seems you are comfortable with something in the price range of $190.00 to about $215.00. Have you shopped around much to see how much more lighting you can get for that same amount of money?

Well for a few more bucks, $229.00, you could have the following.

Digital 400 watt Both HPS & MH Grow Light - Complete System

  • NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY !
  • BRIGHTER
  • REDUCES ENERGY
  • INCREASES LAMP LIFE
  • LIGHTWEIGHT + QUIET + LOW HEAT
  • AWE$OME VALUE, at an UNBEATABLE PRICE !
As seen in hobby and professional growers magazines across the country.
Complete 400 watt HPS & MH DIGITAL Grow Light System
100% BRAND NEW COMPLETE SYSTEM
This light is made for growing plants, quiet, safe, powerful, efficient and comes with 2 specialty grow bulbs.
This system is complete and ready to grow!

Plugs into a standard household outlet !

System includes:

  • 400 watt Digital, Electronic Remote Ballast
  • Lightwing Horizontal Reflector
  • 400 watt HPS High Output Horticultural bulb
  • 400 watt GrowBright Metal Halide (MH) bulb
  • Socket / Cord Set
About the system:
This 400 watt system is recommended for gardens anywhere between 3’ x 3’ (floor space) to 5’ x 5’.
BOTH A METAL HALIDE & HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM Grow Light system in one!
Growers worldwide consider the best way to grow flowering plants is by vegetatively growing them under the bright white light of the METAL HALIDE then switching over the the High Pressure Sodium’s super bright orangish/red spectrum for the flowering stage of plant growth. The Metal Halide bulb provides lush, compact plant growth. The HPS bulb’s spectrum mimics that of the "harvest sun" and promotes explosive, prolific flowering of plants.
Using Metal Halide and then switching to High Pressure Sodium is THE way to GROW the BEST PLANTS POSSIBLE.
This is simply the BEST High Intensity Discharge (H.I.D.) Grow Light System on the market today. Top Qualtiy Construction and Components combined with Outstanding Value make this the perfect choice for your grow light needs.
DIGITAL BALLAST info:
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IS THE GREATEST ADVANCEMENT IN GROW LIGHTS IN 35 YEARS!
MANUFACTURED BY "DIGITAL GREENHOUSE"
The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE Electronic ballasts are more efficient and reduce energy consumption. The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE Electronic ballast improves lighting quality and increases garden yields.
The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE ballast features patented "soft-start" technology which increases lamp life and stops voltage spikes on your power meter. The soft-start technology allows for 50% less power consumption during lamp startup.
The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE electronic ballast is lighter, smaller and more reliable than standard technology "core and coil" ballasts. It is also virtually silent, no noise or hum.! The ballast is totally sealed, which protects the unit from dust and dirt, ensuring a lifetime of trouble-free operation.
The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE electronic ballast operates at a high frequency (20,000Hz) instead of the lowly 60Hz of standard core&coil ballasts. This allows the lamp to operate more efficiently, produce more usable light for plants and last longer. Lamp lumen loss is minimized allowing for a brighter system over time and extending usable lamp life.
Energy consumption is reduced and on average will save over $60 per year on electric bills.
The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE electronic ballast operates cooler than standard systems improving ballast life and reducing temperature in your growing area.
The DIGITAL GREENHOUSE electronic ballast will automatically adjust to any input voltage from 90 volts up to 260 volts. It comes equipped with a 10’ grounded power cord, and plugs into standard 120v household current. You can easily change voltage to 220 or 240 volts if you wish.
TWO YEAR WARRANTY on Ballast and Components
MaxWing Reflector:

Measures: 19" long x 16 1/2" wide x 6" deep.
The MaxWing Reflector is LARGE and in CHARGE! This 4-sided reflector is made from highly reflective (95%+ reflective) polished aluminum this reflector will not rust, corrode, chip or discolor. NOT made from inferior chrome which, under the intense heat of an H.I.D. lamp, will chip, fade and discolor over time. The MaxWing Reflector is built to last a lifetime. It combines the high reflectivity of the mirror like finish of the polished aluminum with the excellent light dispersal qualities of a dimpled or hammer-toned surface. This is simply the BEST material to use for H.I.D. lighting reflectors. The horizontal configuration delivers the maximum amount of light over the entire garden. Hammer-toned surface eliminates "hotspots" and ensures lush, even plant growth.
LAMPS / BULBS INCLUDED:
400w HPS High Output Horticultural Bulb
This is not your ordinary 400 watt High Pressure Sodium bulb. This is a specialty 400 watt High Output Horticultural HPS bulb made specifically for growing plants. This bulb is head and shoulders above all other 400w HPS bulbs on the market today.

55,000 lumens !!! 10% more light than standard HPS bulbs
30% additional "BLUE" spectrum combined with high "RED" spectrum creates the correct balance for MAXIMUM PLANT GROWTH.
Higher Lumen output for HIGHER YIELDS.
24,000 hour expected life span (one year is 8,760 hours)
ONE YEAR WARRANTY on bulb
400 watt Metal Halide Bulb

The perfect bulb for VEGETATIVE PLANT GROWTH

Make your 400w HPS system into a "switchable" HPS/MH system with this light bulb!

This is a premium high output Metal Halide bulb. This 400 watt High Output MH bulb emits 38,000 lumens - standard 400w MH bulbs which emit only 36,000 lumens. This bulb gives you a higher light output which equates into faster / more plant growth and ultimately higher plant yields.
ONE YEAR WARRANTY bulb

PLUG / CORD SET
The Plug Cord Set features a 15’ heavy duty 16 gauge cord that attaches to the reflector. It’s universal design means it fits many major brand reflectors. This is important if you ever decide to choose a different reflector configuration, including an air cooled reflector.


Order

Select the reflector:
Maxwing Reflector
Euro Reflector - +$35.00
Mini Sunsoaker Reflector - +$38.00
QuadRay Reflector - +$38.00
CoolTube 6 Reflector - +$47.00
EasyCool 6 Reflector - +$48.00
EasyCool 8 Reflector - +$58.00
CoolTube 8 Reflector - +$58.00
Sunsoaker Reflector - +$60.00
AiroFlow - +$70.00

Select the HPS Bulb/Lamp:
Standard 400w HPS Bulb
GrowBright 400 watt HPS Bulb - +$10.00
AgroStar 400w HPS Lamp - +$35.00
Hortilux Super HPS Lamp 400 Watt - +$73.00

Select the MH Bulb:
AgroMax 400 watt MH 6500K Daylight Bulb
SunMaster 400w MH Warm Deluxe Bulb - +$19.00
SunMaster 400w MH Neutrtal Deluxe Bulb - +$10.00
SunMaster 400w MH Cool Deluxe Bulb - +$40.00

Do You Need a spare HPS bulb?:
No Spare HPS Bulb
Standard 400w HPS Bulb - +$15.95
GrowBright 400 watt HPS Bulb - +$29.95
AgroMax 400 watt HPS Bulb - +$54.95
Hortilux Super HPS Lamp 400 Watt - +$82.95

Do You Need a spare MH bulb?:
No Spare MH bulb
AgroMax 400 watt MH 6500K Daylight Bulb - +$44.95
SunMaster 400w MH Warm Deluxe Bulb - +$60.95
SunMaster 400w MH Neutrtal Deluxe Bulb - +$40.95
SunMaster 400w MH Cool Deluxe Bulb - +$83.95

Would you like Sunrise Reflector Hangers?:
No Sunrise Hi-Low Reflector Hangers
Sunrise Hi-Low Reflector Hangers - +$9.95

What Timer would you like?:
No Timer
Dual Outlet Mechanical Timer - Heavy Duty - +$12.95
8 Outlet Surge Protector w/ Built In Timer - +$22.95

Select the voltage:
110 volt power cord

Would you like to purchase an extended warranty?:
Standard Warranty
Extended Protection – 4 year ballast warranty - +$40.00



Or you could save money and get the following for $164.95. (of course you might want to pick a few of the upgrades and really dress it up since you are willing to pay around $200.00 or more anyway.)

Whichever way you went, the light above or the light below you would be roughly in your price range to well below it and have 400-watts instead of 250-watts.



ULTIMATE 400 WATT GROW LIGHT SYSTEM BOTH HPS & MH

Here it is, the ULTIMATE Grow Light, a 400 watt High Pressure Sodium grow light system combined with a 400 watt Metal Halide grow light system. This ULTIMATE system includes one fantastic grow light ballast, two specialty horticultural bulbs (lamps), an awesome four-side horizontal reflector and a FREE heavy duty timer. This is a better value in grow lights than you would find at any other hydroponics store.
WHY DO YOU NEED BOTH A METAL HALIDE GROW LIGHT AND HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM GROW LIGHT?!!

Using Metal Halide grow lights and then switching to High Pressure Sodium grow lights is THE way to GROW the BEST PLANTS POSSIBLE. Growers worldwide consider the best way to grow flowering plants is by vegetatively growing them under the bright white light of the METAL HALIDE then switching over to the HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM’s super bright orangish/red spectrum for the flowering stage of plant growth. The MH grow light bulb provides lush, compact plant growth. The HPS grow light bulbs spectrum mimics that of the &quotharvest sun" and promotes explosive, prolific flowering of plants.
LIGHTING BALLAST AND HOUSING

Dimensions: 9" long x 4" wide x 5.5" tall
The grow light ballast is a brand new REMOTE 400 watt HPS grow light ballast, with an innovative design that separates the ballast core away from the capacitor and igniter components to provide high performance and long life. This grow light ballast is made to our specifications with high output lighting results for horticulture / hydroponics / indoor gardening use. The High Pressure Sodium grow light ballast also features a convenient retractable handle with large keyholes for wall or ceiling mounting options. The lighting ballast also has over-sized rubber feet for electrical safety and quiet operation. The 8 foot power cord and 10 foot light bulb output cords are constructed of the highest quality, heavy gauge industrial grade electrical cord usually seen on grow lights costing much more. The ballast is pre-set and ready to plug into standard 110/120 household voltage, but can easily be changed to 220/240 volts. The 400 watt High Pressure Sodium grow light ballast will operate any standard or horticultural 400 watt High Pressure Sodium lamps and 400 watt Metal Halide Conversion lamps (see below). The universal socket set can be used with many other reflectors for future upgrades including air-cooled reflectors, umbrella style hoods or many other grow light reflector hoods, making this system the best value in hydroponic and indoor gardening lighting.
FOUR-SIDED HORIZONTAL GROW LIGHT REFLECTOR
Dimensions: 15.5" long x 12.5" wide x 6" deep
This quality grow light system features a lighting reflector hood that is a highly efficient FOUR sided reflector. This top of the line HORIZONTAL REFLECTOR is made from the HIGHEST QUALITY MATERIALS available! Specifically designed for growing plants indoors, this reflector incorporates a steel socket/reflector bracket, 5kv Pulse Rated Mogul Based socket and highly reflective polished aluminum reflector. The highly polished aluminum reflector has a mirror-like finish rated at 95% reflectivity for MAXIMUM LIGHT OUTPUT. This reflector hood is built to last a lifetime and can easily be cleaned with common household window cleaner. The grow lights Horizontal lamp configuration design allows for the greatest light coverage over the top of your indoor garden area while providing the highest light intensity levels possible. It is widely recognized that the BEST design for horticultural and hydroponic reflectors is the HORIZONTAL REFLECTOR design incorporated with this reflector. Additionally, this versatile grow light reflector can be used as a 4 sided reflector or as a completely adjustable BATWING reflector, your choice. Utilizing all four sides of the reflector ensures that every single lumen produced from the lamp/bulb is emitted downward onto your plants and not out onto your grow room walls. This grow light reflector hood comes with two heavy duty steel hangers to hang your reflector from and a 10’ cord from the reflector to the remote 400 watt High Pressure Sodium ballast housing.

400 WATT HPS LIGHT BULB
This standard bulb emits 50,000 lumens with a rated life span of 24,000 hours.
Features:

  • 50,000 lumens
  • 24,000 hour rated life
  • mogul base
  • universal mounting position
400 WATT HORTICULTURAL METAL HALIDE CONVERSION LAMP

This is a top of the line, high output, specialty horticultural Metal Halide Conversion bulb. This is a specialty bulb made to operate specifically with the 400 watt High Pressure Sodium ballast that comes with this ULTIMATE grow light system. This Metal Halide grow light conversion bulb will promote strong, lush, compact vegetative growth for all green plants. This special high output Metal Halide Grow Light conversion lamp pumps out an amazing 38,000 lumens, compared to only 30,000-36,000 lumens for standard 400 watt Metal Halide lamps. Remember, HIGHER LUMEN OUTPUT equals HIGHER YIELDS. The Metal Halide grow light conversion bulb provides a balanced light spectrum of 4100 Kelvin, imitating natural sunlight?. This quality grow light bulb has a rated life of 20,000 hours.
FREE - HEAVY DUTY, DUAL OUTLET TIMER

This heavy duty dual-outlet timer is top quality and made specifically for grow lights. It is heavy duty with a 2,000 watt capacity, is fully grounded and UL listed for safety. This grow light timer is 24 hour programmable down to 15 minute increments. The grow light timer features dual outlets, so you can control either two grow lights, or a grow light and a fan with the same timer!
WARRANTY FOR THE ULTIMATE 400 WATT GROW LIGHT

This quality grow light system features a fantastic warranty usually found with grow lights costing much more. The 400 watt High Pressure Sodium grow light carries a 2 year warranty for the High Pressure Sodium ballast and components and a 1 year warranty for the high output, spectrally enhanced High Pressure Sodium lamp and Metal Halide Lamp. If you need any help or assistance with your purchase, feel free to contact our hydroponics and indoor gardening experts via phone or email.

Order

Select the reflector:
4 Sided Horizontal Reflector
Maxwing Reflector - +$35.00
Euro Reflector - +$59.00
QuadRay Reflector - +$63.00
Mini Sunsoaker Reflector - +$63.00
SuperNova Reflector - +$63.00
CoolTube 6 Reflector - +$70.00
EasyCool 6 Reflector - +$81.00
EasyCool 8 Reflector - +$91.00
CoolTube 8 Reflector - +$91.00
Sunsoaker Reflector - +$93.00

Select the HPS Bulb/Lamp:
Standard 400w HPS Bulb
GrowBright 400 watt HPS Bulb - +$10.00
AgroMax 400 watt HPS Bulb - +$45.00

Select the MH Conversion Bulb:
GrowBright 400 watt MH Conversion Bulb
AgroMax 400 watt MH Conversion Bulb - +$15.00
SunMaster 400w MH Conversion Neutral Deluxe - +$19.00

Do You Need a spare HPS bulb?:
No Spare HPS Bulb
Standard 400w HPS Bulb - +$15.95
GrowBright 400 watt HPS Bulb - +$19.95
AgroMax 400 watt HPS Bulb - +$54.95

Would you like Sunrise Reflector Hangers?:
No Sunrise Hi-Low Reflector Hangers

What Timer would you like?:
Dual Outlet Mechanical Timer - Heavy Duty

Do You Need a spare MH Conversion bulb?:
No Spare MH Conversion Bulb
GrowBright 400 watt MH Conversion Bulb - +$30.95
AgroMax 400 watt MH Conversion Bulb - +$45.95
SunMaster 400w MH Conversion Neutral Deluxe - +$49.95

Would you like to purchase an extended warranty?:
Standard Warranty
Extended Protection – 4 year ballast warranty - +$25.00
 

Brick Top

New Member
I said the same thing but it only took me one line to do it lol..


I just gave him visuals of actual options that are more or less in to under the prices he mentioned he was going to pay for a 250-watt light.

He can look at what I posted and see exactly what he could get for his money, and that includes if say he decided to take the route of saving some money by picking the less expensive option but say upgrading to a better reflective hood or a CoolTube and still be at or below the dollar figures he had mentioned.
 
That is why I used more than just one line.

I did not simply offer an opinion. Instead I showed valid options well worth considering in some form or another and that also make very good value for your dollar comparatives to the 250-watt lights he is considering.
 

univ

Active Member
I just gave him visuals of actual options that are more or less in to under the prices he mentioned he was going to pay for a 250-watt light.

He can look at what I posted and see exactly what he could get for his money, and that includes if say he decided to take the route of saving some money by picking the less expensive option but say upgrading to a better reflective hood or a CoolTube and still be at or below the dollar figures he had mentioned.
 
That is why I used more than just one line.

I did not simply offer an opinion. Instead I showed valid options well worth considering in some form or another and that also make very good value for your dollar comparatives to the 250-watt lights he is considering.
i use a grow tent and its not that big enough for a 400w. i think a 250w would work great though, for me. the grow tent also works good as a heater, cause winter is approaching. so keeps my room nice and warm. =]
 
C

chitownsmoking

Guest
i would get atleast a 400, though i have done great grows with a 250 watt hps and like another 100 watts of florors. cheapest 250 watter you will find will be on www.insidesun.com thats were i got mine
 

Brick Top

New Member
i use a grow tent and its not that big enough for a 400w. i think a 250w would work great though, for me. the grow tent also works good as a heater, cause winter is approaching. so keeps my room nice and warm. =]

What is your main limitation, height or heat? You could pick the lower priced magnetic ballast 400-watt light that starts at $164.95 and upgrade to a CoolTube 6 for an additional $70.00 and you are just a few dollars higher than the digital ballast 400-watt option would have cost.
 
Now I have no idea if it was true and if so what CFM fan the person was using but recently someone said they run a 400-watt CoolTube and claimed it runs so cool that he can hold his hand against the glass tube. If he can do that I think he must be sucking his intake air from the South Pole but the point is you can really control temperatures with a CoolTube and a good fan drawling air through it.
 
But if you are bound and determined to go with a 250-watt light I might suggest getting the highest grade reflective hood you can and if you are not using top reflective material then upgrade and hopefully you will get all you hope to out of it.
 

Brick Top

New Member
that website is pretty sick. i might go with this 400w hps http://www.insidesun.com/ecc584ec06d4630abdc6908519b10cb2.item only for 100 bucks. prob get it with next check

I might want to reconsider doing business with InsideSun. I purchased a light from them and what was delivered was exactly what I ordered. I ordered two more lights a short time later and neither were what I ordered. They had a cheaper reflector but the same ballast and in the right wattage.
 
I emailed asking about the error and what to do to go about exchanging them and was told they were out of stock, that is why I was sent what I was sent even though when I ordered it said in stock, and that it would be a fairly long time before new stocks arrived so I would be better off to keep what I had. I was also told that there really wasn’t any difference in the reflective hoods anyway.
 
I called and said if the lights I had ordered were out of stock I should have been notified and given the option to downgrade if I wanted to or if they were going to alter my order without asking me they should have upgraded it to the next best reflective hood they had instead of downgrading it.
 
Once again I was told basically the same thing as in the email. I didn’t buy any of the guy’s story, but was in something of a bind so I said I would keep them and then asked for a refund or credit for the difference in price between the two lights I paid for and the two lesser expensive lights I was delivered.
 
I guess that was just going to far on my part because in response I received a string of expletives that would have made a drunk Marine blush explaining to me that there would be no refund of any sort or amount nor any credit given.
 
Maybe InsideSun seems like a good place to do business with to you but I more than learned my lesson about InsideSun and as a number of years back now I told the guy I would do I tell the story of my InsideSun experience every time I see someone considering doing business with InsideSun.
 

univ

Active Member
I might want to reconsider doing business with InsideSun. I purchased a light from them and what was delivered was exactly what I ordered. I ordered two more lights a short time later and neither were what I ordered. They had a cheaper reflector but the same ballast and in the right wattage.
 
I emailed asking about the error and what to do to go about exchanging them and was told they were out of stock, that is why I was sent what I was sent even though when I ordered it said in stock, and that it would be a fairly long time before new stocks arrived so I would be better off to keep what I had. I was also told that there really wasn’t any difference in the reflective hoods anyway.
 
I called and said if the lights I had ordered were out of stock I should have been notified and given the option to downgrade if I wanted to or if they were going to alter my order without asking me they should have upgraded it to the next best reflective hood they had instead of downgrading it.
 
Once again I was told basically the same thing as in the email. I didn’t buy any of the guy’s story, but was in something of a bind so I said I would keep them and then asked for a refund or credit for the difference in price between the two lights I paid for and the two lesser expensive lights I was delivered.
 
I guess that was just going to far on my part because in response I received a string of expletives that would have made a drunk Marine blush explaining to me that there would be no refund of any sort or amount nor any credit given.
 
Maybe InsideSun seems like a good place to do business with to you but I more than learned my lesson about InsideSun and as a number of years back now I told the guy I would do I tell the story of my InsideSun experience every time I see someone considering doing business with InsideSun.
thats good to know so before i purchase something i can call and ask them if the item i like is in stock.

and i'm thinking of going with a 400w hps that has a white reflector.

on top of that, i can get my refund by disputing it on my credit card.

but yeah thanks for the look outs. if i get a 400w hps. i would prob have to do work on my tent w/ some CFM fans. cause i know the heat it will project
 

Brick Top

New Member
on top of that, i can get my refund by disputing it on my credit card.

My error was I used my debit card and there is no disputing a charge on one of those like there is a credit card, at least not through my bank.

Then again in my case when I said I was going to send them back I was told no replacements would be shipped and I would just be out the money/lights so again having used my debit card I did not have the same recourse of disputing anything.
 

Mr.Oasis

Active Member
i recently (less than 2 weeks ago) upgraded from 2 150w hps to a 400 hps/mh with a remote ballast and a 16x22" batwing reflector, out the door for just under $200 (with shipping) and the heat really is not that much different from my two 150's, im also growing in a tent, 4x2x5, ive got the ballast a few feet away and the light itself really doesn't throw much more heat at all than my smaller ones did however my plants have reached out to kiss my ass for giving them the extra 25000 lumens, def worth it if you wanna upgrade


ps. brick top, you've got to be one of the most thorough responders on RIU, sometimes people hate on you but ive learned more than a little from your replies in many a thread, keep it up, pro's would still call me a noob but ive come a lonng way since my first seeds hit the dirt
 
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