What should I do?

907cannabis

Well-Known Member
Ok so here's my room...
image.jpeg

And the dilemma is.... Right now I have 1 600w switchable hid ballast and one 600w equiv led in the room.( don't compare growths they are all of different age). I'm going to flip the switch soon and I have options on lighting.

First I have a lumatek 1000w digital dimmable ballast that's selectable from 400w-1000w with super lumens setting.
image.jpeg

Second I have a xtrasun ballast 1000w dimmable ballast that's selectable as well at 50% 75% 100% and super setting.
image.jpeg
And with those I have a 6 in vented hood and a 8 in vented hood both xtrasun and one has a 1000w bulb one has a 600w bulb.

I'm told the 600 bulb was ran on 750 watts on the xtrasun ballast with no problems and also hear the 1000w lumatek can run the 600w bulb on the 600w setting?

I need to get more light in the room for bud, should I run 2 600w bulbs one being on the lumatek or xtrasun ballast? Or should I just get a track and run the 1000w? I don't like the idea of the plants only getting full light half the time, anyone have a good opinion on tracks and how well they work?

With all this gear what would you do?
 

907cannabis

Well-Known Member
Also just to note power consumption is a huge deal here, like 20c or more per kW/hr. Price fluctuates a bit.
 

GreenHighlander

Well-Known Member
1000w all the way.
It has been years since I ran a light mover, but they do what they are suppose to.
what are the dimensions on your space?
 

GreenHighlander

Well-Known Member
Now that I saw your picture, I would run 2x 1000w in there with adequate ventilation. I am guessing it is roughly 5x10? maybe 4x12?
 

907cannabis

Well-Known Member
Room is almost 4ft wide not quite lol, and it's like 12 long but I'm only using about 10ft. The problem is electricity is expensive here.

I hear lumatek recommends switching bulbs if you lower wattage on the ballast. I read they litterally state on the manual to use a 600w bulb on the 600w setting on the lumatek 1000 ballast.

Anyone know if this is true? I don't have the manual for the dang thing so I'm skeptical, I've heard both sides, any proof would be great.

The room isn't too hard to cool as it is, I don't imagine adding a vented 1000 would make it worse, it would be constantly pulling air out of the room where as right now I'm set up on a thermostat with a cold intake fan when it gets too hot.

i like the idea of 1000 on the big plants, they might need that penetration more anyway.

So 8in vented 1000w on xtrasun ballast in back over big plants and non-vented 600w in front (makes sense and I can maneuver around it too) over the smaller plants? That actually sounds like a decent plan.

For the guy who says run led, I have two of them but I've never seen them perform like hid bulbs, even with same wattages. Would be great to have the cheaper bill though.

I'll be switching in a week or so, some plants need time to root better since I just transplanted them.
 
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