DD'S Thinking of a upgrade for his Hobbo set up. Pro In-put needed!

[degenerative_disc]

Ok

I have always been proud of my little hobbo set up as it yielded more then I expected for my first year harvest. I have an opportunity to upgrade from my 150 watt HPS light to a 400 watt MH light for $40 bucks.

My question is will the 400 make much difference in what I have now and if so how much difference? I am happy with what I got now but if 400 watts is going to make me REAL happy will it be worth it?

I get the light fixture, built in balast, light reflector and the bulb for $40 bucks. I think it sounds like a good deal but dont know how much it will improve my hobbo set up.

Whats your pro input on this and what are your reasons why I should or shouldnt do upgrade.

Cheers!!!!

 

[PUFF MONKEY]

how big is you space ?? how are your temps with the 150 ?

 

[Locked]

Sounds like a great deal...only problem I see is the built in ballast part...they generate a lot of heat on top of the heat from the bulb...but more lumens will enable you to grow in a bigger space with more plants...but you will most likely hve new ventilation issues to tackle.

 

[degenerative_disc]

3' wide
4' deep
7'high

My temps are controlable so not much worry there. My temp stays constant around 80-90 tops

Cheers!!!

 

[degenerative_disc]

Thanks Hamster
How much more heat are we talking?

Here is a pic of the light.

Cheers!!!

 

[Locked]

Thanks Hamster
How much more heat are we talking?

Here is a pic of the light.

Cheers!!!

I am not sure having never used one before but I am sure someone will be able to gve you an idea...I will say for 40 bucks it sounds like a good deal...hve you researched what kind of bulbs it takes and how much a replacement bulb will cost? That wld be the only other thing I wld be real concerned about...imagine if it is a bulb that costs 150-200 bucks? Not trying to scare you away from the deal...just pointing out the lil things that might help you make up your mind...

 

[degenerative_disc]

Thanks Hamster
I have purchased light bulbs like this before for a factory I worked at. They run about 60 bucks for the bulb.

cheers!!!

 

[pcduck]

Looks to me like the light will take up half the height in your grow room.
Can't you disengage the ballast from the lamp? and put the ballast outside the grow area.

 

[degenerative_disc]

I am not sure if that can be done pc
But i do see your point, I have not seen the unit in person just going by the pic in the add.

Cheers!!!

Actualy I only let my plants grow to about 3-4' tops anyways.

 

[pcduck]

If you can remove the ballast that would also help with the added heat from the added wattage. After going through the ballast should still be just 3 wires going to the light base(where you screw the bulb into)

 

[degenerative_disc]

If I buy it I will look into that. I will wait till I get a little more input from here before I run out and buy it. If I do buy it your idea of seperating the balst is a good idea to reduce heat. Thanks PC!

Cheers!!!

What about you Art! My friend I see you watching lol what are your thoughts?

 

[ASEgrower]

Isnt that like an outdoor parking lot style light? I thought those were different than the MH used for growing?

 

[Mutt]

Thats the type of light I use. The bulb is 26 bucks at lowes but can be had cheaper online.
I grow just fine with mine. I would ditch the bulb it came with probably been burned in for years and lost a lot of its intensity.
All you need to do is extend the socket wires put on a grounded plug and your off and running. I ditched the reflector myself and just hang the bulb vert with plants all around it.
The ballast does get warm. So remoting it is a must. But know of others that grow in open area and use em with great success with the whole thing left un altered. But that would be more for an open room scenario IMO.
Those are called "hi-bay" fixtures and used in warehouses. They will run a 400w MH all day long and grow herb just fine. If you want you can spend the extra bucks for a more spectral friendly grow bulb...they will work fine as long as the bulb is made for a magnetic ballast
You can check in my last grow journal to see what i did with mine

 

[degenerative_disc]

Thanks Mutt
Some good info there!!!

So its a good deal I take it? Will it inprove my yield by much? and how big of an area will it light maybe I should look at making my space a little bigger and bump up the amount of plants I put in. What do you guys think on this?

Cheers!!!

 

[Locked]

I wld try and increase your grow area provided you don't increase beyond your lumens...not sure how many lumens that bulb will put out but it has to be more then your current set up...

 

[degenerative_disc]

Thats what I was thinking too thanks Hamster I will have to see if I am able to increase size of room for this light if not well I guess 2 plants are going to get alot of light lol!

Cheers!!!

 

[ASEgrower]

Thats the type of light I use. The bulb is 26 bucks at lowes but can be had cheaper online.
I grow just fine with mine. I would ditch the bulb it came with probably been burned in for years and lost a lot of its intensity.
All you need to do is extend the socket wires put on a grounded plug and your off and running. I ditched the reflector myself and just hang the bulb vert with plants all around it.
The ballast does get warm. So remoting it is a must. But know of others that grow in open area and use em with great success with the whole thing left un altered. But that would be more for an open room scenario IMO.
Those are called "hi-bay" fixtures and used in warehouses. They will run a 400w MH all day long and grow herb just fine. If you want you can spend the extra bucks for a more spectral friendly grow bulb...they will work fine as long as the bulb is made for a magnetic ballast
You can check in my last grow journal to see what i did with mine

Wow, great info.

 

[PUFF MONKEY]

the hortilux standard 400 burns at 39,000 lumens..

 

[Mutt]

I got mine in a 2'x4' closet with a fan blowing up the middle I can get my plants about 6-8" away no prob.
Vents out the ceiling into the attic. I can have 4 3gallon potted clones each side and get really nice nugs. I've grown with flos 70w HPS, 150w HPS, 250W HPS, 400w MH. 400w MH has gave me the best. When I can I'm gona step up to at least an 800w MH when I can. I like more sativa leaning in organics, MH seem to do best for me.

 

[legalize_freedom]

I would not go any bigger than a 4' x 4' area with the 400w...and honestly I'd say that is pushing it. For 40 bucks ya can't go wrong!