150w HPS Club and Resource Guide......

[Bueno Time]

BBG Day 26

PE Day 26

CJ Day 26

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Nice flowers, BT. Those are wasting no time. When are you planning to take em?

 

[Bueno Time]

Nice flowers, BT. Those are wasting no time. When are you planning to take em?

The Blueberry Gum is supposed to be a very fast finisher around 7.5 weeks since it is very indica. I plan around 8 weeks probably depending on trich color.

The Pineapple Express my buddy grew last run he took it to 10 weeks and it was good smoke so probably around there for the PE.

The Chemmy Jones description says 8-10 weeks but took a good 2 weeks til showing preflower so I will take it to 11 weeks or so 12/12 probably.

I usually wait til 9-10 weeks though I go by trich color with a 'scope. I like some amber in my smoke

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

The Blueberry Gum is supposed to be a very fast finisher around 7.5 weeks since it is very indica. I plan around 8 weeks probably depending on trich color.

The Pineapple Express my buddy grew last run he took it to 10 weeks and it was good smoke so probably around there for the PE.

The Chemmy Jones description says 8-10 weeks but took a good 2 weeks til showing preflower so I will take it to 11 weeks or so 12/12 probably.

I usually wait til 9-10 weeks though I go by trich color with a 'scope. I like some amber in my smoke

I like amber myself. I've got a green crack hybrid that clouds at 6 to 7 weeks but it's weak smoke at that point. By 65 days it has ~20% amber and is much stronger. 84 days would be the bomb but I rarely care to wait that long for a puff. Tough going wire-to-wire w/o running out of smoke with a 150. A 250 would be more my speed and a 400 would allow me to build a surplus, lol.

Sounds like you have some good genes. Hope you enjoy.

 

[h^2 O]

I found my Sun System! I had been looking for it for MONTHS. Was in a closet I checked before a dozen times. I'm on a serious budget, and I don't have mylar or chain to hang the light...so I'm going to be using paint and rope. I'll post some shots when I get everything together. Right now I'm on like day 5 or so of 12/12 with (ughhhh) cfl's. Perfect timing to have found my light. Still don't have a timer though, been switching it manually. Yup, I'm poor.

 

[HobbyGrower]

Read an article in this month's High Times (sorry ICMAG) that favors the word "resin" over "trichome" because all resin glands are trichomes but not all trichomes are resin glands. That same article explains why you don't want to go amber. Written by Mel Frank author of the Marijuana Grower's Guide.

I know it's personal preference, and for folks like Disco and Pipe who have their shit dialed in and have grown for years, they know what they like. I think the article deserves a look by new growers like myself.

Interested in what this community thinks.

Happy growing!

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

I'm sure Mr. Frank is a scholar. Good point about some glands not containing oil.

It's true, amber is a degradation of THC. From a holistic approach, there as many as 475 chemicals that react with THC. Some of these chemicals, particularly CBD get stronger or react differently alongside THC. CBD isn't known for the psychoactive effect but it's a big contributor to the narcotic effect.

I enjoy a head buzz. Too much amber is like a sleeping pill. If you get cozy you're a goner. I'm just not a big fan of all head and no body effect. Every once in a while you get that amazing sativa that soars to new heights compared to a half dozen other sativas that need more kick. In the latter case, sativa/indica hybrids are an equitable compromise. Or you can wait forever for amber that never comes with some sativas.

 

[Bueno Time]

I've got a green crack hybrid that clouds at 6 to 7 weeks but it's weak smoke at that point. By 65 days it has ~20% amber and is much stronger. 84 days would be the bomb but I rarely care to wait that long for a puff. Tough going wire-to-wire w/o running out of smoke with a 150. A 250 would be more my speed and a 400 would allow me to build a surplus, lol.

Is that your Green Tangerine (Green Crack x Tangerine Haze)?

I saw that in your albums and it sounds like a great cross.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Yeah, that's it. I found out it's green crack x tangerine tar. tt is tangerine haze x pine tar kush.

I used to have tangerine haze. One of the best orange tasting strains I've grown. The green crack cross smells like oranges early but the funk overpowers the orange by harvest. When I can grow more at a time I'm gonna give it a long cure to see whether it brings out more orange taste.

 

[Bueno Time]

Yeah, that's it. I found out it's green crack x tangerine tar. tt is tangerine haze x pine tar kush.

I used to have tangerine haze. One of the best orange tasting strains I've grown. The green crack cross smells like oranges early but the funk overpowers the orange by harvest. When I can grow more at a time I'm gonna give it a long cure to see whether it brings out more orange taste.

Sounds very good

 

[Bueno Time]

I found my Sun System! I had been looking for it for MONTHS. Was in a closet I checked before a dozen times. I'm on a serious budget, and I don't have mylar or chain to hang the light...so I'm going to be using paint and rope. I'll post some shots when I get everything together. Right now I'm on like day 5 or so of 12/12 with (ughhhh) cfl's. Perfect timing to have found my light. Still don't have a timer though, been switching it manually. Yup, I'm poor.

Sounds good, glad you found your hps. White paint is good I have used flat white alot and it works well. Hurry up and get that hps over those ladies!

 

[h^2 O]

found this on the net - makes me a little nervous (it's exactly what I have)
"This results in an initial start-up watt consumption of 528W. After letting the light warm up and stabilize for 60 minutes the light was consuming a consistent 408W. This means the light is consuming 408W to produce 150W of lighting (a power factor of 37%)."
http://www.420magazine.com/forums/g.../91592-review-sun-system-150w-hps-system.html

 

[Bueno Time]

found this on the net - makes me a little nervous (it's exactly what I have)
"This results in an initial start-up watt consumption of 528W. After letting the light warm up and stabilize for 60 minutes the light was consuming a consistent 408W. This means the light is consuming 408W to produce 150W of lighting (a power factor of 37%)."
http://www.420magazine.com/forums/g.../91592-review-sun-system-150w-hps-system.html

I have the sun system 150 I remote ballasted myself. Power bills were not at high using it as when I was using my 400 hps digital ballast.

The sun system 150 has no capacitor that is why it pulls higher power than some other units.

I believe the unit pulls more power than it uses and what it doesnt use goes back into the electrical circuit (wall)and goes back into use by other appliances or back into the power grid. You arent charged for the power drawn but the power used in a residential application.

If you were an industrial warehouse or application you would be charged for power drawn I believe.

I wouldnt worry about it too much.

 

[h^2 O]

cool. Phew. I was like what? 400 watts?

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

found this on the net - makes me a little nervous (it's exactly what I have)
"This results in an initial start-up watt consumption of 528W. After letting the light warm up and stabilize for 60 minutes the light was consuming a consistent 408W. This means the light is consuming 408W to produce 150W of lighting (a power factor of 37%)."
http://www.420magazine.com/forums/g.../91592-review-sun-system-150w-hps-system.html

The guy is measuring draw, not usage. Kill A Watt measures the usage at ~162 watts (post #18, same thread.) The power factor is ~93%.

If the 420op was correct, you couldn't run a 1k bulb on a 15 or 20 amp breaker.

Check your box. According to the thread, it says 'uses 165 watts'.

 

[h^2 O]

okay cool, little bit of a scare earlier. I looked at my box and it doesn't have any specs...they were probably on the paperwork that came in it, which I promptly threw out lie a 'tard. Hey one other thing - I noticed on the bulb, right where it goes into the socket,I have like a silver coating almost...is that just from normal use? I'm going to Google it up. I can't remember if it was there before... I'll Google it up. Also, the bulb that it came with was a GE bulb...is there a better bulb? Can these be found at home depot?
I love this thread. There's like THOUSANDS of pages...could spend a whole year in here. Thanks disco!

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

You're welcome, h^20. The silver spot may be where the ground lead is soldered inside the socket part of the bulb. The metal socket has a very thin brass or bronze colored electroplate to deter corrosion. Heat at the solder joint may have discolored it

I just use security-light bulbs from e-conolight.com - ~$5.50 ea. They're rated the same 16,000 lumens. May not have the color of a grow bulb. htgsupply.com advertises 150w grow bulbs but I've never tried em. The htg bulb is slightly longer than typical. The glass shell is shaped like a 400 instead of bulbous (like typical 150s.)

You may already know this - 150s are available for medium and mogul size sockets. Medium is the same size as a 100w incandescent, mogul is bigger.

 

[h^2 O]

okay cool. Yeah I just came across this (literally less than 5 minutes ago). Hopefully it will help others at some point -
" Any cracks or holes in a lamp's outer jacket usually indicate a defective lamp. The presence of some form of foreign coating or material on the inside of the lamp's outer jacket can also indicate trouble. This can appear as a light yellow (with an MH lamp) or a silver mirrored appearance (with an HPS lamp). Remember, an HPS lamp will have some normal silver appearance around the lamp base. But, if all, or most, of an HPS lamp's outer jacket has that coating, there's usually a defect. Check the metal parts making up the mount or support for the arc tube for separation or damage. Also observe if the arc tube is cracked or broken. Another procedure is to put an ohmmeter (at the highest setting) across the lamp's center base contact and the base's screw shell. There should be no continuity (it should be open). If the ohmmeter shows continuity, there's a short in the base or mount, and the lamp will not operate. If these procedures don't help you uncover the problem, you can confirm the lamp is defective by putting it in a fixture known to be operational.

Yeah I think you're right man, it's where it's soldered or whatever. Go 150hps club! Rock on disco!

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Great info. Thanks for posting.

 

[Pipedream]

....the unit pulls more power than it uses and what it doesnt use goes back into the electrical circuit (wall)and goes back into use by other appliances or back into the power grid. You arent charged for the power drawn but the power used in a residential application.

If you were an industrial warehouse or application you would be charged for power drawn....

Believe it or not, the application of Power Factor equations and their real use on projecting loads and costs still screws up many a Facility Manager. In my prior life as an Electrical Engineer (before retirement and a long list of surgeries) I calculated and applied Power Factors, if not daily, at least weekly. What BT said is spot-on. PF has no bearing in your home grow system, and a 150w HPS is not consuming over 400 watts.

I live in an area where the residential cost for electricity is one of the highest in the country, NJ. And even with that, the total cost to run my grow-box is only $1 a day and that includes my nutes!

New Subject..... For many years, I lived for tons of amber on my Sativas. Yes it was a total couch-lock smoke, but it also provided the pain relief I needed. Now-a-days, I go for epidural injections which make my sciatic pain much more managable. As a result, I've been harvesting much sooner to obtain more of a "heady" effect. I think when you harvest and the amount of amber is strictly a personal preferance.

L'shanah Tovah, a Happy and Healthy New Year to all those that observe the High Holy Days and to our friends as well.

Regards to all, Pipedream