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jonkanoo
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70w hps club
- Thread starter Mk3Jetta
- Start date
arcticvapors
New member
Is 70W HPS hotter than 5 26W CFLs?
Is 70W HPS hotter than 5 26W CFLs?
Title says it all. I'm having heat issues in my small closet cabinet. It's 24Wx12Dx30H, I have an 36cfm exhaust fan in the top right above the CFLs, a fan in the bottom for intake and three 2" diameter holes cut in the bottom as passive intakes. When I go above four bulbs in the cabinet she gets temps in the mid to upper 90s (at canopy level)...and as such I just cooked one of my cheese plants and my cali-hash plant is starting to show signs of heat stress. On the cheese, all the pistils just dried up on all the bud sites...I hope I can save her. Anyways, been thinking of going to HPS in one of my boxes (either this one or my PC Case) and was wondering if the 70W HPS would be a better choice overall, given the deeper the light penetrates and the additional lumens. I probably should add another exhaust fan to help remove the built up heat even if I stay with the CFLs. Input appreciated.
Is 70W HPS hotter than 5 26W CFLs?
Title says it all. I'm having heat issues in my small closet cabinet. It's 24Wx12Dx30H, I have an 36cfm exhaust fan in the top right above the CFLs, a fan in the bottom for intake and three 2" diameter holes cut in the bottom as passive intakes. When I go above four bulbs in the cabinet she gets temps in the mid to upper 90s (at canopy level)...and as such I just cooked one of my cheese plants and my cali-hash plant is starting to show signs of heat stress. On the cheese, all the pistils just dried up on all the bud sites...I hope I can save her. Anyways, been thinking of going to HPS in one of my boxes (either this one or my PC Case) and was wondering if the 70W HPS would be a better choice overall, given the deeper the light penetrates and the additional lumens. I probably should add another exhaust fan to help remove the built up heat even if I stay with the CFLs. Input appreciated.
grouchy
Active member
With the cfls the ballasts are attached to the bulbs and can not be removed from the grow area. The 70w would allow you to remote mount the ballast outside the grow area and should allow it to run cooler. You could also look into pll style fluorescent bulbs. They would allow you to mount the ballast remotely as well. The ballasts are a large source of heat and it is always easier to get them on the outside of the grow space. I would also change your intake fan to exhaust. You need to be careful when pushing air into the cab because it can push smells out the cracks instead of through the carbon filter. Are you using a carbon filter? Do you have any fans circulating the air around the bulbs? That could also help with the heat.
arcticvapors
New member
hey grouchy...thx for the input. Hadn't thought about the pressure issue with the intake, all i thought about was getting cooler air in the box than a passive intake would. In this cabinet I removed the fan I had that was designated to just move air around, I think I'll add that back in. I did have a carbon filter but removed it when I saw my temps soar to 100F at the top of the box, not too much of a smell right now plus I have odor neutralisers all over the place. I seriously think my single 80mm fan is just not capable of exchanging the air as much as it needs to be.
So I saw at home depot two 70w HPS exterior lights in their own fixtures. one was $45 and the other was $70. I like the $70 cuz it's got its own reflective hood and glass shield which I could reuse. Either one will require me to disassemble and rewire, so remotely doing the ballast is not a problem. Is the ballast loud at all? Does it make noise? I could put that in the attic and snake all the wiring down the wall.
but bottom line (and I'm prolly gonna get flamed for this, being this is an HPS thread): is the 70W HPS a better solution overall for me (again, given my existing heat issues) than four-five 26W CFLs....ugh, now that I wrote that I think I know the answers I'm gonna get.
So I saw at home depot two 70w HPS exterior lights in their own fixtures. one was $45 and the other was $70. I like the $70 cuz it's got its own reflective hood and glass shield which I could reuse. Either one will require me to disassemble and rewire, so remotely doing the ballast is not a problem. Is the ballast loud at all? Does it make noise? I could put that in the attic and snake all the wiring down the wall.
but bottom line (and I'm prolly gonna get flamed for this, being this is an HPS thread): is the 70W HPS a better solution overall for me (again, given my existing heat issues) than four-five 26W CFLs....ugh, now that I wrote that I think I know the answers I'm gonna get.
M
mrred
drill alot more holes, you could even put 2 70hps in there, or 1 70hps and 2 26w cfls
i'd say a 70hps if cooler than that in cfls because of remote wiring and only 1 heat source
or a 150hps vscrog or vsog
i'd say a 70hps if cooler than that in cfls because of remote wiring and only 1 heat source
or a 150hps vscrog or vsog
grouchy
Active member
It sounds like you are trying to keep things stealth. Your money may be better spent upgrading the cooling and replacing the carbon filter. I don't think anyone in here will flame you for trying to figure out the best way to grow your plants. I would try to set up both fans to pull through a carbon filter and another to blow on the bulbs. You can leave the hole at the bottom open as a passive intake. If this doesn't fix your heat issues than you can look into getting the 70w hps. Are both fans identical? You may need to stack the fans to increase the pulling power of them. I would also check out the pc fan thread in the micro section here.
Beginners guide to pc fans - http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=131842
This might be able to help get your airflow under control. I would love to see some pics to see what we got to work with. Only post them up if you can do so safely and feel comfortable doing so. Another good resource for airflow issues is the ventilation 101 thread by redgreenery.
Ventilation 101 - http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112862&highlight=Ventilation+101
Once you get your airflow under control then you could look into upgrading to a 70w,100w or even 150w hps. There are a ton of choices and it will take some time and knowledge to get it dialed in. Try using what you have before you go out and try to purchase a solution. Another thing that may help is learning how to use the search engine on this site more efficiently. When you click on the search button at the top of the page it will give you an option for "advanced search" click it. It will open a new window. On the new page there is a drop down bar for "search entire posts" click the arrow next to it and select "search titles only". This will allow you to find things easier when searching. Let me know how it turns out.
Beginners guide to pc fans - http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=131842
This might be able to help get your airflow under control. I would love to see some pics to see what we got to work with. Only post them up if you can do so safely and feel comfortable doing so. Another good resource for airflow issues is the ventilation 101 thread by redgreenery.
Ventilation 101 - http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112862&highlight=Ventilation+101
Once you get your airflow under control then you could look into upgrading to a 70w,100w or even 150w hps. There are a ton of choices and it will take some time and knowledge to get it dialed in. Try using what you have before you go out and try to purchase a solution. Another thing that may help is learning how to use the search engine on this site more efficiently. When you click on the search button at the top of the page it will give you an option for "advanced search" click it. It will open a new window. On the new page there is a drop down bar for "search entire posts" click the arrow next to it and select "search titles only". This will allow you to find things easier when searching. Let me know how it turns out.
Hi everybody,
and thanks for the shared infos and inspiration..
After a couple years of outdoor growing,i'm moving to indoor growing for safety reasons..I have a 80Lcm x 60W x 100H home made grow room,and I'd like to start with a 70hps plus one or two pc fans on top,and some passive air intake on the floor. My main doubt it's about the space; too big for a 70? should i reduce it to, say,50x50x100,or just move to 100 or 150hps? Please consider I'd like to avoid cooltube and stuff..
Another question; a strain for an easy start?
Ciao!
and thanks for the shared infos and inspiration..
After a couple years of outdoor growing,i'm moving to indoor growing for safety reasons..I have a 80Lcm x 60W x 100H home made grow room,and I'd like to start with a 70hps plus one or two pc fans on top,and some passive air intake on the floor. My main doubt it's about the space; too big for a 70? should i reduce it to, say,50x50x100,or just move to 100 or 150hps? Please consider I'd like to avoid cooltube and stuff..
Another question; a strain for an easy start?
Ciao!
arcticvapors
New member
ths for replies mrred and grouchy...I've been stealth growing for almost a year now...and have done literally tons of reading on this site and on another one, most of my posts and grows are on the other site, so I wouldn't say I'm a newbie, but we all hv things to learn, right? Thanks for the links, it'll be worthwhile to read as a review. i agree that i need to get my temps under control in this cab before i consider any lighting changes...the improvement, if any, would only be marginal. i am attracted to HPS due to the deeper penetration and hopefully thicker buds and better trych development I'd get from it, unless you experienced lo-wattage HPS guys think there is not much dif between low-wattage HPS and CFLs in that department. I dont want to hyjack the thread (too late!!) but thanks for all the feedback.
Mk3Jetta
Member
hey grouchy...thx for the input. Hadn't thought about the pressure issue with the intake, all i thought about was getting cooler air in the box than a passive intake would. In this cabinet I removed the fan I had that was designated to just move air around, I think I'll add that back in. I did have a carbon filter but removed it when I saw my temps soar to 100F at the top of the box, not too much of a smell right now plus I have odor neutralisers all over the place. I seriously think my single 80mm fan is just not capable of exchanging the air as much as it needs to be.
So I saw at home depot two 70w HPS exterior lights in their own fixtures. one was $45 and the other was $70. I like the $70 cuz it's got its own reflective hood and glass shield which I could reuse. Either one will require me to disassemble and rewire, so remotely doing the ballast is not a problem. Is the ballast loud at all? Does it make noise? I could put that in the attic and snake all the wiring down the wall.
but bottom line (and I'm prolly gonna get flamed for this, being this is an HPS thread): is the 70W HPS a better solution overall for me (again, given my existing heat issues) than four-five 26W CFLs....ugh, now that I wrote that I think I know the answers I'm gonna get.
ArcticVapors,
You will not need to put on a flame suit in this club. We are all chill as a snow filled bong and are glad to answer your questions.
I have the $70 one from HD and it is a wise choice. I use the reflector in my cab and its REALLY EASY TO RE-WIRE.
Go here: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=36344
The only difference is that you wont have a sensor. The color of the wires is laid out perfectly and I just created a remote ballast using the casing that it came in. I took off the glass from the casing tho so the heat could escape easily.
Than you just take the wires that lead out of the case and strip a power cord, heavy duty only, and rewire them to a plug with as much slack as you need to reach an outlet/power strip.
o btw, it doesnt make ANY noise.
hey them is some very nice flowers u have there.
ol briarhopper
Member
I have recently been trying for a perpetual grow and I am cutting my clones from the bottom branches of my plants just before I put them into flower.I have a 70w hps that I am using for my clones.I have been using it for the male plants when I make seed.That 70w light has always served me well and have no doubt that with a little ingenuity I could produce some quality bud with it.
ol briarhopper
Member
400w cmh
Medicinal420
New member
Cooling low watt HID bulbs?
Cooling low watt HID bulbs?
what up,
im working on a cab design
the space i have to use is pretty small, about 1 cubic foot...
but shit just wondering what you guys with the 70W hps do about a ballast....ive read that ALL HID bulbs need to have a ballast and shit...i have a pc fan running in the cab right now (35CFM). and Mylar all around...i threw a 10W CFL in there for shits and giggles to try and get a temp reading it stays around 71/72, with the light on 24 hrs... just wondering if you could let me know or at least point me in the right direction...
Thanks a lot;
Cooling low watt HID bulbs?
what up,
im working on a cab design
the space i have to use is pretty small, about 1 cubic foot...
but shit just wondering what you guys with the 70W hps do about a ballast....ive read that ALL HID bulbs need to have a ballast and shit...i have a pc fan running in the cab right now (35CFM). and Mylar all around...i threw a 10W CFL in there for shits and giggles to try and get a temp reading it stays around 71/72, with the light on 24 hrs... just wondering if you could let me know or at least point me in the right direction...
Thanks a lot;
Source for 70w HPS digital ballasts
Source for 70w HPS digital ballasts
Source for 70w HPS digital ballasts
I can't find a source for 70w HPS digital ballasts. You can google them all day long, but I can't find one that can actually be bought and at least shipped to the US. Does anyone have a clue where to get one these?
M
mrred
smallest i seen was 150w
anonymousgrower
Member
lol forreal mrred, I'm still surprised how well some of these plants are turning out though. keep it up 70watt growers..
http://www.ballastwise.com/item.asp?PID=151&FID=1&level=0 Here you go! Digital 70w ballast that will push both HPS and MH bulbs for $39.99 plus a couple of bucks shipping. For 10 dollars less, they have an HPS only model. These things are gonna be clutch. I have been forced to go super micro, but I have a new plan for some killer efficiency. I am going perpetual 4 plant sog with a vertical 70w in a cool tube. Each plant is going to be in soil on a rotating jewelry display. I will post up some pics at the end of construction.
