HydroLenny
Member
I recently started growing and like many people I started out using easily found and cheap CFL lights. I have seen the many discussions concerning CFL vs. HPS lights and the pros and cons of each. So, in my own research I decided to do some cost comparisons and put together my own spreadsheet that would compare the costs of CFLs vs. HSP lights, both the monthly per watt cost and the cost per lumen. I did not compare costs based on wattage as I feel that this is an inaccurate comparison for growing purposes (not that I am an expert in that... for sure).
The HPS system was a name brand 150w unit found online and on eBay for around $78 including shipping. Of course, this comparison is based on a small grow (which is all I have and will have), so it only includes the single 150w, 16,000 Lumen HPS system. I always used the actual wattage of the CFLs in calculating cost, not the 'equivalent' wattage, since this is what the draw would be in calculating energy costs.
In all cases when comparing equal number of lumens in any combo of CFL lights, the HPS light system was almost half the cost per lumen than the CFL lights, as well as almost half the total electrical cost per month. For example, no matter what size of CFL bulbs (65w, 85w, 150w) I used, the total number used to equal as close to 16,000 lumens came out to about twice the electrical cost of HPS .
The only deciding factor in this (in my case) is the flexibility that you have with multiple light sources vs. a single light source, and the heating issue with HPS systems vs. CFL. As we head into winter, the heat issue in my case may actually be a good thing because of where I am growing.
Lastly, in making the comparison by lumens, the total cost of CFL bulbs came out to around the same cost, if not more in some instances, than the 150w HPS system. Either way it was about the same, but this DID NOT include reflectors, plugs, etc. You would probably spend a bit more to outfit the CFLs.
As the weather gets colder, I am probably going to invest in a HPS system.
So, if you are trying to decide which way to go, hopefully this helps.
The HPS system was a name brand 150w unit found online and on eBay for around $78 including shipping. Of course, this comparison is based on a small grow (which is all I have and will have), so it only includes the single 150w, 16,000 Lumen HPS system. I always used the actual wattage of the CFLs in calculating cost, not the 'equivalent' wattage, since this is what the draw would be in calculating energy costs.
In all cases when comparing equal number of lumens in any combo of CFL lights, the HPS light system was almost half the cost per lumen than the CFL lights, as well as almost half the total electrical cost per month. For example, no matter what size of CFL bulbs (65w, 85w, 150w) I used, the total number used to equal as close to 16,000 lumens came out to about twice the electrical cost of HPS .
The only deciding factor in this (in my case) is the flexibility that you have with multiple light sources vs. a single light source, and the heating issue with HPS systems vs. CFL. As we head into winter, the heat issue in my case may actually be a good thing because of where I am growing.
Lastly, in making the comparison by lumens, the total cost of CFL bulbs came out to around the same cost, if not more in some instances, than the 150w HPS system. Either way it was about the same, but this DID NOT include reflectors, plugs, etc. You would probably spend a bit more to outfit the CFLs.
As the weather gets colder, I am probably going to invest in a HPS system.
So, if you are trying to decide which way to go, hopefully this helps.
