Grow room advice

[MisterGrieves]

I was hoping that for my first post I could get some advice on revising my grow room.

As of right now I have a 400 mh with a 150 hps and some cfl's to supplement it. Well the temps get up to around 78 with just a passive intake/400 cfm exhaust so I can just imagine what summer temps would be like... Current ambient room temp (no central, no a/c, no heaters) where the grow room is located is 60-65. I figured it'd be a smart move to switch over to air cooled, get an HPS, and kick all the other lights to the curb. The room's dimensions are 4'9 length, 2'7 wide, and 6' high. Would you be upgrading to a 600 hps if this was your room or stick with a 400 hps?

Also, digital ballasts. More specifically Digital Greenhouse brand. Worth it or no? Magnetics are tried and true but I gotta admit the tiny little box is pretty appealing. Are the advantages of a digital really worth it over a magnetic? I really don't want to deal with broken down ballasts. Ha, plus I gank my internet connection so I don't want something interfering with it. I remote my magnetic anyways so ballast heat isn't really an issue but it'd be kind of nice to have it in the room.

Anyways, advice would rule. I'm leaning more towards 600/magnetic but feel free to chime in. Peace.

 

[messn'n'gommin']

If you're seriously considering using just one light and ballast from veg to flower, you might want to give the CMH thread a read. It has been made a sticky. Right now I am using an electronic 400W HPS in a 4X2X8 closet and by the end of the year will be using 2X250W HPS magnetic core and coil ballasts with the CMH bulbs and getting rid of the 400.

 

[samba]

If possible,make a veg room and use your old lights in it and get a 600W, aircoold. If you can deal with the heat you could even use a 1kW light in there!
I would not go with the digital ballast, there have been problems with it, so why not stick with the safe bet...

Ps. check out picos aircooled hoods thread
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=51325&page=1&pp=15

 

[TGT]

From what I read, the digital ballasts are no where near as reliable as the old magnetic ones. The way I figure it, if you need small size and less heat then get a digital, but if you can do without just get the magnetic core. Really most people should be fine with the old style and only in a few situations I would think the digital would be needed. So go for the true and tested and save a little money. May be in the future the digitals will be as reliable as the magnetic. No one can deny the fact that the old magnetics can go for years without trouble. I know when I buy one it should last. Just my opinion on the matter. May be digitals got better since I read last, who knows?

TGT

 

[MisterGrieves]

Hey, thanks for the advice guys.

I guess I could have mentioned I have a separate veg room with a 400w bank of floros. I don't think I'll put my halide in there considering I don't feel like upgrading from a booster fan but I'll have it for back up in case the 600 ever goes out on me.

Does anyone have an idea of about how much heat a 600 hps magnetic ballast would generate? I don't really like how I have my 400 remoted as it is. The electrical cord and mogul cord both come down the same hole I lead my exhaust duct out so the ducting and cords are touching. With no a/c hood this isn't much of a problem and the cords never feel hot to the touch but with an a/c hood I'm sure it'd be a fire hazard. That's why I said it'd be nice to have the ballast in the room.

But yeah 600/magnetic it is.

 

[darthvapor]

aircool with a 600watt on a linear light mover. This should give you a nice full even canopy with good light penetration down at least 2-3 feet

 

[BudLove]

I would recommend sticking with the 400 HPS, depending on your bud needs. If your temps are slightly high now they will sky rocket with a 600w.

I also have stayed far away from the 'new improved' digital lights. They are much higher in price and from all of my research on them their cons outweigh their pros. Sure, ya might save wear and tear on the bulb, lower ballast temps, but all the other issues people report with these just make me happy I stuck with the magnetics.

If you are looking for additional light penetration look at SCROGn. You can achieve some fantastic results with a 400w and SCROG, without the additional costs of power and higher temps.

BL