-
As of today ICMag has his own Discord server. In this Discord server you can chat, talk with eachother, listen to music, share stories and pictures...and much more. Join now and let's grow together! Join ICMag Discord here! More details in this thread here: here.
Most energy effecient lights?
- Thread starter AquaParot
- Start date
Old Yeller
Member
L.E.D. ($ + ?)
CFL's
T-5's
T-10's
T-12 shoplights (retro-fit with T-10's)
CFL's
T-5's
T-10's
T-12 shoplights (retro-fit with T-10's)
P
PermaBuzz
the most efficient grow lighting is HPS, the higher the wattage bulb, the more efficient it gets. The new 600 watt digital hps are the most efficient of all.
Although LED's are the most efficient, they are still experimental and way too pricey.
CFL's and fluoros are LESS efficient than HPS. Fluoros also make more heat than HPS, watt for watt but its spread out so they seem cooler.
Although LED's are the most efficient, they are still experimental and way too pricey.
CFL's and fluoros are LESS efficient than HPS. Fluoros also make more heat than HPS, watt for watt but its spread out so they seem cooler.
Lots of good advice!
Lots of good advice!
You could also check out cmh or ceramic metal halide. It has the most usable photo activated radiation or "par" of all the hid lights. Meaning it has more usable light wavelength to a plant than any other high intensity discharge light on the market today. They run even cooler than high pressure sodium lights do. So far the biggest one they make is a 400 watt, but they make several smaller ones tho. There's a great thread on these lights here somewhere, it was started by a guy called Simba. He's purdy sharp when it comes ta lights..... I suggested CFL's because it's the cheapest way of getting started in growing. Also, Dr Bud's thread is very inspirational ta new growers and folks on a tight budget. Everthing he uses can be had at Home Depot for very lil money.... I use 1k watt hps's myself for coverage and penetration, but the 600 -is- more efficient watt for watt. I spose it's all subjective ta ones own needs and wants. Anyhoo, do some research and see what best fits yer needs and budget. There's a lot of good info on all of these here at IC Mag. Good Luck! BC
Lots of good advice!
You could also check out cmh or ceramic metal halide. It has the most usable photo activated radiation or "par" of all the hid lights. Meaning it has more usable light wavelength to a plant than any other high intensity discharge light on the market today. They run even cooler than high pressure sodium lights do. So far the biggest one they make is a 400 watt, but they make several smaller ones tho. There's a great thread on these lights here somewhere, it was started by a guy called Simba. He's purdy sharp when it comes ta lights..... I suggested CFL's because it's the cheapest way of getting started in growing. Also, Dr Bud's thread is very inspirational ta new growers and folks on a tight budget. Everthing he uses can be had at Home Depot for very lil money.... I use 1k watt hps's myself for coverage and penetration, but the 600 -is- more efficient watt for watt. I spose it's all subjective ta ones own needs and wants. Anyhoo, do some research and see what best fits yer needs and budget. There's a lot of good info on all of these here at IC Mag. Good Luck! BC
Last edited:
K
krushonkush
600 hps
1love1earth
Member
not sure which HPS bulb is the "best", there are so many different ones out there, dual arc, hortilux, soooo many, but a 600 watt digital HPS is going to be the "most efficient" proven method.
Certainly LED is efficient, but super expensive.
CFL is efficient as well, but if you want to grow solid weight easily, I'd say the 600 watt digital ballast HPS is going to be the best.
If you're looking at a smaller grow, a 250 watt CMH or such would work great.
Certainly LED is efficient, but super expensive.
CFL is efficient as well, but if you want to grow solid weight easily, I'd say the 600 watt digital ballast HPS is going to be the best.
If you're looking at a smaller grow, a 250 watt CMH or such would work great.
1love1earth
Member
here's how I've done the math, and I don't see why it won't work for you as well:
how many sq. ft is your growspace?
In a smaller space, it's very easy to hit 50 watts per sq ft, so I like to use this as the target wattage.
That said, I think 4 plants could be small or big. Especially if LST'd and scrog'd.
Regardless, lets be fair, and say you've got 16 sq ft of floorspace to flower. In this case, a single 600 watter would do 37.5 watts per sq ft.
Keep in mind also the general physical dimensions, and how the light is going to work within the space. Obviously a single light isn't going to work as well in a 2ft wide by 8ft long space as it is in a 4x4ft square shaped space.
That said, once you measure your growspace, or know the measurements you're using, try to hit 50 watts per sq ft.
Going over 50 per sq ft, from what I've heard, really won't help much.
how many sq. ft is your growspace?
In a smaller space, it's very easy to hit 50 watts per sq ft, so I like to use this as the target wattage.
That said, I think 4 plants could be small or big. Especially if LST'd and scrog'd.
Regardless, lets be fair, and say you've got 16 sq ft of floorspace to flower. In this case, a single 600 watter would do 37.5 watts per sq ft.
Keep in mind also the general physical dimensions, and how the light is going to work within the space. Obviously a single light isn't going to work as well in a 2ft wide by 8ft long space as it is in a 4x4ft square shaped space.
That said, once you measure your growspace, or know the measurements you're using, try to hit 50 watts per sq ft.
Going over 50 per sq ft, from what I've heard, really won't help much.
Somethin else ya gotta take in ta consideration is ventilation. Puttin a 600 watt light in a confined space it's gonna get hot in there! Ya might wanna think about an air cooled reflector witha blower aswell. Also, head space, enough room ta the raise the light up far enough so the plants don't fry. Jus tryin ta help ya cover all yer bases ahead of time, before ya run into problems later. BC
1love1earth
Member
yeah, my setup is as follows:
Room inside a closet (using closet walls as grow room walls), carbon filter on floor, ducted up to aircooled reflector #1, ducted to reflector #2 and then through a wall to the veg cab (not really used much) and then to my vortex fan.
The lights are mounted using simple eye hooks to ceiling, S hooks and chain link. They can be raised and lowered real easy.
Room inside a closet (using closet walls as grow room walls), carbon filter on floor, ducted up to aircooled reflector #1, ducted to reflector #2 and then through a wall to the veg cab (not really used much) and then to my vortex fan.
The lights are mounted using simple eye hooks to ceiling, S hooks and chain link. They can be raised and lowered real easy.
george j warner
Member
high output fluorescent (HOF) .. sometimes known as the mother wing ... to keep the electricity bill down!!! about a dollar a week on 12/12 (for me in uk
50p a week for 110watt on 12/12)
the 600 lumatek is amazingly efficiant (i have 2 : D) but it wont be sly on your e.bill lol.
and also the number of plants cant be to high or you'll need more lights... more watts more on the e bill.
what space you thinking of? size? motherwings are 60cm long (24 inches)
or T5's
50p a week for 110watt on 12/12)
the 600 lumatek is amazingly efficiant (i have 2 : D) but it wont be sly on your e.bill lol.
and also the number of plants cant be to high or you'll need more lights... more watts more on the e bill.
what space you thinking of? size? motherwings are 60cm long (24 inches)
or T5's
The most efficient grow light is a silly question in a way. What you really need to look at is what the most efficient growing system is. There are some guys pulling over a gram per watt with CFLs(Dr. Bud for example), but other guys are pulling half a gram per watt with a 1000W HPS. It all boils down to how you use it. The best light is the light that produces the most bud per watt and uses the space effectively.
