$200.00 to burn on a 400 watt system?? Ideas??

Rottedroots

Rottedroots

Well-Known Member
Ha Ha!! I set-up an ass ugly 4X2X2 ft grow box for use with CFL's cause they are cheap. WINK WINK!!
I will say that 20 bulbs later with splitters and extension cords and PC fans and timers I could have just bought something in the HID zone.
:-(
I now find myself with a couple of benjamins and thought I would try and find a 400 watt unit WITH HPS and MH bulbs included. A couple of questions if you please in the way of recomendations! It has to fit the box so it's gotta end up at less than 2X2 ft in order to use the box I have so keep that in mind and hopefully I will. Is a 400 watt system going to be to much for my little area? Temps are already a concern and I'm not certain how to address that so if you have any info please share. I know that cheap is not always a bargain so I would rather buy nothing than buy crap.
:dunce:
Time is of the essence!!!! If my ball & chain senses anything she will take my money and pay a bill or some dumb ass thing like that. Thanks dudes and dudettes. It's been like Pandora's box so far and I just wanted somewhere to start my outdoor chit next year.
:peace:
 
growsolo

growsolo

Active Member
Ballasts can be found on Ebay for under 50$, get one of those and a little wire, a mogul base (10$), a lamp (20$) and build your own reflector using coilstock or flashing, you can get up and running for under 100$ total.

Good luck moving forward.

~growsolo~
 
jdmcwestevo

jdmcwestevo

Well-Known Member
go for a CMH 400w bulb almost zero heat and makes extremely potent flowers from the uvb it produces. yields a bit less than HPS but the potency more than makes up for it buds get considerably frostier in my opinion.
 
A

atomos

Member
i bought a 600 watt system that runs both HPS and MH with a cool tube hood for $224.98 which included both 600 watt bulbs
 
xtcxlocstax

xtcxlocstax

Active Member
I've in the same boat as u droots, that is a good deal from htg supply but they have the same system but with a cool tube on ebay for around 160-180 with free shipping. I'm getting mine next week. Gd luck
 
growsolo

growsolo

Active Member
jdmcwestevo said:
go for a CMH 400w bulb almost zero heat and makes extremely potent flowers from the uvb it produces. yields a bit less than HPS but the potency more than makes up for it buds get considerably frostier in my opinion.
Click to expand...
I'm not meaning to hi-jack the thread, just posting this bit for reference.

The Life Light 250-400 Watt ceramic metal halide bulb runs on either an HPS Ballast or a Life Light Digital Ballast.

HPS Retro-White 400W Ceramic Metal Halide -- $60.00


http://www.hydro-techn.com/seattlehydroponics/ceramic.html
 
Rottedroots

Rottedroots

Well-Known Member
I think I am ready to pull the trigger on the $165 HTG system. Just a couple questions though Bud's. Is 400 watts gonna be to much heat and size wise for my 4X2X2 box??? Is the fan on a cool tube what keeps them cool? Is it just blowing air thru the tube surrounding the bulb that does it? Will I have to make multiple box penetrations or simply break out the sawzall and cut a hole for the fan?

I sure appeciate all the rapid fire responses. It makes me think I can order tonight which would be very cool as my Master Kush seeds were just started today!! Rock On and thanks again!!:clap:

Dang if I don't have $165 buckski's already invested in CFL stuff....
 
Rottedroots

Rottedroots

Well-Known Member
The more I look the more questions I have. One thing for sure is that temps will be a problem. Not sure how a cool tube works but I think it requires a fan and duct work at both ends to pass air over the bulb. I think I would have to start from scratch box wise if that was the case.
Second dumbass question is what does the dimable ballast do for you. Smokin seems to like them just curious what they do and is it a reasonable way to cool the whole mess down?
WTF guys and gals. I want to buy in the worst way but don't wanna do anything stupid or buy a unit that gets sucky reviews.
Maybe I should buy a freakin book but they all seem to say different things anyway.
:leaf::leaf:
Ps.... Is 83 degrees at plant height gonna pose a major threat....?
 
Gastanker

Gastanker

Well-Known Member
Rottedroots said:
The more I look the more questions I have. One thing for sure is that temps will be a problem. Not sure how a cool tube works but I think it requires a fan and duct work at both ends to pass air over the bulb. I think I would have to start from scratch box wise if that was the case.
Second dumbass question is what does the dimable ballast do for you. Smokin seems to like them just curious what they do and is it a reasonable way to cool the whole mess down?
WTF guys and gals. I want to buy in the worst way but don't wanna do anything stupid or buy a unit that gets sucky reviews.
Maybe I should buy a freakin book but they all seem to say different things anyway.
:leaf::leaf:
Ps.... Is 83 degrees at plant height gonna pose a major threat....?
Click to expand...
83 degrees is fine but you should assume that your light will add an additional 10 degrees. You need a fan and ventilation for air cooled hoods - I would recommend a larger fan than you need and turning it down via a fan speed controller (much quieter this way), a 400 cfm fan on a dimmer would be good or a 200cfm fan without a dimmer.

Dimmers on ballasts let you run your ballast at multiple wattages. I have a 600w ballast that I can dim to 350w, 400w, or run at 600w. This means that while my plants are small and only occupy 2x2' i can run my light at 400w and save power, when they get larger and occupy a 3x3' then I can turn it up to 600w. This also allows me to run a larger variety of bulbs - I can run a 600w @ 600w, 400w, 350w, or I can run a 400w bulb at 400w or 350w. Since there are no 600w non conversion MH bulbs this can be useful because I can still run 400w MH bulbs.
 
Gastanker

Gastanker

Well-Known Member
HTG lights are garbage - I know because I own one :(

$165 for a cheap 400w magnetic ballast, a non aircooled hood, two bulbs, and shipping costs, or...

$165 for a 600/400w digital ballast, an aircooled hood, and two bulbs and free shipping...

Personally I would save up and buy a lumatek.
 
Rottedroots

Rottedroots

Well-Known Member
Tanker I'm sure your right that $165-$200 dollar systems are not the greatest but suggesting I "save up" just don't work so well. Why buy a used car when you can save up and buy new? They want $150 for a Lumatek ballast without anything additional. Sounds to me like a set-up would be big bucks.
I just want something reliable and middle of the road and I know that chaep is not always a bargain but WTF. I want a ballast, 2 bulbs, hood/reflector all in one package.
:-(
I'm getting 83 degrees with CFL's so I will sure need more fans or at the very least a cool tube with an inline fan if I go with HID's I do see your point about the value of dimable ballast but give me a suggestion that won't break the bank. I'm gonna check your link. Maybe it is something I can afford. Problem is the more I think about it the more it seems for the extra money I should be looking at 600 watt systems.
Thanks and the search goes on!!
:dunce:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top