Cheap HPS Lights

Thanks for all the input, everyone. Ive visited the suggested site and am enjoying the how to grow guide. That alone answers alot of questions.

There was one more thing I didnt put in my previous comment...Since the HPS lights all work with a ballast...Are they any more fire prone than CFL's?

Im in an apt and cant really add anything to the wiring here. Is that something I should consider as well?

That is a big one. Use common sense. They get very hot.

Watts are watts the type of light doesn't change that part.

This is what I bought from HTG on ebay and am very pleased.
eBay: 400 watt HPS+MH GROW LIGHT hydroponic 400w w lamp bulb! (item 180106561902 end time May-05-07 21:30:00 PDT)http://cgi.ebay.com/400-watt-HPS-MH-GROW-LIGHT-hydroponic-400w-w-lamp-bulb_

I use ebay for lights all the time actuall grabbed another 1000 watt hps light for $24 plus $18 for shipping today.I have bought like 2 400 watt hps, 1 400 watt mh 3 1000watt hps and 2 1000 watt mh lights off ebay most exspensive was $89 which was a 1000 watt hps with 2 bulbs and a hyrdofarm 4 foot reflector.I am a power seller and buy bulk items alot so me grabbing stuff looks pretty normal.

I highly recommend htgsupply.com You will find all the lights and nutes your heart could desire for a VERY reasonable price.

OK...I just ordered the 400w HPS lights from HTG Supply. I hope that works out ok....delivery time and all. I saw a growbox made from the RUbberMaid tubs in the FAQ.

Just wondering if the lights are too bright for that. He was using CFL's in his box. I like the setup though. Just thought the lights I ordered may get too hot and melt the box.

And if anyone knows where I can see more pix of boxes being made I'd appreciate if they could point me in the right direction. You guys have been supremely helpful thus far. Thanks all.

Yer gonna have to go larger than a tote. Figure on about 8-9 sq ft of floor in the box for that light...and at least 4 ft of height. Look for pre-built file cabs..storage units....wardrobes, etc...of just head for your closet...

Gonna have to have a fan to keep those light on temps lower than 80

but you WILL rock! Highly commendable/admirable purchase. You skipped over years of of messing around and wasting time by going hps.

I forsee large and very stiiiicky buddage in your future Bloodshot!

good luck

bt dt

OK...I think I'll just stick with the closet...I'll start with just the corner (see pic).

Made a trip to Wal-Mizzy and picked up some soil, pots, bigger pots to tranplant to later, a humidy/temp gauge, a fan, soil moisture meter and distilled water.

I think I jumped the gun by starting to germinate the seeds before I got my setup str8. The lights I ordered today like I said. I went ahead and planted those seeds into four small pots. Will they be ok until the lights I ordered arrive? Or should I start over when the lights come?

I'll post more pics of the setup when the lights arrive. Did I start too early though? Right now the 4 pots are sitting on the porch since nothing is out of the soil. Good idea?

You'll be Ok until they sprout...then they should get at least 16 hours of light..and can go up to 24 hours of light under a florescent light until you get your room up and running.

It's always wise to set the space up and test run it to check temps...etc before intro'ing/planting plants. You at least understand that you jumped...and if you just take a few interim steps here and get a floro up and running you will have no real setback.

good luck

bt dt

Ok thanks, BTDT. I have the room ready now pretty much...just no lighting. So I didnt want to put them in the room yet until the lights came in.

I'll get them inside at sunset and at least keep a fluro on them for now.

dont buy your shit at walmart, go to your local mom and pop hardware.

I'm not sure, but that looks like tin foil on the walls. If it is, you can get cheap mylar like stuff at the dollar store. It's poly-wrap wrapping paper, that is solid color on one side and metallic on the other. I got a couple rolls for my setup for $2. Tin foil can be spotty, that's the only reason I'm tellin u this. Looks good though.

Although, you did very good. You would have saved about $30.00 had you of not gone through ebay, and simply ordered it from htgsupply direct.
Someone has to pay for all those ebay fees.
Peace

gardenandcats said:

This is what I bought from HTG on ebay and am very pleased.
eBay: 400 watt HPS+MH GROW LIGHT hydroponic 400w w lamp bulb! (item 180106561902 end time May-05-07 21:30:00 PDT)

Click to expand...

Ok...I'll look into that wrapping paper you described. I do have foil on the walls...I knew there was something better out there. Thanks for that tip.

Video...I almost went the HTG Supply via E-bay route. You're right...everything is marked up a bit more on E-bay. The light I bout was $25 less going str8 to the site and ordering....BTW...Mine should be in Thursday. I just talked to a rep there this morning.

BloodShotI'z said:

Ok...I'll look into that wrapping paper you described. I do have foil on the walls...I knew there was something better out there. Thanks for that tip.

Click to expand...

Be careful with Mylar and Mylar substitutes and tin foil, if they're not used correctly (which very few people seem to do) you can lose most of the benefits from using them and flat matt white paint actually represents a far cheaper and more effective option.

Mylar needs to be used flat and I mean flat - with no crinkles of any kind for maximum light reflection, if you've got crinkles in it, it's going to be fragmenting the light in different directions, not really what you want.

Ya learn something new everyday. The foil Im using on the wall is covering up what?.,....A flat matte white paint.

In the words of Homer Simpson....Doh!!!