ButterflyDreams

Copied from a recent Email.


hey i have been reading all of the stuff in the light forum...i need to know..how much power do fluorescents pull compared to hps? What would be cheaper to power..a 270 sunagrohps or 5or6 dualbulb fluorescents ballasts?

5 dual bulb flo ballasts = 400w. So the 270w HPS would cost less for more actual useaable light.


I need to know...i looked at some light chart and it said it would add about 12bucks a month more to run a hps 18 hours a day! I want it to be cheaper..i know that isn't much but it adds to the bill..and it adds up over time!


That sounds pretty close to right. Remember though that the Vegetative stage from seed is only three months at its longest. Most strains are ready to switch to flowering at 8 weeks. Then you are using only half the power per day. Plus think about the fact of how many bags you will not have to buy after the first 6 month investment in time and how much you can save.

It is very conceivable to expect 3-4 ounces every 2 months with a 270w HPS.


One last question i have is about the heat factor with hps..is it hard to ventilate the heat.....like do you gotta have a big fan to move alot of air?i was thinkin about two small ones like personal fans..one in one out!

SOunds perfect. An oscillating fan in the chamber for air movement and one in one out for ventilation is optimum in small grows.


And lastly relating to heat...is this particular lamp (270hps) easy to pick up on infared..we have the national guard around here and they fly by in helicopters..not very often but they do! Also i live near a airforce base and planes fly over all day!

Don't worry about IR with a small light. It takes a few 1K lights to cause enough heat to arouse suspicion. If they're looking through Thermal scanners they probably already know what they are going to see. Worry more about who knows, sees, smells, or hears of your hobby.

Please try to answer these for me..i am surfin everywhere for info and i would rather get straight answers from someone with experience/knowledge....thanx

Always a pleasure.
BD


[This message has been edited by ButterflyDreams (edited March 20, 2000).]

candank

Hi butterfly dreams,
I've heard that the infred scanners work only by line of site. Ever watch 'Cops' the t.v. show. The suspect as seen from a helicopter always disappears when under trees. So if the theory holds, then the only way they could see the heat is if it was being vented outside the house right? Ever used or heard of growers using refrigeration to control heat?

Candank