Quantrill

sylvania lucolux LU400 HPS


a "standard" HPS lamp

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Quantrill

Let us compare three 400 watt HPS lamps that we have data on so far.

The Plantastar, SonTAgro and the Sylvania Lucolox.


The Platastar(55K initial lumens) has 8 % more lumens than the Lucolox(51K initial lumens).
The SonTAgro(K initial lumens) has 8% more lumens than the Lucolox(51K initial lumens).

So it would seem acording to the lumen lovers, that both of these lamps is equally superior to the lowly lucolox.

However, when you forget about the photometric way of looking at light energy, and focus on photosyntheticly active radiation instead, you get a different outcome in the comparison of these three lamps.


The Plantastar(725.843 PPF) has 23% more Photosynthetic Photon Flux than the Lucolox (591.958 PPF).

The SonTAgro(614.064 PPF) only has 4 % more PPF than the Lucolox(591.958).


The Plantastar (506.201 PUR) has 26% more Photosyntheticly Useful Radiation than the Lucolox(401.994PUR)

The SonTAgro(402.780) has 2% more PUR than the Lucolox(401.994).


See how the lumen can lead you down a dead end road?

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__________________
Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't.

~Mark Twain

choader

Is it a fair statement to say that a given bulb type (say EYE HPS) has about the same efficiency or PAR regardless of the #of watts? What I mean is that a 400 EYE is very similar to a 600W EYE (with obviously the 600 having higher raw numbers)?

Choader

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knna

No, it isnt. Generally speaking, most HPS goes increasing their efficiency as their wattage grows, up to 600w. The 600w emits more light per watt than the 400w one (of same model), the 400w more than the 250w, and so on.

But its a right statement for many HM. Although HM still goes increasing their efficiency at high powers, the difference is far smaller. Because of this behavior, often MH are more efficients (or same) al low wattages, while HPSs rules in the high wattages.

It occurs too with floro tubes. 4 a 5 ft tubes are more efficients than smaller ones. For CFLs, it depend of the size of each U tube wich form them. Those with each tube driving 36w or more per tube are more efficients than those using smaller tubes.

This explain why giving advice based only in watts have some inaccuracy, due to they are based often on the light per watt that high wattage bulbs emits, thus if the light is provided using less efficient bulbs, using same watts/sq ft provide less light.

Checking it is very easy with the spredsheet. The spredsheet allows to introduce the data for differents bulbs emiting the same SPD, wich is usual when is the same bulb with different wattage versions. When two bulbs have the same SPD, the one wich emits more lm/w emits more uE/watt.

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buzzmobile

Based on your experience, knna, can you provide a list of "best bulbs" from the data you have collected. I need your help deciphering the charts and the numbers, and I'm pretty sure I am not alone.

knna

Yep, for sure. I promise to do it. But i want to analyze the more popular bulbs in the US, and i dont know many of them. So, i would like people send me by PM or posting in this thread, the bulbs to be analyzed. If they comes with the SPD and lm output, i dont need more.

Currently im very busy finishing my LEd's system, but i hope to have enough free time in two or three weeks to do this work and post a complete review of the most popular bulbs.

I tried to explain the best the differents concepts analyzed, but i know still many people dont understand some of them. Ask precise questions and ill try to make them clear. Dont hesitate in asking, sure many people have the same question in mind. Until now, maybe i was a bit too technical expresing concepts, ill try to use a plain language for now on. Im sure other people who already understand the concepts analyzed, as Quantrill and Penguin, can clarify this specific questions, too.

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buzzmobile

I thought that is what this was coming to. Thanks for your work on this. It is a valuable contribution to new and experienced growers alike.

choader

knna - thanks for clarifying. now that I think about it more, it does make sense.

I gotta say, I'm with Buzz here. I've had difficulty following the details of the thread and a summary would be great. Hopefully, it will include the EYE HPS (which I have).

This is really good work here. My hats off to all who have contributed.

Buzz - when we get the recommendation list, maybe it should be a sticky????

Choader

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SS Bubblegum & DP Mazar Small Cab - Complete
Choader's 600W HPS Grow - Complete
Small Cab Grow - Complete

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Male and Female Pre-Flowers

buzzmobile

Let's see what the bridge looks like when we get there.


Chances are good.

choader

That's why I wrote "maybe"......

Does that make me the horse?????

Choader

__________________
SS Bubblegum & DP Mazar Small Cab - Complete
Choader's 600W HPS Grow - Complete
Small Cab Grow - Complete

READ ME!! Posting Guidelines
Male and Female Pre-Flowers