Old Reviews HPS or LED for my upgrade?

[grindin]

ok im currently growing in a 3' x 1.75' x 5' gromedics tent, i just ordered a 4inch inline fan and filter.. i currently only have a 150watt hps and some cfl's but been wanting to upgrade my light after i finish this grow..

i been thinking of a 400watt hps or 240watt blackstar led.. any one have any input or other suggestions?

 

[Muddy]

A 400 watt HPS puts out a lot of heat and would probably make controlling it a problem in a tent that size. A 250 watt would be a better fit. I just replaced a 400 watt HPS system I had in an area about double the size of your tent. I now have two Blackstar 240s in there. It's only been a couple weeks but they are doing nicely. One would work work well in a tent that size. You could also keep the 150 watt and add another 150 watts of CFLs. That would be the least expensive option but would also take more room in your tent.

 

[CanadianBudz]

Muddy said it the best, also depends on your budget, LED is safer also, case anything goes wrong (to paranoid for HID myself)

 

[grindin]

thanks for the input, if you could compare the yield of a 240watt blackstar to a HPS what would it be 250watt, 400watt ect.?

 

[Muddy]

As I said, I just installed the Blackstars a couple weeks ago so haven't harvested anything from them yet. I've pulled as much as 1.4 grams per watt from my GLH LED and about the same from my old 400 watt HPS. Of course it also depends on the strain and growing techniques, but I would think the Blackstar 240 should produce the same or better than a 250 HPS in that space.

 

[agito]

IMO a 400hps would rape a 240w led I would think a 250w hps would just nudge it on light penertration giving more bud on lower growth. plus you can change the bulbs if need be in a hps

your best for going for the 400w on a 3ft room I dont think a 250w hps would cut it

 

[Muddy]

Penetration on the newer 3 watt LEDs is very good, up to 36". My lower buds are just as tight as my main colas. In a 3' square room a 400 watt HPS would be good but his tent is only 1.75' wide and heat will likely be an issue. While the initial cost of LEDs are still higher, the reduced electrical usage and no need to replace HPS bulbs make them cheaper to use in the long run. To me, just not having to deal with the heat is worth the extra cost.

 

[RollerofDoobs]

I have a tent that exact size with one blackstar 240w panel. I have only had it for about a week, but so far it seems like a perfect fit for that size tent.

 

[agito]

one idea that has not been mentioned is running 3ft t5's so you would get even coverage in a rectangle room

 

[grindin]

so it would be best for the blackstar with my current tent or get the 400watt and a bigger tent? my tent was only $52 so i could pass it to my brother no problem for a clone room or something. but i just ordered a 4" Mtn Gearsmith inline fan for exhaust. Do you think it would be to small to cool the 400watt in a 3'x3' or maybe the 2'x4' tent?