First off sorry if this answer is somewhere in the forms but i am getting back into growing again . i have some old gear around 7-8 years old it worked great in its day but things seem to of advanced. i currently have a 400 wt mh and a 1000 wt phs old steel box system . i am in the market for something newer i have looked around and has asked but still looking for some opinions. i am using a large grow tent about the size of an old phone both any one have a suggestion . i have noticed a system that the bulbs are inter changeable is that true and how well does it work ? thanks
Need advice
- Thread starter Jamesk
- Start date
BedroomFarmer
Well-Known Member
Hey James, welcome to 
. Check out our sponsors for lights. LEDs seem to be what most people use around here. I'm personally very impressed with my GROWant light.
Sponsors | 420 MAGAZINE ®
. Check out our sponsors for lights. LEDs seem to be what most people use around here. I'm personally very impressed with my GROWant light. Sponsors | 420 MAGAZINE ®
Stunned
Well-Known Member
I recommend doing lots of reading
myself, my sig says it all
or anything with a Samsung diode in it
myself, my sig says it all
or anything with a Samsung diode in it
Yes the more modern HID digital ballasts can use either MH or HPS bulbs and are also usually dimmable to different wattages, which is very handy at times.
I live in a cold area and my room is heated by the lights, so personally I need the heat they create. It’s perfect. Some/most people find that heat to be a negative issue and that’s one reason to use LEDs, which put out a bit less heat. The more expensive LEDs are also superior to HID at this point, though also a lot more expensive.
HID lighting sometimes gets dumped on by LED growers (and vice versa). Some people get their noses in the air about their personal preferences which are always ‘the best/only way to grow’ Thankfully most have evolved past this now.
HID still outperforms the cheap LEDs and most of the mid-price ones in plant growth and price and long term reliability. Good LEDs will cost more up front, and just more overall- even in the long run, but less in the monthly power bill and can grow higher quality herb.
The cheap LED brands and no-name stuff- don’t bother unless you don’t mind throwing it away in a year or two.
Out of the LED sponsors here I seem to hear Timber grow lights favourably reviewed a lot.
LED lighting is an industry in a state of constant change. Also there is a lot of BS advertising and misinformation. You can spend a thousand hours researching and still be confused.
There are also a lot of people who piece together their own LEDs, which apparently can be reasonably easy and save money. Another area of research that could keep you busy a long long time...
Another type of lighting that gets good reviews is CMH. There seems to be quite a bit of confusion around this kind as well.
I’m an expert in none of this stuff and mostly just familiar with HID, other than what I’ve seen and read over the years. So this is just my general overview based on that. Lots of knowledgeable people here though for your specific questions.
Good luck!
I live in a cold area and my room is heated by the lights, so personally I need the heat they create. It’s perfect. Some/most people find that heat to be a negative issue and that’s one reason to use LEDs, which put out a bit less heat. The more expensive LEDs are also superior to HID at this point, though also a lot more expensive.
HID lighting sometimes gets dumped on by LED growers (and vice versa). Some people get their noses in the air about their personal preferences which are always ‘the best/only way to grow’ Thankfully most have evolved past this now.
HID still outperforms the cheap LEDs and most of the mid-price ones in plant growth and price and long term reliability. Good LEDs will cost more up front, and just more overall- even in the long run, but less in the monthly power bill and can grow higher quality herb.
The cheap LED brands and no-name stuff- don’t bother unless you don’t mind throwing it away in a year or two.
Out of the LED sponsors here I seem to hear Timber grow lights favourably reviewed a lot.
LED lighting is an industry in a state of constant change. Also there is a lot of BS advertising and misinformation. You can spend a thousand hours researching and still be confused.
There are also a lot of people who piece together their own LEDs, which apparently can be reasonably easy and save money. Another area of research that could keep you busy a long long time...
Another type of lighting that gets good reviews is CMH. There seems to be quite a bit of confusion around this kind as well.
I’m an expert in none of this stuff and mostly just familiar with HID, other than what I’ve seen and read over the years. So this is just my general overview based on that. Lots of knowledgeable people here though for your specific questions.
Good luck!
