Help me light up a 25 x 25 Grow !

[star crash]

Got a space I want to develop … been using the same1000 watt HPS bulbs in various configurations with various hoods ever since I first started growing..it’s what I know… So let’s hypothetically say I’m on a budget I don’t want to spend an exorbitant amount for fancy LED but I’m still open to suggestions and complete newbie I don’t know anything …let’s say you own the space …how would you do it? Unlimited ceiling height & electrical outlets Can go 120 or 240, Electrician is really good but he’s also really expensive…

 

[bsgospel]

You mean you could do 240 but it hasn't been stepped up yet?

 

[star crash]

Yes correct .. Panel is installed

 

[bsgospel]

Hypothetically, how many hps bulbs could you carry over to the new design?

25 x 25 is kinda big for a low budget....this is going to take some thought

 

[asher1er]

whatever you do, go 240 from the start. Lots of commercial OP's are still running HPS. Me personally i would run what i have and upgrade as time goes on and you have some type of return coming back.

 

[bsgospel]

Agreed, 240. I would also put a lower-gauge cable on each ballast. 12 I think?

At a height of 10-11' I would try to get 12 1000w fixtures going. It wouldn't cover 25 x 25 but you'd get a pretty good field of light going. (That's the budget talking, if you already have 12 ready to go, I bet you could squeeze in another 4 for an even 16.)

 

[bsgospel]

Here's a plot I did a couple years ago and it worked great for 315's. If I were using the other half of this room, it would be about 25 x 25. If you ran 12 1000w's at 9' ht spaced appx. 36 inches apart on center, you could cover 18 x 18 adequately, still giving you space for materials and ergonomics. If you went higher, I would want another 4 fixtures and try to get closer to 20 x 20

 

[star crash]

Let’s call it a medium sized budget I was thinking 10 to 15,000 Watts & 12 points of light minimum

 

[bsgospel]

And here is what that 315 room produced. You could easily do better with 1000's.

 

[bsgospel]

Let’s call it a medium sized budget I was thinking 10 to 15,000 Watts & 12 points of light minimum

Ah you should be fine then. 12 fixt. plus good thick cables, using your budget on the electrician and maybe a couple new bulbs if any are getting dim. I don't ever go longer than a year and a half. You're not really saving any money at that point.

 

[carson]

Definitely do 240. You can run 3x1000w on each 20amp circuit. You could do 4 rows of 3 lights on four circuits. Will you need some of the space for veg and working? Will you have a dedicated 100amp panel?

 

[star crash]

I had a brand new 200 amp panel installed and then a sub panel installed into the facility area

 

[star crash]

Check it out …The sub panel is all the way to the right on the bottom pic ceilings are very high here

 

[negative37dBA]

That is a sexy space to have there sir!!! Dam that would be awesome to play in...my mind just runs wild. I am sure you will do wonderful no matter how you go but I have some suggestions.
If you are going to be in that space long term I would go full on LED. The long term costs with running them compared to HIDs is really in the LED's favor. Think of items you will not need or will be needed much less with using LED. For example...cooling and the amount of power draw for the lights. Venting can be dedicated to just fresh air not heat exchange. The coverage and uniformity you will get from LED is amazing...no way HID can even come close. The cost of these fixtures now days is reasonable. My 660 watt bar style cost me over 800.00 to DIY...you can buy them now pre built for less that 600.00...with similar components.
For get about bulbs needing to be replaced and venting for all the hoods or a massive A/C system to deal with all that heat....
I have switched over fully to LED for about 18 months now and I do not regret it at all. I am on a very small scale compared to a 25x25 though.
Have a great day all.
Peace, negative.

 

[bsgospel]

Anything in the budget for insulation?

(by the way, Negative, I would totally agree with the logic and I would endorse bar lighting too but I just infer that the budget wouldn't hold at this stage. If money were no object, I'd go LED with this space. A good set of bars should last 5-10 years. Maybe something Star can invest in in the future.)

 

[alpo]

1000w HPS DE @ 120v = 10amps x15 = 150amps - 200amp panel = 160amp useable

 

[bsgospel]

10 amps?

 

[alpo]

10 amps?

I had to look up the specs on an HPS light, I only did a quick search. all but one light I saw was 240v. the one 120v option was 10 amps. I think it had a turbo knob to 1200w which appears to be common.

 

[Mithridate]

Lights

Amps = watts/volts

Making room for an ignition spike
​​​​1100w/240v = 4.58amps

15 x 4.58 = 68.7amps
or
5 x 20amp circuits = 100 amps
or
3 X 30amp circuits = 90 amps

As Alpo pointed out, continuous load calls for 80% of amperage.
160-90 = 70 amps

Climate control (cooling)
Usually 4000 btu per bulb
or
5000 btu per bulb + ballast

A btu is .293 watts, so 15x 5000 x .293 = 21,975w or 90amps @ 240v. 70- 90 = -20
well... fuck lol

Hows the weather where you're at, 4 seasons? Never snowed?
​​​

 

[star crash]

It’s going to be a multi purpose grow room I envision running it all 4 seasons around in combination with outdoor growing at various degrees , so it’s not going to be a sealed situation.. I’m in New York State we have typical North East weather