How much light is too much light?

[Tony Danza]

400w hps in a cool tube.

16dx34wx41t cab. 3.8 sqft 105 w/sqft.

I've heard that if you can keep it cool (which I think I can do, at least during winter) too big a light isn't a bad thing. I realize I would get better g/watt with a 250 but this 400 is the light I have for now, I just want opinions on any detrimental effects that those 55,000 lumens may have on my plants.

Oh yeah, I'll be scrogging a dwc If it matters. Being as it's winter right now, what should my minimum temp be at night (It prolly gets down to 35-40 at night right now.

Anyway, opinions are apreciated.


woohoo, first post baby.

 

[JackOneill]

if you can keep temps at a proper level then by all means run that light the more the better you will get the densest shit you have probably ever seen from using a light that big in a area that small. a 3x3 area is usually what a 400watter can cover efficiently.

 

[swurv]

Wow, this is like prescience, I just picked up a Sylvania Type C2000 400HPS 120/240 V 4.06/2.03 Amp 470 W 60 Hz lamp, looks like an outside spotlight, and I gotta gut it and hook up a remote ballast as per the DIY-link-o-rama.

My space is just slightly less than yours, something like L34" W16" H34" for flowering, and I was wondering the exact same thing; is 400W too much? Am I gonna overheat?

I plan on using a direct fan on my bulb, in a cool tube design, sucking air from the flower chamber over the bulb into the utility room, pulled through a carbon scrubber and out the back.

If the light is fine, how many CFM in fans am I gonna need to keep this sucker cool? 55CFM 12V computer fan on the light and 110CFM dual fan array out the back sufficient? (Blowers seem like they might be too loud)

No hijack, just wondering on some heat details.

 

[Tony Danza]

yeah we'll see what it takes to keep this thing cool, I'm starting with 80 cfm computer style fan. If that doesn't work I'll dick around with boosters and resisance until I get it right. I honestly don't think it will be too hard as my garden is only a dozen cuft or so and the room that the cabinet is in is pretty chilly this time of year.

 

[swurv]

Sounds like you have a nice setup, especially with the chilly room. I don't have that luxury, so I think Ill be very concerned with the heat issue in such a small space...plus after measuring its actually 36L and H so thats a little better I guess.