HTG PL-55 Tek lamps? Any Good?

[Moots]

I've been using CFLs to start and have been considering the jump to PL-Ls. Foud a 2 foot 2 bulb full set up at HTG for under 70 bucks. Fixture, Bulbs, solid state ballast, and is plug and play ready. Fits my budget and space perfectly.

Any one use this or a similar set up from HTG?

Thanks!

 

[rives]

I can't help you with the HTG fixture (I built my own 330 watt fixture with AH Supply components), but I can tell you that PL-L's are pretty amazing.

 

[Moots]

I'm excited to see them live up to the potential that their users often attribute them.

Do most ballasts for Pl-ls run in the 1-2 amp range? I don't have enough breakers to give it its own dedicated breaker. It needs to share with a fan, and a clock.

 

[PistilPete]

I can't say anything about the pl-l's, but i use a bunch of stuff from HTG and they've always been good to me. Inexpensive, fast shipping, great customer service. It's even better if you're near one of their retail stores.

 

[rives]

I'm excited to see them live up to the potential that their users often attribute them.

Do most ballasts for Pl-ls run in the 1-2 amp range? I don't have enough breakers to give it its own dedicated breaker. It needs to share with a fan, and a clock.

The amperage pulled by the ballast is going to be dependent on the number and wattage of the lamps that it is driving. For instance, a ballast driving (2) 55 watt lamps will pull 110 watts + ballast losses, so it is going to be very close to 1 amp on 120 volts. If the ballast pushes (4) 55 watt lamps, it will be approximately 2 amps. Watts=volts x amps. Unless you have other loads on the circuit besides your fan & clock, it should be fine.

 

[420shooter]

I have the same setup from HTG that I use for seedlings and cuttings. It works great for what I use it for. I would order extra bulbs with the light as I think they're a little cheaper that way. I was running mine with a cheap Radio shack timer and it blew a couple of bulbs for some reason. I haven't bothered to return them even though they are covered by warranty. Too much hassle to send them back for the $$.

 

[someotherguy]

High man, if you're already using CFL's then you know they grow some really dank TOP nugs but the stuff lower down just doesn't get enough light to amount to anything.

Now PL-L's are much more efficient than common CFL's but they are still just CFL's so no more intense, just more efficient because of the straight rather than twisted design.

What i'm getting at is that using a reflector with fluoro's is essentially a waste of time and money.

Keep in mind that one of the greatest advantages to PL-L's is that they are remote ballasted so most of thier heat can be removed from the grow area, an advantage you'll be sacrificing if you buy any pre-made fixture.

Plus, it is easy as shit to wire your own so that it doesn't make sense to buy a store bought fixture unless you have no DIY skills at all, especially when there are so many here who would be more than willing to help you.

If you scan through my 'cloning factory' thread linked in my sig you'll see what I did with PLL-L's and how I wired them and if you still don't feel confident I can point you at a few others who are more knowledgeable than me.

The bottom line is that you'll get way more bang for your buck if you build your own.

Hope this helps, SOG

btw, I've run a 400watt CMH, a 96watt T5 and 220watts of PL-L's all on the same circuit for almost 3 years now with no problems at all, heck, I even run a 5000btu ac unit on the same circuit during the warmer months.

 

[tenthirty]

I've been using the HTG supply PLLs for almost a year. 2 bulbs went bad. Other than that thay work well for the money.

 

[rives]

What i'm getting at is that using a reflector with fluoro's is essentially a waste of time and money.

What are you basing this on? It is contrary to my experience - I have found the Miro reflectors to be very effective.

 

[IwannatokeNbone]

just keep the cfls, one breaks u can go to the local home depot or mejiers or just about any where n replace it, get into growing around your cfls, maximize the potential by dealing with the bad design of a coiled bulb. cfls impress me, the light qaulity surpasses hids anyday, light intensity no.