I agree and that was the plan but my funds didn't come through so buying a 16 light flip for 700 and 8 bulbs and shades another 1300 isn't going to happen atm . So I have to take the hit on the electric bill and material . Also the closest I am to a growshop is 150 kms and the stop don't stock much more then nuttes so im forced to order the gear .
There is no need to double up on everything...That can be done later on, if you want.
All you need to buy to do a flip system is a flip box, some B&W polly, 2x2's to build a wall from, and to staple your polly too. Everything else will be just(your) labor.
Simple to do...Just split your room in half with the polly wall.
Put half your lights, shades, plants, etc., etc., in one room, and leave half in the other room. You will be running exact same wattage as you are now but only half your ballasts(1 ballast...2 bulbs). Everything else will remain the same...Same amount of plants, same room(but split), same amount of bulbs, same amount work, same amount of power, the same amount of everything.
The only thing that would change is your crop will be in two rooms instead of one and you will only be using half of your ballasts. The rooms are side by side, producing heat for each other...Cold problem solved.
Peace...B
PS. If you are running digital ballast, you will need 2 relays in the flip box, then you won't burn the ballasts out. Just tell the Hydro shop your using digitals.