[darrinjefferson]

so I am currently growing using about a 50gal rubbermaid, its dimensions are 19"x18"x36". I also am running three exhaust fans(1-75cfm 2-15cfm) and one intake fan(15cfm) there are also 2 passive intakes also. Right now i am running around 320 watts of cfls. I just harvested my first grow and was very happy with the outcome...should have final weight in a few days. what i am trying to get at here is that i would like to upgrade to perhaps a 150w HPS system.

i was wondering if anyone knew a link/thread or had any info about running an HPS in a rubbermaid. If i do it i will be most likely adding another tub to the top to make it 38" tall. Would this be enough space to run a 150w HPS? What kind of temps do the 150watts produce?

any thoughts or comments...ideas..anything is appreciated. thanks alot!

[schrooomy420]

I think the heat from the ballast would melt the thing. That's just my thoughts on it, don;t really knwo for sure.

[darrinjefferson]

i appreciate the comment schrooomy420. yeah i think i have decided to just go fluoros again. maybe i will upgrade to a 250watt hps this summer when i will have a chance to flower in a closet.

I agree, I believe it may melt it.

gotta go easy with your lighting and the rubbermaid grows.

you could just cut open the lid and place the HPS around that. Glowing downward. If the ballast is attached to the hood. Ive seen plenty of HPS rubbermaid grows.

Id maybe go with a 70W and some CFLs. might help with the heat.

[hgl]

Interresting... I already saw something on og that has 2 rubbermaid in height... and I think it was a security lamp. He just hooked the lamp on a hole on the top of the rubbermaid...

I don't remember but I know it was a HPS light on a Rubbermaid setup... 70 or 150w...!

[dociron]

Originally Posted by hgl

Interresting... I already saw something on og that has 2 rubbermaid in height... and I think it was a security lamp. He just hooked the lamp on a hole on the top of the rubbermaid...

I don't remember but I know it was a HPS light on a Rubbermaid setup... 70 or 150w...!

Yeah, I remember something like that as well.
It seems to me that as long as the ballast is
outside of the box, i.e. remote,
all you really need is good heat exhaust capabilities.
BTW, 300 watts of CFL gives off a LOT of heat,
much more than you might think.
IMO, a 150 HID is gonna give off less, just my 2 cents......

Originally Posted by dociron

Yeah, I remember something like that as well.
It seems to me that as long as the ballast is
outside of the box, i.e. remote,
all you really need is good heat exhaust capabilities.
BTW, 300 watts of CFL gives off a LOT of heat,
much more than you might think.
IMO, a 150 HID is gonna give off less, just my 2 cents......

yes, but the heat is more evenly distributed. The sun gives off much more heat, but stand outside under the sun with your palm facing the sun, then go inside and grab ahold of a 60w incandescent lightbulb (that's on). I bet you'll burn yourself quicker with the light bulb.

[Holdin']

I think that you'd have no problem with a 150w HPS as opposed to 310 watts of CFL. My temps stayed relatively the same when I switched from 144 watts of CFL to the 150w HPS (in a cab about 2x larger than your Rubbermaid, though). And about the ballast melting the Rubbermaid... that's easily resolved by a remote ballast. And if you have to have the ballast close to the Rubbermaid (on top or something) then just put it in baking pan or metal box of some sort. But honestly I don't think my ballast gets hot enough to melt plastic. Hell, I left on top of a blanket on accident overnight and didn't do shit.

I too think that a 150 watt lamp is deffinately do-able, but you'd have to use a cool tube or ac hood.

that other post was just to make a point. But it is do-able.