Ok, I'm in the middle of building an Armoire. The weather is just shitty, snow, ice, you name it. My problem is this, My Armoire is going to be 7'Tx4W'x2D'. I was thinking of running two 400HPS, because i will have two 2x2 Ebb&Flo running each by them selves so i have a harvest every month from one of the tables. Should i just run my 600HPS centered in the Armoire or will i need the two 400HPS? I think a 600HPS covers 3.5', not for sure. Any help would be super. I have a vortex 6" 449CFM fan on the way and a OdorVent 12 to cover the odor. It's rated for a 12'x12' room, so it should work awsome. I just got to get this light pattern all taking care of. I'll be sure to post some picture, this Armoire is looking like a normal old Armoire one would buy at a store. Made it so it matched other dressers i have to look normal.
Thanks

[omega7]

Hey BG what's up. Sounds good. Have any pictures? I would like to see what it looks like. I ended up just going to home depot and throwing down $90 for my wardrobe 4'wX6'hX21deep, because of the same reason, when I got this it was winter and way too cold to build one. Anyway, If you are not using MH and HPS then I would just use one 400watt for veg and then the double 400 or just the 600 for flowering. Or if you arent trying to keep electrical costs down then I peronally would go with one 400 and the 600 (if they will fit in there together) for veg and flower...you'll have monsters. The biggest problem you are going to encounter with this type of show is heat, so keep it cool with a small mounted fan or a few 80-120mm computer fans. Extra circulation cant hurt either. Best of luck to you man. Keep us updated.

Thanks, No i don't have any picture at this time. Everything is at the storage unit and haven't had time to take any pictures. Really can't get in the unit, with the 6 foot snow driff's in front of it. I'll get some as soon as it warms up. This is going to be a flower "only" unit. I don't veg my clones any, i like to get them going into flower as soon as they root. This helps me keep them low. I got a big 6" Vortex fan on the way with carbon scrubber and it's rated for 449CFM. I think this is more then enough, if i was to go with two 400HPS, but i think i'm going to try the 600HPS first and see what the yield is, and maybe do a run with two 400HPS and see the differents. My problem now is "Do i hang the Blubs, verticle or horitzonal?" Which will help with the yield better?
Thanks

[Captain Canibus]

I just went thru the task of cooling a 1000 watt lite. The hood is cool, but heat off the lite is still intense. I'd test it with each lite and consider installing a thermostat to turn off the lite for safety and stress reasons. Line it with mylar and hang the bulb, see what happens.

I'm going to line the whole inside with mylar, top and sides. I think the 600HPS should work out pretty well.

[Hippo]

Hi Billygoat.
If u want to harvest every 4 weeks, 2 trays is ideal, and so is 2 lamps (2x600 or 400), as the plants are gonna be at differant stages of bloom and so will be differant heights. If u use just one lamp, the smaller ones will suffer as u wont be able to lower it incase u burn the tops of the ones further on in the cycle.
Ofcourse 1 600 will be better for temps but thats all.
Hope that helps
Goodluck
Hippo

You make a good point. I'll have to see what the temp is like with the 600HPS, once i get her running. If the temp isn't that bad or even good with the 600. I'll replace the 600 with the two 400's, since you are most likely right. I will need two lights in there, if i want to max out my yield ever 4 weeks with the two tables. Thanks, I can't believe i didn't even think about the height stages. I was looking beyond the basic, and focusing on the end.
Thanks

Ok, I think i got it all worked out. I'm going with the two 400HPS light for a total of 100 Lum's PSI. I will be using a Kool tube, to keep the heat down. This should keep my yield good and the buds dense. I'll be running the Vortex fan to pull off the heat. I'm going to add a speed control and adjust the speed of the fan till i get the 75-78 degree range i'm looking for. This will also let me put the lights almost on top of the plants with out burning them. Once the weather warms up, i can pull my Armorire outside and finsih building it. I will be lining the sides and top with 2mil mylar and some small fans to move around the fresh air to help fight off mold and to help stiffen up the plants. I'll post more info as the project get's back under way.
Thanks

PS Here is a picture of the Kool Tube i will be using.

https://www.icmag.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=544

[mpd]

Have you considered running a ceramic metal halide bulb instead of the usual? IF you go with the cmh, you need to run it on a hps ballast, as it needs an ignitor.

Twin 400 watt units would be great in your cabinet, as combined they put out less heat than a standard mh or hps bulb. They run chilly! Bend your own air cooled hood and you are in binez. I just got done bending a pair of hoods that will take anything up to a 1500 watt bulb for less than $100 and I built them out of stainless steel. I have no metal working experience whatsoever, so you can do it if you are so inclined...

The cmh has the most balanced spectrum output you are going to find, a very high CRI (up to 96!), a corrected color temperature model (4,500 K) is available, so you don't have to change bulbs between veg. and bloom. The cmh gives you both ends of the spectrum. The bulbs cost about $50 for the 400 watt units.

Definitely a two cents worth post...

I'm going to use 400HPS GroLux bulbs, since they are designed for plants, not like the other bulbs. Never heard of the bulbs your talking about, where could i find them on the net, so i can read up on them? I'm open to any and all help to make this Armoire the best. This is going to be good for people that are in school or live in a apartment and need to pull down some weight and keep it hush, hush. Let me know, would love to read up on them.
Thanks