HID lighting

[Chris Blanco]

I have a lighting question, I am getting ready to run electrical in my grow room. The grow area will consist of 2 8' x3' GBs put end to and and 2 8'x3' DWC sitting just below the GBs. The total foot print will be 6' -7' x 16'. I was going to light the area with 3 1000w HID fixtures, using the extra light for a seed tray at the end of the GB's. The extra light would also allow for some expansion. 

Is this the best way of doing it? Someone suggested that doing 4 400W would work better and use half the electricity. What say the experts?

Thanks!!!

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Check out my video on grow lights before you decide on a lighting technology. HID ends up being the most expensive over the long run. http://youtu.be/j9WSl9olElM

[Chris Blanco]

Actually I have seen your video. To use induction lighting would be extremely cost prohibitive for me right now. I can cover my 6' x 16' growing area with 3 1000w HID (8' x8' coverage). All in cost about $900. I can also use them to heat the grow room in the winter time. To cover the same area with induction lighting would require 8 fixtures at $600-800 a pop. 

If you look here:

http://theaquaponicsource.com/how-to-aquaponics/indoor-aquaponics-g...

The 8 year difference in the two systems is $500. That to me doesn't warrant the high initial investment cost. 

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Watt per watt, dollar per dollar, lumen per lumen... HID's are much less expensive to own and operate when compared against fluorescent lighting systems. Period.

I have yet to see a flourescent tube that performs even halfway decently after 7 months of use. PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) output seems to drastically fall off causing one to have to change out the tubes about twice a year. (Compared to getting a little over 2 years of useful life out of an HID bulb)

Here at the store I'm running 6 different types of high output T-5 fixtures from 2 different manufacturer's and a variety of tubes. Their performance when framed against any of the  HID's just pales in comparison.  (I'm running 5 different types of HID bulbs across a varietyof ballasts...from the new dimmable e-ballasts, to the old time magnetic ones)

 

I don't have any induction lamps or LED's so I cant really comment on those...but as far as flouros and HID's go, if anyone out there puts paper to pencil and tales into consideration all the realities of horticultural lighting...HID's are the less expensive option between the two.

Now...moving onto shameless self promotion. There are 3 pages of lighting stuff at some decent sale prices here:

http://stores.atriaaquagardens.com/lighting-sale/?sort=featured&...

Though honestly, I don't really care who, or where you buy lighting from...just wanted folks to look at things fairly and realistically when it comes to flouros vs. HID's.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Great, yea it is expensive over a shorter time frame. Over 12 or 15 year span it is more economical. Sort of like solar power... just takes a long time to get your money back.  I also just like the lower levels of waste in material and energy.

[Chris Blanco]

Thanks for all the comments, can anyone answer my question about coverage though? :-)

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Usually a fixture will specify vegetative coverage and flowing coverage, so it will depend on what you are growing.. Coverage will also vary depending on the reflector used in the fixture. I would go with what the manufacturer states. Overall I have heard the figure of 25 Watts per square foot used as a rule of thumb.

[Chris Blanco]

I am well within the "rule of thumb" I need 2400 watts for my sq footage. I guess my concern is physical spacing. Should I run 3 1000w lights down the middle like in the drawing below? Or 1 600W light above each bed?

Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair said:

Usually a fixture will specify vegetative coverage and flowing coverage, so it will depend on what you are growing.. Coverage will also vary depending on the reflector used in the fixture. I would go with what the manufacturer states. Overall I have heard the figure of 25 Watts per square foot used as a rule of thumb.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I would call the manufacturer of the fixture, if they aren't available then your reseller.

Chris Blanco said:

I am well within the "rule of thumb" I need 2400 watts for my sq footage. I guess my concern is physical spacing. Should I run 3 1000w lights down the middle like in the drawing below? Or 1 600W light above each bed?

Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair said:

Usually a fixture will specify vegetative coverage and flowing coverage, so it will depend on what you are growing.. Coverage will also vary depending on the reflector used in the fixture. I would go with what the manufacturer states. Overall I have heard the figure of 25 Watts per square foot used as a rule of thumb.

[Jeff S]

Hi again Chris. After looking at your drawing I would put 2 400watt HIDs over each bed. I don't know if you've ever used HIDs before but they are quite intense even at 400 watts. Putting 3 1000s between the tables would cause you to have to keep them raised quite a bit to cover all the beds whereas with the 400s as I told you before you can adjust height for various height crops.
 
Chris Blanco said:

I am well within the "rule of thumb" I need 2400 watts for my sq footage. I guess my concern is physical spacing. Should I run 3 1000w lights down the middle like in the drawing below? Or 1 600W light above each bed?

Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair said:

Usually a fixture will specify vegetative coverage and flowing coverage, so it will depend on what you are growing.. Coverage will also vary depending on the reflector used in the fixture. I would go with what the manufacturer states. Overall I have heard the figure of 25 Watts per square foot used as a rule of thumb.