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 ChillWillis
old school fool
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 2,213
Last seen: 8 years, 9 days
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 Are generic lights worse? 
#384708 - 03/16/10 05:00 PM (14 years, 9 months ago) |
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Made this post already at Shroomery but was hoping for a better answer.
I'm looking at a 400w switchable MH/HPS complete light system that is extremely cheap ($160) but I don't know it it'll have less lumens than a more expensive set, or if it'll just be worse in some way I hadn't even thought of.
Here's the details they provide on it, let me know what ya think:
 
Product Features
Includes one High Pressure Sodium (HPS) bulb (400W) and one Metal Halide (MH) bulb (400W)
Electronic ballast truly supports both High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH) bulbs (conversion bulbs not required)
Electronic ballast is UL listed, CE certified
Two-year manufacturer warranty on electronic ballast
Quality light reflector
Product Description
This 400W hydroponics lighting system represents the best value grow light. Its advanced integrated electronic ballast supports both High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH) bulbs, giving the grower the flexibility to choose the best selection simply by changing the bulb, instead of having to own two separate light systems.MH is used for accelerated vegetative growth, then switch to HPS to encourage flowering, fruiting and budding Quality light reflector Power cord included Lamp cord included Discreet packaging Reasons to Choose Digital Electronic Ballast: Fast startup - reaches full brightness in less than 1/4 the time of most magnetic ballasts Completely silent - no more of the humming and buzzing Small, compact design - most electronic models weigh less than 10 pounds compared to 44 pounds for magnetic ballasts Longer bulb life - lumen output loss over time is dramatically less than with magnetic ballats Electronic ballast lights both MH and HPS lamps More lumen output - up to 20% more lumen output than regular ballasts Heat sink technology - no fans to break down and make noise; fan-cooled ballasts have a higher failure rate Light Fixture Specification: Fixture Size: 18.5" x 15" x 4.5" Total Weight: 15 Lb Note: Actual reflector hood may be slightly different from photo Electronic Ballast Parameters: Input Characteristics: Output Characteristics Rated Voltage: 120V Harmonic Distortion:<10% Input Current: 3.52A Crest Factor:<1.7 Frequency:50Hz/60Hz Frequency (Hz):25kHz ~ 100kHz Power Factor:>0.99 Loss of Input Watts (%):<10% Total Luminous Flux:>41,000Lm Energy Saving:30%
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It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom.
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 Harry_Ba11sach
cannoisseur
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 11,753
Loc: Nepal 
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Re: Are generic lights worse? [Re: ChillWillis]
#384717 - 03/16/10 05:07 PM (14 years, 9 months ago) |
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well that reflector is a piece of shit, so that's probably half of the price savings right there
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ChillWillis
old school fool
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 2,213
Last seen: 8 years, 9 days
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How much is decent reflector? Does it matter very much? and can I just slap the bulb onto another ballast if I buy one?
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It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom.
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Harry_Ba11sach
cannoisseur
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 11,753
Loc: Nepal
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Re: Are generic lights worse? [Re: ChillWillis]
#384731 - 03/16/10 05:22 PM (14 years, 9 months ago) |
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well that's exactly where you run into problems. It's very hard to say if a different reflector will work with that ballast. Yes that bulb will work with basically ANY reflector, but who knows if that ballast is compatible with major reflector brands.
And a good reflector can be had for as little as $100
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ChillWillis
old school fool
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 2,213
Last seen: 8 years, 9 days
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Holy shit man that's fucked, I never realized it was such a techy thing.. and I'm glad you realized I was talking about the reflector being compatible with the ballast not the not the bulb with the ballast :P
I wanna call the guy that's selling it and ask him what kind of reflector I'll get because it says in description that you may not get the one that's pictured.
Then I want to ask what reflectors the ballast is compatible with, what kinds of reflectors do I want it to be compatible with?
I've eluded learning about lights for too long. Fuckin' 150w hps all in one sunsystem that I have has sheltered me from this kind of learning.
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It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom.
Edited by ChillWillis (03/16/10 05:45 PM)
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Are generic lights worse? [Re: ChillWillis]
#384749 - 03/16/10 05:57 PM (14 years, 9 months ago) |
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Well every brand of reflector uses different receptacles for their hoods. And there are so many different brands out there. Sunsystem is the one I've been using, but there are so many out there and a lot of them are good.
What your wanting to look for in a reflector is whether it's able to be vented to help keep it cool or not. The one pictured obviously can't. Here's a good place to start.
http://www.rvfgardensupply.com/cgi/search.cgi?terms=Indoor_Plant_Lighting::Reflectors&category=Indoor_Plant_Lighting+:+Reflectors
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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After thought, there are adapters you can get as to hook up different ballasts and reflectors.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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ChillWillis
old school fool
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 2,213
Last seen: 8 years, 9 days
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Oh really the idea of an adapter seems promising especially since I can't call the guy apparently. I don't really understand why a ballast wouldn't hook up to any of those reflectors in the link, although I've never dealt with a system that you have to set up. As I said the light I have now is a sunsystem all in one hps.
So it's not the shape that matter but the ability to eliminate heat? Is it illogical to make your own heat vents with a drill or reciprocating saw (aka sawzall)?
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It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom.
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Are generic lights worse? [Re: ChillWillis]
#384796 - 03/16/10 06:31 PM (14 years, 9 months ago) |
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Well with the reflector that your referring to in your first post would need a lot of alterations to make it ventable. It wouldn't just be cutting a couple of quick holes in it.
Here's an example of a high quality reflector
http://www.rvfgardensupply.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=904500
This one's a little bit pricey, but there are one's out there that are comparable to this and cheaper. If you look at the design of it, you'll see that it's completely sealed. That allows you to vent air from outside, through your lights, and then back outside without disturbing the air in your grow room.
If your looking at needing to vent the inside air you can also just vent your room air through the reflector then outside, since you should be having a constant flow of air through in your grow room to begin with.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High 
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a GOOD generic whatever that is...but a good generic company now days since growing is so big now like you can find them
im sorry im high, but if you find a trustworthy one...or build it yourself then yeaa
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Suck my balls America
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ChillWillis
old school fool
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 2,213
Last seen: 8 years, 9 days
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That's a great idea to go cheap and to kill two birds.. Have a fan sucking air out of the room through the light reflector.
My previous grow room (closet) didn't get much air exchange at all. I rigged up a big fan blowing into the closet, a little one blowing just next to the plant, and another medium sized fan hanging from a coat hanger blowing air out. At my next apt. I hope to build a nicer room with more space available hopefully.
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It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom.
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ChillWillis
old school fool
Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 2,213
Last seen: 8 years, 9 days
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Re: Are generic lights worse? [Re: mhbound]
#384850 - 03/16/10 06:59 PM (14 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
mhbound said:
a GOOD generic whatever that is...but a good generic company now days since growing is so big now like you can find them
im sorry im high, but if you find a trustworthy one...or build it yourself then yeaa
Wow you must be high as fuck because that makes very little sense to me
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It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom.
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Are generic lights worse? [Re: ChillWillis]
#384854 - 03/16/10 07:03 PM (14 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
ChillWillis said:
Quote:
mhbound said:
a GOOD generic whatever that is...but a good generic company now days since growing is so big now like you can find them
im sorry im high, but if you find a trustworthy one...or build it yourself then yeaa
Wow you must be high as fuck because that makes very little sense to me
It didn't make much sense to me either.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High
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me either thats why i just gave up...shouldnt have even hit submit but i was so high i just couldnt comprehend that at the time
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Suck my balls America
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