150w HPS power consumption

hsfkush

hsfkush

Well-Known Member
So I was just wondering, I currently use a 200w 2700k CFL and I'm looking to get an HPS setup real soon. Could anyone tell me if I'd see a difference in power consumption? Being that the wattage is lower, would it be less or more on the electricity bill? Thanks in advance!:weed:

Oh one other thing, I'll be running 12/12 from seed like I'm currently doing, how many plants do you think I could do under a 150w HPS and still gain a yield of roughly 1 ounce per plant?
 
budbro18

budbro18

Well-Known Member
The lumen per watt ration for cfls is much lower. Theyre good to grow small or in short grow situations but once you go over 150-250 watts they start loosing their luster.
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
The ballast will draw a bit too, but so you'll prolly be pulling around 175 watts when you include the ballast.
 
hsfkush

hsfkush

Well-Known Member
budbro18 said:
Also for how many plants under a 150watt i wouldnt go over 4 or 5.

Best of luck!
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5 is the perfect amount for me. As it's only a personal grow and to share(for free) with friends.
I'll also supplement the HPS with a few 6500k CFL's no doubt, as HPS is mainly red spectrum, correct?
 
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ThirstyRoss

Well-Known Member
PJ Diaz said:
The ballast will draw a bit too, but so you'll prolly be pulling around 175 watts when you include the ballast.
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No, this is not true, at all. If the light is 150W it will draw 150W all in, bulb/ballast combined.

You can verify that this is true but putting a "Kill-A-Watt" between your light and wherever it's plugged in. My 250W MH draws almost exactly 250W, usually like 248-250W.

It would be dangerous to rate a device at 150W if the device uses more continuous power than that. Makes no sense at all if you give it a moments thought, from an electrical planning perspective.
 
hsfkush

hsfkush

Well-Known Member
ThirstyRoss said:
No, this is not true, at all. If the light is 150W it will draw 150W all in, bulb/ballast combined.

You can verify that this is true but putting a "Kill-A-Watt" between your light and wherever it's plugged in. My 250W MH draws almost exactly 250W, usually like 248-250W.

It would be dangerous to rate a device at 150W if the device uses more continuous power than that. Makes no sense at all if you give it a moments thought, from an electrical planning perspective.
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Wouldn't it be the current that goes through to the bulb its self which is the specific noted wattage? Surely the Ballast draws power too in order to convert?

I'm no expert, so I'm just asking. =]
 
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ThirstyRoss

Well-Known Member
No, that's not how it works at all. When any electrical device has a rating on it, thats how much power it draws. Some devices will draw a higher current at start up but during continuous use the rating on the device can be considered accurate.

The bulb & ballast are considered a complete unit, not two separate devices. Together, they will consume 150W in this case (250W in my case).

Again you can readily verify this using a kill-a-watt and a clamp-on amp meter! Which I have done and am certain the above is correct.
 
hsfkush

hsfkush

Well-Known Member
ThirstyRoss said:
No, that's not how it works at all. When any electrical device has a rating on it, thats how much power it draws. Some devices will draw a higher current at start up but during continuous use the rating on the device can be considered accurate.

The bulb & ballast are considered a complete unit, not two separate devices. Together, they will consume 150W in this case (250W in my case).

Again you can readily verify this using a kill-a-watt and a clamp-on amp meter! Which I have done and am certain the above is correct.
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Ah ok, thanks a lot buddy. I think I'll be going for a 250w as I'm struggling to find a 150w online and I can't order from US sites as I live in the UK, earth wire etc lol.
 
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ThirstyRoss

Well-Known Member
You are more than welcome.

Good luck! The lights are so heavy and the bulbs so fragile I always recommend grabbing from a local supplier. Might be slightly more, but you are doing your part for the local economy (and by god it needs all the help it can get these days).
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
ThirstyRoss said:
No, that's not how it works at all. When any electrical device has a rating on it, thats how much power it draws. Some devices will draw a higher current at start up but during continuous use the rating on the device can be considered accurate.

The bulb & ballast are considered a complete unit, not two separate devices. Together, they will consume 150W in this case (250W in my case).

Again you can readily verify this using a kill-a-watt and a clamp-on amp meter! Which I have done and am certain the above is correct.
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Perhaps that was true in your specific case, but in general your wrong. The lamp is rated for 150w, not the ballast.
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
http://www.420magazine.com/forums/how-grow-marijuana/72070-how-much-power-does-my-lamp-really-use.html
 
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ThirstyRoss

Well-Known Member
Hmmm, problem is, I'm not seeing the same results with my Kill-A-Watt, and I can only assume it to be correct since it is designed and sold for this purpose and they are how everyone measures power when they need to know how much power is being consumed. *shrugs*
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
ThirstyRoss said:
Hmmm, problem is, I'm not seeing the same results with my Kill-A-Watt, and I can only assume it to be correct since it is designed and sold for this purpose and they are how everyone measures power when they need to know how much power is being consumed. *shrugs*
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You likely have a ballast with a high power factor. That doesn't mean that everyone's does however. What brand is your ballast? Magnetic or digital?
 
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ThirstyRoss

Well-Known Member
Just some no-name magnetic I got at a local hydroponics shop, I only measured my 250W, not my 400W...but they both appear to be the same no-name brand, I expect similar results.

My kill-a-watt actually tells me the PF but i did not note that value, I just saw the ballast started consuming a low wattage from power on, and worked its way up to "fully lit" @ 249W or so...
 
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