I’m having a real trouble deciding what to get. I’m
Looking to up my grow to like a 15 plant grow, and getting more lights. I’ve never used HPS and I wonder how hot they actually run. HOW MUCH WILL 6 1000 watt HPS lamps raise my power bill??. I was going to get a couple 650 HLG, but that’s upwards of 1600 and I need more than two of those for 15 plant grow. NEED SOME ADVICE ON WHATS MY BEST OPTION.
1 Like
Help is here!
@dbrn32 can help. Or maybe @Covertgrower.
Personally I’d say go with the hlg cuz I think your light bill would be lower. But I might even be wrong. Lol.
2 Likes
Go for LED’s your best bet at that type of grow is to build your own LED lights with panels, boars and strips, and save yourself a but load of money.
Also LED’s are more efficient in sooo many ways, no bulb replacements (or bulb explosions)
LED’s produce a better product, higher yeild for same Wattage and more cabinoid percentage.
Your going to have a huge heat issue with HPS lights and that many! Easy way for law enforcement to grab you is high power bills and big heat signatures.
To calculate the actual bill we would need to know what the cost per kWh you pay, check your power bill.
2 Likes
dope yeah I’ll do that then, any brand you suggest?
Let’s just say, for ease of math, your electricity is .10 per kWh. Just one 1000 w hps will run you $54 a month for veg and $36 a month for flower.
One hlg 650 (600w) will run you $32 a month for veg and $22 a month for flower.
2 Likes
Cool thank you, what lights do you run??
Wow 10c a kwh and American!
Dang I pay 3c Canadian or 2c US.
@Dabmon710 your best bet is to head over to the lighting forums section to find the “let’s talk diy lights” thread.
I run kingbrites but anything with Samsung 301b chips and using meanwell drivers is what you want.
2 Likes
I have 3- hlg 135w 3000k and 2 - hlg 135w rspec.
3 Likes
Dayum! Mine is .12 a kWh but free nights and weekends.
1 Like
My fees are expensive though… The cost of running stuff is minimal it’s mostly all the fees my water and gas is 220-300 a month depending on season. And my power cost for the actual usage is like 40$ lol so stupid
3c kwh for power 3$ GJ for gas
1 Like
Nice setup.
I wish I had the money to get one of the refurbished 550 ECOS. That thing looks sweet. Switching between the 3000k and the 4000k. That’s pretty sweet.
That’s definitely cool. I like to be able to dim and raise/lower individual lights. Especially when I have indicas and sativas going at the same time. I veg with blurples and they do a great job but I’ve been waiting for the qb bspec boards to come back in stock. They’ve been out of stock forever.
2 Likes
I went from 1000w HPS to LED. I built my lights using Pacific Lighting LEDs and HLG drivers at a cost of $700-$800 each. They are 640w. I wouldn’t go back. Less power, less heat, bigger and better buds.
5 Likes
My concern would be the heat, since I already battled heat with one hps. I would never wanna try to handle the heat off that many. Then there was the humidity control raising humidity was difficult with that heat.
3 Likes
Hell yeah
you need to talk to @dbrn32 before you jump down that rabbit hole. i have hlg 650r and you better believe it can put out some heat. i walked under it and it was not comfortable. i dont think you can grow 15 plants with it either. you really would be better off with something you can stretch out if you have the space. i had to run a/c and a dehumifier plus my filter so all of those things together will raise your power bill.
2 Likes
Ours is almost $0.17 per Kilowatt. Not many options for Power Companies where I live. 
2 Likes
When did you build it? What heat sinks did you use? This May I did a little 24" 4 strip light for additional flower power in my 3x3 using the PLC heatsinks. Works sweet.
2 Likes
Thats assuming you are running the LED at full POWA! You can dial them down much easier than a gas lamp
1 Like
yeah, You are right, once you start pumping wattage, it becomes a chore to deal with the heat generated. That said, LED generate considerably less heat than LED, although, if the grower had sealed hoods with ventilation, it makes dealing with some of that heat much more doable.
2 Likes