HID Buying Guide

Key Decisions MH or HPS Wattage Single or double-ended Reflector style

MH or HPS Bulbs?

HINTUse both!

Best Results: MH + HPS

Use both bulbs throughout the grow

Use HPS as the main overhead lighting

Supplement with MH lightOr vice versa

Popular combination Modern ballasts can run

both bulbs MH for cloning and vegging HPS for flowering

Great results: MH for Veg, HPS for flower

HPS bulbs are not great during veg, but are excellent for flowering.

Your plants will be leggy and weaker, but you will still get good yields

Decent results: HPS only

MH bulbs are great during vegging, but they produce lower yields during flowering.

Your plants will grow strong, but yields will suffer

Worst results: MH for Veg, HPS for flower

Wattage

Anything outside this range is too inefficient for most uses.

1000 watt bulbs run very hot. We recommend 400 or 600 watts for most growers.

Wattage: between 250w and 1000w

Wattage Table

Wattage Number of Plants

Distance from Canopy

250 watts 3 - 5 6” – 8”

400 watts 6 - 9 9” – 12”

600 watts 9 - 12 12” – 18”

1000 watts 12 - 16+ 18” – 26”

Single or Double Ended

Double-ended bulbs are:25-30% more efficient (higher

PAR for same power consumption)

last longer (retain 90% of output after 10,000 hours of use)

Double Ended Bulbs

The drawback?Bulbs cost 50% more,

reflectors twice as muchProduce more heatLimited reflector selection

Double Ended Bulbs

Single ended for most growersOnly go with double ended

bulbs if you have the budget (including the additional cooling costs)

Our recommendation

Reflector Styles

Most reflectors will do the job and the differences between them are not that large.

Each style specializes in a certain situation.

The key is finding the reflector best suited for your grow space.

Air cooled for small enclosed spaces onlyGlass reduces output and UV

lightHeat from ducting will radiate

into the grow area

Air Cooled or Not?

Single Ended Reflectors

Good for supplemental lighting

CheapEasy to install

But…Light goes to waste unless

hanging between plants

Mogul Socket

Good for budget growers with well-ventilated space

CheapGood coverageIntense light with deep

penetrationBut…

All the heat escapes into grow space

Reflector only on sides, not ends

Wing Reflector

Good for lighting large areas with small number of lights

Very large coverageEven light distribution

But…Very low intensity and

penetrationAll the heat escapes into

room

Umbrella Reflector

Good for budget growers with a small enclosed space

SmallCheapest air-cooled

reflectorBut…

Large loss of lightSmall coverage area

Air Cooled Tube Reflector

Good for small enclosed spaces

Large coverageIntense light with deep

penetrationBut…

Most expensive reflector

Air Cooled Hood Reflector

Recommended for Most Home Growers!

Good for lighting large areas with small number of lights

Very large coverage areaBut…

Low intensity and penetration

A bit expensive

Air Cooled Tube Hood Reflector

Double Ended Reflectors

Good for budget growers with well-ventilated space

Cheapest double ended reflector

Good coverageGood intensity and

penetrationBut…

All the heat escapes into grow space

Reflector only on sides, not ends

DE Wing Reflector

Good for lighting large areas with small number of lights

Very large coverage areaBut…

Low intensity and penetration

A bit expensiveAll the heat escapes into

grow space

DE XXL Hood Reflector

Good for lighting small enclosed spaces

Large coverage areaIntense light with deep

penetrationBut…

Most expensive reflector

DE Air Cooled Hood Reflector

To buy HID grow lights at great prices or to get more information:

https://growlightcentral.com