Conversely, the blue spectrum of MH tends to inhibit stem stretch. CRI for LED is dependent on the particular light in question. These lamp improvements required introduction of an ignitor which typically range from 50-400 Watt Metal Halide Ignitor to 1000 Watt High Pressure Sodium or Metal Halide Ignitor or starter to provide a high voltage starting pulse, eliminating the internal starting probe and its bi-metallic switch. HPS Grow Lights for Flowering Stage Simlar to Metal Halide, HPS grow lights must be used with reflector hoods and ventilation. Re: Metal Halide vs. HPS i never thought about cost. As a general rule of thumb, HID grow lights like Metal Halide (MH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) are most suitable for relatively larger grows where there is at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) of height in the grow space, though it’s recommended to use a taller space for the best results.This is because MH/HPS lights have to be kept fairly far from the plants. A typical high pressure sodium lamp will last longer than a metal halide lamp of similar wattage. But since you already have the MH bulb I would suggest you use it till vertical growth stops, usually around week 6. MH (Metal Halide) produces a blue-green spectrum of light which is suited for vegging plants. Metal Halide (MH) Grow Lights As a High Intensity Discharge lamp, a Metal Halide grow light operates in a very similar way to an HPS. Manufacturers make most metal halide lamps in two color temperatures, 3000K which appears slightly yellowish, and 4000k which appears brighter white. BLUE Metal Halide; E-Start Metal Halide; Standard Metal Halide; Dual Arc; Systems. As plants get to the flowering/fruiting phase the HPS spectrum enriches the quality of fruit plus a bigger crop. When you switch off a metal halide lamp after it has been burning for a while, it may need to cool down before it will go on again. Benefits of Metal Halide. Which grow light is best – HPS grow lights or MH grow lights – is perhaps the most common questions among those new to indoor gardening or HID grow lights. Light is produced by the same electrical arc through a gaseous mix, but in the case of MH the gas also contains metal halides which are compounds of metals with bromine or iodine. 16 weeks . On the other hand, natural white light metal halides produce lush compact growth with lots of leaves. On Metal Halide though the manufacturers could not agree,some used the old Mercury ballasts & fitted an electronic ignitor where as others developed their tubes to run on the newer HPS ballast which already had the electronic ignitor....And here is our problem!!! When you buy this, you get one metal halide grow light, one HPS grow light, hanging kits to ensure that you are able to hang your grow lights properly, one reflector hood to enhance the efficiency of your light and to increase the coverage area, a ballast in which these bulbs can fit in – and lastly a programmable timer. LED 700-ES; LED 450-EVS; LED 240-R; HID. MH grow lights (metal halide) are suited best for vegetative growth and HPS grow lights are superior for flowering. Each type of light has strengths and weaknesses. Use a ratio of 2 Metal Halide lights to 1 HPS light for maximum yield. If your HPS bulb has an expanded blue spectrum it can be used start to finish and will provide good results. Metal Halide ~70-150; Where HPS is better? Ceramic Metal Halide; Ceramic HPS; Double Ended Ceramic HPS; Ceramic HPS™ Lamp Ballast Kit; T5 Fluorescent. Ironically, most HID grow light enthusiasts recommend using both MH and HPS grow lights. 10, the ground must be reliably connected to earth. Also keep it on veg nutes, then once vertical growth stops switch to the HPS light and to bloom nutes at the same time. The most efficient type of HID light is the 600-watt HPS that often produces about 90,000 initial lumens upon startup. The MH spectrum contains plenty of blue light, which is critical for avoiding extension growth and increasing leafing; the HPS spectrum is red-dominant, making it perfect for flowering. ! Mar 4, 2010 #2 So a good strategy is to start under metal halide until the plant is nearly fully grown. Metal Halide are a good source of high CRI white light. The orange/red spectrum of HPS and other flowering-specific lamps encourages stretching. The HPS spectrum mimics the outside autumn light increasing the plants demand for light. When the pistils first show or when you actually start to see budlets? It is an easy switch to ceramic HPS if you have a digital ballast, just replace your MH and HPS bulbs with a ceramic HPS one. Metal halide offers CRI from 60-90 depending on the type with med 60s to low 70s common for parking lot type. You can hardly tell a green car from a black car in HPS. 141 107 28. Whether you’re interested in replacing or retrofitting your current tennis court light fixtures, there are many benefits to switching from metal halide and HPS to LED tennis lights. I have heard a few different things on this subject some people have told me wait till all vertical growth has stopped to switch others say it will grow more under hps while flowering. Here we can examine why a metal halide or high pressure sodium light bulb is best choice for you. Nice plant. From the instant you first flip the switch, the bulb becomes less and less bright. A 250 watt high pressure sodium lamp can last from 12,000 to 24,000 hours. Keep the night (lights-off) temperature cooler but within about 9°F (5°C) of the day temperature. Metal Halide bulbs produce light by passing electrical currents through a mixture of mercury and metal halide gas to make a white light. It allows for shorter internodal spacing (distance between branches) which is desirable. PowerVEG Family; Veg Formula; Flower Formula; Start-to-Finish Formula; Metal Halide. How it Works: The lamp uses mercury vapor to create the powerful light (like the high pressure mercury vapor) but includes other metals (halide salts) to improve the color.. A Halide is a chemical compound of a halogen combined with an electropositive element, or in the case of lamps: a metal. Quite clear in quality MH. LED. If you use MH bulbs, plan to replace them after 6-10 months of continuous use. This is a common compliant for businesses replacing a small portion of metal halide lamps, and mostly is the complaint we receive when the customer or electrician replaced a burnt out lamp. ... the midline allowed mounted switch and fuse, and the greater intensity of neutral wire should be used to prevent its disconnected. HPS (High-Pressure Sodium) produces a red-orange spectrum of light which simulates the autumn harvest. Metal halide bulbs, sometimes shortened to just “MH” and high pressure sodium bulbs, sometimes shortened to simply “HPS”, are in a family called High Intensity Discharge bulbs, or “HID” for short. Lowman. Cfls for a week or two Pro Tip 3 In the vegetive stage switch from T5 fluorescents to HIDs. With autoflowers, at what point do you switch from metal halide to high pressure sodium lights? Is it really worth it to switch from MH to HPS or should I just stick with HPS? This changes the output spectrum. Our 120 watt is an ideal replacement for 400 watt metal halide. but the pamphlet that came with the HPS grow light estmates about a $25 cost to run the light 12 hours per day,which doesnt sound too expensive and worth it if the plants grow like mad!! A good tennis court lighting system should provide a good amount of lighting for both the players and spectators. Use a m etal halide lamp (MH) for the first two to three weeks of flower, then switch to HPS. The standard protocol has been to switch from a cool-colored metal-halide (MH) spectrum for vegetative growth to a warm-colored HPS spectrum for flowering. This latter point is important because so many in the marijuana industry buy metal halides for early stage “veg” growth, and switch to HPS for bud. ... and every time you switch on your HPS light the metal at both ends of the arc tube gets a considerable amount of shock by heating up from room temperature to the operational heat. ! Retail Some retail stores, like Forever 21 and H&M, use ceramic metal halide HID lamps to create a well-lit atmosphere to … These lighting systems and bulbs supply a totally different light spectrum for your cannabis plants.. Today, mercury vapor has been all but totally phased out in the U.S. and has been largely replaced by metal halide and high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps. I have read that Metal Halide is better to Veg with than a HPS and I just wanted to put my feelers out there and see what you guys think. As a result, LEC grow lights last longer and are 10-20% more electrically efficient than MH lights. However, the orange HPS (identical to street light) HPS spectrum is defective so that it produces unnatural lanky growth. However, unlike LEDs, metal halide bulbs suffer from fast and immediate lumen degradation. ... Hi @indoorontario! Alternatively you could upgrade your ballast and bulbs to CMH and you will get payback within a few years compared to running MH and HPS. The two best HID lights for indoor gardening are high pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH). As plants reach the flowering/fruiting stage the HPS spectrum enhances the quality of fruit and a larger harvest. Around its half-life point, you can expect a metal halide bulb to be at 50% capacity. Color Rendering. It is a type of Metal Halide bulb that is constructed with ceramic like an HPS. China manufacturer of magnetic ballasts for metal halide flood lights & hps flood lights. If the wire connecting the lamp to the house circuitry is too thin, the ballast may not be able to develop sufficient power to start the lamp. Thanks for any input! The HPS spectrum mimics the exterior autumn light raising the crops need for light. Metal Halide produces a bluish spectrum which is ideal for the vegetative stage. Apart from metal halide HID’s, this is another variety of HID’s called High-Pressure Sodium (HPS).). Normally Metal Halide bulbs normally last for 1.5-2 decades of 18/hours each day. Metal halide lamps generate a white light between 3000K and 5000K. 1.) The initial higher investment in the LED light pays off very quickly. English. The bulbs in this family produce a large amount of lumens, which is … That said, a very broad spectrum of CRI values is available ranging generally from 65-95. Each type of light has strengths and weaknesses. A halogen is a monovalent element which readily forms negative ions. In fact, after 20,000 hours of use, an MH bulb will have depreciated twice as much as an HPS bulb. Jump up to 150 watt if you want a 400 watt metal halide replacement. Due to the specific metals and components within an MH bulb, the rate of depreciation is faster than that of a high pressure sodium (HPS) bulb. On average Metal Halide bulbs typically last for 1.5-2 years of 18/hours a day. They also produce relatively high levels of UV rays , which may contribute to increased trichome development on cannabis buds, and can potentially make buds more potent. :happy . 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