The original version can be found on the Grow Light Central website: https://growlightcentral.com/pages/best-hid-grow-light-for-weed
This buyer's guide will help you choose the right HID plant light setup for your grow area. It covers choosing between HPS and MH bulbs, choosing the wattage, deciding between single ended and double ended bulbs and choosing the best reflector style for your grow space.
4. Best Results: MH + HPS
Use both bulbs throughout
the grow
Use HPS as the main overhead
lighting
Supplement with MH light
Or vice versa
5. Popular combination
Modern ballasts can run both
bulbs
MH for cloning and vegging
HPS for flowering
Great results: MH for Veg, HPS for flower
6. 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
7. 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
9. 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
12. 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
13. The drawback?
Bulbs cost 50% more, reflectors
twice as much
Produce more heat
Limited reflector selection
Double Ended Bulbs
14. Single ended for most
growers
Only go with double ended bulbs if
you have the budget (including the
additional cooling costs)
Our recommendation
16. 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.
17. Air cooled for small enclosed
spaces only
Glass reduces output and UV light
Heat from ducting will radiate into
the grow area
Air Cooled or Not?
20. Good for budget growers
with well-ventilated space
Cheap
Good coverage
Intense light with deep
penetration
But…
All the heat escapes into grow
space
Reflector only on sides, not
ends
Wing Reflector
21. Good for lighting large areas
with small number of lights
Very large coverage
Even light distribution
But…
Very low intensity and
penetration
All the heat escapes into room
Umbrella Reflector
22. Good for budget growers
with a small enclosed space
Small
Cheapest air-cooled reflector
But…
Large loss of light
Small coverage area
Air Cooled Tube Reflector
23. Good for small enclosed
spaces
Large coverage
Intense light with deep
penetration
But…
Most expensive reflector
Air Cooled Hood Reflector
Recommended for
Most Home
Growers!
24. Good for lighting large areas
with small number of lights
Very large coverage area
But…
Low intensity and penetration
A bit expensive
Air Cooled Tube Hood Reflector
26. Good for budget growers
with well-ventilated space
Cheapest double ended
reflector
Good coverage
Good intensity and penetration
But…
All the heat escapes into grow
space
Reflector only on sides, not
ends
DE Wing Reflector
27. Good for lighting large areas
with small number of lights
Very large coverage area
But…
Low intensity and penetration
A bit expensive
All the heat escapes into grow
space
DE XXL Hood Reflector
28. Good for lighting small
enclosed spaces
Large coverage area
Intense light with deep
penetration
But…
Most expensive reflector
DE Air Cooled Hood Reflector
29. To buy HID grow lights at great
prices or to get more information:
https://growlightcentral.com