Hps, To hang Vertical or not to hang vertical.

[Ekoostik_Hookah]

that is the question....

so i bought that 70w hps from home depot as you may or may not know.
anyways, i rigged up the light, and have it haning in the "box" it came in...as in the thing holding the reflector, socket, ballast, ignitor..ect..ect.
soo, everything is working great; and compared to using just CFLs this grow...the hps is working wonders.

But as Mutt said, this thing is Bulky, Clunky, Metal box of difficulties. I have been having trouble getting the light to hang Level, and the bulkyness of the thing doesnt help....so im concidering hanging it vertical ( just ballast, socket..ect..) just so it will hang right.

what im wondering is. would it be more efficient to hang the bulb vertical?
I know it is more efficient when you hang the bulb, and surround it with plants.
But if i hang it vertical, im not going to be able to hang the bulb inbetween the plants;....its going to be hanging above the plants.!!

what im thinking is, since the white walls of this grow room are so close together...that the plant will get great light if i just hang it without the reflector....i also have mylar on one side.
i wish i could hang the bulb horizontal, but without the "box" and with the reflector.
because to me, it would make sence that the bulb emmits most light from its Side.....and if i hang it vertical, and above...most of the light will be shooting off to the left and right, and only a small portion will make contact with the plants.

soo this is my problem, any ideas? suggestions?
I need to use every bit of efficency possible, for this grow to have a good turn out....
Plan on my next grow being atleast done with a 400w Hps.....just got to figure out the heat issue with that.

[Hick]

some bulbs aren't meant to be hung vertically, or vice-versa. Bulbs are usually labeled in the part number.
I know a "U" represents "Universal" or will hang in any position.

[Growdude]

Ive been told its more efficient to hang bulb horizontal above plants.

Have you tryed to remove the socket from the fixture and use a small reflector?

[octobong007]

i went to home depot and looked at the 70w hps for $70, beside it was the 50w for 30 or so...thats what i picked up. brought it home and checked it out and mounted it to a 1.5x2.5 board beside my cfl's...horizontal. with the 70w that you have, go horizontal. i liked mine but thought to myself in conversation, "hey, ya got a 50, why not get 5 more and cover ALL the plants in hydro"...well, i usually try not to listen myself talking but just this time i went for it. now i'm running 6-50w hps, 8-42w cfl's, and 8-26w cfl's on the sides...needless to say i gotta put sunscreen on to gaze upon my ladies in hydro. temps are staying consistant at 80 degrees.

your cfl's were doing good, you upgraded to a hps...utilize those cfl's with your hps, it'll be worth it! all the luck hookah.

[Beach'd Out Stoner]

hookah? did you ever think about making a reflector out of cardboard and cover it in mylar... and then put the socket horizontally under that home made reflector... and its light cause it cardboard... and it can be as big and bulky or slim as you want... well thats a suggestion...

oh and octobong... How man pancakes does it take to build a doghouse? ... that joke is probably the stoniest thing i have ever heard... and i laughed hard! just thought i would let you know..


good luck hookah! peace brothers

[HGB]

hookah? did you ever think about making a reflector out of cardboard and cover it in mylar... and then put the socket horizontally under that home made reflector... and its light cause it cardboard... and it can be as big and bulky or slim as you want... well thats a suggestion...



that would be a MAJOR fire hazard there:eek: please don't use cardboard or mylar for a reflector :holysheep:

[lowrydergrower775]

yea we've always hung our lights vertically i dont think we've ever hung a hps horizontally

[Ekoostik_Hookah]

Ive been told its more efficient to hang bulb horizontal above plants.

Have you tryed to remove the socket from the fixture and use a small reflector?

I havent, because im not sure what i would Mount the socket too....and i dont know how i would mount the Reflector.
Im going to take a picture, and post it in a second, so people can see whats up.

[Ekoostik_Hookah]

some bulbs aren't meant to be hung vertically, or vice-versa. Bulbs are usually labeled in the part number.
I know a "U" represents "Universal" or will hang in any position.

Hey hick, on the Socket, theres a " U " and its inside a circle......is that what your talking about.??

[Ekoostik_Hookah]

OK, HERES HOW ITS HANING.....lol that sounds funny.....and heres a pic of the "boys" lol

[Growdude]

OK, HERES HOW ITS HANING.....lol that sounds funny.....and heres a pic of the "boys" lol

Yea you really need to get that bulb out of there build or buy a cheap hood.
You will get a much better spread of light than what you have now.

Here is a small hood I built. http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8575

[Ekoostik_Hookah]

wow dude, nice job on the hood u made.
Looks like you just bought it like that.
too bad im not that handy with metals.
Im good with wood and such.