High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) grow lights are the industry standard for indoor gardening year-round. These lighting systems offer wattage much higher than conventional fluorescent lamps.
No wonder indoor growers can’t get enough of high pressure sodium grow bulbs. Why? They’re the most efficient way of creating light for your plants.
HPS technology beats every other competing artificial light source. The lumen generated per watt of electricity makes this technology highly efficient.
With a variety of high performing, HPS grow light kits to choose from, it might become overwhelming trying to figure out which setup is right for you.
After a detailed evaluation of what the market has to offer, we found the following top models that will certainly work for you.
Top 5 HPS Grow Lights on Today’s Market
#1 iPower 400 Watt HPS MH Grow Light System
If you are in search for a complete HPS grow light setup, you should look no further than the iPower 400 Watt HPS MH Grow Light System.
The 400 watts high-pressure sodium bulb has an initial lumen capacity of 55,000 and a color temperature of 2,100 K for optimal indoor growing.
The 400 watts metal halide bulb has an initial lumen capacity of 36,000 and a color temperature of 6,000 K for ideal propagation of seedlings and clones.
Both the HPS and MH bulbs are compatible with magnetic and electronic ballasts. Also, both bulbs are suitable for hydroponic plant cultivation.
The HPS and MH lamps are capable of maintaining over ninety percent of their first-lumen output after being in use for 6,500 and 5,000 hours respectively.
The HPS bulb delivers a powerful red and orange spectrum that has a high PAR/lumen output for stimulating flowering and enhancing fruiting.
The MH bulb provides a blue and violet spectrum that has a high PAR output for boosting vegetative growth.
The 400 watts electronic ballast supports 120 or 240 voltage input and has three dimmable options (100%, 75%, and 50%).
The dimmable electronic ballast delivers thirty percent more lumens compared to magnetic ballasts. It also has fast bulb ignition of one to two minutes.
What We Like:
- Value package contains both HPS and MH bulbs
- HPS bulb delivers a high PAR red and orange spectrum
- Both lamps are compatible with magnetic and electronic ballasts
- Electronic ballast features three dimmable options
- Built-in cooling fan maintains optimal ballast temperature
- Wing reflector hood increases lighting coverage
What We Didn’t Like:
- MH bulb may burn out
#2 Eye Hortilux 1000 Watt HPS Grow Bulb
Do you want a light that will see your plants through all growth stages? Look no further than the Eye Hortilux 1000 Watt HPS Grow Bulb.
Ordinary high-pressure sodium lamps may provide a limited spectrum, but the Eye Hortilux delivers a powerful spectrum that includes green, blue and violet wavelengths.
What makes this bulb special is the combination of super high-pressure sodium and metal ace conversion technology that offers optimum spectral levels for all growth stages.
The light is compatible with both magnetic and electronic ballasts. Not to mention that it has a high PAR/Lumen output and doesn’t consume too much energy.
The EN designation on this product simply means it is barium free and environmentally friendly. It has passed TCLP and EPA tests as non-hazardous.
When used with a good reflector, such as a wing reflector, the lamp will generate a powerful and wider spectrum to improve coverage.
What We Like:
- Compatible with both magnetic and electronic ballasts
- Delivers a powerful spectrum that includes green, blue and violet light
- HPS and metal ace conversion provide optimum spectral levels
- It is barium free and environmentally friendly
- Offers a wider coverage when used with a wing reflector design
What We Didn’t Like:
- May receive a defective bulb
#3 Sun System 150 Watt HPS Grow Light
Are you planning to grow your flowers, herbs or vegetables indoors? You need the Sun System 150 Watt HPS Grow Light.
The high intensity lamp is capable of delivering up to 16,000 lumens. It provides the perfect color spectrum for indoor growing of medicinal plants.
The unique reflector design opens some really interesting areas of the plant world to the indoor gardener. It is practically one of the easiest to set up.
The great thing about this light system is that it allows year-round indoor growing with less need for additional air-conditioning during the warmer months.
This digital ballast is more efficient compared to ordinary magnetic ballasts. The vented housing improves heat dissipation, maintaining optimal temperatures at all times.
The 150-watt HPS lamp draws less power than you would have imagined. This helps to cut down electricity costs.
What We Like:
- Has a high lumen output of 16,000 lumens
- Delivers optimal PAR values
- Digital ballast is more efficient compared to a magnetic ballast
- Vented housing improves heat dissipation
- Highly reflective aluminum insert improves light diffusion
What We Didn’t Like:
- The bulb is vulnerable to touching
#4 Vivosun Hydroponic 600 Watt HPS MH Grow Light Kit
The Vivosun Hydroponic 600 Watt is the ideal choice for indoor growers. You’ve got two bulb options in the kit: HPS and MH bulbs.
The 600-watt air-cooled reflector kit comes with a lot inside, including the HPS and MH bulbs, a pair of cotton gloves, hangers, a timer, and a dimmable electronic ballast.
Inside the reflector is a protective plastic cover that needs to be removed for the reflective material to reflect light properly.
Inside the reflector is the diamond Mylar material that is also ultra-high reflective and dispersive to allow the light to hit every direction.
The pair of cotton gloves help to protect the bulbs from handprints and oils. The hand oils can easily damage the glass of the bulbs.
The HPS lamp delivers a natural spectrum with a higher PAR value and a 2,100 K color temperature. The spectrum is ideal for flowering and fruiting phases.
The MH lamp also delivers a natural spectrum with a slightly higher color temperature for intense veg growth and healthy structural development.
The digital/electronic ballast is dimmable at 100%, 75%, and 50%. Also, it has an advanced internal cooling fan that decreases heat generation by 25%.
What We Like:
- Comes as a complete kit that’s ready to use
- Diamond Mylar material is super reflective and highly dispersive
- HPS bulb gives high PAR/lumen output for flowering and fruiting
- MH bulb has a high color temperature for intense veg growth
- Digital ballast is dimmable and energy saving
- Provided timer automates your lighting needs
What We Didn’t Like:
- MH lamp may easily burn out
#5 Hydroplanet 400 Watt HPS MH Grow Light Kit
The Hydroplanet 400 Watt HPS MH Grow Light Kit is an ideal choice for experts and beginners alike. The kit offers the perfect solution for indoor growing.
In the package, you get the HPS and MH bulbs, a digital ballast, a gull-wing reflector, hangers, and a mechanical timer.
The 400-watt electronic ballast converts automatically between HPS and MH lights. The ballast supports the traditional dual voltage 120/240 V.
There’s a built-in cooling fan that ensures the ballast maintains optimal operating temperatures. The ballast is also dimmable at 100%, 75%, and 50%.
The HPS bulb delivers up to 55,000 lumens and has a color temperature of 2,100 K. It gives a power spectrum for flowering and fruiting.
The MH bulb delivers up to 38,800 lumens and has a slightly higher color temperature of 6,500 K. The high Kelvin value boosts veg growth and structural development of your plants.
What We Like:
- Both bulbs are compatible with magnetic and digital ballasts
- HPS bulb is suitable for flowering and fruiting
- MH bulb is suitable for veg growth and structural development
- A mechanical timer allows for automated lighting
- Digital ballast is dimmable and cool-running
- Comes with a pre-installed ceramic socket
What We Didn’t Like:
- Gullwing reflector hood leaks light
HPS Grow light: Buying Guide
What makes up a complete HPS grow light system are: bulbs, reflector, ballast, and hanging system. But there are several things that you have to consider, such as:
HPS or MH
Which one do you use? It’s simple really, just use both of them. You get the best results if you use both the HPS and MH lamps throughout the entire growth cycle.
You can use the high-pressure sodium lamp as the main overhead lighting and supplement with the metal halide lamp or vice versa.
Wattage
HPS grow lamps come in different wattages, such as 150-watt, 250-watt, 360-watt, 400-watt, 600-watt and 1000-watt.
The 250-watt can illuminate an area of about twenty square feet at a height of six feet and the 400-watt can light an area of roughly forty square feet.
Therefore, make sure the wattage you choose corresponds to your grow space to maximize coverage and efficiency.
Light Intensity
Your grow room should receive between 3000 and 5000 lumens per square foot. Although, indoor plants will grow under as little as 1000 lumens.
The brighter the light, the faster and the higher the yield of the grow room. When plants receive high light levels, they grow stocky with abundant flowering.
The most efficient light to use for cultivation is the 1000-watt HPS lamp, which emits about 140,000 lumens. The lamp produces the lightest useable by your plants.
Color Temperature
Color temperature is expressed in degrees, Kelvin. The Kelvin scale is an absolute measure of temperature that indicates the color generated at different temperatures.
Each lamp has an aggregate Kelvin temperature that denotes the bulb’s color output.
Most HPS bulbs have a distinctive golden-pink color of 1,900 to 2,100 K followed by a relatively low color rendering capability of less than 25.
By design, HPS grow bulbs have a Kelvin rating that rarely exceeds 3,000 K, making them ideal for flowering and fruiting.
However, the higher the Kelvin rating the better the lamp is for vegetative growth and structural development.
Reflector Design
Reflectors come in different types, such as:
- Open
- Air-cooled
- Adjustable
- Double-ended
- Gullwing
- There are also various shapes and sizes, such as:
- Rectangular
- Square
- Parabolic
Each creating different growing footprint from wide and dispersed to deep intense penetrating beams.
It is almost impossible to declare that one specific reflector design is the best because the priorities and situations of growers vary significantly.
Therefore, a good reflector is one that effectively redirects all light, PAR and photons generated from the HPS lamp towards your plants.
The idea here is to choose a reflector that minimizes light loss by all means. You don’t want to spend on electricity that doesn’t boost your yields.
Also, the reflective material should have the highest possible reflective index. For example, a 95 percent reflective surface will lose 5 percent of the initial power to heat.
You should also consider uniformity when selecting a good reflector. The design, shape, and size you choose should be able to create an even footprint of light.
Ballast
High-pressure sodium grows bulbs are not your average plug and play lights. They need a ballast to help regulate and generate power to your bulb.
A quality ballast will allow for consistent light wattage and comes with safety features as well as dimming capabilities for different growing situations.
A ballast can either be digital/electronic or magnetic. Digital ballasts offer significant benefits over magnetic ballasts.
They are more power-efficient, generate higher lumens, they are lightweight and they emit less heat. Not to mention that electronic ballasts are “A” rated for sound.
Conclusion
High-pressure sodium grows lights are a more efficient type of HID lighting compared to metal halide grow bulbs.
HPS lamps emit light in the yellow/red visible light as well as small portions of all other visible light. They are the best for blooming and fruiting.
Most HPS grow light kits also come equipped with a metal halide bulb. This means you can use the HPS lamp for flowering and fruiting and the MH lamp for vegetative growth.
If you are only going to buy a kit that only contains an HPS bulb, then the grow light system will only be suitable for boosting flowering and fruiting, but not veg growth.