HARDWARE STORE EQUIPMENT
Can I use the HPS, MH and CFL lights that are for sale at hardware stores or should I just go to the hydro store and buy them. I don't trust that the hydro store is safe because of all the stories I hear about the police.
Usually the lights sold in hydro shops, which are designed for indoor cultivation, are a better "fit" than lamps available at the hardware store.
For example, hardware store high-pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide lamps (MH) usually have wattages no higher than 125 or 150. Their reflectors are designed to throw light over a broad, rather than a compact area, and none of these models feature air-cooling.
The same holds true for compact fluorescents (CFL's). The models sold in hydro stores have higher wattages and reflectors that direct the light down to the garden. I have never seen these reflectors in hardware stores.
Using dedicated equipment becomes more important as the size of the garden grows. If you are growing less than a M2 you may find that it is not too inconvenient to set up a system using more smaller watt lamps. However, small watt HPS and MH lamps do not convert electricity to light as efficiently as 400 or 600 watt lamps.
I understand your reluctance to be seen around a hydro store. This was primarily a problem in the U.S. and not in EU countries for years; the heat has been turned on in England, France, and Holland recently. Once U.S. Justice taught the police how profitable prohibition can be, they changed their attitude about this sweet herb.
If you don't want to be seen visiting a hydro store perhaps you could send a friend who isn't growing. Another idea is to order your goods over the phone or internet and have it delivered to a "drop" address that will never be used for growing. Sometimes used hydro equipment is available for resale on the internet, Craiglist, or on bulletin board notices.
S
Soft Secrets
