Best HPS Grow Lights Reviews 2021: Complete Buyer’s Guide

HPS lighting or High pressure sodium lamps is a High intensity discharge (HID) form of lighting that is commonly used as indoor grow lights for hydroponic production of plants, flowers and vegetables.

The HPS light operates when an electrical current is run through an arc tube that has been filled with a gas. In this case the gasses found within a HPS globe is a mixture of sodium and an inert gas Xenon. The Xenon is used as a starting gas in the high pressure sodium lamp. The current and temperature increases in the arc tube until it reaches a high pressure operating state.

High pressure sodium or HPS lamps have a higher efficiency than the older style of metal halide or mercury vapour lamp, reaching around 150 lumens per watt or 90,000 lumens for a 600w HPS lamp and around 55,000 lumens for a 400w HPS lamp.

HPS lamps have a spectral range from 570nm up to 750nm which are the yellow, orange and reds. With some versions of the HPS lamps they have been tuned more for horticulture and have spikes in the blue at around the 450nm to 500nm range this makes them a fantastic choice all around for horticultural lamps to be used as indoor grow lights and hydroponic lighting. These grow lights have had their spectrum optimized to provide the exact spectrum for use as an indoor grow light.
Lamps such as the GE Lucagrow, Phillip SonTagro, Gavita Enhanced and Osram plantastar ae all examples of these style of full spectrum HPS lamp.
All lamps have a limited life span, as the sodium is highly reactive this leads to a slow loss of gas over time and this eventually will lead to the lamp cycling.
As a result the lamps will start to overheat during operation which increases the pressure in the arc tube and more than normal voltage is required to maintain the discharge from the arc tube. The expected life span of a HPS is around 20,000 hours but it is recommended that the lamps be changed after around 3000–5000 hours, as they will have lost significant lumen output.
Selecting the right Best HPS grow lights 2021 will depend on the setup of your indoor garden. Here are some few tips that will help you pick the right HPS bulb for your garden.

ECO Farm 1000W Double Ended HPS HID Grow Light Enclosed Kit

Pros

• Highly efficient.
• Long operating life.
• Proper light distribution.
• Long cord.

Cons

• Thin reflector.

VIVOSUN 3-Mode-Adjust 1000W Double Ended Grow Light

Pros

• Well-built design.
• Functional reflector.
• Long cord for convenience.
• Easy to install.

Cons

• Less coverage.

LUMATEK Tekken Pro 1000W DE HPS Full-Kit

Pros

• Simple, practical design.
• Easy installation.
• It comes with a 150-watt bulb.
• Silent operation.
• Ideal for small indoor gardens.

Cons

• The bulb is too small.

​What you need to consider before purchase?
Coverage
HPS bulbs are available in five different sizes. Depending on the space you have, you should pick the right bub size that provides the best coverage. A good HPS bulb should provide the required amount of light without burning your plants. You can check out charts online for size breakdown and the coverage for every size.
Type of Reflector
Reflectors not only improve the HPS light but also protect the life of your bulb. There are two types of reflectors that you can choose from. We have open reflectors and air-cooled reflectors. Open reflectors provide plants with more light. They have an adjustable feature that helps you to keep the light far or near the plants. On the other hand, air-cooled reflectors capture the hot air and prevent it from reaching the plants. The reflector is ideal for enclosed spaces and grow tents.
Single-Ended or Double-Ended
You can also choose to install a single-ended or a double-ended HPS bulb in your indoor garden. Single-ended HPS bulbs resemble the normal incandescent bulb common in many homes. They are designed with a larger socket and they have an arc tube that produces light. Double-ended HPS bulbs are like the fluorescent tubes. They have two wires at each of the ends of the glass bulb where you can fasten them into the sockets.
Ballast
HPS bulbs need a ballast to work. You should make sure that you pick the right ballast that works well. The most common type of ballast used is the digital ballast that is compatible with many bulbs. It also uses less power and operates cooler without compromising the light intensity.
SpectrumHPS bulbs utilize yellow and red light. This light spectrum is good for the reproductive process of the plants and growing buds. However, plants need more than the yellow and red spectrum. They also require a blue spectrum so it is important to select a bulb that provides enhanced spectrum to get the best results.

Final thoughts

• HPS grow lights are THE grow light of choice for many, if not most growers;
• They offer high powered lighting in a spectrum that is ideal for your plants;
• HPS grow lights generate a lot of heat and this needs to be taken into account when choosing HPS for your grow;

Only high quality LED grow lights can supply better performance and efficiency for growing marijuana.