High Powered Grow Lights Need High Efficiency Hoods

Hydrofarm Grow Lights
Vented hoods reduce the temperature of your high pressure sodium, but plants still need to be pretty far away to stay cool.

Grow Lights come in various sizes.  The bigger the bulb the hotter it will be.  Most plants thrive at temperatures under 82 F.  Some high pressure sodium grow light kits come with a reflector, but no hood.  An enclosed hood is one of the most important pieces of a grow light setup.  On the left there is a picture of an enclosed vented hood.  The hood is not technically air cooled.  Air cooled hoods are much more efficient for cooling hot grow lights.  High pressure sodium and metal halide bulbs both require air cooled or water cooled hoods to run at cool temperatures.

High Pressure Sodium Grow Light Kit
Air Cooled Hood with intake and exhaust ducting.
Air Cooled Hood attached to a carbon filter Exhaust duct

Use powerful inline fans to push air through your hood.  The air needs to be ducted outside the grow environment to keep the grow box cool.  If you are looking for high performance air cooled hoods, go for the ones with bigger ducting holes.  The hydroponics shop and local hardware stores will carry duct converters for increasing or decreasing duct size.  Ultimately a bigger fan will be needed to drastically reduce HID light temperatures.

TIP:  Get Vinyl Ducting to reduce the annoying sound of intense air flow.

5 thoughts on “High Powered Grow Lights Need High Efficiency Hoods”

  1. Very good information and facts, a lot of thanks to the article author. This is puzzling to me now, but in general, the efficacy and significance is mind-boggling. Very much thanks again and also all the best .!

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