LEDs and potency

hillbill

Well-Known Member
I used cmh master color retrofits in the past. I experienced welder's flash several times if I was not careful. I kept sunglasses everywhere. Not experienced this with hps or LEDs. Some may find this interesting.
 

Astro Aquanaut

Active Member
about 12 inches.. i believe that they will not be effective after 2 feet
So, I was doing some simplified calculations and I was figuring for 115 watts of LED you should have around 4.6 - 5 watts of UVB to mimic high altitude. However the UVB lights seem to diminish quickly with distance, and am wondering what would be suitable for 18 inches...

Some bulbs am looking at
http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/prof/lamps/special-lamps/medical-lamps/medical-therapy-uvb-broad-band/uvb-broadband-tl/928011301201_EU/product
http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/prof/lamps/special-lamps/medical-lamps/medical-therapy-uvb-broad-band/uvb-broadband-tl/928034901229_EU/product

I am wondering if the 100 watt would perform better at a distance of 18 inches plus with a narrower band excluding UVA would suffice...

Basically, all my LED calculations are based for 18"... Any suggestions?
 

qballizhere

Well-Known Member
So, I was doing some simplified calculations and I was figuring for 115 watts of LED you should have around 4.6 - 5 watts of UVB to mimic high altitude. However the UVB lights seem to diminish quickly with distance, and am wondering what would be suitable for 18 inches...

Some bulbs am looking at
http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/prof/lamps/special-lamps/medical-lamps/medical-therapy-uvb-broad-band/uvb-broadband-tl/928011301201_EU/product
http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/prof/lamps/special-lamps/medical-lamps/medical-therapy-uvb-broad-band/uvb-broadband-tl/928034901229_EU/product

I am wondering if the 100 watt would perform better at a distance of 18 inches plus with a narrower band excluding UVA would suffice...

Basically, all my LED calculations are based for 18"... Any suggestions?
Not knowing the size area you have i would approach it like this you have a given area lets say 4x4 and you would like to go with a 18 inch from the canopy I would go with 2 3 foot bulbs one for a 2x4 area. you are only using uvb the last 2 weeks of flower.
 

Astro Aquanaut

Active Member
Not knowing the size area you have i would approach it like this you have a given area lets say 4x4 and you would like to go with a 18 inch from the canopy I would go with 2 3 foot bulbs one for a 2x4 area. you are only using uvb the last 2 weeks of flower.

If I ran uvb @ 39 watts that would be 390 watts of uvb and 966~ watts of led for 5x5 that would be 28~% of my total wattage...



Untitled - Copy.jpg


Think this will require some experimentation...
 
Last edited:

qballizhere

Well-Known Member
Yes it will this is what I would try at first you can always add more uvb harder to remove it
have a look at the modification i did to give you an idea. You could always add uvb easy if you run screens add a few pieces of pvc pipe and you have a stand for them.
 

Attachments

nevergoodenuf

Well-Known Member
This is where a reef dimmer? and a dimmable driver would be useful. Progressively get brighter until midday then start to dim to off.
 

Astro Aquanaut

Active Member
This is where a reef dimmer? and a dimmable driver would be useful. Progressively get brighter until midday then start to dim to off.
Think am going to build one panel 2 rows of LED separated by 2 uvb 54 watts then take PAR, and UV readings at different heights

I want a UV index between 5 and 8, and around 600-1k PPFD 18 inches below the center of the two rows...
 

medicinehuman

Well-Known Member
I have been using 26w UVB lizard lights for some time now and they do work. When I went 12/12 and 3-26w UVB for the whole flower stage An Afghan Kush finished 7 days earlier than others that went without. The down side was A much smaller plant. I found that about 1/2 hour a day until the last two weeks then go 12/12 worked quite well, harvest was more normal and potency seemed better. Just my two cents:peace:
 
Last edited:

Humanrob

Well-Known Member
I found that about 1/2 hour a day until the last two weeks then go 12/12 worked quite well, harvest was more normal and potency seemed better.
I just want to make sure I'm understanding this -- are you saying that you had the UVB light go on 1/2 a day throughout flower until the last two weeks, and then it was on for the full 12 hours per day for the remaining time? Thanks for clarifying.
 

medicinehuman

Well-Known Member
I just want to make sure I'm understanding this -- are you saying that you had the UVB light go on 1/2 a day throughout flower until the last two weeks, and then it was on for the full 12 hours per day for the remaining time? Thanks for clarifying.
Yes 1/2 hr a day until last 2 weeks then 12/12 , they don't seem to gain as much weight as without the UVB. It seems worth it.
 

Humanrob

Well-Known Member
@medicinehuman -- thanks for reply. Its interesting to see how different people go about it. I've read a couple of people say they run them for 4-6 hours a day for the last 3-4 weeks. It seems there is some debate about whether they have any impact before flowers really start to develop.

I've done just a little research so far, and there seems to be a pretty big variation on the output of the bulbs, so I'm guessing different techniques will work in part based on how strong and/or how many bulbs you are using. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but the manufacturers use a number to designate its 'microwatts' (according to one manufacturers description I read), like the the Zoo Med Reptisun is "10.0" and the Zilla Desert is "50".

I found some 18" 15w T8 bulbs and an inexpensive fixture for single bulbs. I'm thinking about getting two sets and using the aluminum L channels to make one long light out of them that will fit between the two rows of COBs I have in my main light. I guess from there I'll just have to try different amounts of time and see what works.
 
Last edited:

medicinehuman

Well-Known Member
@medicinehuman -- thanks for reply. Its interesting to see how different people go about it. I've read a couple of people say they run them for 4-6 hours a day for the last 3-4 weeks. It seems there is some debate about whether have any impact before flowers really start to develop.

I've done just a little research so far, and there seems to be a pretty big variation on the output of the bulbs, so I'm guessing different techniques will work in part based on how strong and/or how many bulbs you are using. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but the manufacturers use a number to designate its 'microwatts' (according to one manufacturers description I read), like the the Zoo Med Reptisun is "10.0" and the Zilla Desert is "50".

I found some 18" 15w T8 bulbs and an inexpensive fixture for single bulbs. I'm thinking about getting two sets and using the aluminum L channels to make one long light out of them that will fit between the two rows of COBs I have in my main light. I guess from there I'll just have to try different amounts of time and see what works.
I put them about 12" from canopy, replace them regularly for best results( Reptisun 10.0 is what I use )
 
Top