researching
Well-Known Member
So as some of you have seen and or read I recently switched from a 2x600HPS flower to a 16 COB Cree CXB3590 grow. Comprising (12) 3500K and (4) 4000K COBs driven by 4 meanwell HLG-185H-C1400B drivers and dimmers(pots) The thread is here for some reference... https://www.rollitup.org/t/led-noob-looking-for-input.918119/
This is essentially to document my first grow under these types of lights and see what comes of this new evolution in my grow.
My motivation to switch to LED's was like most... efficiency. I do not and did not have the amps required to do what I want to do and I wanted to reduce consumption. Now the utility bills were not a major concern to me because the deal my wife and I made is that I run the grow and she pays the utility bills. This worked in my favor when it came time to justifying the switch to LED which was initially estimated at $1000 and eventually came closer to $1500 after materials and incidentals. I had approached my wife last winter about making the switch and she was opposed due to other financial obligations. Even though my argument of "have to spend money to save money" didn't work.
Enter summer. With heat and the A/C that is required to control it, my available amps were not sufficient to keep everything running as should be, ballasts needed dimmed, and alternatives were sought. What I did is a no no and this ended up working in my favor. I flower in one room and in another room I have a 4x8 tent I use to veg/clone in. The majority of the outlets in that room are on the same breaker as the flower room except for one. I decided I would run one of the ballasts, ventilation fan, air pump, and water pump on this outlet. So out comes the extension cord. Long story short, one day my wife was in the room with the veg tent and heard a popping, buzzing and a puff of smoke. She was scared shitless. Don't use extension cords!
So this fire fear entered her brain and a solution had to be found. Re enter the "spend money to save money" argument with an added "less consumption means no extension cord and you will save each month on the utility bills". My argument had been won.
I know that was long winded but the point is I did something I know was potentially stupid and got away with it. Normally I don't do things like that, but my situation had no other alternatives at the time. Thankfully that is in the past.
This move to LEDs was a step in the right direction. I had almost said to hell with growing in the summer due to heat and energy consumption. Even added CO2 to offset the heat. Quit using it for now until I get a fuzzy logic controller and make my area smaller to not waste CO2.
Also, If I am having to dim one or both of my ballasts then my efficiency sucks and yield is affected. All no brainers to switch in my mind.
So now I am pulling 848w for lights vs the 1306w I was pulling on the 2-600w HPS when I was running them at 100%
Now if everything holds true my yields now should surpass what they have been. Of course now I am scrogging as well which should help. In the past it has been mostly LST as I liked to be able to move plants.
So let the documentation begin:
This is essentially to document my first grow under these types of lights and see what comes of this new evolution in my grow.
My motivation to switch to LED's was like most... efficiency. I do not and did not have the amps required to do what I want to do and I wanted to reduce consumption. Now the utility bills were not a major concern to me because the deal my wife and I made is that I run the grow and she pays the utility bills. This worked in my favor when it came time to justifying the switch to LED which was initially estimated at $1000 and eventually came closer to $1500 after materials and incidentals. I had approached my wife last winter about making the switch and she was opposed due to other financial obligations. Even though my argument of "have to spend money to save money" didn't work.
Enter summer. With heat and the A/C that is required to control it, my available amps were not sufficient to keep everything running as should be, ballasts needed dimmed, and alternatives were sought. What I did is a no no and this ended up working in my favor. I flower in one room and in another room I have a 4x8 tent I use to veg/clone in. The majority of the outlets in that room are on the same breaker as the flower room except for one. I decided I would run one of the ballasts, ventilation fan, air pump, and water pump on this outlet. So out comes the extension cord. Long story short, one day my wife was in the room with the veg tent and heard a popping, buzzing and a puff of smoke. She was scared shitless. Don't use extension cords!
So this fire fear entered her brain and a solution had to be found. Re enter the "spend money to save money" argument with an added "less consumption means no extension cord and you will save each month on the utility bills". My argument had been won.
I know that was long winded but the point is I did something I know was potentially stupid and got away with it. Normally I don't do things like that, but my situation had no other alternatives at the time. Thankfully that is in the past.
This move to LEDs was a step in the right direction. I had almost said to hell with growing in the summer due to heat and energy consumption. Even added CO2 to offset the heat. Quit using it for now until I get a fuzzy logic controller and make my area smaller to not waste CO2.
Also, If I am having to dim one or both of my ballasts then my efficiency sucks and yield is affected. All no brainers to switch in my mind.
So now I am pulling 848w for lights vs the 1306w I was pulling on the 2-600w HPS when I was running them at 100%
Now if everything holds true my yields now should surpass what they have been. Of course now I am scrogging as well which should help. In the past it has been mostly LST as I liked to be able to move plants.So let the documentation begin:
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