Big Green Thumb
Well-Known Member
3 1/2 weeks in. I did some defoliating yesterday and got some pics
PBD
AC
PBD
AC
Can 700 watts of LED strips grow trees???
- Thread starter Big Green Thumb
- Start date
OLD MOTHER SATIVA
Well-Known Member
the bootleg zunKloak success thread!!
BillyPilgram
Member
Do you think the side lighting is worth it? When I say that I mean, when you compare yours to other same strain grows, are you seeing more side weight / buds?
When I switch to COB, I will have several 4 ft 4 bulb overclocked fluoros I am thinking of using as side lights.
When I switch to COB, I will have several 4 ft 4 bulb overclocked fluoros I am thinking of using as side lights.
Hybridway
Well-Known Member
Very nice! I found the de-fo works well w/ the vertical set-up. Looking good.
InTheValley
Well-Known Member
BillyPilgram asked:
Do you think the side lighting is worth it? When I say that I mean, when you compare yours to other same strain grows, are you seeing more side weight / buds?
looks like it so far, I cant imagine it being detrimental
Do you think the side lighting is worth it? When I say that I mean, when you compare yours to other same strain grows, are you seeing more side weight / buds?
looks like it so far, I cant imagine it being detrimental
Hybridway
Well-Known Member
Side lighting increases yields mucho. Last year I added a few 4 bulb T-5's and the increase surprised the shit outta me. That's what lead me to buy the SunCloak.
Allot of people don't realize how much they're losing out on by not utilizing the whole plant or as much as possible. It doesn't take much either cuz it's just adding to the energy the plants already getting from above. They are so hungry for surrounding light that when they get even a little they explode. Plus when those branches reach out for the side light, they in turn expose themselves to more above light bybgettingvoutvofvthe shade.
What BGT has here is more then side light though. It's a system designed to maximize his plants in a low ceiling environment from what I see. Plenty of planning & thought went into this I'd imagine.
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ttystikk
Well-Known Member
My vertical grows were exclusively side lighting.
Big Green Thumb
Well-Known Member
I'm honestly not sure how much better this grow will be compared to the last grow, which was only 1 PBD and 1 AC scrogged in a 2 x 3 area. Now I have this 4 x 4 with 3 of each strains. I am very impressed with the growth at 4 weeks.
If you have read this thread from the beginning, you will see originally I planned on growing monster sized plants with 700 watts of overhead LED strips, but plans changed and I built these side lights to try them out. I so tempted to turn up the wattage on the side lights (currently around 350 watts for all side lights with at least 350 more available by turning up the power supplies), but I am already running a lot of watts in this tent. A lot more than the 700 watts I originally planned. These plants were all mainlined as well as I could do working with clones so are not the trees I first wanted.
I will have to see what the final yield is before I can quantify how good these are. With the amount of light I have, I am positive it would all work better with CO2, but my grow area is not sealed and is cooled with a swamp cooler that draws air from outside. No CO2 possibility for this grow.
Please realize I am not a decades long grower. This is just my latest hobby I am trying to master.... er .... get better at. I doubt I will ever be a true master but hope to be at least "proficient".
What are overclocked fluoros??? I'm more of an overclocking computer type of guy. Do tell...
Big Green Thumb
Well-Known Member
And look at the massive donkey dongs you had growing!!!
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
BillyPilgram
Member
Thanks for the reply, guys. I just need to bite the bullet and go COB.
As for 'Overclocking' the fluorescent lights, 'Overclocking' isn't the best technical term. People use 'Overdriving' instead (and the best term to search). Basically you are increasing the current per bulb to make them brighter. Using a 2 bulb ballast to drive 1 bulb. (or a 4 bulb ballast to drive 2 bulb). It isn't a 1:1 increase but more like a 2:1.7 with diminishing returns the more ballast current into the bulb.
http://www.oocities.org/teeley2/overdrv1.html
I originally had very little vertical height and didn't have the money / knowledge of LED at the time. This was a way to provide as much light possible in the tight space. Just like normal fluorescents, I can place these a few inches from the plants without burning them Also, I needed as low a heat output as possible, too.
Please don't rant about this being dangerous. It is not - unless you can't follow directions.
Key diagram:
As for 'Overclocking' the fluorescent lights, 'Overclocking' isn't the best technical term. People use 'Overdriving' instead (and the best term to search). Basically you are increasing the current per bulb to make them brighter. Using a 2 bulb ballast to drive 1 bulb. (or a 4 bulb ballast to drive 2 bulb). It isn't a 1:1 increase but more like a 2:1.7 with diminishing returns the more ballast current into the bulb.
http://www.oocities.org/teeley2/overdrv1.html
I originally had very little vertical height and didn't have the money / knowledge of LED at the time. This was a way to provide as much light possible in the tight space. Just like normal fluorescents, I can place these a few inches from the plants without burning them Also, I needed as low a heat output as possible, too.
Please don't rant about this being dangerous. It is not - unless you can't follow directions.
Key diagram:
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
DesertPlants
Well-Known Member
Interesting. I have always wondered if side-lighting is worth it. I wasn't quite sure if it would pull the plant or potentially mess up the cycle, but they appear to be doing great.
Michael Huntherz
Well-Known Member
When I was n00b, not long ago, I had some cfl side lighting and ended up with some surprisingly great results for a beginner. I am considering busting them out again. We are renting, only have a 100amp service, and I am pushing it hard already. I may need to rewire some shit.
Michael Huntherz
Well-Known Member
I would imagine the phosphors would degrade accordingly, but that’s a guess. Overdriving fluoros is brand new to me. Overclocking is a reference to digital microprocessor clock speeds. Anyone using that term in reference to electrical current is a ding dong.That’s even worse than saying epicenter when one means center. That sort of shit drives me up a wall.
Big Green Thumb
Well-Known Member
Picture update at 4 1/2 weeks:
PBD
Animal Cookies
PBD
Animal Cookies
BillyPilgram
Member
I am sure it does age the bulbs, I think the article says it does. But I have only had two go dim in 16 months of non-continuous grow. I will look to see if I have a spare non-overdriven one and compare. I will send photos if I do. If I have a spare, I would want it to be of the same ballast manufacturer.
Lowes has basic 4 lamp T-8 shop lights for ~$55, ballasts for $25, and 4 bulbs for like $20. Not sure if $100 per wall is comparable to LED's for the same purpose. Just make sure you epicenter them when you hang them.
Lowes has basic 4 lamp T-8 shop lights for ~$55, ballasts for $25, and 4 bulbs for like $20. Not sure if $100 per wall is comparable to LED's for the same purpose. Just make sure you epicenter them when you hang them.
BillyPilgram
Member
Gotta say, those plants and the set up are magnificent.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Looking damn good in there.
Big Green Thumb
Well-Known Member
Im not sure if anyone noticed, but one of my 46" strips isn't working due to a broken solder connection. I just don't want to shut it down and re-solder it so it will remain off for the grow. Oh, well. I just picked up another 128' of 3/4" aluminum angle so I can build more lights and/or computer miner cases. Gotta keep myself busy! lol