In a perfect world how far from the canopy would you like your lights?

Mounting height preference. (Same canopy coverage)

  • Total voters
    55
JJFOURTWENTY

JJFOURTWENTY

Well-Known Member
psychedelicdaddi said:
I feel like right up against the plant at really low power makes a lot of sense . 8-12"
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This is what I'm doing with my HLG-550. I'm at full flower with the light about 10'' from the canopy... two plants under a scrog screen. The light is dimmed all the way down.

There was never any bleaching, which is odd because I got that from cobs dialed up at the same distance. I suppose a fairer comparison to the quantum boards would be a large array of cobs dimmed down real low.

OneHitDone said:
If you want a single layer scrog. That will produce shwag for sure for those growing taller upright plants.
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^yup. that's what I'm doing, sans the schwag part!
 
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Stone_Free

Stone_Free

Well-Known Member
This question is so difficult to answer because it depends upon the set-up people have. A 4x2 ScrOG (Which I have) isn't comparable to a 16x8 non-ScrOG
I want the light as close as possible so that the max amount of photons hit the plants and not the walls of the groom. If I have to raise the light fixture to work on the plants then so be it. It's about the plants not my convenience. A decent set up with ratchet hangers will mean it takes all of 3 seconds to raise the fixture. The further away the light fixture is the less efficient the grow. A ScrOG style makes this even more efficient.
:peace:
 
Stephenj37826

Stephenj37826

Well-Known Member
Stone_Free said:
Fair enough but what about the massive loss of PPFD? You'd need lights way more powerful - and less efficient - to get to the lower part of the plant.
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Actually it would depend on beam angle. Think of it this way. A 60° lens would need to be farther away than a 90° lens to have the same spread. So the light is spreading slower with the 60°. Even if the par map (think 2D) was identical the 60°being at a higher mounting height. At 1' into the canopy the 60° would have not spread out as far as the 90° even though the spread is identical at the top of the plants. I'm asking these questions as we may actually have options with the Elite and even the HLG-550. All will come to light eventually.

Thank you guys so far for the feedback. It really helps!
 
Stone_Free

Stone_Free

Well-Known Member
Stephenj37826 said:
Actually it would depend on beam angle
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Totally agree - not that you need my agreement! Many SMD's seem to be 120 degree which is quite a difference from 90, as you say!
The tool in my sig illustrates this perfectly. Change the beam angle and see the difference in coverage!
Good luck with the Elite. I'm sure it will be a roaring success same as your other products.
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
Stephenj37826 said:
Actually it would depend on beam angle. Think of it this way. A 60° lens would need to be farther away than a 90° lens to have the same spread. So the light is spreading slower with the 60°. Even if the par map (think 2D) was identical the 60°being at a higher mounting height. At 1' into the canopy the 60° would have not spread out as far as the 90° even though the spread is identical at the top of the plants. I'm asking these questions as we may actually have options with the Elite and even the HLG-550. All will come to light eventually.

Thank you guys so far for the feedback. It really helps!
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Instead of many small lenses which looks like Lego stones btw, large Fresnel lenses would be also conceivable. They are available in many beam angles and shapes. Look here:

http://www.acalbfi.com/de/Photonik/Light-Shaping-Diffuser/p/LSD-Light-Shaping-Diffuser-Bogen/0000001W0G

I forgot which manufacturer it was, but I believe a dutch or english one. Many of their lights are used in the Dutch Passion's forum and they also have exchangeable fresnel plates with 40x 40 ° - 90 x 90 ° degrees. And I believe the new SpectrumKing unit with Osram E10 is also available with this typ of -let me call it- "directed diffusers". I've seen them on their website.
I will try to get samples of this light shaping diffuser because there are no more losses than with lenses, but they would be very easily replaceable.

Edit:
Below a few screenies! They work like diffuser and bundles the light in the same time like a diffuse lens also if you choose clear pmma/acryl.
 

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SoOLED

SoOLED

Well-Known Member
pirg420 said:
Tent growers seem to like lights that are bigger and softer driven, and closer to the canopy.

Industrial commercial growers like smaller lights that are hung higher that are driven harder.

Some of the newer led panels are using the vero 29's with 100 or so watts per chip, which is awesome for cost but not great for tent growers as you need more ceiling height.

24" works great for our panels, as you arent wasting light against the wall and are not killing your plants with too much intensity.

If you are running strips or boards you need it close to the canopy, but then your physical size of your light needs to be huge, a 36x36 or 48x48 sized lighting fixture to cover a 4x4 isnt everyones cup of tea.

One thing that standard hps has on led is that its very small in size, and lightweight. <~~~~wait what?

Its a great question but i think the response will be quite varied.
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well I guess if you go socket-n-wing; but you cant really run those in smaller spaces.

my XXXL raptors were very heavy, I even had to buy a light-stand-support rig to be safe.
 
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