I'm not sure VV... I'd have to grow more plants to get a similar yield.
NOt sure what you mean. If you would have to grow more plants to get a similar yeild then the ballgame should be over. If you mean you would have to grow more plants that get a similar yeild in order to be satisfied that they work, stick around
The T5 fixtures would cover my loft area... they need to be kept too close to the plants... there's a few things I don't like about them.
This is just plain wrong skunk, They don't
have to be kept too close to the plants, they can be kept closer to the plants. That is the reason 3-600 watt hid's is better than 2-1000watt lights. Because they can be kept closer to the plants they give more lumens to the plants because of the inverse square rule. I loaned out My Marijuana Growers Bible or I'd qoute Jorge on it.
The 400watt hid's put out 3000 more lumens than the t-5's. Since they have to be further away from the plants they don't get as much usable light, particularly the ones that are farthest from the light which causes that canopy effect.
Even if you were to raise the t-5 to the same height as you
have to keep the 400 watt, they would still perform better. Both Spectrums of light spread over all the plants with less heat issues.
Look, my grow area doesn't have the problems a closet grow does. I have a fair size room for a one person grow op, over 100 plants in there, and I still have room for a fireplace,chair and computer. I don't have to air cool the 400 watt light, I have the space. It came with the house I didn't build it.
Folks growing in closets will have to air cool the light. From 250watthid's up, they will need at least a 4" duct, fan, inlet and outlet, there goes the
stealth. It will give them one advantage. They will learn how to be contortionist trying to move around in there to make adjustment, maybe you can show them how.
And then we come to the issue of height. How can anyone wanting to get any kind of yeild give up two feet of plant height ?? Why make it necessary for a new grower to learn LST, FIM or topping, super croppin or lollipopping, no wonder they don't have time to find out about SOG AND SCROG.
I went through it first, I didn't start with the T-5's, I should have. And any new grower should? Yes, if they have the room for one they should. If they don't they will be using 'compact florescent lights'. Not a thing wrong with that, I have a book that shows how the author grew 8oz of dry bud with 8-42 watt cfl's and three plants. CFL's work. And his total investment was less than $100.
Remember I am not an experienced grower. My clones are not ready to go in flowering 2 weeks after I cut them, I only know about the physical plant. You have to have space for the physical plant. Why take it up with a light you need to air cool?? Because it
sounds cool and thats what everyone uses?? Why create a problem when you could get more usable light for less?
I remember when I planned my air handling system. I spent a couple hundred on it, figuring by going to the 8", I would be able to just hook the lights to it when I could afford the 600watt lights. Wrong! I would have to install another 8" line for those lights separate from the exhaust and intake. Since I have the room to do this its not a big problem. Spending the extra $200.00 for a $150.00 inline fan and some ducting doesn't appeal to me now. I could use that money to get a dehumidifier or air conditioner. Either one would have given me more yeild on this crop. 10% improvment would have put me above goal, 1 oz per plant SOG grow. That is a twelve week flowering cycle not 8 so its not great, it ain't bad either.
Then there is the issue of the separate ballast, I know I have mentioned it, lets talk about that. What does that require? Well, it is heavy, and loud and hot. Most of them provide you with a cord that is too short, either from the plug to the ballast or from the ballast to the light. The cords won't be in the way if you just run them over to the wall and up the wall and across the ceiling and down to the light. But that ballast has to go somewhere doesn't it. Of course it is a part of the t-5 fixture, and the fifteen foot cord plugs in to the closest duplex, done. Figure out where to put the ballast? Don't let it get wet, and don't let a drop of water hit the bulb. Oh thats right we have a shield on it so we can air cool it. Maybe if we put it on something it will deaden the sound, no that would just make it viberate through the house.
Well, we can think about that one while we whack a hole in the ceiling and floor so we can cool this goddam 600watt furnace.
And none of that adresses the
Stealth issue. Now get this, I live about 35' from the road. There is a window in my grow room that can be seen from the road. I have it covered with a mini blind. The t-5 light comes on in that area at 5:00 am and goes out at 11:00 pm. NO worry's. It looks like I have a Flourescent light on in my garage. Try that, or opening the closet door while some one else is in the house, with an hid.
There is one thing I don't like about the T-5 Light fixture. Because its as long as my table, I often bumb my head on the damn thing when I bend over to look at a plant. Sometimes you have get hit in the head so you'll pay attention next time I suppose. But, I haven't burned my hand, I'd rather not get burned. VV
