4X4 tray 1 600 watt or 2 400 watt lights

As the title implies, I am in the process of setting up 2 4X4 trays with a light mover, should i use 2 400 watt lights or 1 600 watt lights?

Today 06:49 AM

Bk4mr

4X4 tray 1 600 watt or 2 400 watt lights

As the title implies, I am in the process of setting up 2 4X4 trays with a light mover, should i use 2 400 watt lights or 1 600 watt lights?

Click to expand...

2-4x4 trays you need at least 2 600s. This will be just less than 40watts per square foot but will still produce good yields of dense, quality, nugs.

Better would be 1000 and 600. This option will give you 50 watts per square foot. and would put out great yields. Provided other environmentals are well managed.

I use 1kw lights on rails each for 6x4 areas with very good results. Thats a little better than 40w/ft2.

But don't take my word for it. Check out the "get a harvest every 2 weeks thread" Or "Al B FaQt" both stickied at the top of the hydro section

The problem is, i already have (2) 400 watt and (1) 600 watt lights already, i am picking up the light mover tomorrow, so if you could have one or the other which would it be? I really don't want to buy another 600 watt light trying to keep the electric bill in check.

I know you dont want to hear this, but i would get another 600w. Or go with the 2 400w's if you have to. Thats too much space for a single 600w, no question. I have a 600w over 1 4X4 tray, and im wanting more. You should go on craiglist, sell the 2 400w's, and get a 600w with the extra cash. You wont regret it.

But if you insist on using what you have, i guess my vote is for the 2 400w's to spread out the light. And 800w is better than 600w

I would forget the light mover and use a 600 over one tray, and the 2 400s over the second tray.

TheFaux said:

I would forget the light mover and use a 600 over one tray, and the 2 400s over the second tray.

Click to expand...

thats not a bad idea, but if you sold the 2 400w's, you could get the electric down from 1400w, to 1200w with 2 600watters.

But with you idea, i would try to stick the 600w in the middle, and the 400w ones on each side.

A 600w is good for a 5' x 5' area, a 400 is good for a 4' x 4' area. Al B. Fuct uses a 1k over a 4x8 so you really can't go wrong with all those options.

A 600w is good for a 5' x 5' area, a 400 is good for a 4' x 4' area. Al B. Fuct uses a 1k over a 4x8 so you really can't go wrong with all those options.

Click to expand...

Shiiiiiiit....40-50w/sq.ft is what you are shooting for

1000w covers 5x4-6x4max
600 covers 3x4-4x4max
400 covers 3x3 or less

I have 1kw lights on rails and each service a 6x4 area. But I would not want it to have to do anymore than that.

And Al ammended his imperial measurement-his trays are 900mmx900mm which is about 3x3-1-1000w light for 2 trays in his op.

Just so you know if i had all 3 lights and an 8x4 tray, then I would hang all three of them up as the other guy suggested and save the 200 on the light mover.

-OitW

Yota said:

thats not a bad idea, but if you sold the 2 400w's, you could get the electric down from 1400w, to 1200w with 2 600watters.

But with you idea, i would try to stick the 600w in the middle, and the 400w ones on each side.

Click to expand...

this is the way to do it...for get the light mover......

use the 600 and a 400 so you will have 1000 total watts just rotate the plants one a week or so...thats the easiest thing to do no need for a light mover

How well would a 400 watt light cover a 4X4 tray, would it be a waste of time?

Its only 25 watts per square foot. So you are only wasting half your time-since 50watts per foot is what you want.

TheFaux said:

A 600w is good for a 5' x 5' area, a 400 is good for a 4' x 4' area. Al B. Fuct uses a 1k over a 4x8 so you really can't go wrong with all those options.

Click to expand...

When Al B started his thread he incorrectly listed the size as 4 x 4, he later corrected that, if I remember correctly they are 880mm close to a three by three size. He is covering 6' by 3' and the SPecial Batwing Reflector is about 40" wide, I patterned the one I built after his, even had him measure his for me while I was building it.
The 600watt light will put out about 95,000 lumens, the 2 400's will put out about 90,000 lumens. A light mover will not make up for to little light. VV

Bk4mr said:

How well would a 400 watt light cover a 4X4 tray, would it be a waste of time?

Click to expand...

It will not be a complete waste, it will be a stretch, you would be better with a 3 by 3 imo. I use a 400 over my 2' by 4' mother table, its enought light for them to recover every two weeks, I say it does a great job on that size table, around 12 plants, 3' plus height. VV

Whatever Al B. Fuct uses doesn't matter; his threads are too long to reread anyway, and there are more experienced growers than Old in the Way who use a 400 over a 4' x 4'; I got a 432w T5 that pushes 16 sq ft. no problem, and I got a 600 over a 5' x 5' so I'm not interested in hearing the same old stats being spewed by anyone with a plant. I'm too good to believe anything else..... and if you don't believe me you should believe Subcool..................

https://www.rollitup.org/subcools-old-school-organics/106938-canopy-managment-101-a.html

subcool said:

....Every light/bulb has a foot print. This means the area that can properly be covered for maximum production.
They are as follows
1000 Watt Hoods…………6x6
600 Watt Hoods………….5x5
400 Watt Hoods………….4x4
250 Watt Hoods………….3x3

.....

Click to expand...

TheFaux said:

Whatever Al B. Fuct uses doesn't matter; his threads are too long to reread anyway, and there are more experienced growers than Old in the Way who use a 400 over a 4' x 4'; I got a 432w T5 that pushes 16 sq ft. no problem, and I got a 600 over a 5' x 5' so I'm not interested in hearing the same old stats being spewed by anyone with a plant. I'm too good to believe anything else..... and if you don't believe me you should believe Subcool..................

https://www.rollitup.org/subcools-old-school-organics/106938-canopy-managment-101-a.html

Click to expand...

I think I have more than 1 plant. I have used you t-5 light once or twice still have 3 of them in use. I sold 2 of the 400watt to buy them. And I can understand why you think Al B's thread is too long to read, he's only harvesting 3 # a month with his 2 -1000 watt lights, a 400 over the mothers and floros for clones. VV

Nah, I wasn't talking about you VV; I've seen your grows and your shit is proper.... Al B. too, but it's not as if he does anything special.

hahahahahaha.....your right there are more experienced......lol........your "grow" does it still have tin foil and rockin those cfl's........hahahahahaha..........i have never posted pics before but I am feeling inspired.....................hahahahahahahaha..................Hey VV you should check back in a few hours-tomorrow morning the latest.....wait till you see this shit.............It will be like i am giving Faux the rusty trombone.

Anv VV your grow does look good. Just got to say I am a believer in the 40-50 per sq.ft rule.

Hey Faux just because I joined in september doesn't mean i don't have a bit of experience around plants. You may be chatting with the guy who raised the trees your city buys for public works projects.....my former nursery ships throughout the u.s.

Oh shit where is my camera...............

Bk4mr...i hope you know i was being sarcastic in my "half a wast of time comment.

Ultimately go with what makes you most comfortable to work with and whats best for security. As you see results ebb and flow (no pun intended) during your first couple grows you can make adjustments and changes to improve performance.

I am learning every day as my first few partial harvests are happening or have just happened.

I definately made some changes over the last 5 months from conception/construction of rooms-harvesting the first--very sad looking examples of a lollipop crop to now. And I have more changes in mind.....so treat it as a fluid design and not so set-in-stone after you set it up.

Good Luck