slamsomethc
New Member
Hey there growers!
I've been debating with others regarding optimal distance plants could be from a bare 600W HPS (specifically the diameter of a vertical grow using 2 600W HPS bulbs). Lumen numbers and the inverse square law are often cited by both sides, but one side believes that the dimensions put to use will optimize square area and overall bud growth, while the other side believes that space should be decreased, met with light movers, 3-4 600W bulbs instead of two, or a myriad of other options that neither side can confidently prove would end up being more or less cost efficient for how much it would yield. It would be nice to be able to afford the electricity to run 2-3 boxes of exact dimensions each with separate singular variables to put an end to our discussion after one grow.
For specific background information, I'll provide our exact specs.
box is 5'W x 6'L x 6'H. Pots are 6" each, so in a vertical array that reduces our area to 4' x 5' x 6'. Plants will grow towards (obviously) leaving some amount of distance from pot to actual canopy, further reducing the actual diameter of canopy that the lights would be required to cover. I've seen plenty of larger vert set ups with diameters of 5-7 feet with a height of 6-8 feet, using 2-3 600W HPS and believe that it can be done with the above dimensions we would use.
That being said, I have a few specific questions.
1. Does anyone have any source of information detailing PAR readings for 600W HPS bulbs when not used in a reflector? I have found several private experiments done using hooded lights (unsure if they used glass or not either though), but I would like to find real numbers comparing the two, as our bulbs will be hung bare in a vertical array rendering the data with hoods useless for us.
2. What are others' opinions on vertical grows' diameters using 600W bulbs?
I just have such a hard time, even regarding the inverse square law, believing that it would be more efficient to use more wattage for that area, or to decrease our potential growing area by reducing the diameter of the canopy when others have done so VERY successfully withing similar/larger specs while I often see many that grow in all too cramped vertical arrays (we have currently subjected ourselves to this with a canopy just shy of 3' in diameter).
Thanks for any tips in advance!
I've been debating with others regarding optimal distance plants could be from a bare 600W HPS (specifically the diameter of a vertical grow using 2 600W HPS bulbs). Lumen numbers and the inverse square law are often cited by both sides, but one side believes that the dimensions put to use will optimize square area and overall bud growth, while the other side believes that space should be decreased, met with light movers, 3-4 600W bulbs instead of two, or a myriad of other options that neither side can confidently prove would end up being more or less cost efficient for how much it would yield. It would be nice to be able to afford the electricity to run 2-3 boxes of exact dimensions each with separate singular variables to put an end to our discussion after one grow.
For specific background information, I'll provide our exact specs.
box is 5'W x 6'L x 6'H. Pots are 6" each, so in a vertical array that reduces our area to 4' x 5' x 6'. Plants will grow towards (obviously) leaving some amount of distance from pot to actual canopy, further reducing the actual diameter of canopy that the lights would be required to cover. I've seen plenty of larger vert set ups with diameters of 5-7 feet with a height of 6-8 feet, using 2-3 600W HPS and believe that it can be done with the above dimensions we would use.
That being said, I have a few specific questions.
1. Does anyone have any source of information detailing PAR readings for 600W HPS bulbs when not used in a reflector? I have found several private experiments done using hooded lights (unsure if they used glass or not either though), but I would like to find real numbers comparing the two, as our bulbs will be hung bare in a vertical array rendering the data with hoods useless for us.
2. What are others' opinions on vertical grows' diameters using 600W bulbs?
I just have such a hard time, even regarding the inverse square law, believing that it would be more efficient to use more wattage for that area, or to decrease our potential growing area by reducing the diameter of the canopy when others have done so VERY successfully withing similar/larger specs while I often see many that grow in all too cramped vertical arrays (we have currently subjected ourselves to this with a canopy just shy of 3' in diameter).
Thanks for any tips in advance!