Dimming lights during veg or full power ?

So I'm thinking I'm going with a 480 watt 100% dimmable .

I'm trying to work out hanging distances through veg to flower

At 480watt 1400+ umol at 0.5meters

I'm trying to work out how I can save electricity during veg should I dim 50% will this potentially use about 240watts during veg

Then increase to 100% in preflower

Or can I run plants early on at full 100% and make sure it's getting fed and watered sufficiently to keep up with the light

100% from the start is extremely likely to kill your plants. Light dimmed and high, adjust everyday a little closer until you see first sign of light stress. Back off a bit and continue.

If you push your plants to far in vegg you need to give the plant plenty of time to recover or flower will he a f up.

I'd go for 3500k if newbie.

There's no way of "working out" what the plant can take from watching forums watch the plant.

Low temps will make them more sensitive, raise temps a bit if your raising intensity. Temp recommendations for hid is always lower than for leds. With HID your fighting the heat but with leds you have to fight the cold.

Hi
I use the dimmer (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%) to control the height in veg. If they are too small I turn the light down, too high - turn it up.

In the seedling stage I use the same lamp on 40%

The % is equivalent to the power savings.

I never dim, I just hang higher and let the plants grow towards it, never had an issue. Don't forget that some lights never use to have dimmers and some still don't.

19-Sean-86 said:

I never dim, I just hang higher and let the plants grow towards it, never had an issue. Don't forget that some lights never use to have dimmers and some still don't.

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Same with LED. I set the lights at 53 inches above the table, and then let the clones grow to them. After the flip and stretch, I do have to raise them about 6 inches, and then they go the to the finish. I may dim down the last 2 weeks. Gotta know your lights tho, and how they affect the plant..(ie) light bleach, burning, fox tailing, etc.

Smokeytit90 said:

So I'm thinking I'm going with a 480 watt 100% dimmable .

I'm trying to work out hanging distances through veg to flower

At 480watt 1400+ umol at 0.5meters

I'm trying to work out how I can save electricity during veg should I dim 50% will this potentially use about 240watts during veg

Then increase to 100% in preflower

Or can I run plants early on at full 100% and make sure it's getting fed and watered sufficiently to keep up with the light

Click to expand...

I just have mine at 75% the whole way... have them high to start and they grow towards the lights to get brighter

OSBuds said:

View attachment 4958553

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The Sun follows this chart for all the plants that grow outside.