KlosetKush
Active Member
Okay so I got my HLG 135 installed and ready to go. So my question is how do I know how far to dim the light up and down and still remain efficient but not cause bleaching or light burn?
HLG 135 dim?
- Thread starter KlosetKush
- Start date
Humple
Well-Known Member
Trial and error. Different strains have different light requirements. Get yourself a Kill-A-Watt so you can see what wattage you're running. What size is your grow space?
KlosetKush
Active Member
1.5x2ft 4ft high
Humple
Well-Known Member
I have a couple of 19"x23"x47" spaces, each with one of the 135w kits in it, and I haven't had occasion to run them over 80w.
KlosetKush
Active Member
So running it at max in your situation would cause problems you think?
Humple
Well-Known Member
I do. Though I'm sure there must be some strains that could take it. I will be turning one of them up to 100w today (mid-flower) to see how the plant handles it.
KlosetKush
Active Member
My question is how do you know what intensity? Should I just max the board to 135watts and adjust as they get deficiencies? I feel as if they answer to that question is I will have to tinker with it until I find my sweet spot for each stage. Correct me if I'm wrong.
NanoGadget
Well-Known Member
If you have a bit of money burning a hole in your pocket you could buy a kill-a-watt. I have the same light as you and I'm running mine at 90 watts over my seedlings at about 18 inches and they are super happy right now.
Humple
Well-Known Member
You will have to tinker, yes. But I suggest you start at a low wattage and work your way up rather than the reverse.
KlosetKush
Active Member
So could I hook the kilowatt meter to the wall and my light timer to it and my light to the timer that way I can adjust as I go?
NanoGadget
Well-Known Member
Correct. Or you can just keep the meter handy for when you want to adjust it if you don't want the light plugged into it all the time.
GBAUTO
Well-Known Member
That's where a PAR meter helps. Based on plenty of plant physiology studies, it seems that if you're able to keep light intensity in the 500-1000 umol/m2/s range it approaches best growth rate. If I could, I'd blast my space so that it had 1500PPFD but that isn't practical or affordable for me so it's always going to be a balance between coverage and intensity. Either use the plants growth as a guide or get some measurements.