HOW SHOULD I PROJECT LIGHT INTO A ROUND AREA?

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T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
Using a single light would be easy - just aim it at the center, right?

Let's say we have a 12 sq.ft. circlular grow space with 4 150watt Ceramic Metal Halide bulbs to work with. The more I think about this, the more complicated it becomes! I'm no math whiz, so my thinking here is just, sort of, logical. Oh, by the way; the plants sit on a rotating "Lazy Susan".

This is what I came up with. Any other interesting ideas are welcome!

First I divide the 12 sq.ft. circle into 2 equal parts; a 6 sq.ft. circle, surrounded by a 6 sq.ft. ring. This "imaginary dividing circle" has a diameter of about 33.18" and is concentric to the overall 46.9" diameter. So, the bottom line here is, I would hang the four lights (equally distributed) around the 33.18" circle. Does that sound about right? I know there are other ways to divy up the area, but which would be the most effective?

Go ahead, give it your best shot!
 
_MrBelvedere_

_MrBelvedere_

Well-Known Member
You could consider a parabolic reflector with a new 600watt or 1000w bulb... then use your 150w setup for veg. That is the easy way :)sunking-parabolic-reflector-262-p.jpg
 
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xx0numb0xx

Active Member
Here, I put this together just now. I set up the centers of the lights at the radius that you suggested. The circles emit a white gradient over a black background using the inverse square law. Overlapping white stacks as it would with real light. It looks like you hit the nail right on the head.

EDIT: And, of course, the higher you have the lights, the more evenly the light would be distributed, but there would be less light hitting the plants unless the circle is completely enclosed and is covered in a completely reflective material.
Inverse Square Law.jpg
 
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GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
Think of a plus sign +. Hang the 2 north/south lights slightly closer to center. The east/west outward closer to the outside. This works because you have a lazy Susan that rotates the plants. All of the plants are sure to get a healthy dose of light.
 
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T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
I had one other bright idea, but it is a little more complicated.

I hang one light near the center (just off-set a bit) to cover 3 sq.ft. Then divide the remaining 9 sq.ft. into two 4 1/2sq.ft. bands and hang the 3 remaining lights at 120 degrees apart on a 37.09" diameter.

I don't really have any way of knowing if this would be any better!
 
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GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
I dunno man. Whole idea is to be more efficient with your light. I suppose it does help hit everything at different angles. But you don't want to waste photons.
 
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GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
T.H.Cammo said:
Yes, I understand the concept. But I don't know what that means. I'm trying to use the photons as efficiently as possible.
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Think of a glass of water. It only has so much capacity. If you dumped a gallon of water most will spill out all over. Imagine if you lined up 1000 watters side by side over a single plant. Keeping them cool to not burn the plant. You might even have to raise the lights to give the plants relief from too much light. Will it make the plant grow better? This is merely my opinion but, the plant can only absorb so many usable photons until the rest are just sent bouncing all over the place. I also believe that is what makes light movers more efficient. Or in your case a plant mover. They effectively feed the plant what it needs without using more lights.
 
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GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
a senile fungus said:
What is the diameter of the space? 4ft circular?

Just hang the lights in pairs in the center and have one pair on top of the other.
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Now imagine this. 1 light vertical slightly off center toward the inside and 1 light vertical slightly off center to the outside. 1 light hanging horizontal directly in the center of the lazy Susan and 1 outside the diameter.

Now as the lazy Susan turns, each plant has its own lazy Susan turning it within the Susan as it rotates. Now you've got perfect coverage and perfect side lighting so every tiny space on each leaf has the chance to absorb some light.

Just sayin. It works in theory. ATT least you swap vertical for horizontal vice versa.
 
T

T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
Diabolical666 said:
they dont go this fast...you can barely see them moving they go so slow...my buddy has one, its pretty dope. rig up one of these bad jewels
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I'm having trouble with my FlashPlayer, so I couldn't watch that video. What are you showing me - some kind of Light Mover?

Yea, I know, slow is better for a light mover. I plan on propeling my "Lazy Susan" with a Bar-B-Que Rottiserie motor hooked to a small "Drive Wheel", operating as a "Rim Drive". I figure I can adjust the Lazy Susan's RPM down to almost nothing if I want. The Bar-B-Que Rottiserie motor only turns at about 3 RPM to begin with!
 
Diabolical666

Diabolical666

Well-Known Member
Yes its a light spinner... moving the plants like you said sounds like a better idea to me.... Id do some sketches 1st before constructing. I'd just put all the lights squared in the center
 
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T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
a senile fungus said:
What is the diameter of the space? 4ft circular?

Just hang the lights in pairs in the center and have one pair on top of the other.
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Yes, it's about a 4' circle. That means the light would have to "spread out" 2' just to reach the perimeter. Remember, half the distance means 4 times the light energy (The Inverse Square Law).
 
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GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
Diabolical666 said:
Yes its a light spinner... moving the plants like you said sounds like a better idea to me.... Id do some sketches 1st before constructing. I'd just put all the lights squared in the center
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What if you're drip. Hmmm. Could be done. Would need serious rotating valves. Or timed valve and sensor that was release nutrient water when the pipe is over the bucket.

You dudes should patent this stuff. :bigjoint:
 
a senile fungus

a senile fungus

Well-Known Member
If the light is in the center, and the lazy Susan is moving the whole base that the plants are on, then the plant's orientation to the light will never change even as the lazy Susan rotates.

Am I missing something here? Is each plant on a lazy Susan?

Personally will 4ft diameter to work with I'd drop a couple bulbs dead center, one on top of the other, and that's it. Grown the plants up the walls. Check out the vert section.
 
Diabolical666

Diabolical666

Well-Known Member
GrowUrOwnDank said:
What if you're drip. Hmmm. Could be done. Would need serious rotating valves. Or timed valve and sensor that was release nutrient water when the pipe is over the bucket.

You dudes should patent this stuff. :bigjoint:
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Id use the light spinner for the hydros...excellent point !
 
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