larrypizzimp93
Well-Known Member
First time using this and would like to know any helpful info with height, feeding, etc
Is my hlg 550 at a good height? and any other info to know about this light will be appreciated
- Thread starter larrypizzimp93
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How high above the "canopy" is it? Is it at full power? Also, veg or flower stage? That looks reasonable.
If you have a smart phone ("If", Lol!) you can download a "light meter" app, check the lux and then convert to "ppfd" using HLG's conversion factor on their website. https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/blogs/calculators
You'll see it in the list.
If you have a smart phone ("If", Lol!) you can download a "light meter" app, check the lux and then convert to "ppfd" using HLG's conversion factor on their website. https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/blogs/calculators
You'll see it in the list.
Hust17
Well-Known Member
Dafuq, you can do that?
madvillian420
Well-Known Member
dont rely on your phone, buy a cheap lux meter. You are growing enough plants that it will pay off within a few weeks. i use mine all the time
Couch_Lock
Well-Known Member
30" away in veg, 20" away in flower. Or so.
Used the HLG 550 V2 rspec exclusively last grow. Seed to 7 gallon smart pot.
Used the HLG 550 V2 rspec exclusively last grow. Seed to 7 gallon smart pot.
I agree. But the first thing that happens when you recommend "buying" a light meter (of any cost) usually that's where it ends. Everyone has a smartphone. It can be done right now and give the person (and those attempting to offer some "suggestions") a reference. Stephen from HLG even recommended doing this.
Now that I think of it, I wonder if a $30 lux meter's abilities are better than a, what $600-1000 smartphone's abilities in this area. Lol.
Edit: I'd like for someone who has one of those cheap lux meters to check side by side with their smartphone and an app, so we could have a comparison. That'd be cool. Doubt I will, to be honest. I'd probably save for a par meter.
Thanks, useful to me as well.
madvillian420
Well-Known Member
How much time and money do you think smartphone companies put into phones being a lux meter? Im sure theyre about as accurate a light meter as the screen is a gram scale lmao. Ive used the meter from the link alongside a $200 one and it was off by less than 10 lumens
Yea. Stephen from HLG recently suggested it as well. At least as a 'better than nothing' means of finding some idea of relative intensity. If you go to the "secret test menu" on your phone (if it has one) you'll see tests for pretty much all of it's sensors, there's lots. Lol
Hust17
Well-Known Member
Well thanks, that’s very cool!Yea. Stephen from HLG recently suggested it as well. At least as a 'better than nothing' means of finding some idea of relative intensity. If you go to the "secret test menu" on your phone (if it has one) you'll see tests for pretty much all of it's sensors, there's lots. Lol
LarsVegasNirvana
Well-Known Member
A $20 lux meter is going to be more accurate because it's been calibrated properly. That said, mine gives the exact same readings as my lux meter, it's just easier to use the meter.
HLG has a blog post where they have a calculator to convert lux to PPFD.
HLG has a blog post where they have a calculator to convert lux to PPFD.
LarsVegasNirvana
Well-Known Member
You want to keep it as low as possible while still maintaining the spread you need to cover all of the canopy with light. Lower it as much as possible then dim it down until you get to the appropriate PAR level. The more you dim it the more efficient it gets, and the closer to the canopy it is the more efficient your grams per watt will be. At the most efficient hanging height you have a falloff of light between the boards, so most people operate them slightly above the most efficient point. All you have to do is raise and lower it a little bit and you'll see where the lighting suddenly becomes totally even. Hang it at that height and constantly raise it as the plants grow so it's always at that height. The fact that you have to constantly adjust the light is reason enough to own a light meter. Mine sits on the ground right in front of my tent all the time.
I'm talking about the sensor itself. You're suggesting buying a $20 lux (lumen) meter... I just question the quality of the actual sensor in that orange plastic case. It's probably less quality and cost than that in a smart phone..? That's all. Nothing to roll all over the floor about, hah.
Also, I'd think a fair amount of time and money (r&d) is put into how the light sensor works and interacts with all the features of a smart phone... that auto dims and brightens... based off ambient light... etc... right?
Again, I'm just suggesting something immediate that costs $0 and will give op feedback and ability to adjust by himself, instead of "x" amount of inches.
Did you mean to say "That said, mine gives the exact same readings as my (phone's) lux meter, it's just easier to use the meter."? I'm confused. It sounds like you're actually saying "the phone's lux meter gives the exact same result as your cheap lux meter".
The calibration point makes sense though, but then you said it makes no difference anyway. I wonder what the calibration "target" or "source" is for a $20 lux meter, versus a smart phones lux sensor (I'd think common everyday ambient light sources. No?)
Some people hang light, at full power, and adjust plant height (by raising them up, etc.). Some raise and lower the light as necessary. Some people also dim there light, and do a combination of all of these. Lol.
I posted the link to all the HLG calculators above.
Anyway, I won't clutter this guys thread with any more crap. Haha.
Peace out.
LarsVegasNirvana
Well-Known Member
I'm talking about the sensor itself. You're suggesting buying a $20 lux (lumen) meter... I just question the quality of the actual sensor in that orange plastic case. It's probably less quality and cost than that in a smart phone..? That's all. Nothing to roll all over the floor about, hah.
Also, I'd think a fair amount of time and money (r&d) is put into how the light sensor works and interacts with all the features of a smart phone... that auto dims and brightens... based off ambient light... etc... right?
Again, I'm just suggesting something immediate that costs $0 and will give op feedback and ability to adjust by himself, instead of "x" amount of inches.
Did you mean to say "That said, mine gives the exact same readings as my (phone's) lux meter, it's just easier to use the meter."? I'm confused. It sounds like you're actually saying "the phone's lux meter gives the exact same result as your cheap lux meter".
The calibration point makes sense though, but then you said it makes no difference anyway. I wonder what the calibration "target" or "source" is for a $20 lux meter, versus a smart phones lux sensor (I'd think common everyday ambient light sources. No?)
Some people hang light, at full power, and adjust plant height (by raising them up, etc.). Some raise and lower the light as necessary. Some people also dim there light, and do a combination of all of these. Lol.
I posted the link to all the HLG calculators above.
Anyway, I won't clutter this guys thread with any more crap. Haha.
Peace out.
Yeah that's what I meant. Sorry, too many dabs.
Phones don't have lux meters, that's the thing. It's using the camera itself to estimate the amount of light, so you're missing all of the photons that are hitting the camera lens from an angle greater than the width of the field of view of the camera. Also, every cell phone is different and the camera doesn't really tell the app how bright the scene is. I'm not against using a phone as a lux meter, I think it'll work fine. I just think the lux meter is easier. It has big tactile buttons that I can feel without looking at it so I can reach to the back of my canopy and lock in a reading without looking.
madvillian420
Well-Known Member
looking at one of these. how many plants?
Couch_Lock
Well-Known Member
Last run I grew three, this time it\ll be 4. The light is great for a 4.5 x 4.5, so if ya want 6 to 8 smaller plants it will be fine. If ya top a few times or fimm ya might want 4 big ones.
All good. Haha. Thanks for the explanation on that. Excellent points on the actual ease of use. You're right about that for sure. @madvillian420 as well. Reasonable suggestion to spend $20-30 on one maybe even just for the ease of use. True.Yeah that's what I meant. Sorry, too many dabs.
Phones don't have lux meters, that's the thing. It's using the camera itself to estimate the amount of light, so you're missing all of the photons that are hitting the camera lens from an angle greater than the width of the field of view of the camera. Also, every cell phone is different and the camera doesn't really tell the app how bright the scene is. I'm not against using a phone as a lux meter, I think it'll work fine. I just think the lux meter is easier. It has big tactile buttons that I can feel without looking at it so I can reach to the back of my canopy and lock in a reading without looking.
Thanks.
Peace.
larrypizzimp93
Well-Known Member
About 2ft from canopy. just put them in flower so they're gonna stretch a bit. I haven't dimmed the light so I think full power. Do the plants need a lower EC than hps? and Does the light have good penetration?
I think @Couch_Lock gave good approx. height if going by distance. I think "grandmasterlevel", for example, hangs his somewhere around 29" in veg (I remember that number because I remember thinking "that's really specific"), and 24" or down to 20" in flower maybe. Probably closer to 24" minimum I'd think because he has a fairly big footprint to cover; I wanna say his are 4x5 or maybe even bigger.
*Edit: Forgot to say add ^. I use a least a smartphone + app at very least now when adjusting/checking a light now. I'll measure just for more info/data. But I find using a meter of some sort is way better than just hanging by distance. I guess I use both then. (If using a smartphone, find out where the sensor is with by trying to cover it, etc. and when using, you can angle it around toward the light while watching the reading to get a better idea.)*
It looks like there's a potential extra... 18" maybe, of height above the 550 if you needed to raise it. You'd have to hang it differently, obviously. I'm just mentioning this in case.
Penetration, I have to be honest; I know what's being referenced when we say "penetration" of a light but I'm at a point where I'm trying to get a better understanding of what's actually being talked about, scientifically when we say "x" light has more penetration than light "y". That said, I think it has good "penetration" (compared to previous QB288 versions at least, is that what you mean?), I haven't used rspecs yet. I see the spectrum looks improved in both the red and blue areas of the spectrum. That might equal better penetration (than previously). In general, I think having so many different points of light, and light coming down/in from so many angles probably helps with "penetration". I duno for sure.
Do the plants need a lower EC (with led?) than (with?) hps? I'll have to let someone else answer that. I'd say that depends on more than just the light. In general though, hmm, good question.
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