Mylar or Black and White Plastic??

drew0377

drew0377

Active Member
Howdy.....I am currently setting up a grow area and was wondering which is better for reflecting light off the walls.... mylar, or Black and White plastic film....My grow space is nothing more than an old fridge. Any thoughts, opinions on the matter would be greatly appreciated....thanks
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
The white on true panda poly is more reflective than mylar.

check this out, from our very own Brick Top..

Maybe this might lend a machete to your intellectual thicket.



GrowRoom Reflectivity
Choosing the right surface for the walls of your grow room is very important, as up to 40% of your total yield comes from the edge, and the right wall surface can increase the amount of light those plants receive by up to 30%! Artificial lighting diminishes exponentially with distance, so it is important to ‘contain’ as much of this light as possible, and direct it accordingly. Reflective surfaces also help illuminate the lower portions of the garden, providing lower buds with light and heat energy.

To get the best results with your light and walls, it is important to get the walls as close as possible to your garden to ensure the least amount of light is wasted. As a caveat, the percentages provided are only useful as a general guideline, as they present the range of reflectivity of the particular surfaces. The high percentage presents the best possible circumstances for that material (for example a 99% reflectivity rating for mylar sheeting would be under ideal conditions - no creases, completely flat, no discoloration, etc).

The best way to determine how well your grow room walls reflect light would be to purchase a light meter and measure your light directly; then take an opaque board and hold it a few inches off one of your walls with the light meter below the board in such a fashion that the light reflects off the wall and onto the light meter. You can then compare the difference between the two and determine a percentage from those numbers, the closer the two numbers are, the better your wall reflects light. It is important that in both measurements, your light meter is the same distance from the light, otherwise your results will be skewed.

Also important to note is that radiant light energy refers to electromagnetic (EM) radiation with a wavelength between 400-700 nanometers (nm) and radiant heat energy correlates to EM radiation with a wavelength between 800-2000nm.

Listed below are some of the most commonly used materials used for grow room walls:

Foylon:

A more durable version of mylar, made of spun polyester fabric and reinforced with foil laminate. Foylon is resistant to most solutions, won't tear or fade, and can be wiped or washed clean.

A great solution for growers who are interested in long term use, and though it may be slightly more expensive than mylar, its durability will more than make up for its cost. It has the ability to reflect about 95% of the light and approximately 85% of the heat energy, so a good ventilation system should be used in conjunction with folyon.

A recommended method to attach Foylon to the walls would be using Velcro, as it makes taking it down for cleaning much easier nd reduces the risk of tearing, creasing or bending it. If this is used for your walls, making sure you get it flush with the wall with no pockets of air between it and the wall to prevent hotspots.

Mylar:

A highly reflective polyester film that comes in varying thickness, the most common being 1 and 2 mm thick. The 2mm thick mylar while not quite as durable as the foylon, is fairly rugged. The 1mm thick mylar tears fairly easily, so taking it down for cleaning is quite difficult without damaging it in the process. Both types of mylar are able to reflect approximately 92-97% reflective, giving it the potential to be more reflective than foylon, but because foylon is more easily cleaned without damaging it as well as it being harder to crease, foylon usually ends up being slightly more reflective. Important to note is that mylar reflects radiant heat energy just as well as foylon (around 85%), so proper ventilation is necessary if mylar is used in your grow room. Attaching this to walls can be done in a similar fashion as foylon, and the same caution should be used to avoid creating hotspots in your room. The 1mm thick mylar stands a fair chance of being creased or ripped in the process unfortunately, even if Velcro is used to attach to the walls.

C3 anti-detection film: (I'd sleep better at night if I had this.)

A specialized type of mylar that exhibits the same properties as the 2mm thick mylar, but in addition to reflecting approximately 92-97% of the light, it also is 90% infrared proof, making your grow room all but invisible to IR scanning. This can also be attached in the same manner as foylon or mylar, and the same caution should be used to avoid creating hotspots in your room.

Flat white paint:

Self explanatory; a great option for large grow rooms or for people who are interested in a low maintenance wall. Flat white paint has the ability to reflect between 75-85% of the light, and does not create hotspots. Adding a fungicide is recommended when painting.

Glossy and eggshell whites not reflect light as efficiently as flat white. Semi-gloss paint for example, only has the ability to reflect between 55-60% of the light. Also important to remember when using paint is that any smears or blemishes on the surface take away from how reflective the wall is so care should be taken to avoid marking or staining the walls. Titanium white paint is very reflective; however it is usually only used on reflectors due to its high cost.


White/Black plastic (also known as panda plastic or "poly"):

"Poly" is useful if you are setting up a temporary grow room or don’t want to damage the walls. Poly is easily cleaned.

The purpose of the black side is to not allow any light to pass through the plastic, which ensures your dark cycle remains dark. The white side is 75-90% reflective. Choose a 6 "mill" thickness of poly for maximum light blockage and duribility.

If this plastic is put too close to the light, you will obviously melt it so be careful!. Panda plastic does not create hotspots. Poly can be attached to the walls by using carpenter’s nails or using tape glue or similar means. This can be used as a cheap alternative to mylar if painting your grow room is out of the question.

Polystyrene Foam Sheeting (more commonly known as Styrofoam):

This is excellent for harsh environment growrooms (your attic for example), provided you have a good ventilation system and a way to keep the temperatures from rising too high (an a/c unit or similar) as it is an excellent insulator.

It is also a great material for use in a temporary setup or for use as a "travelling reflector" on a light mover, where weight is a concern. It is approximately 75-85% light reflective so it is comparable to using a flat white paint. Foam will not create hot spots. Rigid foam can be purchased in sheets, and can be used as a free standing wall or can be taped, glued or nailed to the wall, the last generally being the most successful method.

Emergency Blankets:

These are ultra thin polyester blankets that are sold in most camping stores and are constructed of a single layer of polyester film that is covered with a layer of vapor deposited aluminum.

It is not very effective at reflecting light because it is so thin. Holding it between you and a light source, many small holes are noticed at the intersections of creases and the entire blanket is translucent to begin with, this coupled with the many creases that are in it when you purchase it takes away a significant amount of it reflectivity. It is very easily creased as well which also detracts from its ability to reflect light. And while it is reflects nearly 90% of radiant heat energy, it is only able to reflect around 70% of the light.

The largest advantage of using this type of material is that it is very cheap and therefore easily replaced. Emergency blankets can create hotspots if not attached flush to the wall so it is important that no air gaps exist between it and your supporting wall. The easiest way to attach this is to use tape (Aluminum or metal tape is recommended), as it tears very easily once it is cut or punctured.

Aluminum Foil:

Aluminum foil is no more than 55% reflective - if used, make sure that the dull side is the one that is used to reflect the light. When it becomes creased its reflectivity is even lower (around 35%.) It is also very dangerous to use because it creates hotspots easily, is electrically conductive, and is a fire hazard when it is in close contact with HID lighting. Attaching this to walls is a pain and usually using aluminum tape or glue is the best way. This should only be used as a last resort, and even then its usefulness is questionable.

source link>>>>> https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/234885-panda-film-vs-mylar-vs.html#post2995254
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Kerovan

Kerovan

Well-Known Member
Serapis said:
The white on true panda poly is more reflective than mylar.

check this out, from our very own Brick Top..
Maybe this might lend a machete to your intellectual thicket.




.

Mylar:

A highly reflective polyester film that comes in varying thickness, the most common being 1 and 2 mm thick. The 2mm thick mylar while not quite as durable as the foylon, is fairly rugged. The 1mm thick mylar tears fairly easily, so taking it down for cleaning is quite difficult without damaging it in the process. Both types of mylar are able to reflect approximately 92-97% reflective,



White/Black plastic (also known as panda plastic or "poly"):

"The purpose of the black side is to not allow any light to pass through the plastic, which ensures your dark cycle remains dark. The white side is 75-90% reflective.
​
Click to expand...


uhhh....

Mylar is a lot more reflective than panda... Even says so in what you linked.
​
 
Kerovan

Kerovan

Well-Known Member
I vote mylar since you are lining walls and don't have to worry about blocking the light which is what panda is for, which is why it's black on one side. .
 
drew0377

drew0377

Active Member
Thanks for the info guys...Next question is where can i purchase mylar besides a hydroponic store?
 
N

NateDizity1420

Active Member
personally w/ the experience ive had with many different reflective surfaces id have to say id go with mylar on the walls and ceiling and go with a glossy white surface for the floor. This is how my G.R. is set up and its worked out the best so far
 
Kerovan

Kerovan

Well-Known Member
hydroponic/indoor gardening store. Amazon.com and ebay.

get the 2mil thickness. Home depot and lowes sell the heat reflective blankets for isulation that would work also. But it costs more.

Regardless of what you use, how are you going to have it vented?
 
drew0377

drew0377

Active Member
I will be using a cooltube for the light with independent intake and exhaust using an inline fan. The cabinet itself will also have an air intake with pc fan, and exhaust with DIY charcoal canister.
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
Kerovan said:
uhhh....

Mylar is a lot more reflective than panda... Even says so in what you linked.
[/INDENT]
Click to expand...
I've seen studies indicating the white side of panda poly reflects 93 of all light. Mylar was in the high 80's. It's just my opinion regarding Panda Poly, the info I linked was for the benefit of others that were interested in reflective options.

have a great day :)
 
drew0377

drew0377

Active Member
thanks for the help...From my personal experience panda poly always worked well. Now that i have scaled down, in both room size and light, I am looking for the best solution for maximizing the reflection of my light. Previously I set up whole rooms using ebb+flow system. 4 1000 watt Hps. I am now down to an old refrigerator and a 400 watt light
 
drew0377

drew0377

Active Member
Ok so this morning I was able to get my hands on a sheet of finished aluminum used for making fluorescent light fixtures. It looks like a mylar type finish on the one side....Anyone know how reflective this material is? I assume because it is used for fluorescent light fixtures, it must have a high enough reflectivity, but i am no expert...Let me know what you all think..
 
drew0377

drew0377

Active Member
anyone?? im just curious as this would save me from spending unnecessary cash at this time.....Thanks:)
 
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