Pull the trigger on GLA HLUV or find a strip light?

lazaah · Oct 18, 2020

After some advice and guidance as im moving towards completing my sealed 4x4x6 cabinet build, of which I'm about a month off having operational. This is a big step up from what I'm experienced with in terms of full environmental control, and I'm under no illusion about needing to take the time to dial everything in. I'll be starting at 30w/sqm, but I am chasing >40w/sqm as I dial in environment, soil nutrition and then light and co2.

I've decided I'm going to replace my actively-cooled 50x vero10 build, as it's only really useful for half my space and it's a pretty agricultural diy unit which isn't up to taking advantage of the rest of the tech I'm installing. I'm thinking of replacing it with 4x 175w high light UV single heatsink boards from Grow Lights Australia.

My main concern at this point is that I loose about 1ft/35cm of head hight in the cabinet due to my minisplit/ac/fans etc and then probably another 1ft or so from the hight of my pots, leaving me 4ft to manage plants and lights within. I intend to keep things short with a higher count, but I've seen the bleaching that my veros are capable of.

But, I'm wondering if I'd be better of going for a strip light which doesn't require a greater distance from the plants? However, I have not seen a similarly priced off the shelf unit with a similarly attractive spectrum.

Rocket Soul · Oct 19, 2020

lazaah said:
After some advice and guidance as im moving towards completing my sealed 4x4x6 cabinet build, of which I'm about a month off having operational. This is a big step up from what I'm experienced with in terms of full environmental control, and I'm under no illusion about needing to take the time to dial everything in. I'll be starting at 30w/sqm, but I am chasing >40w/sqm as I dial in environment, soil nutrition and then light and co2.

I've decided I'm going to replace my actively-cooled 50x vero10 build, as it's only really useful for half my space and it's a pretty agricultural diy unit which isn't up to taking advantage of the rest of the tech I'm installing. I'm thinking of replacing it with 4x 175w high light UV single heatsink boards from Grow Lights Australia.

My main concern at this point is that I loose about 1ft/35cm of head hight in the cabinet due to my minisplit/ac/fans etc and then probably another 1ft or so from the hight of my pots, leaving me 4ft to manage plants and lights within. I intend to keep things short with a higher count, but I've seen the bleaching that my veros are capable of.

But, I'm wondering if I'd be better of going for a strip light which doesn't require a greater distance from the plants? However, I have not seen a similarly priced off the shelf unit with a similarly attractive spectrum.

Although i really like the GLA and seen what they are capable of i think you might be right. If you can reclaim some of that height you should think twice, even a at say 120w per board those are going to need at least a foot or more for hanging height. If you use 1 foot for pots and drainage then your left with only 2 feet for plants.
Bridgelux vesta thrive would be an interesting alternative which is similar in spectrum

lazaah · Oct 19, 2020

Rocket Soul said:
Although i really like the GLA and seen what they are capable of i think you might be right. If you can reclaim some of that height you should think twice, even a at say 120w per board those are going to need at least a foot or more for hanging height. If you use 1 foot for pots and drainage then your left with only 2 feet for plants.
Bridgelux vesta thrive would be an interesting alternative which is similar in spectrum

Given that the HLA boards won't take up the whole floor print, I will be able to bring them right up to the roof giving me 5" from light to pot. But the assumption there is that the beam angle on the leds won't be intercepted by the ac or scrubbers mounted up there too. I may have to bust out sketchup.

Can anyone confirm the beam angle for the HLA boards?

The Vesta look like cool emitters, I just haven't got the spare time to design something frombtheb ground up unfortunately

Rocket Soul · Oct 19, 2020

Its the same 120° diodes as in any other board. Not sure if it helps.

loco41 · Oct 19, 2020

I'm a really inexperienced grower so please take what I say as just a new grower's speculation. Only a handful of grows under my belt so far.

I couldn't be happier with my 2xhighlight board purchase. Was my first build of the diy type led route and @Grow Lights Australia was quick to answer all of my questions through the whole process. I have since bought some deal strips and other strips which I'm excited to try out as well, but always find myself reading and looking at ways to accomplish similar things to the highlight's spectrum. Eventually I'll have a tent with some strips and a tent with the highlights boards, but for now in my small 2x2.5ft tent I'll be using the highlights on the seeds I just popped for sure.

Just my two cents and I wish you the best whatever you route you end up going.

Pull the trigger on GLA HLUV or find a strip light?

lazaah

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Rocket Soul

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lazaah

Well-Known Member

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member

loco41

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