Setting correct light distance using LUX meter?

diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
SMT69 said:
Yea that doesn't sound right I agree man

I'm running 480h driver with 14 strips and get 50,000 lux at 12" above using 300w dimmed
Click to expand...

ok now im really wondering wtf is going on with my lights.

I knew those numbers didnt seem normal from what i had been told to expect and seen in various threads.

ugh, that means ive had driver issues, strip issues and now entire light issues, ive only have them lit for a week lol

i need to go smoke a joint and not think about this anymore tonight. Im soon pulling these fkn things down and putting my hps and cmh combo back over the plants lol
 
SMT69

SMT69

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
Wow, that's significant! Can you direct us to that post?
Click to expand...
I apologize I read all the led threads here and over at led gardener not sure. It was just yesterday i saw it, rang my bell because I think my meter is off a bit too, I need to get a good meter but I think they're good to monitor your levels for consistency
 
SMT69

SMT69

Well-Known Member
May I suggest you check your wiring, is it serial or parallel for your setup and is that correct.

Also do you have long runs of wire going anywhere
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
SMT69 said:
I apologize I read all the led threads here and over at led gardener not sure. It was just yesterday i saw it, rang my bell because I think my meter is off a bit too, I need to get a good meter but I think they're good to monitor your levels for consistency
Click to expand...
No worries. We should figure out a standard to compare these meters.
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Check the settings of your meter, is it set for sunlight? Or electric light? Sunlight settings will get you lower results generally. Also some sensors arent arent good with light coming in several different directions.
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
Rocket Soul said:
Check the settings of your meter, is it set for sunlight? Or electric light? Sunlight settings will get you lower results generally. Also some sensors arent arent good with light coming in several different directions.
Click to expand...
I'm at work right now, but when I get home I'll check the settings, although I don't recall seeing any option to change from sunlight to electric. Maybe I just never noticed.

I'm starting to think I messed something up when I was wiring them.

It's frustrating not knowing enough about this stuff to troubleshoot it properly myself.
 
NanoGadget

NanoGadget

Well-Known Member
diggs99 said:
I'm at work right now, but when I get home I'll check the settings, although I don't recall seeing any option to change from sunlight to electric. Maybe I just never noticed.

I'm starting to think I messed something up when I was wiring them.

It's frustrating not knowing enough about this stuff to troubleshoot it properly myself.
Click to expand...
Even the eyeball test should kind of let you know if you are getting what you should out of those diodes. Any of the high efficiency diodes like the lm301b or the lm560c being run anywhere near full power should be blindingly bright. I've seen many examples of people being super disappointed by the intensity of strips or QBs until they found out they wired it wrong or had the wrong driver.

*not saying that is the case here, just tring to add to your diagnostic toolbox with my own experience.
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
NanoGadget said:
Even the eyeball test should kind of let you know if you are getting what you should out of those diodes. Any of the high efficiency diodes like the lm301b or the lm560c being run anywhere near full power should be blindingly bright. I've seen many examples of people being super disappointed by the intensity of strips or QBs until they found out they wired it wrong or had the wrong driver.

*not saying that is the case here, just tring to add to your diagnostic toolbox with my own experience.
Click to expand...
Ya these aren't blinding At all really. Bright yes, but far from blinding.

Whytewidow told me the same, he said the lights were insanely bright.

I'm starting to think I messed up the wiring
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Make some photos or even a video of the connections.

Or use a multimeter to measure dc at strip level.

A strip build isnt is bright as a qb as its more spread out.
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
60,000 Lux at 2-3" away and full power just don't seem right

I got something messed up somewhere along the way
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
Rocket Soul said:
Make some photos or even a video of the connections.

Or use a multimeter to measure dc at strip level.

A strip build isnt is bright as a qb as its more spread out.
Click to expand...
Hey bud,
I did all of the dc readings at the strips last week when I was having driver issues

45v at 10.3a was maxed out on both drivers
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
diggs99 said:
60,000 Lux at 2-3" away and full power just don't seem right

I got something messed up somewhere along the way
Click to expand...
Thats 480w over a 4x3? Sounds strange. Most probably a lux meter problem. Strips are running at 10.3 / 14 = 735 mA for aprox 30w per strip?
 
radiant Rudy

radiant Rudy

Well-Known Member
radiant Rudy said:
Ill put up some lux numbers tomorrow. Take a reading under the sun as well (without clouds, close to noon).

There is a thread here which discusses how to use certain multiplier, dependent upon kelvin, to convert lux to par.

View attachment 4359809
Click to expand...
I didnt measure at noon but cloudless sunlight at ~330pm @40°N read about 100,000 lux.
@ ~6 inches from rig it reads 110,000lux
@ ~12-14" 55,000- 65,000lux
@~ 16-18: 38,000-44,000

I can post the pics later
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Rocket Soul said:
Thats 480w over a 4x3? Sounds strange. Most probably a lux meter problem. Strips are running at 10.3 / 14 = 735 mA for aprox 30w per strip?
Click to expand...
I'm leaning towards a lux meter problem. I doubt it's the wiring since voltage and amperage make sense and all strips appear to be running the same.
Comparing voltages at the driver output leads and one or more strips would show any voltage drop in the wiring.

I wonder how well a screw in LED would work for us compare our lux meters? I'll check some different brands of 800 lumen screw-ins.
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
I'm leaning towards a lux meter problem. I doubt it's the wiring since voltage and amperage make sense and all strips appear to be running the same.
Comparing voltages at the driver output leads and one or more strips would show any voltage drop in the wiring.

I wonder how well a screw in LED would work for us compare our lux meters? I'll check some different brands of 800 lumen screw-ins.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for trying to help me figure this out bud.

Between you and chief and a few others, you guys have been nothing but awesome.
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
What screw-in LED do you have that we could use to compare meters? The newer ones I have are Philips 9.5w 3000k and Ecosmart 8w 2700k.
I think we should get reasonably comparable results by checking in a dark room with the same LED bulb at the same distance?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top