Thoughts on these lights/new setup?

2 5000 lumen LED shop lights from Harbor Freight. 80W. $19.99. I have them set up horizontally, one next to other, so I can have several plants set up in one row. Could add to more one row over for a second row, or if you guys think it is necessary to get these to grow good. Right below the light my phone app says like between 40k and 50k lumens, way down lower right above my smallest plant it read like 4k to 5k lumens. Thoughts? Enough horsepower, or need more?

Thanks!

More then likely not enough once they start to flower.

Not really suitable for more than a seedling/veg lamp.
If that's what's available, you would be better off using led screw-in bulbs.
They're more efficient than that fixture(which sux).

So its hard to tell, but I doubled the lights. Same HF shop lights, supposedly 5000 lumens. So above each plant is basically 2 of them. Right at the top of that tallest plant the lumens on my phone shows up as like between 30k and 50k. At the level of the smallest one about 1/10th that. Is that not pretty good at least for the tall ones? I did a lumens test on a very bright day (Houston, where it gets HOT and BRIGHT), and I remember it was in the 50k lumens range. What are wrong with these lights? They are inefficient on an output-per-what-ratio or what? Why can't they grow in the veg and fruit stage both?

Thanks!

OGHomeslice said:

So its hard to tell, but I doubled the lights. Same HF shop lights, supposedly 5000 lumens. So above each plant is basically 2 of them. Right at the top of that tallest plant the lumens on my phone shows up as like between 30k and 50k. At the level of the smallest one about 1/10th that. Is that not pretty good at least for the tall ones? I did a lumens test on a very bright day (Houston, where it gets HOT and BRIGHT), and I remember it was in the 50k lumens range. What are wrong with these lights? They are inefficient on an output-per-what-ratio or what? Why can't they grow in the veg and fruit stage both?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Doubt they’re actually pulling 80w from the wall and if they are then it’s being spread in a long and very narrow strip. It’s not nearly enough power unless your cool with harvesting less than a eighth.

An eighth ounce of tiny little fluffy nugs if you’re lucky. Go use those lights to light a work bench or return them. That tall skinny bean stalk of a plant isn’t gonna yield much if somehow you do get it to flower with those light sticks.

You could have had a mars Hydro TS600 from Amazon for the price you paid for those four fixtures. The TS600 is by no means a great or even a very good light but at least it’ll grow you some decent weed from start to finish. Just focus on growing one or two plants. Train and top them so you can have multiple bud sites.

Those lights you have now might be good to veg a 6” wide space if you’re lucky. Invest in a tent or build yourself a grow box or cabinet. It’ll be easier than controlling the climate in hot Texas garage. For around $250-$300 and some light diy you can grow plenty of decent weed for personal use. There’s tons of great info on this forum.

OGHomeslice said:

What are wrong with these lights? They are inefficient on an output-per-what-ratio or what? Why can't they grow in the veg and fruit stage both?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Horticultural lighting needs to generate enough photons of the correct spectrum(PAR) for vigorous growth.
I think the specs I found on that fixture states it uses 60 watts and produces 5000 lumens.
Current top-tier led's are approaching 200 lumens/watt, so the 80 lumens/watt from this fixture is sad.
Because there isn't any info on the ppf efficacy, I think that using a power metric to estimate how 'much' light you'd need from those fixtures would be 60 watts/ sq ft of canopy.

Stop being a fuking retarded half azzing nimwit pushover boi n get a 600 mh/ hPS step up from being a dbag for once in ur pathetic life. Real talk

i like ur spunk here, should upgrade a bit if possible