BB's fooray into the LED realm

No problem Dxe... I don't have a light meter...

 

Alright here's the data. I only did the RW-150, and the max height I could use with the little rig I made for that space was 34". So I took measurements every 12" starting with the corners/edges so there are 5 values each directions; corner, 12" in, center, 12" in, corner. So in the pics I just took the data cells from excel, centered everything and drew lines to make the perimeter. So the blue lines are the edges, and the 4 numbers on the outside edge next to them represent feet from center. So outter blue box is the 4', then 3', etc. The intersections where the numbers lay are pretty close to exact measurement points.


All units are mV*5 for units of umole/m^2/sec, or PPF if you will.

 

So it appears that the closer the light the more dramatic the reduction of intensity with distance from center. I assume the angle of the lenses, or beam is a big factor. 12" sounds good, but outside the 2x2 center it drops off a shitload. As you raise the light you loose the center but dramatically raise the perimeter.


My impression is 18" to 24" with multiple units and overlapping beams is 'the' way to go. Just my impression.


Be Cool

 

Yup, my impression as well. Here is a 400W growers house measured at 24". Pretty close to the coverage of the light at 34".

 

You know I was thinking about incorporating some smaller LEDs, similar to the flood lights, that are more directional to enhance those outer areas. Just an idea.


Be Cool, CG

 

dxe how are you doing spreading your footprint? you've got a meter of some kind too. Didn't you post up some readings of your Onyx units? Sure would be cool to see that data posted in a similar manner to Skunky's and that HPS's above, so we could compare apples to apples.

 

If you want some badass supplemental lighting you can't really go wrong with either some kessels or... some small DIY cobs. Super easy. You have a large multi-cell I guess you could say LED mounted to a chip board for no PCB boards and soldering shit in series. Just an LED, a + & - terminal. You get a suitable driver, mount the led to a heatsink, place a fan on top. run wires remotely to where ever you place the drivers, have the junction for the wall cord and plug. Bam. Oh and hey CG if you haven't looked Growers house has data on your lumigrow at 24". About 2/3s down the page of the link below.


http://growershouse.com/images/ALTEST_infographic_1.pdf

 

Wasn't there a thread a few weeks ago where you, or somebody, showed a dude that took an old driver and wired up separate units just like you are describing. I think he had them arranged in a rectangle but I pictured having them inline or on an adjustable trellis that you could shape to order.


Yeah I just checked out that comparison. Too many times there's a hidden agenda in those tests. Especially if it doesn't cover a broader range of products to compare.


To me a 4 x 4 comparison is irrelevant. Who is realistically going to expect a LED, in the 300w range, to cover that much area. The 2 and 3 ft areas are where it matters to me. Looked like that "Kind" was kicking ass in those areas. Relative to what they chose to compare it to.


Hate to sound negative, but most of time there's a commercial hiding somewhere within that data.


Be Cool, CG

 

I don't think anyone expects it to cover that much area it's just what's has always been common with HPS foot prints and assessing light output. Not too small not too big. If you did anything bigger people would say oh that's too much, if you did 3x3 even or anythign smaller people will say oh that's not enough. 4x4 has just kinda been the Goldilocks number to give info. And get what you're saying but their stuff seems about as unbiased as it gets. Hell anyone could look at my data and say "Oh that's bullshit" when truth is if I weren't concerned because of being in the state I'm in I would post a video showing the readings. What they show for the 400W was pretty accurate comparing to what we saw with a lumatek digi and hortilux at a friends last week. Though I can't be certain about the LEDs that is true since I don't own all of them and can't test them all myself. So I have some faith it's fairly accurate.

 

Yeah, it would be just this side of impossible to test and compare every product on the market. And there is so much marketing thrown at us that's labeled as 'unbiased comparison' it's hard not to be skeptical of even the real thing.


I know they have to have some standard for comparison, but after the research we did months ago when the HID and LED topic started it was clear that the 400w was far less efficient than the 600w or the 1000w. The 600 being the most, and that's what I use. So my mind tries desperately to convert the comparison to what I use. And so much of the LED advertising and marketing tries to compare them to the 1000w. So how does your mind separate the real shit from the bull shit.


We know the right LEDs and setup will produce. I'd just like to see more of this LED compared to that LED and leave the HPS out of the picture. You know, apples to apples.


Be Cool, CG

 

Just thought I would throw in my 2c. Did three grows with my 200w Cali lightworks full spectrum in a 2 x 3 tent. Light was awesome for veg but each time I flowered I was always disappointed with the weight led buds produce. Good buds, but not enough of them. I will note that every time I got huge hash tips on the colas directly under the led. Pure white, intense smoke.


NEG

 

I'm not it's California light works... Just like the lumigrows compared to other quality fixtures that use good components. CLW just uses a bunch of no name bull shit and capitalizes on their American made advertising. One of the least efficient. Things run pretty damn warm compared to others.

 

i have only 3 weeks experience with my Area 51's but must say very happy. My OG Kush #18, a 9-10wk strain, looks like its a week ahead if when I used HPS. The 6 wk C99 looks ahead of schedule too. At 3 wks I have more bud development then um used to seeing at week 4 using HPS. Plus the budlets are already covered in trichs... Ill post pics when lights come on

 

Here's a few pics


Reserva Privada O.G Kush #18 on left KOS C99 on right





O.G Kush #18





C99

 

Looking good! So what you think so far?

 

So far I'm loving it Skunky.... Temps have been rock steady.... 70-72℉ night time and 75-77℉ daytime. I can't recall having this much bud growth at 3 wks.... I can't wait til next run using DWC. I have no regrets with choosing Area 51. And it used to take nearly 1200 watts to light, cool and ventilated my flower cab. I'm now pulling 225 watts for lighting and another 200 for climate control. So I'm saving roughly 800 watts of energy consumption yet going to produce better buds...


What's not to like????


Thanks again for all your help answering my questions