so my lumens are off the chart?

Sorry I`m not versed on this subject but if you dont mind, where did you find it, how much was it and did you research
enough to trust it? If they are cheap I would like to have one just for giggles.

5000? a good 1k light puts out over 140,000 new. to be more accurate try a footcandle meter.

Are you sure it wasnt measuring lux?

Originally Posted by bluemoel

i bought a light intensity meter today and wasn't expecting it to be way over 5000 lumens at the plant tops because I've never actually checked this and my plants are never burnt. is this working for me or against me? the base of the pots are around 5000 lumens so i would think the whole plant is getting it. is this too much?

I doubt you have a Lumen meter, unless you paid $400 for it. You probably have a Lux meter (30-50 bucks). 1 Lux/10.75 = 1 Lumen. If you're getting 5000 Lumen at the base, you'd be over 25000 at the tops, which would be fatal to your plants. Measure light at the tops. I adjust my lights to 75000 Lux at the center of the lighted area. It fades to 30000 at the edges of my SCROG.

Good thinking Red....It could be measuring Lux....