so i got this cool new toy. i'm sure you all have one but i don't hear it mentioned very often. it's my new light meter. it measures foot candles which can then be converted into lumens. just hold it next to the plant and read the needle. i learned a lot in 5 mins. you can read all you want about light depletion over distance but with this you actually see it. it's rather interesting how much difference 1" can make. i paid $30 for it at my hydro store.

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cool. it dosnt help with anything really. like are you going to change your whole system around to get more lumens?

what do you mean by it doesnt help w/ anything?? Its obviously something good to have if they sell it there, even if he doesnt change it now he will know what to do the next time around........ man, I hate the negativity some people give here

let's you know when your bulb is going for one thing.
um, you can find dim spots and use mylar to improve reflectivity.
um, you can determine this distance from your light to keep your plants.
um,...............................................

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and yes I would.

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thats pretty cool piece of equipment. What are lumens by the way? I have always heard the name and dont no what it means? How long they last mabey?

Whats a good amount for just one plant?

1 foot candle = the light from a candle flame at 1 foot
1 foot candle = 10.06 lumens
10,000 foot candles = the sun on a summer day

lumens are the square foot measurment of foot candles

um, you can find light leaks.
um, you can determine how much light your lower branches are recieving and decide if to trim or not.
um, did i mention, the output of hid bulbs diminishes over time, yet the human eye does not notice this?
um, how many times has someone asked.... are these bulbs enough light?
um, sheeeesh, should i continue?

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I want one!!! What do you mean it would not be useful? I would have loved to have had one just today when I upgraded my CFLs to 2700k's.

So we need 100,000 lumens to equal th light on a summer day?

so i just played some more.

CFL - 75w, 23w used at 12" = 1700 lumens

3' foot shopight - 30w at 12" = 2500 lumens

i was this close to changing my shop lights to CFLs.

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yes, 100,000 = the sun. but from what i read 50,000 is the number to shoot for. plants grow optimally at 50,000, any more and you risk burning.

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