32” height restriction, will any LED work?

SteakBags said:

Im using 6500k with the CFLs ..might throw in the 2 13w 5000k for additional color. Why do you use 3-4k for veg with the LEDs instead of the 6500k?

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I don't. I use 6000k for veg (see lights posted above that I use in my microgreens/propagation tent). I use a pair of 3000k for side lighting in my autoflower tent.

With that height restriction, what I would probably do is just run clones in a SOG and root them under 12/12 from the start, but that would depend on whether you had a separate space to keep a mom or two.

Look at low flow tables, I would use one as a bed hand watered with coco or soilless. Get some qb or tube leds, probably 100 watts is fine a 150 w dimmer would be better. And stack clones in and flower them out with No veg time. If you 12/12 from seed you will end up with plants getting too tall for your space.

@SteakBags your area is 4.66 sq ft
@ 30 watts per sq ft = ~ 138 watts needed
For a DIY light you could use 3 or 4 2ft double row Samsung F Strips and an HLG 120H 48A Driver to power them
That's similar to 2 x QB 288 boards but with an even better light spread across the canopy.
You can run this quite close to the plants without issues.
Just some alu c channel for heatsinks, nuts n bolts or double sided thermal tape to attach strips to heatsinks and an aluminium frame needed to hold it all together. 18 awg/ 0.75mm wire and a couple of wago connectors.
Using the 4 strips at 0.625 amps each and it could be possible to get away with running them without the need for heatsinks.
Double row Strips £20 each 3 or 4 needed


Single row strips £10 each You'd need 6 - 8 strips


Driver ~ £40

Other strips are available!

Check out @zypheruk he's the man for info in growing in height restricted areas with leds. Brilliant!

I would go with single row strips in a limited height setup, you will need more strips which is what you want for a nice even coverage wall to wall. You gain more leds per strip than a double and run them soft and you will get great efficiency. They will let your buds get with in 2 cm from the led without light burn. Biggest gain in small places is using every mm of space that you can. Go wide aim for 6-12 inch tops and bobs your uncle. It will surprise you what you can pull in small places. Forget qb,s for small spaces they produce hot spots directly under your light.
Keep us informed on how you get on and if you need any help feel free to hit me up on a pm.
Cheers @Moflow

zypheruk said:

I would go with single row strips in a limited height setup, you will need more strips which is what you want for a nice even coverage wall to wall. You gain more leds per strip than a double and run them soft and you will get great efficiency. They will let your buds get with in 2 cm from the led without light burn. Biggest gain in small places is using every mm of space that you can. Go wide aim for 6-12 inch tops and bobs your uncle. It will surprise you what you can pull in small places. Forget qb,s for small spaces they produce hot spots directly under your light.
Keep us informed on how you get on and if you need any help feel free to hit me up on a pm.
Cheers @Moflow

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I havent read all the thread but has anyone mentioned side lighting/vertical? Or did i do itt and forgot about it? That way you can use the full height pretty much but adds new pprobs to resolve.

Rocket Soul said:

I havent read all the thread but has anyone mentioned side lighting/vertical? Or did i do itt and forgot about it? That way you can use the full height pretty much but adds new pprobs to resolve.

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Im running some side lighting atm and more to be installed once the 4ft heat sinks arrive. Top shelf of the cab will have 4 x Samsung l09 single row strips for the back wall and a couple of strips for the side walls and If I can fit another 2 strips on the doors.

Expect to see an update over the next couple of weeks when i get a chance after harvesting to get the work done.
Take it easy.

Bottom shelf of the cab.



Top Shelf with QB11 Deep reds. The extra whites will be in there very soon.

zypheruk said:

Im running some side lighting atm and more to be installed once the 4ft heat sinks arrive. Top shelf of the cab will have 4 x Samsung l09 single row strips for the back wall and a couple of strips for the side walls and If I can fit another 2 strips on the doors.

Expect to see an update over the next couple of weeks when i get a chance after harvesting to get the work done.
Take it easy.

Bottom shelf of the cab.

View attachment 4568304

Top Shelf with QB11 Deep reds. The extra whites will be in there very soon.

View attachment 4568308


View attachment 4568315


View attachment 4568316

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How long and under what circumstances have you used 660 in vertical? Im asking cause i read somewhere that 660 is what gives the plant a sense of verticality, in the sense that it shows the plant which side is up so that it grows in the right direction, well at least in the stage of seeds in the geound i believe. You got your 660 on the wall which to me would be counterintuitive if this is theory is right. Can you say something with regards to this? Does your plants grow up or to the side or anything? Ive been playing with ideas of vertical grows for a while but always been worried about how to get plant structure right.

Do you have any insights on this, especially wiith all the low height experience you got?

I use these in a 2ft by 2 ft in a 2ft by 2ft closet and can keep them 3 inches from the plants. the standard 6500k bulb eill veg great and keep plants short and bushy and will work for flowering as well or you can add some 3000k to the mix for flowering. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMX5EGC/?coliid=I1SSNWDA9ZHDDY&colid=AW7UKM9ED6GM&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it in my experience those cheap LEDS don't last long. even expensie LEDs lose 5-7.5% of their output in 6000 hours. commercial grade T5s lose 10% of their output at 20000 hours