If you can get the spread right i think this would be a killer setup, maybe even the best combo possible. If you got the time and if these guys allow (every grow has its right to privacy) i would really appreciate a look-see for inspiration. We will be resetting in a new place after summer and doing a full revamp and id love to see so e inspiration. We have quite a few CMH with batwings kicking around.
With leds it seems like the game is becoming white + supplementation wirh targeted frequencies. CMH brings the advantage that it really covers everything, from UV to infra red, and in balanced proportions. I havent really seen definite proof that about what is better:
Adding targeted frequencies or making sure that there is no frequency missing.
Also, with a dimmable CMH ballast you should be able to tune your infra and atmospheric heat to your climate. We have very varying climate and if we could consolidate the setup to one instead of having a winter setup, summer setup, and that inbetween setup it would save so much work.
Edit: also have you thought about the possibility of doing some HIGH-Lights strips?
I'm not sure what reflectors they have, but in my mind a vertical bulb hanging under a chinaman hat or similar type reflector would provide the best alround coverage. We're not looking at creating PAR maps under the CMH, so my thinking is to hang the bulbs so that they spread their light as far and wide around the room as possible, and then supplement that with LED to get the required canopy coverage. They will likely want to use their own reflectors, so I may have to work in with that. The advantage of having a hand-held spectrometer is we can measure PAR, but also see how the spectrum changes as we get further away from the CMH lights.
Yes, strips have been suggested to me, but we only went into this venture to produce a few boards for ourselves and so that was never considered at the time. However, now that we've sold most of the boards and are still getting enquiries, maybe we should think about producing a few more. I dunno. That kinda means getting serious about things - LOL!
But even if we went down that track, I'm not that sure about strips. There are plenty of major manufacturer (Samsung, Bridgelux etc) strips out there, and Cutter does a huge range for good prices, too. He even offers the same LEDs we use in our own boards. The whole idea of producing boards was so we didn't have to fiddle around with strips, which can be a pain to mount and wire.
Plus, if we can get a nice, full spectrum on one board, then the only reason to add strips would be for initiators on separate drivers, or possibly a full UVA/B strip - though fluoro is cheaper. Hell, I'd probably even look at mercury lamps before LEDs.
That's not to say UV LEDs won't catch up, but they have a little way to go when it comes to cost and longevity from what I've seen.
...and feeling, they're solid
![20190621_172117[1].jpg](/data/attachments/3454/3454752-879bfe66b9f26b71634f5afb00b7ffa4.jpg)
6 days since flipcuz
