2500 watts / 4' X 4'.

Lennox205

Well-Known Member
I think its too much. I agree that 1000 watt hps or 600-650 cob/qb is the best balance for a 4x4. You can use more and will get bigger yields, but is it worth it? Can you handle the heat? Increased electrical bill? Do you have more space that will allow you to spread the lighting out more?

There is a grow on youtube where a guy uses 8 1000 watt hps over one staggered aeroflo 60. That is basically 2 4x6 canopies, 4000 watts each. Its worth it for him, but not me. Probably not for too many people. I just helped a friend build a 957 watt vero 29 to cover a 4x4. He was going to buy a 600 watt kit for a 4x4 and decided to run the cobs at 2100mA instead of 1400 to get a brighter light. It was basically the same cost as a cree3590 600 watt only brighter. I expect him to have excellent results. That motherfucker is BRIGHT!
 

full of purple

Well-Known Member
I've ran 1400w in a 2x3 closet I would not recommend trying to cram ways into small area to much hassle

Stick with hps don't buy leds to much money for the yeild you end up with compared to hps or de

I run hps but only because I have them so there free for me
I plan to try de real soon
 

stawawager

Well-Known Member
I think its too much. I agree that 1000 watt hps or 600-650 cob/qb is the best balance for a 4x4. You can use more and will get bigger yields, but is it worth it? Can you handle the heat? Increased electrical bill? Do you have more space that will allow you to spread the lighting out more?

There is a grow on youtube where a guy uses 8 1000 watt hps over one staggered aeroflo 60. That is basically 2 4x6 canopies, 4000 watts each. Its worth it for him, but not me. Probably not for too many people. I just helped a friend build a 957 watt vero 29 to cover a 4x4. He was going to buy a 600 watt kit for a 4x4 and decided to run the cobs at 2100mA instead of 1400 to get a brighter light. It was basically the same cost as a cree3590 600 watt only brighter. I expect him to have excellent results. That motherfucker is BRIGHT!
I haven't critique my electric bill yet. The heat is a hassle, because of the extra power for exhaust fan. Thanks for the info, I have to read up. Check out the picture. Maybe I'll dump the side lights. That's three girls in a huge rotatable pot.20171219_194710-1328x747.jpg
 

Lennox205

Well-Known Member
I haven't critique my electric bill yet. The heat is a hassle, because of the extra power for exhaust fan. Thanks for the info, I have to read up. Check out the picture. Maybe I'll dump the side lights. That's three girls in a huge rotatable pot.View attachment 4061270
If you are struggling with heat and/or electric bill, why don't you turn off the least efficient light. Not necessarily both side lights, start with one. You may not be able to find out details about your lights, but if you can, that would be a good idea to see which one gives the least photons per watt. How many watts is that and how big is your tent?
 

Lennox205

Well-Known Member
But with only one light source in the center the outer edges would suffer. Right?
Yes. If you look at any bulb, hood or reflector comparison test, you can see that they all have lower intensity at the edges. Most led lights too. I was surprised at how terrible the footprint was for some of the leds that I bought. Most are great directly under the light, but suck outside of two feet off center. Some are different and spread the light better, but they all have lower intensity the further you get from the light. Using multiple lights fixes this problem. Or multiple light sources, like cobs or quantum boards.
 

stawawager

Well-Known Member
If you are struggling with heat and/or electric bill, why don't you turn off the least efficient light. Not necessarily both side lights, start with one. You may not be able to find out details about your lights, but if you can, that would be a good idea to see which one gives the least photons per watt. How many watts is that and how big is your tent?
I unplugged the three LEDs, like people say they are dogs. When I plugged in the cob the girls took off and grew about 5 inches one day.

That's not a tent. It's a near sound proof secret safe room with outside venting. It's been a lot of work and still have some fine tuning. I'll pm you a pic if you want to see a long view.

The red cob with 9 lights is 1800 watts.
 
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stawawager

Well-Known Member
Yes. If you look at any bulb, hood or reflector comparison test, you can see that they all have lower intensity at the edges. Most led lights too. I was surprised at how terrible the footprint was for some of the leds that I bought. Most are great directly under the light, but suck outside of two feet off center. Some are different and spread the light better, but they all have lower intensity the further you get from the light. Using multiple lights fixes this problem. Or multiple light sources, like cobs or quantum boards.
I unplugged the LEDs. I think the residual light from the cop is better than direct light from LEDs. Maybe I'll get three or four small cobs for the outer edges or go with 2 hps lights next time.

I'll have to educate myself what a Quantum board is. It definitely helps to listen to advice, thanks.
 

stawawager

Well-Known Member
I've ran 1400w in a 2x3 closet I would not recommend trying to cram ways into small area to much hassle

Stick with hps don't buy leds to much money for the yeild you end up with compared to hps or de

I run hps but only because I have them so there free for me
I plan to try de real soon
Ya, those LEDs are history. They're weak and too hot for the output and I think they give you a cataracts.

I got to study up on the different sizes for HPS. Maybe I'll try 2, 600 Watt fixtures.
 

stawawager

Well-Known Member
Ceiling height looks like trouble ... What are gonna do when they stretch ?
The top can raise 10", but first I'm going to drop the tubs platform to the floor, abt 18". I have to do it soon too. They are at 9 weeks and going through a spert.
Ceiling height looks like trouble ... What are gonna do when they stretch ?
I can raise the ceiling 10 inches higher or lower the bottom platform 18 in. Both are painful. The container may weight #150.

I'm cutting a big ring in the platform it might have to spin) then will use it to raise and lower the tub by only 2 anchor points. If it's a permanent support that would be more convenient and cooler.

These girls are healthy.

I raised the roof last time, I should have just left it up there! I lowered the bottom last time too.

I also should have built the mechanicals while it was between grows. That would have been a hundred times easier.
 

MasterpieceNutes

Well-Known Member
Those chinese (red) lights are the worst..Waste of elec trying to flower with them.. One use I found for them: replace chip. Yeah, its not a fun project, and you'll have to cut edge off reflectors in two places so your new chips holders have correct spacing.. cxa2540 is your match. If you're in MA I do the labor for a $100. I've 'fixed' a dozen of these. Parts: another $150. - With 9 cxa2540 's in there, you can light a 3x3 solidly.

Better option = look at my profile pic. 4x cxm22 per rail. 2x4 coverage. 280 watts each. = $520 to light a 4x4 @ 560watts. Available CL boston.

My add-on to the light placement discussion: look at your plants 'body language' before lights out.. Are they in 'praying' postion, leaves arched up from stem 30-45deg or so? = Perfect, you can possibly move light closer.

Leaves drooping, weak (despite adequate water)= back your lights off a few inches.
 

stawawager

Well-Known Member
I unplugged the LEDs. I think the residual light from the cop is better than direct light from LEDs. Maybe I'll get three or four small cobs for the outer edges or go with 2 hps lights next time.

I'll have to educate myself what a Quantum board is. It definitely helps to listen to advice, thanks.
The quantum board looks like numerous array of cobs costing between $500 and $1,000.
 

stawawager

Well-Known Member
He also said he has 3 of those 130 * 3 = 390 watts. To get a better picture we need to know the true watts and model of these "1600 watt" COB lights.
I'm shopping for two 600 w hps or two 300 w hps.

That red cob I have is four or five times better than those LEDs. I can't imagine what it HpS would be like.
 

stawawager

Well-Known Member
Those chinese (red) lights are the worst..Waste of elec trying to flower with them.. One use I found for them: replace chip. Yeah, its not a fun project, and you'll have to cut edge off reflectors in two places so your new chips holders have correct spacing.. cxa2540 is your match. If you're in MA I do the labor for a $100. I've 'fixed' a dozen of these. Parts: another $150. - With 9 cxa2540 's in there, you can light a 3x3 solidly.

Better option = look at my profile pic. 4x cxm22 per rail. 2x4 coverage. 280 watts each. = $520 to light a 4x4 @ 560watts. Available CL boston.

My add-on to the light placement discussion: look at your plants 'body language' before lights out.. Are they in 'praying' postion, leaves arched up from stem 30-45deg or so? = Perfect, you can possibly move light closer.

Leaves drooping, weak (despite adequate water)= back your lights off a few inches.
On your profile pic, are those all single cobs with dedicated fans?

Thanks for the info on the leaf orientation. I really noticed it when I turned on the cob those babies went straight up.

Right now I'm letting them dry out because I have to lower the heavy tub to the floor or I'm going to have a height problem. ...again.
 

sallygram

Well-Known Member
Go with the Quantums, you will thank me later. But my big question is why do you have three plants in one pot? That just opens a can of worms that could lead to root competition and possible stunted budding or growth over it.
 
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