Advice on lighting for a 8x13 walk-in cooler please.

Basically what the title says. Cooler is running and ready to go. Have everything but lights. I think LED may be too expensive to fill that space.

Depends on your budget
I am looking at these for $ 500 each
https://www.amazon.com/HYPHOTONFLUX-HPF4000-MeanWell-Commercial-Hydroponic/dp/B08G85XXKG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=XX2UZXG6LFXV&dchild=1&keywords=grow+station+640+led+lights&qid=1634817748&sprefix=growstation+&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExMzY1TUdSUDZWVkxRJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTc0NDIzMTdQRE1OQ1hHVkZOJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0MjUwNDMxNDFQVkZBN1cxR0tVJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

That is a little 2 pricey for me. Looks like those are good for a 4x4 space. I would need 6 of them.

Clarky16 said:

That is a little 2 pricey for me. Looks like those are good for a 4x4 space. I would need 6 of them.

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I’m considering 5 and to me that is a good price for the coverage
I assume you are just going HID

I honestly don't know what to use. I have only used LED in the past in my 4x4 and 3x3 tents. Was hoping to keep my start-up cost down though I do have enough $ for LED's if that's ultimately the best option by a wide margin.. Heat will not be an issue. If possible I would like to set the lights up at the maximum height and just leave them there.

Clarky16 said:

I honestly don't know what to use. I have only used LED in the past in my 4x4 and 3x3 tents. Was hoping to keep my start-up cost down though I do have enough $ for LED's if that's ultimately the best option by a wide margin.. Heat will not be an issue. If possible I would like to set the lights up at the maximum height and just leave them there.

Click to expand...

Right
I always thought a walk-in cooler would be the shizzle
Wait a bit as this is a worldwide forum
Let others put in their 2 cents

Looking like LED is the way to go

I have to agree a walk in cooler?
Excellent!

The choice is what makes you happy.
LEDs' are cool looking. HPS/MH is traditional.

Personally, I like the old school Hortilux Eye HPS Bulbs. I grow for medical supply so HPS has produced quality before.
In my grow-room build I am concerned with the export and reuse of the heat so HPS is my choice.

But what is the canopy penetration depth with the LEDs' you are looking into?

That is kind of why I am asking for help here. Not sure what I should be looking for

How tall is the space? I don't know that I have the answer for you on what works best in terms of technology, but you're looking for something that you can have at roughly ceiling height (not that most LED's want 12" above the ceiling). That means you're going to want to go pretty high wattage then dim down from there. Assuming that you can do the same across the different lighting techs knowing the height may be important.

8 feet

Clarky16 said:

8 feet

Click to expand...

Cool, so hang at 7' and you've got plenty of room.

If you do decide LED is the way to go...Check out this thread, especially the last 5-10 pages of it. There's a bunch of stuff that's in the 450w range that have good deals and drop you well below the $500 mark that are still modern design and layout with newer diodes.

I'll check it out. Thanks

It would be cool to see your build once you have one.


Friendly_Grower

So, when I do a full run in my 4x4 I use 16 1 gallon pots. In the cooler I am planning on building 2 Tables 3 feet by 13. Its going to work out to 70-80 1g pots. Maybe I should bump that to 2g? Seems like a lot of watering lines if I go with 1g.

Lighting decisions might need to be made on the power available for cooling. Do you know how many btu the cooling unit for freezer is?