Lumen output has everything to do with intensity. Lux is a unit derived from lumen. 1 lux = 1 lumen per square meter.
The amount of intensity, weather we measure in lux or foot candles, is directly related to the lumen output, in that, a higher lumen output means a higher lux or foot candle.
Now if we consider that light intensity diminshes, the further away from it's source it travels, we can use a simple equation, to find the intensity of light at any given distance from the bulb.
I=L/D2 or,
Intensity=light output Divided by Distance squared
So as in my last post a source of 55000 lumens will measure 55000 lumens 1 foot away.
2 feet away is 55000/2 squared = 13750 lumens per sq foot(13750 lux)
3 feet away is 55000/3squared = 6111 lumens per sq foot(6111 lux)
Consider this, if light intensity did not diminish as it travels further from it's source, then the intensity of light from the sun, 1 foot away from the sun, would be just 140,000 lux or 140,000 lumens per sq meter. If our sun had an initial output of 140,000 lux or lumens per sq meter, we would not exist!
And finally putting to lights of equal intensity next to each other, will not double the intensity of light. It will only increase the amount of area that receives light.
To double the intensity of light you would need to put one bulb that was twice as strong.
So as I said earlier the two 400w bulbs are a waste of electricity. Especially that far away from the plants!
Ok theres alot of wrong information here and I feel the need to clarify. Lumens is a measure of light energy. Intensity is a measure of Lumens per square foot. If you have a bulb that produces 55k lumens, that is how much the bulb produces. period. It doesn't produce any less lumens when you are farther from the bulb, because lumens aren't a unit of intensity. That would be like saying a fire doesn't produce as much heat when you are farther away from it. The fire doesn't care how close you are to it, it keeps burning at the same rate and producing heat at the same rate. It doesn't
feel as hot when you are further away because you are absorbing a smaller percentage of the fire's heat, since at an increased distance the radiation from the fire is spread across more surface area.
The intensity, however, does diminish as you move further from the bulb. This is why the light is less bright further from the bulb, as perceived brightness is a qualitative measure of intensity. The inverse square law assumes that the light source is a point source, and is derived directly from spherical geometry noting that the surface area of a spherical shell centered on the light source increases as the square of the distance from the source.
If you want an equation, surface area = 4*pi*d^2 where d is the distance from the source. Intensity is Energy/Area, so for a constant initial lumen output, L, intensity = L/(4*pi*d^2)
This shows that for a point source, the intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source, as in the inverse square law.
This is not valid when your light source can no longer be approximated as a point source; which unless you're using a very small bulb very far away from your plants in a room painted black, isn't a good approximation for your grow lights.
Also don't grow with a very small bulb very far away from your plants in a room painted black. thats stupid.
To find the average intensity, take the total lumens produced by your lights, and divide that by the surface area the light is spread upon. If you have a reflective tent, and your light is evenly distributed, the amount you calculate this way will be in agreement with what you find using a light meter. Keep in mind that the further you are from your light, the more surface area light is projected upon, and therefore the intensity will be lowered, though not at the rate described by the inverse square law.
I=L/D2 or,
Intensity=light output Divided by Distance squared
So as in my last post a source of 55000 lumens will measure 55000 lumens 1 foot away.
Actually lux is lumens per square meter. So if what you said is true 1 ft is about .3 meters, so 1 sqft is about .1 sq meter. so 55k/.1 would put your intensity at over half a million lux, four times that of the brightest sunlight on the surface of the earth. Try to burn some ants with a magnifying glass in your grow room and you will see this is not true.
And finally putting to lights of equal intensity next to each other, will not double the intensity of light. It will only increase the amount of area that receives light.
To double the intensity of light you would need to put one bulb that was twice as strong.
so wrong. If you put two lights in the same space, you just doubled your lumen production. If your lighted area is constant, you just doubled your intensity. If you want to do an experiment go to a dark room and light a candle. now light ten candles. does it look brighter?