LEDs Stripping Back the BS. Vegging 6 Clones under 22 Watts
- Thread starter PetFlora
- Start date
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
Dodged another bullet. Another tent light hanging hook broke (only holding < 25 pounds with 80-82* day time temps). Thankfully, plants survived with little damage, but they must be shaken up by 2 similar crashes within 5 days. I won't be surprised if it takes a couple days to recover
I called: they are shipping a new version of the same hooks. In the mean time I am using 1/4" half circle metal hooks (can't think of what they are called)- the tent would fall first
I called: they are shipping a new version of the same hooks. In the mean time I am using 1/4" half circle metal hooks (can't think of what they are called)- the tent would fall first
Beefbisquit
Well-Known Member
Such purdy white roots! Great shots, my man!
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
Well, plants seem no worse for wear.
Changed nutes- 900ppms
It's almost 2pm EST. It has been on my mind that the 17 & 22w LEDs were too far away, not giving all they have to give. I had already lowered the vanity fixture, but still.
This made me think to moving the RP 17/22 in the middle using the extender/splitter, as below canopy supplemental lighting. This is really the best use of them as the light is not as intense at the globes apex
30w below canopy is a lot more wattage than I have used in the past: I'm very curious to see how much it punches out the lower buds.
Also, this means the 4 Tubes as the only canopy lighting
Stay tuned
Changed nutes- 900ppms
It's almost 2pm EST. It has been on my mind that the 17 & 22w LEDs were too far away, not giving all they have to give. I had already lowered the vanity fixture, but still.
This made me think to moving the RP 17/22 in the middle using the extender/splitter, as below canopy supplemental lighting. This is really the best use of them as the light is not as intense at the globes apex
30w below canopy is a lot more wattage than I have used in the past: I'm very curious to see how much it punches out the lower buds.
Also, this means the 4 Tubes as the only canopy lighting
Stay tuned
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
Did some minor tweaking repositioning the hanger chain + I decided to take advantage of the 2 now open slots in my vanity fixture. I had 2 SM lights, one 5w the other 7w, so I added them.
Total canopy wattage- 104 watts, but only ~ 2ft of the tubes is directly over the plants. Still, I think the rest of the lumens do not go unwasted. I believe they make the leds directly over the plant more intense, as it does not have to share its' light with an otherwise dark empty space. Dunno, maybe that sounds weird, but I think there is something to it.
So 104w canopy + 39w RP under the canopy. Fyi, I rotate the plants once a day so that all sides benefit from the light
I think I will stay with this through harvest, unless buds look like they would benefit from adding my RB UFO 90
Total canopy wattage- 104 watts, but only ~ 2ft of the tubes is directly over the plants. Still, I think the rest of the lumens do not go unwasted. I believe they make the leds directly over the plant more intense, as it does not have to share its' light with an otherwise dark empty space. Dunno, maybe that sounds weird, but I think there is something to it.
So 104w canopy + 39w RP under the canopy. Fyi, I rotate the plants once a day so that all sides benefit from the light
I think I will stay with this through harvest, unless buds look like they would benefit from adding my RB UFO 90
Chronikool
Well-Known Member
Twice bitten (or thrice?) Falls like that would put me off these hooks (and the company that makes them) New version of the same hooks....? hmmmm might be time to look at alternatives my fluffy green friend...
Would be a shame to destroy all that growth...
Highocaine
Well-Known Member
Especially at the fault of a <$2 piece of metal.
RainerRocks
Active Member
Go to home depot and buy some pipe and corner fittings and build yourself a steel skeleton and just throw the tent over it.
No more crashing of plants or lights due to the cheap plastic piping tent makers use today. Then add some hefty hooks.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/LDR-Industries-1-2-in-x-120-in-Black-Steel-10-ft-Schedule-40-Pipe-314-12X120/100553686
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
It's a Gorilla tent, so buyers beware
Imagine if you had a 4-8 bulb HOT5 hanging from it when it crashes- destroy your plants, be a freaken nightmare to clean up + super toxic mercury vapor concentrated in the area you need to clean ASAP
I replaced their POS hooks with metal hooks that are used to hang heavy stuff
Imagine if you had a 4-8 bulb HOT5 hanging from it when it crashes- destroy your plants, be a freaken nightmare to clean up + super toxic mercury vapor concentrated in the area you need to clean ASAP
I replaced their POS hooks with metal hooks that are used to hang heavy stuff
RainerRocks
Active Member
Hooks are only as good as the skeleton they hang from...weak skeleton then the skeleton will coming crashing down with hooks no matter how strong the hooks are......weak hooks then hooks will fail.
DharmaBud
Member
PetFlora,
What about those of us who can't fit the 4 ft T-8's in the tent? I was originally planning on putting in a 6 lamp 2ft T-5. When it comes to the LED bulbs you are buying, how do you know which ones are for vegging and which ones are for flowering. Most of the nomenclature you used went in one ear and out the other, so the explanation could have been there, but I didn't see it.
Jeff
What about those of us who can't fit the 4 ft T-8's in the tent? I was originally planning on putting in a 6 lamp 2ft T-5. When it comes to the LED bulbs you are buying, how do you know which ones are for vegging and which ones are for flowering. Most of the nomenclature you used went in one ear and out the other, so the explanation could have been there, but I didn't see it.
Jeff
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
I feel you.
I have been studying leds for several years and yes, the jargon is foreign to many.
I answered your dilemma on another thread, but will answer here, too.
I believe you have 5ft+ of height, but a tight ~ 2 x 2 space, so put 4ft bulbs (either single or double shop light fixture) in each corner, for a vertical light grow. Position each up fixture up high for max light to the plant. It will work great. At some lateer point if you get more space t grow you can simply put them over head
As to bulb choices, you can get one NW to promote veg + 3 WW to promote flowering. If you get 2 bulb fixtures, you could have 8 bulbs, but can start out with one bulb in each- you can't do that with wiring scheme for regular HOT5s
If you feel you want 660 for flowering, Agro makes one but it's $71
Read through my thread a few times over a couple days: it will become clear. Focus mainly on the LED tubes
Is that you in the avatar... x military?
DharmaBud
Member
Sorry for my ignorance, Petflora, I will assume T-8 are in my future. when you say get one NW to promote veg + 3 ww to promote flowering???? I looked online and I still couldn't pin down your meaning. Is their a particular wattage. NW alone came out with natural white and neutral white, I'm sorry, but I just am hours old when it comes to led's acronyms won't work for me. Yes I am a retired combat medic and that ugly fuck is really me.
Is this the NW you speak of? Does the wattage matter? or kelvin range?
Those agro led's, can they be used in any T-8 fixture is do they use their own proprietary one?
Nevermind, figured it out, Natural white for you 6000k plus and Warm White for your 3000k plus.
In the tube I linked up above, I found this little side note:
Note
Ballast/starter of existing fixtures must be bypassed.
Tombstones must be of the non-shunted type.
Power is to be applied to one end of the tube only (labeled), 1 pin to Live/Hot and the other pin to Neutral; pins on the other end of the tube are for physically securing the tube only
I also found this six bulb fixture, it was only 3 bucks more expensive than the four.
I tried finding something at Amazon because of the free shipping I'm already getting, but all they had were these, will they do???
I haven't even started on the Warm Whites yet. Are there particular wattages that are preferred?
Thanks
Namaste
Jeff
Is this the NW you speak of? Does the wattage matter? or kelvin range?
Those agro led's, can they be used in any T-8 fixture is do they use their own proprietary one?
Nevermind, figured it out, Natural white for you 6000k plus and Warm White for your 3000k plus.
In the tube I linked up above, I found this little side note:
Note
Ballast/starter of existing fixtures must be bypassed.
Tombstones must be of the non-shunted type.
Power is to be applied to one end of the tube only (labeled), 1 pin to Live/Hot and the other pin to Neutral; pins on the other end of the tube are for physically securing the tube only
I also found this six bulb fixture, it was only 3 bucks more expensive than the four.
I tried finding something at Amazon because of the free shipping I'm already getting, but all they had were these, will they do???
I haven't even started on the Warm Whites yet. Are there particular wattages that are preferred?
Thanks
Namaste
Jeff
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
Ain't homework fun?
Well, I find the work needed to learn abut LEDs is.Bulb 411
I buy from LEDwholesalers, but they are stingy with the 411. Saying the bulb replaces a 45w bulb is worthless. Chances are they meant 54, cause that is what an HOT5 equivalent is, BUT, there are other issues, like what watt are the diodes= what watts are the bulbs. My iBrights (23w) use Samsung and are 5050 (0.5w), which is most powerful 0.5w. That said, the iBright is wired differently than the ones ledw sells. Just had a long conversation with them last week.
Depending on how anxious you are to start, I would check out the COB version of LED tubes. They offer more complete coverage (possilby more watts) and will be my next test
As to Argo LED bulbs- some bulbs are wired with +/- on one end, mine have +/- on opposite ends, so you need to be consistent with which you decide to buy
Fixtures
Looks like you decided to go with a bigger grow space. My personal experience using an 8 bulb is I would go with 2 X 4 instead: 6 puts that in question. (I would alternate WW + NW + WW + NW + WW. Here's where it gets tricky- you only need ~ 20- 40w to veg, more than that COULD be detrimental. In my Bad Boy 2 bulbs side-by-side must be connected for the light to work, so you might need to ask first.
As far as whose fixture; doesn't matter as you will be using it as a slug. I find the T8 at Lowes/HD to be sturdier than their T12
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
You can't mix led with fluorescent in the same fixture due to ballast needed for fluorescent and it's 24".
Red fluorescents don't last long, neither do red leds, though they will last 4-5xs longer
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
I usually post pics once a week, but bud/pistil growth is so rapid since 6/29...
T5 LED tubes are available http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/509736275/COB_T5_Tube_light_LED_Tube.html
T5 LED tubes are available http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/509736275/COB_T5_Tube_light_LED_Tube.html
Chronikool
Well-Known Member
Amazing...you are alwayz finding something new Pet.... 