Need more light, but how should I do it?

Ok, so my first crop is just about done. It went way better than I thought it would, but as I was expecting, I didnt have enough light for the yields I wanted. I've made some really nice looking buds, they're just kind of small.

So here's my current setup. This was what I could afford when I started and all the breaker space I had for lights. I've fixed the breaker space issue and looking to expand a bit.

16x 304+ 561C boards with 660nm rows.
Each board pulls 120w at max of 1200ma
They have 110v inputs like the hlg 304 boards but have a slightly lower max because of the reds. 220v driver inputs are not an option for me.

4x HLG-320-C2800B drivers with 4 boards in parallel on each one.
This drives the boards at 700ma or around 60% each.
Drivers are pulling ~315w each for under 1300w total in a 10x10 I keep them about a foot from my plants currently.

Here are my thoughts.
I'd I take 1 board off of each set and that would push the remaining 3 at 930ma or around 80% max
I can take the other 4 boards and put them all on a 480-C3500 to drive them at 76% max or 2x 240H-C2100 and I'd be able to hit 90% max on the 4.

Eventually I plan to reconfigure it all with drivers that better suit the max current. From what I've found, there arent any ideal drivers for the 1200ma max draw. Maybe someone will clue me in on something I'm missing that's better?
It's looking like my best option would be to run 8 of the 240-C2100 drivers to push them up to 90% each

My goal is to keep the plants in rows under the lights with walking space between each row. That's why I have 4 "tracks". I can move the boards around as needed to fine tune things. It's worked great for this grow spread wise, just not strong enough. With walkways, I have at least 30sqft that doesnt need light.

I am also looking at the possibility of adding some of the Samsung strips along the edges of my tracks or between panels. I think that will help me fill in my light needs without changing too much of what I have going on.

fragileassassin said:

Ok, so my first crop is just about done. It went way better than I thought it would, but as I was expecting, I didnt have enough light for the yields I wanted. I've made some really nice looking buds, they're just kind of small.

So here's my current setup. This was what I could afford when I started and all the breaker space I had for lights. I've fixed the breaker space issue and looking to expand a bit.

16x 304+ 561C boards with 660nm rows.
Each board pulls 120w at max of 1200ma
They have 110v inputs like the hlg 304 boards but have a slightly lower max because of the reds. 220v driver inputs are not an option for me.

4x HLG-320-C2800B drivers with 4 boards in parallel on each one.
This drives the boards at 700ma or around 60% each.
Drivers are pulling ~315w each for under 1300w total in a 10x10 I keep them about a foot from my plants currently.

Here are my thoughts.
I'd I take 1 board off of each set and that would push the remaining 3 at 930ma or around 80% max
I can take the other 4 boards and put them all on a 480-C3500 to drive them at 76% max or 2x 240H-C2100 and I'd be able to hit 90% max on the 4.

Eventually I plan to reconfigure it all with drivers that better suit the max current. From what I've found, there arent any ideal drivers for the 1200ma max draw. Maybe someone will clue me in on something I'm missing that's better?
It's looking like my best option would be to run 8 of the 240-C2100 drivers to push them up to 90% each

My goal is to keep the plants in rows under the lights with walking space between each row. That's why I have 4 "tracks". I can move the boards around as needed to fine tune things. It's worked great for this grow spread wise, just not strong eough.

I am also looking at the possibility of adding some of the Samsung strips along the edges of my tracks or between panels. I think that will help me fill in my light needs without changing too much of what I have going on.

View attachment 4251869 View attachment 4251868 View attachment 4251870

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Really impressive work, congratulations on your effort
But, for your area size I would have gone with HID.
With that area you could use 4 - 1000 watt MH/HPS fixtures at a cost of around $600 and get kick ass bud.
What did you spend?

Jimdamick said:

Really impressive work, congratulations on your effort
But, for your area size I would have gone with HID.
With that area you could use 4 - 1000 watt MH/HPS fixtures at a cost of around $600 and get kick ass bud.
What did you spend?

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He'll get more weight for the wattage with his boards, and the savings in energy usage will more than make up the difference in start-up costs.

Jimdamick said:

Really impressive work, congratulations on your effort
But, for your area size I would have gone with HID.
With that area you could use 4 - 1000 watt MH/HPS fixtures at a cost of around $600 and get kick ass bud.
What did you spend?

Click to expand...

Thanks, I did everything pictured for just over $1200.
I went with LEDs for heat control, energy efficiency, and small size. With the ducting in the basement I dont have a ton of clearance, this tent just barely fits in there.
With the size of my totes and leaving room between the lights, I only have around 4.5ft of vertical space for the plants to grow with the panels at the ceiling. Id lose a lof of that with HPS i feel. I wouldnt be able to afford the electric bill for 4x 1000w hps lights.

I don't think im too far off here, I think the spread of the boards helped a ton despite the lack of wattage.
If I were to double what I have now I think itll be plenty and still use nearly half the power of 4 1kw hps.

Here's some of what these have grown so far. This first grow I went in to looking at it as an experiment. I learned a lot about a lot of things and I think my next one will be much better. I messed a few things up, but ive made it to within a couple weeks of harvest for most of them and theyre still living.
The stuff at the top has got to a nice size, I just need more lower. One of the things I messed up was support. I put it off too long and by time I was able to buy the stuff I needed, it was an overgrown jungle in there and too late to get much in there. Most of them are supercropping themselves at this point so its slowing things down.

I figure I can pick up around 20-22% more light just getting 1 board off each driver and on their own.
I can pick up a little over 30% more light if I get different drivers and reconfigure what I have.
Throw a few samsung strips on a couple more drivers and it should be easy to get 50% more than I have now.

fragileassassin said:

Thanks, I did everything pictured for just over $1200.
I went with LEDs for heat control, energy efficiency, and small size. With the ducting in the basement I dont have a ton of clearance, this tent just barely fits in there.
With the size of my totes and leaving room between the lights, I only have around 4.5ft of vertical space for the plants to grow with the panels at the ceiling. Id lose a lof of that with HPS i feel. I wouldnt be able to afford the electric bill for 4x 1000w hps lights.

I don't think im too far off here, I think the spread of the boards helped a ton despite the lack of wattage.
If I were to double what I have now I think itll be plenty and still use nearly half the power of 4 1kw hps.

Here's some of what these have grown so far. This first grow I went in to looking at it as an experiment. I learned a lot about a lot of things and I think my next one will be much better. I messed a few things up, but ive made it to within a couple weeks of harvest for most of them and theyre still living.
The stuff at the top has got to a nice size, I just need more lower. One of the things I messed up was support. I put it off too long and by time I was able to buy the stuff I needed, it was an overgrown jungle in there and too late to get much in there. Most of them are supercropping themselves at this point so its slowing things down.

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For a first run, you're doing just fine, man. And I agree - at roughly 70 square feet of canopy, 2,600w of good LED will rock that space.

fragileassassin said:

Thanks, I did everything pictured for just over $1200.
I went with LEDs for heat control, energy efficiency, and small size. With the ducting in the basement I dont have a ton of clearance, this tent just barely fits in there.
With the size of my totes and leaving room between the lights, I only have around 4.5ft of vertical space for the plants to grow with the panels at the ceiling. Id lose a lof of that with HPS i feel. I wouldnt be able to afford the electric bill for 4x 1000w hps lights.

I don't think im too far off here, I think the spread of the boards helped a ton despite the lack of wattage.
If I were to double what I have now I think itll be plenty and still use nearly half the power of 4 1kw hps.

Here's some of what these have grown so far. This first grow I went in to looking at it as an experiment. I learned a lot about a lot of things and I think my next one will be much better. I messed a few things up, but ive made it to within a couple weeks of harvest for most of them and theyre still living.
The stuff at the top has got to a nice size, I just need more lower. One of the things I messed up was support. I put it off too long and by time I was able to buy the stuff I needed, it was an overgrown jungle in there and too late to get much in there. Most of them are supercropping themselves at this point so its slowing things down.

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Where do you live, and how many plants do you want to grow, and for what reason?

Humple said:

For a first run, you're doing just fine, man. And I agree - at roughly 70 square feet of canopy, 2,600w of good LED will rock that space.

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First, thank you for actually reading it all and knowing the 70sqft of cannopy thing!!!

I think what im coming down to is what to fill the gaps in with.
If i go the cheaper route for right now and push them all up to around 75% I think I can fill in that other 800w with samsung strips pretty well.

The other option would be to get the new driver setup and push my boards to 90% and either try to sell off my 320s or use them for other stuff. The 90v+ output limits me on what I can do to a point though. I guess i need to look at how many of the strips I can run in series as I think theyre only around a 25v input.

Jimdamick said:

Where do you live, and how many plants do you want to grow, and for what reason?

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Im just wanting to grow my 12 legal plants for personal medical use. Im pretty fucked up and to be truthful would have offed myself years ago if it wasnt for this plant.
Id like to push bigger yields so I can start processing it into potent edibles. Im already smoking an oz a week and its getting to the point that its not enough.
It would also be nice if I dont have to be growing year round.
Im not trying to squeeze every gram possible out of my space really. More of a most yield per effort and cost. I just know that it can be better than what I have now without too much more expense.

What strains are you growing?

Too bad those 320s arent 24v I'd buy em. And I agree I'd pull a board from each and another driver. Or maybe look at using hlg600 driver and rewiring it.

Airwalker16 said:

What strains are you growing?

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This first one was crazy.
Bruce Banner
Skywalker OG
Some Grape shit
^^These 3 got cloned
Black widow - really picky, wont do it in a mix again.
Lemon Haze something something. got 2 seeds from a friend one was male, they other took over 3 sites in the tent. This is all 1 plant that was only topped once.

fragileassassin said:

This first one was crazy.
Bruce Banner
Skywalker OG
Some Grape shit
^^These 3 got cloned
Black widow - really picky, wont do it in a mix again.
Lemon Haze something something. got 2 seeds from a friend one was male, they other took over 3 sites in the tent. This is all 1 plant that was only topped once.

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That's what you need next. True genetics. Get some of the new HSO gear.

God I feel bad for you come harvest day.

You definitely don't have the density you'd want for a finished product. You most likely need more light.

Goddamn. Subbed.

Airwalker16 said:

You definitely don't have the density you'd want for a finished product. You most likely need more light.

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I think it’s because his lights are too high, honestly.

8 more boards and 2 more drivers I think would be more than enough. Just space evenly 6 to a rail rather than 4.

Olive Drab Green said:

I think it’s because his lights are too high, honestly.

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that plant in the back was at least a foot taller a week ago LOL it exploded during stretch and i wanted to see what it would do so I let it go. Things massive.
The rest of the lights are 18" or less from them
I cant really get in there anymore so im just letting them go and watching trichomes

fragileassassin said:

that plant in the back was about at least a foot taller a week ago LOL it exploded during stretch and i wanted to see what it would do.
The rest of the lights are 18" or less from them
I cant really get in there anymore so im just letting them go and watching trichomes

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What Airwalker said is true, they are a bit light and stretchy. You’re definitely going to want more light like he said. Or downsize or lower the lights to 12” and hope it covers 12 plants. You said they’re near harvest? They have a lot of exposed white pistils.

Most of them are from this pack.
https://shop.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/products/pop-culture-mixpack

I know I need more light, thats why I am here =)
I knew this first run would be small, but i had to get some electrical work done to have more breaker space.

I am not really looking forward to most of my harvest either.
I think Black widows will be getting cut this weekend. Theyre starting to show some amber trichs

There are a LOT of buds down in there and they are dense and heavy, theyre just small.

Airwalker16 said:

8 more boards and 2 more drivers I think would be more than enough. Just space evenly 6 to a rail rather than 4.

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This is about what I am thinking as well. or lining the tracks with 16 of the 4ft strips

3 more 480s total from what i have now should do the job