Really good stuff Tagsy!
That 660 is a beast!
On the top of your head, what do you recon the read would be for a 1000w HID at 24" ?
Why not test 12" ? =)
Btw, instead of buying the deep red extension for the Pontoon for 800$, how about buying 10 of these?:
http://www.diamond-grow-lights.com/illumitex-LED-Mini-Grow-Light/Mini-Grow-Light-1-#189;-x-1-#189;-16x-660-nm-Deep-Red-Spectrum-Illumitex~TM~-Horticulture-LEDs-for-supplemental-use::182.html?XTCsid=if0sit824pjv8jsk5457uv4ms1
1000w hps in a standard hood with a lumitex ballast and a eye hortilux super hps does 888umols at the center and about 330 on the 4x4 parimeter.
AT660@24" vs. 1000w hps@24"
Center: 1637umol
Center:890umol
2x2:1058.75umol
2x2:685umol
4x4 :293umol
4x4:330umol
I would much rather have the 660 after looking at those numbers.
And no 12" because no one runs them that low. I don't want or need to quote some numbers that no one will really see/use just to seem powerful. The numbers @18"-24" are still better almost everyone else @12".
I know Tags has disagreed me with on this but there are actually LED Grow Light Mfg's out there that are not satisfied with the current way of measuring a grow lights spectral output relative to plant net action absorption spectra.
http://gardenandgreenhouse.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1604:efficient-gardening-stumping-light-meters-with-efficiency&catid=138:july-august-2013&Itemid=18
I have proposed that if one is to rely on a number that advertises light output as opposed to, or conjunction with, a spectral distribution graph, it be given in 3 separate values, like N-P-K, which would indicate the energy emitted in the 380-520 (veg), 520-610 (carotenoid) and 610-720 (flowering) regions. Just putting up a lumen or uMole number higher than the competitor's is not going to propel the technology forth as it is not giving the big picture relative to plant response. In an attempt to beat back HID it is going to take a different type of approach where an informed consumer will be able to tell what the real overall differences in the technologies represent to their gardens. At least there is one LED mfg out there who happens to agree with me.
You and I will never see it quite the same but breaking up PAR(400nm-700nm) is something I could possibly see. My point is that 400-700 is the main and most responsive to plant grow. You can use only white diodes and grow great...but if you used all 730's, well I doubt it would be very good. Even all 630 wold have a better shot...and that is becasue it is within par light imo. I look at the IR and UV as boosters that are not completely necessary(doesn't mean they aren't good or I don't want them).
I have said it before and will say it again...you are trying to measure 2 thing in 1...spectrum and intensity. You are right that you need to pay attention to both for sure. I just don't see/think that a weighted or custom measurement system is best to do it. If there was a 100% knowledge of what wavelengths are best in what ratios and all that, but till there is a definitive best...your way will have the same/similar flaws lumens do.
But do I get your point...1umol from a good spectrum will/can cause more photosynthesis than 1umol from hps with their bad spectrum. Kinda like when I say a watt is not always the same. Led's get more umols out of a watt than hps...just like an IG makes the most out of a slightly lower par output because it has a really good and efficient spectrum.
So, the reading in the center is quite a bit stronger than it is on the perimeter?
Also, what is the difference between PAR and umol?
The difference between the center and the perimeter seem SHARP.
Also, I can't seem to find this thing for sale anywhere. It's the AT660R2?
I see the Apache Tech 120 all over... no 660..
The AT660 and the AT200 are new and were just released and are not up on the website. If you are interested you can call apache and ask/preorder, but they should be ready for everyone within a week or so.
Some of the other guys explained it well but...Par is all the light between 400nm-700nm and all wavelengths are measure equally...and the reading is in umol...or micromoles. So 1000 par means that there is a 1000 micromoles(umol) of photos falling on the sensor every second.
You are looking at the illumitex. They do a nice job at making an even coverage, but they have no power(comarped to hps or other good led's). They(illumitex) have a new model coming out in october that will be $3000+ to cover a 4x4 with 800w yet it only does >850umol@12 and then they tell you to hang it @18" so the power at operating height is very low. The current model that is out that you are referring too does about 400umol@12". Illumitex has great ideas and concepts...but there output performance is still too weak for MJ growers.
It seems like there is a drop off with the at660, but when you look at what 1000w hps do, or any hps, you will see that the at660 is still a lot better in the center and most of the whole area, and still basically the same at the parameter of max coverage. And the with a perfect growth spectrum being put out by the led, all the light being emitted is processed and used better by the plants than the hps.
Tags, can you tell me, or translate the readings from this thing, to your measurement device? What is it measuring, lumen, or I think you said Par output? Where do you get them and how much?
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Lumens are for humans. That device measure lumens and some other things that, I and plants, don't use. I don't know the conversion from lumens to PAR...and I don't think there is a truly accurate way to do it without the exact output of every wavelength your light puts out.
