POLL - What type of flowering lights are you running?
- Thread starter Renfro
- Start date
bk78
Well-Known Member
I mean giving it just a single run is dumb if you just said your environment isn’t dialled with the new lighting. Why even put in the effort?
budsgalore
Well-Known Member
600w Viper blurple in a 3x3 tent. Works great for two autos and a couple cherry tomato plants
xtsho
Well-Known Member
That's great. Like I said it's a damn nice light. I'm not knocking quality LED's. But my situation is different than yours. I don't grow for profit I grow as a hobby. I give away more than I keep and I never run out of smoke. I'm just growing in a 4 x 4. It's a hobby for me. I'm more concerned with playing around with breeding than making money. I have an occupation already so I'm not concerned with profits from my grows.
I can use inexpensive HID's and grow as good of weed as any quality LED. The argument comes down to heat and electricity savings. I actually want the heat and I get some of the cheapest power in the United States. So what some say are cons with HID's are not a problem for me.
I can get an HID setup that will provide as much if not more light as that LED for under $500. That's a $1000 savings. I've done the math and it would take me five years or more to recover that money in electricity savings. In that same time frame I could use that $1000+ that I save and turn it into more. So in my situation it makes sense not to tie my money up in expensive lights.
It's all good. You know what you're doing and doing it right for your needs. I'm doing the same.
Kassiopeija
Well-Known Member
Hey one question, what's the difference between HPS DE SE? I'm sorry not used to that terminology...
I run Sylvania SHP-TS Grolux 600W and Cree 3590 3500k.. and also a 600W MH for the first 2-3 weeks of going 12/12 sometimes to counter excessive stretchiness...
I run Sylvania SHP-TS Grolux 600W and Cree 3590 3500k.. and also a 600W MH for the first 2-3 weeks of going 12/12 sometimes to counter excessive stretchiness...
myke
Well-Known Member
Environment is fine. Needed some changes but all is good now.
sandman83
Well-Known Member
double ended or single ended. Basically a different type of bulb design and socket, DE offer a nice boost to overall lumens at the same wattage but produce more heat iirc
Kassiopeija
Well-Known Member
And Far-red, UVA is also used by some... although the function of these lights is not the primary buildup of biomatter, their more like a stimulant... so IDK....
thanks for your answer. I immediately have another question
...: the same wattage is translated into more light plus more heat. But heat is energy an dlight as well, so I would find it more logically, regarding the laws of physics if the translation of 600W into more luminosity would result in less heat. Just like CMH does in comparsion to HPS. Maybe it has more phyto-luminosity than HPS but lacking other spectrum? Because, at the end of the day, the total output cannot exceed what's beeing drawn fromt he wall....
MickFoster
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure how you arrived at this presumption. I don't grow for profit.....I have never sold a gram in my life, and I give some away to close friends as well. I grow in a 4 x 4 tent and it's also a hobby for me.
My statement about the NextLight Mega paying for itself 3 times over was not because I sell it......it's because I yielded 22 oz.......enough to last me a year without having to buy it......saving me a ton of money. I only grow 4 plants a year.
Unfortunately most people don't look at their equipment as an investment that pays for itself in one harvest......they short sightedly only look at the initial cost.
Happy growing my friend.
DixonButts
Active Member
400w HPS + 300W Relassy LED board, sunlight warmth
Both in a 4x4 tent lmao. Who needs a tan?
Both in a 4x4 tent lmao. Who needs a tan?
sandman83
Well-Known Member
@Kassiopeija I claim no rights to this, I copied it from another.
The DE Difference
So how are double-ended HPS lamps different than single-ended HPS lamps? Double-ended HPS lamps, used by commercial growers for about 10 years, have rapidly grown in popularity with hobby growers over the past five years. The physical differences to single-ended lamps start with their attachment to the reflector.
Unlike the Edison screw thread of an SE globe, DE lamps feature two wires at either side of the tubular outer glass that simply and safely fasten into sockets on a fixture. The internal arc tube on a DE is generally about 2-in. shorter and notably thinner than the standard SE tube. This generates much more light density from a smaller focal point.
In the hydroponics retail market, there are a range of DE HPS bulbs available in 750- and 1,000-W options and they are priced around 25-50% higher than a 1,000-W SE. This difference in pricing is amplified as a customer needs to ensure they have the appropriate high-voltage ballast to fire the globe and a specific DE-capable reflector.
There are a range of high-quality luminaires that are sold as a complete fixture with globe, ballast and reflector.
The Benefits of Growing Plants with a Double-Ended (DE) Lighting System
With all of these costs, the customer always asks: “Is it really worth it?” The answer is a resounding yes. To justify the upgrade, we have to understand what makes this technological enhancement so much better for our lamp exposure, as well as plant growth and yield.
Double-ended bulbs improve on both the quality and quantity of the plant-usable light emitted by SE lamps, and are also more efficient for your light coverage, electricity and maintenance bills. This is achieved primarily because the lamps are run at extremely high frequencies.
This avoids acoustic resonance, improves optimal output and maintains output over time. The resulting reaction provides a more stable temperature and operating current. Ensuring the arc tube is functioning more efficiently provides an improved spectral coverage and DE lamps generally have a 10-30% increase in light intensity and PAR output over traditional SE bulbs.
DE lamps emit more ultraviolet and infrared light than traditional SE bulbs, which increases potency and essential oil production in select plants.
The DE globe also has a number of other design improvements to increase light output and quality. With the two sockets attached to the arc tube, the DE eliminates the obsolete and light-degrading wire frame that holds the arc tube in place in standard SE globes.
The DE also uses quartz for the outer glass—a superior product to the borosilicate used in regular HPS globes—and they are filled with nitrogen instead of xenon or argon, which improves thermal conductivity.
These upgrades are a significant improvement for your crop, but the durability of DE globes is equally impressive. With the excellent light maintenance they provide, your lamps will maintain high-quality outputs for longer than any other horticultural SE HPS in the past.
This is cost effective for your wallet, with less replacement purchases, and, more importantly for the environment, it means less globes thrown out. Regardless of the size or scale of your garden, correctly disposing of HID globes is essential.
These globes contain lead, mercury and a range of other hazardous substances that are safe when the globe is sealed, but if it is smashed (in a garbage truck, for example), these toxic substances are released into the environment.
Are DE Lights Worth It?
So now we know that using DE globes means you will require less fixtures, your plants will grow faster and yield more delicious fruits and veggies, plus your luminaires will last longer! It seems like an easy decision to upgrade, but there are a few tricks of the trade when using these light sources for the good of the plants and for your own health.
When installing the globe, always be gentle and use gloves or paper towels. You do not want to leave any fingerprints or oily residues on the glass, as this can reduce light quality and potentially cause weak spots after prolonged use.
Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the ideal height above the plant canopy for different reflectors, especially with 1,000-W DE globes, as they can seriously damage plants if the luminaire is not far enough away from the crop and appropriate ventilation or light movers are not used. I recommend running 600- or 750-W DE globes in a taller grow tent or growroom if possible (more than 7 ft.) and to take advantage of the digital ballast dimming options with younger plants.
One frequent concern we receive is that the DE globes cannot be vertically bare-hung or used in a tube-style reflector. This is easy to counter, as it’s been proven multiple times that horizontally mounted globes are much more efficient for horticultural reflectors. Growroom temperatures will be generally lower with DE globes, as they emit more useable light per lamp, so fewer fixtures are required. If high temperatures are a real concern, it’s worth looking into reflector options with built-in ventilation ports, although this will degrade the light.
Air-cooled fixtures provide significantly less usable light because the nitrogen-filled outer balloon is designed to operate at a select temperature. Some poorly designed units encourage direct airflow over the globe, causing the ballast to increase amperage to achieve the same brightness.
The last point worth noting before you upgrade to a DE lighting set-up is to always ensure the ballast, globe, and reflector work efficiently together. Newer models of DE globes have brought 400-V technology, previously only used in commercial greenhouses with three-stage power, to home growers using ballasts that adapt residential voltage to drive a high-powered lamp.
These ballasts should operate at frequencies greater than 100 kHz for a smooth, crisp light output your plants will definitely appreciate. It’s always worth talking to your local hydroponics retailer to ensure all of your equipment is compatible and effective for your growing needs.
The DE Difference
So how are double-ended HPS lamps different than single-ended HPS lamps? Double-ended HPS lamps, used by commercial growers for about 10 years, have rapidly grown in popularity with hobby growers over the past five years. The physical differences to single-ended lamps start with their attachment to the reflector.
Unlike the Edison screw thread of an SE globe, DE lamps feature two wires at either side of the tubular outer glass that simply and safely fasten into sockets on a fixture. The internal arc tube on a DE is generally about 2-in. shorter and notably thinner than the standard SE tube. This generates much more light density from a smaller focal point.
In the hydroponics retail market, there are a range of DE HPS bulbs available in 750- and 1,000-W options and they are priced around 25-50% higher than a 1,000-W SE. This difference in pricing is amplified as a customer needs to ensure they have the appropriate high-voltage ballast to fire the globe and a specific DE-capable reflector.
There are a range of high-quality luminaires that are sold as a complete fixture with globe, ballast and reflector.
The Benefits of Growing Plants with a Double-Ended (DE) Lighting System
With all of these costs, the customer always asks: “Is it really worth it?” The answer is a resounding yes. To justify the upgrade, we have to understand what makes this technological enhancement so much better for our lamp exposure, as well as plant growth and yield.
Double-ended bulbs improve on both the quality and quantity of the plant-usable light emitted by SE lamps, and are also more efficient for your light coverage, electricity and maintenance bills. This is achieved primarily because the lamps are run at extremely high frequencies.
This avoids acoustic resonance, improves optimal output and maintains output over time. The resulting reaction provides a more stable temperature and operating current. Ensuring the arc tube is functioning more efficiently provides an improved spectral coverage and DE lamps generally have a 10-30% increase in light intensity and PAR output over traditional SE bulbs.
DE lamps emit more ultraviolet and infrared light than traditional SE bulbs, which increases potency and essential oil production in select plants.
The DE globe also has a number of other design improvements to increase light output and quality. With the two sockets attached to the arc tube, the DE eliminates the obsolete and light-degrading wire frame that holds the arc tube in place in standard SE globes.
The DE also uses quartz for the outer glass—a superior product to the borosilicate used in regular HPS globes—and they are filled with nitrogen instead of xenon or argon, which improves thermal conductivity.
These upgrades are a significant improvement for your crop, but the durability of DE globes is equally impressive. With the excellent light maintenance they provide, your lamps will maintain high-quality outputs for longer than any other horticultural SE HPS in the past.
This is cost effective for your wallet, with less replacement purchases, and, more importantly for the environment, it means less globes thrown out. Regardless of the size or scale of your garden, correctly disposing of HID globes is essential.
These globes contain lead, mercury and a range of other hazardous substances that are safe when the globe is sealed, but if it is smashed (in a garbage truck, for example), these toxic substances are released into the environment.
Are DE Lights Worth It?
So now we know that using DE globes means you will require less fixtures, your plants will grow faster and yield more delicious fruits and veggies, plus your luminaires will last longer! It seems like an easy decision to upgrade, but there are a few tricks of the trade when using these light sources for the good of the plants and for your own health.
When installing the globe, always be gentle and use gloves or paper towels. You do not want to leave any fingerprints or oily residues on the glass, as this can reduce light quality and potentially cause weak spots after prolonged use.
Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the ideal height above the plant canopy for different reflectors, especially with 1,000-W DE globes, as they can seriously damage plants if the luminaire is not far enough away from the crop and appropriate ventilation or light movers are not used. I recommend running 600- or 750-W DE globes in a taller grow tent or growroom if possible (more than 7 ft.) and to take advantage of the digital ballast dimming options with younger plants.
One frequent concern we receive is that the DE globes cannot be vertically bare-hung or used in a tube-style reflector. This is easy to counter, as it’s been proven multiple times that horizontally mounted globes are much more efficient for horticultural reflectors. Growroom temperatures will be generally lower with DE globes, as they emit more useable light per lamp, so fewer fixtures are required. If high temperatures are a real concern, it’s worth looking into reflector options with built-in ventilation ports, although this will degrade the light.
Air-cooled fixtures provide significantly less usable light because the nitrogen-filled outer balloon is designed to operate at a select temperature. Some poorly designed units encourage direct airflow over the globe, causing the ballast to increase amperage to achieve the same brightness.
The last point worth noting before you upgrade to a DE lighting set-up is to always ensure the ballast, globe, and reflector work efficiently together. Newer models of DE globes have brought 400-V technology, previously only used in commercial greenhouses with three-stage power, to home growers using ballasts that adapt residential voltage to drive a high-powered lamp.
These ballasts should operate at frequencies greater than 100 kHz for a smooth, crisp light output your plants will definitely appreciate. It’s always worth talking to your local hydroponics retailer to ensure all of your equipment is compatible and effective for your growing needs.
lambandtuna
Well-Known Member
4 qb132 3k currently in 1 tent
8 in the 2nd tent
8 in the 2nd tent
Chip Green
Well-Known Member
DIY LED strip builds, Bridelux EB series in one flower area, and 2x 315 CMH units, with a 240w Samsung F series rack in another flower area.
The CMH LED combination is outstanding.
Heavy frost warning.
The CMH LED combination is outstanding.
Heavy frost warning.
DankWilliamsSr
Well-Known Member
What about t5's? I know they are mostly just for veg and that's mostly what I use them for, but I've done a couple flower runs with the red spectralux bulbs, doesn't yield very well for the amount of wats used, but they work.
Southside112
Well-Known Member
600w led. 4 3000k vero 29 @ 100w each. 2 chilled v3 pucks @ 100w each.
