best reflectors for 600w

Banana444

Well-Known Member
I have been using the euro reflector, 6" air cooled hoods. After a run or two I am thinking a better reflector would do me a world of good in my flowering tent which is now a 4x8x8. So I am looking to disperse two 600s over two 4x4 areas and then I have a few leds to help the edges. Looking for aircooled hoods that are airtight since I will be scrubbing with the same fan. I am already cooling two lights and scrubbing with the same fan so not worried about heat. Also what kind of the circulation fans are best for larger tents and dont take up floor space.
 

Nuikala

Well-Known Member
i run an 8 inch cool tube reflector with my 600w. you can use any inline fan/odour system and it will be airtight. works great and keeps the bulb WAY cooler than other types of hoods. u can also take out the reflector from the tube to do vertical growing as well.
 

Banana444

Well-Known Member
I am not having a heat issue and could easily switch to parabolic reflectors. My high temps are 74 4" below the 600, with air temps 71 and low is 65. I can easily bump the temps by opening the tent or changing the thermostat, and do. I would like to be able to keep running thru summer with my main flower tent so I am looking to match two hoods to two 600w hps and a 4x8.
 

rob333

Well-Known Member
I have been using the euro reflector, 6" air cooled hoods. After a run or two I am thinking a better reflector would do me a world of good in my flowering tent which is now a 4x8x8. So I am looking to disperse two 600s over two 4x4 areas and then I have a few leds to help the edges. Looking for aircooled hoods that are airtight since I will be scrubbing with the same fan. I am already cooling two lights and scrubbing with the same fan so not worried about heat. Also what kind of the circulation fans are best for larger tents and dont take up floor space.
i use my maylar tent as one big reflector i never use hoods in my tents no real need if u are in 100% maylar ;)
 

kmog33

Well-Known Member
Get a radiant 8s if you have heat problems, 6s if you dont. If you dont need aircooled i would just go adjust a wings, the have a super wide spread and are also cheap.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Rollitup mobile app
 

borbor

Well-Known Member
i use my maylar tent as one big reflector i never use hoods in my tents no real need if u are in 100% maylar ;)
google inverse square law for light, you're losing all the light that comes from the top half of your bulb
 

jijiandfarmgang

Well-Known Member
Just think about it. Just a guess but about 95 to 99 percent of the light comes from the sides of the single ended hps bulb. So basically the light coming out of the tip is near useless. So all that light has to hit the reflector before it hits your plants on a parabolic reflector.

Even if you assume a parabolic reflector has a perfect light spread and uniformity, all the light instead of about half or so on a normal reflector bounces off that reflector.

When the reflector is brand new and clean your probably only looking at 90 percent reflectivity (give or take 5 percent).

So your losing a few percent off the bat using a parabolic.

I know these are generalities but they should give you an idea.

P.S. adjust a wings suck too. The light isn't uniform and it has hot spots on the edge of the foot print.

- Jiji
 

alegro77

Member
Thanks for your reply.I'm a new grower.I've changed my cool tube 5 inch to the parabolic reflector and now I'm very happy how it works.It covers all my plants.I believe that using this reflector I'll get more stuff than with cool tube.. So what would be the best reflector for 1.2m tent ?
 

jijiandfarmgang

Well-Known Member
I think every bad design hood has been mentioned lol.

Except for the radiants, at least the older ones are good, I could have swore I saw a new design that was nothing like the old ones, not sure though

List of reflectors that suck
----------------------------------------------------------
Anything where bulb is vertical (unless it is bare bulb).

Cool tubes

adjust a wings

Cheap Chinese or bottom of the barrel brand name reflectors that don't have a full insert (painted white ends)

- Jiji
 

harris hawk

Well-Known Member
Look at "domes" that have a very large spread (48 inches +) along with using wings - you find that set -up in many commerical grows. If want addresses let me know
 

lilroach

Well-Known Member
There's video's on youtube that test various reflector designs and the parabolic got the worst scores....by a bunch.

Sorry, I can't remember what hoods got the best scores. I DO remember that spending more money on an air-cooled hood didn't necessarily get you a better hood though.

I think a lot depends on the area you're trying to light. If you're grow area is rectangle, then a hood that is rectangular would be best.....square area, square hood.
 
Top