I don't get it, is there a specific time that i need to dim my lights, i have a 600w mh and 600w hps, i am in vegging so the MH is now plugged in, is there a need to dim the light? is there some sort of procedure or "specific time" that they need to be dimmed? or can I run them at 100% without any problems.Also how far from the plants should my lights be
Dimmable ballast help
- Thread starter ONEDON
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707humboldt
Well-Known Member
You don't need to dim if you don't want to. I have 1000w DE dim able ballast and I only dim them when I first put clones in the room so the clones can get adjusted to the strong light. My ballasts only dim to 600 though. You should be fine just going full blast from the start and not worrying about dimming.
Are they air cooled hoods? I keep my 1000w air cooled DE's 24" form the canopy but you could get little closer with 600 if they are air cooled.
Are they air cooled hoods? I keep my 1000w air cooled DE's 24" form the canopy but you could get little closer with 600 if they are air cooled.
The bulb is in a standard reflector, the only fan it gets is the fan that is on my plants, which is also a standard fan, i only have three plants for testing until my black jack seeds arrive. my house is 65 degrees though so it is not that hot, i have it about roughly 25" from the plants. Also I just switched form a 125 watt cfl because my plants looked like they were about to give up on life, so i was wondering if 100% would be bad for them.
707humboldt
Well-Known Member
You should be fine. Just do the hand test and make sure your hand isn't too hot at the canopy level.
Ok sounds good.
707humboldt
Well-Known Member
Air flow helps a lot too though. If you don't already have it I would get an oscillating fan blowing air around right above the canopy
Yeah i do have one, it seems pretty cool to the back of my hands, i am growing 12/12 from seed as an experiment. I am in the 2 week and about 2 days and no gender yet but the nodes are tight, the other two look like they are half dead lol must be those darn males. I will be growing my next strain 18/6 for 3 weeks first though but these are bag seeds so i am just seeing if this method is one that i like.
radrolley
Well-Known Member
it's for heat problems. you can turn it down on them hot summer days and not run your ac as hard. the problem is these dim switches are hard on the bulbs and they will lose their intensity much faster meaning you will need to change your bulbs more often if you want to get the most light out of them. the reason this is, is because these digital electrical waves are a lot rougher. if you measure it on an oscilloscope digital waves are square or box looking. analog or magnet is nice and smooth like a hill. a comparison would be it is much easier to ride a bike on a road filled with hills vs a road filled with cliffs and plateaus.
SPLFreak808
Well-Known Member
Dim only if temps or radiant energy is too high. If you can give 15-20" from tops at 1k watts then start from there. Sorry didnt mean to lol. Just smoked too much
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SPLFreak808
Well-Known Member
They have good digital ballast now days that output a perfect sine wave. It aint the cheap ones though. My Apolo 400w ballast clips the shit out of my bulbs talk about square waves for days
Greenhouse;save
Well-Known Member
You shouldn't have any probs running at full steam.....although if or when you use the boost your temps will rise by 2-3 degrees..so bare that in mind....