PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
Same shit happened to me running one (100w) cob for a test run, immediately noticed I would have to rotate pots like a mofo to get anything out of it......suckedFor the CXA3070 1 per/sf is what is I needed in my opinion. When got my first 2 COBs and hung them I couldn't believe how bright they were they lit up an empty cab very nicely. The problem was as soon as I put a plant under them I noticed some really dark shadows. I had used HID w/reflector, T5, CFL and A51 RW panels before these and they all do a better job at evenly spreading the light than only a few COBs. Though I might have had more photons in the space they were mostly concentrated in one area. The parts directly under the light would be great but everything else was showing lots of stretch from shade avoidance. I realized that lowering the current and adding more was the solution. With 1 per/sf @700-1050mA I don't get anymore real shadows due the amount of overlap from each.
I see people using 1 per 4/sf @2A+ and I'm sure they will quickly experience what I have explained. though the wattage/photons are there the lack of spread will be the downfall. These things are awesome but not as a single light source, you need a bunch spread out or there will be lots of shadows and plants will be stretching towards the light which can add up in cost. One good thing is you can start with a few driven harder then just get more reduce the current when its affordable. I am going to take some par readings of my setup later today if I have time and see if I can put together a little graphic but I don't have a 2A+ driver for comparison.
Edit....forgot to add that any bulb in a REFLECTOR shouldn't be considered a true SINGLE POINT light source for obvious reasons.
Last edited: