Thanks Chazbolin,Hiya Don and welcome. I have not done an AT or A51 run to compare the differences in plant response. Others on here such as GG has experience with both the IG and the AT so he would be best equipped to discuss those differences. I think GG is best equipped to discuss the differences he's seen in plant response since he owns both lights. Perhaps after he's done with the AT660 vs the 1000 watt HPS run he would consider doing a side by side with both lights since I'm confident his analysis would be fair and impartial and let plant response speak for itself.
In terms of cost the AT will set you back a bit more. Area coverage is about the same and I believe like the 420 the AT panels can take universal voltage supplies between 100 and 300 volts AC.
The AT draws 685 watts compared to the 420/Pontoon you'll draw 460 watts at the plug. The Pontoon does something different than the AT or any other panel I've seen in that it runs 730nm diodes at lights out. This is an important feature in creating an atmosphere indoors where the plants will convert into flowering instantly at lights out instead of the normal 2 hour window that it requires them to relax into that state when the lights are simply turned off. The 420/Pontoon is passively cooled whereas the AT uses fans. The 420/Pontoon weighs in at 15# compared to the AT660 at 62#.
Thanks. All good points.I think 400 w induction flouro is equal to about 600-400 hid imho.
Had friends who had indagro put a smackdown on the 600 hps with kosher kush even though hps gets 1 /5 more lumen per watt (95 vs 120)
Never ran 1000w, to much heat. Ac an sealed hood set get expensive
I decided aginst Led mainly because i like induction longevity an spectra better
100,000 hr bulb ljfe (20yrs 12/12) and 10 year warranty sold me....
Power outage making the pontoon light up would be no issue, The flower inducing chems (pfr) would Idissapear when lights return. But lights comming on in the dark is a bigger issue.
you can't use digital timers with induction and led. The battery in the timer keeps them on but dim when they are supposed to be off. Use only analog timers. Gg ran the apache several times. He only ran the inda gro once in flower with 1 gal pots and once with 3 gals. Finished them under the apache. So he may not be able to compare. It even takes 3 or 4 rounds to learn a strain let alone the learning curve with different tech.Thanks. All good points.
HID is far too hot for me as well.
My timers are on battery backup. So there would be no lights coming on when they aren't supposed to. Good to know that the pontoons coming on would not be an issue.
In my situation, I have to use cooling. And I have enough for LED or induction without problem.
So much to consider. There is only so much space. Though, I have half a mind to build a new room. Even then, a bigger room equals more cooling, more CO2 etc.
Hopefully GG will weigh in with his thoughts on this issue as well.
With the 420 in veg you can push a 5 x 5 area coverage with no problems. Therefore your 8 x 12 could get by with 4 lights. If this is where your also planning on flowering I would plan on having each light cover a 4 x 4 area and you'll want a total of 6 lights. If the budget is tight and you can't afford the pontoons just get a crop or two under your belt without them. If you just add a 2 -4 pontoons you'll appreciate the difference until you can outfit them all with pontoons.My flower room is 8' x 16' but I want to use 8' x 12'. The door is as you enter into the first 4' of unused space length wise - then the 8' x 12' area begins. How many of the 420-PAR-pontoon lights would I need to cover this area?
with pontoons 6 would be fine. Trichome production. I think IG would produce more given it has uv-a and uv-b which no led has. Its able to produce emmerson effect. More so with pontoons. Led can do that too. The 730 pfr leds at lights out are great. Alot of led growers and CMH growers are doing DIY 730 led or buying flood lights and running on a separate timer .. To do the same thing. I got rock hard buds with IG I had many setbacks. And this time too. That's because I changed up my nute regiment. Went vegan organic. I'm doing brand new strains the following batch.Thanks GG. Really appreciate your thoughts.
Glad to hear the plants are happy under IG.
Hyroot - would 6 IG's all with pontoons cover the area well, in your opinion?
I am very interested in the trichome production as a lot of what I produce will be turned into oil. Is that as good with the IG as LED?
There is so much to like with both the IG and AT.
Wrong, my LED has UV-B http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-2014-426w-FSF-Lighthouse-Hydro-ION-8-LED-Grow-light-Flower-Cree-UVB-L032-/310830320755 speak for your LEDs.with pontoons 6 would be fine. Trichome production. I think IG would produce more given it has uv-a and uv-b which no led has. Its able to produce emmerson effect. More so with pontoons. Led can do that too. The 730 pfr leds at lights out are great. Alot of led growers and CMH growers are doing DIY 730 led or buying flood lights and running on a separate timer .. To do the same thing. I got rock hard buds with IG I had many setbacks. And this time too. That's because I changed up my nute regiment. Went vegan organic. I'm doing brand new strains the following batch.
Curious, I am using digital timers, at lights out the pontoon comes on.you can't use digital timers with induction and led. The battery in the timer keeps them on but dim when they are supposed to be off. Use only analog timers.