Need help building a light

As far as distance from plants, read your plants... It really depends on a lot of variables... Whether you start your plants under them or transplant them from a dimmer light source (like a clone/seedling light) makes a big difference... Temps, humidity, co2 levels all factor in as well... I'd just start with the lights at like 24" and see how the plants react. If they start to stretch, move the lights closer (or turn them up). If they start to show signs of light stress, move them further away (or dim them down). If they look happy, leave the lights where they are and let the plants grow up toward the lights, moving the lights up if you start to see any signs of light stress as the plants grow closer to the light. Without a light meter, this is the best way I know how to do it.

MadLeaf said:

But the veros are more efficient when run above 70-100w arent them? Im a little height restricted and I thought running in higher wattage per chip would require me to keep my lights higher above the canopy compared to more chips at less wattage, wouldn't it?

Im really confused.
@Growmau5 @Greengenes707 @REALSTYLES
Mind helping me out, based LED gods?

Click to expand...

Pfft gods.

All LEDs get more efficient the softer they are run. Better manufacturers like Bridgelux experience less of a penalty to efficiency as current increases than other manufacturers. You can even take junk leds and undercurrent them, make your own qb like setup.

Best all round idea is to run more light sources at the same wattage to improve overall efficiency. I throw 6 Vero 29c into a 1.5x2.5 footprint and run them 10 to ~45w to get all kinds of crazy numbers for testing. Heat isn't an issue running low and handled by good air circulation which is needed anyhow.

The more you put upfront into cobs being run softer for better efficiency, the quicker you can move on from lights since you will never need to replace them again. Save money by not buying fancy drivers, big heat sinks, and put it all into more cobs. A Vero 29 run under 10w doesn't even need a heat sink if there is air circulation.