Lighting configuration

coste

coste

In Bloom
Hey all,

I'm not sure if I've hung my lights in the most optimum way. So, I made some basic diagrams to illustrate what I'm talking about and a few options I'm thinking over. Figured I'd grab some input from y'all.

Right now, the center of my tent is getting ~35k lux. Right under any given light is ~37k+, depending on the particular light (QBs hit around 40K, depending how far away I hold my phone, the blurples do about 35k - 37k, also depending on distance). However, in the corners those numbers plummet. Like, ~18k. Not nearly enough for anything remarkable to be had in those regions. Here's roughly how the lights are hung right now:

Current.jpg

In addition, with this configuration, the blurple-ness of the Growstar S600s is still very apparent (not sure that can be avoided, given their nature). This got me to thinking, perhaps I need to concentrate the source of light. Or, perhaps change orientation by 45 degrees, so the the corners are more under the footprint of the lights. Here's another diagram illustrating these thoughts:

Options.jpg

You can see the options labelled A, B, and C. Am I on the right train of thought here?

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated, first time running with LEDs and the first round is doing OK, but due to other circumstances (high male/female ratio -- think like that douchey club you met your last squeeze at) I'm not going to pull numbers to write home about. Next round, I'd like to have the lights oriented better to achieve stronger results.

Thanks pH!
 
Jewels

Jewels

Tilts at Tables
The room changed proportions between diagrams.
Sounds like any one of your fixtures will produce the needed intensity. As such, every fixture has a proper distance from canopy. As a struggling fixture moves closer, the area of coverage shrinks.
Giving greater intensity begets less coverage. At some point, a fixture can only cover so much area. Has your space exhausted your light source? Like, too much room - not enough light ? Just spitball’n. It eventually becomes a ratio of light to area.
You could map out each fixtures focally comprising distance. Allow those measurements to dictate fixture and/or plant placement.

Am I talking sense ?
 
jaguarlax

jaguarlax

Tactical Gardener
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
coste said:
Hey all,

I'm not sure if I've hung my lights in the most optimum way. So, I made some basic diagrams to illustrate what I'm talking about and a few options I'm thinking over. Figured I'd grab some input from y'all.

Right now, the center of my tent is getting ~35k lux. Right under any given light is ~37k+, depending on the particular light (QBs hit around 40K, depending how far away I hold my phone, the blurples do about 35k - 37k, also depending on distance). However, in the corners those numbers plummet. Like, ~18k. Not nearly enough for anything remarkable to be had in those regions. Here's roughly how the lights are hung right now:

View attachment 17329

In addition, with this configuration, the blurple-ness of the Growstar S600s is still very apparent (not sure that can be avoided, given their nature). This got me to thinking, perhaps I need to concentrate the source of light. Or, perhaps change orientation by 45 degrees, so the the corners are more under the footprint of the lights. Here's another diagram illustrating these thoughts:

View attachment 17330

You can see the options labelled A, B, and C. Am I on the right train of thought here?

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated, first time running with LEDs and the first round is doing OK, but due to other circumstances (high male/female ratio -- think like that douchey club you met your last squeeze at) I'm not going to pull numbers to write home about. Next round, I'd like to have the lights oriented better to achieve stronger results.

Thanks pH!
Click to expand...
I alternate in a checkerboard pattern... will upload a shot during lights on in a couple hours
 
coste

coste

In Bloom
Jewels said:
The room changed proportions between diagrams.
Sounds like any one of your fixtures will produce the needed intensity. As such, every fixture has a proper distance from canopy. As a struggling fixture moves closer, the area of coverage shrinks.
Giving greater intensity begets less coverage. At some point, a fixture can only cover so much area. Has your space exhausted your light source? Like, too much room - not enough light ? Just spitball’n. It eventually becomes a ratio of light to area.
You could map out each fixtures focally comprising distance. Allow those measurements to dictate fixture and/or plant placement.
Click to expand...

No change in dimensions, I just didn't put a ton of effort into the diagrams. The tent is 4ft x 4ft x 76". I haven't exhausted the total height in my tent yet as I try to keep the lights at ~14" above the plants if at all possible. Understandably the footprint shrinks as a result, so raising them higher may be a worthwhile point for this run.

jaguarlax said:
I alternate in a checkerboard pattern... will upload a shot during lights on in a couple hours
Click to expand...

Your configuration doesn't look bad at all. What size is that particular tent? Pretty sure I'm running those same QB panels. I'll throw a pic of the actual lights in here in a bit, waiting for the ladies to wake up.
 
Photon Pharms

Photon Pharms

In Bloom
Hard to tell if that's two different arrangements in the last two shots or not. However, that first shot looks like your best approach in my opinion. Try to throw the intensity of the qb's more focused plant to plant(seems like you have plenty to come close) and then "flood" the canopy with the blurples. As I believe I see what you're doing here. Again, just my opinion and how I would probably do it, unless I'm missing something.
 
coste

coste

In Bloom
Jewels said:
Looks good to me @coste View attachment 17493
I would say the middle drawing is more productive than the bottom.
Click to expand...

In the top (first) diagram what are the arrows indicating? Based on the middle (second) diagram, I think I could probably go for pulling the lights into a tighter cluster to achieve the overlap you've illustrated. Then, raising them higher should spread the footprints a bit more, though I'm not sure if it'll have any positive impact on getting more light to the corners of the tent.

Right now, I think I'm more towards the bottom (third diagram) in terms of usable footprint. The corners are really the pain point right now, which is what I'm trying to address with adjusting the configuration. I suppose the other option is to get through this run and get a lighting setup that will completely saturate the entire footprint more effectively.
 
coste

coste

In Bloom
@Jewels here's a better top shot so you can see relation of lights to the walls. Do you think pulling them in tighter in the middle would be warranted? They're about 3" - 4" roughly from the walls right now.

IMG_20200715_145415.jpg
 
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