pointer80
Well-Known Member
Hello all, I am trying to figure out all this lighting stuff, Am I figuring this right? You want 30 watts per square foot? So a 4x4 would require about 480 watts? Or is this not right? Thanks all
Am I figuring the wattage right?
- Thread starter pointer80
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@InTheShed please help,
I am a go with flow type of grower.
I am a go with flow type of grower.
4x4 is 16 sq feet, and 16 x 30 = 480 so if 30 is your number, 480 is your total! I've read as high as 50-60 w/sf. But how that wattage translates to usable light for the plants depends on a whole other bunch of factors including efficiency and spectrum. PPFD is the gold standard for usable light, whereas wall watts just tells you how much electricity you're consuming.
I am definitely not the guy to give advice on lighting though!
I am definitely not the guy to give advice on lighting though!
You are the number genius though, and I only know metric system.. Lol
Don't even know if 30(i asume W is correct)
Light is for others to help out with
Thank you @InTheShed for hearing my call.
Don't even know if 30(i asume W is correct)
Light is for others to help out with
Thank you @InTheShed for hearing my call.
Mars Hydro
420 Sponsor
If you are mean LED lights, then it is correct, but 30w/sft is not the best idea, usually you will want 35~50w/sft to give you best growing result.
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pointer80
Well-Known Member
oh sorry, yes I meant led. ok so a bare minimum of 30 but higher is better? Thanks.If you are mean LED lights, then it is correct, but 30w/sft is not the best idea, usually you will want 35~50w/sft to give you best growing result.
Mars Hydro
420 Sponsor
Yes, as long as not more than 50w/sft, then bigger wattage will be better.
PurpleGunRack
Well-Known Member
What type of light(s)?
Watt measures the energy that goes into the lamp, not the light that comes out
In a 4x4 you want AT LEAST 1000w HID, or 1000w blurple, or 600w high efficiency white light LED, less will of course work but it won't be optimal, and more will be better:
+1600w HID, +1200w blurple, +800w high efficiency white light LED is optimal for 4x4, if you think that sounds like a lot consider growing on a smaller area or outdoors
The rule of thumb minimum with HID and blurple is 37,5w per sq. ft., and the minimum with high efficiency white light LED is 30w per sq. ft.
I've seen/tasted many good grows in 4x4 with 600w HPS.
Watt measures the energy that goes into the lamp, not the light that comes out
In a 4x4 you want AT LEAST 1000w HID, or 1000w blurple, or 600w high efficiency white light LED, less will of course work but it won't be optimal, and more will be better:
+1600w HID, +1200w blurple, +800w high efficiency white light LED is optimal for 4x4, if you think that sounds like a lot consider growing on a smaller area or outdoors
The rule of thumb minimum with HID and blurple is 37,5w per sq. ft., and the minimum with high efficiency white light LED is 30w per sq. ft.
I've seen/tasted many good grows in 4x4 with 600w HPS.
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- #9
pointer80
Well-Known Member
So when you say 1000w blurple do you mean 600 watts at the outlet?What type of light(s)?
Watt measures the energy that goes into the lamp, not the light that comes out
In a 4x4 you want AT LEAST 1000w HID, or 1000w blurple, or 600w high efficiency white light LED, less will of course work but it won't be optimal, and more will be better:
+1600w HID, +1200w blurple, +800w high efficiency white light LED is optimal for 4x4, if you think that sounds like a lot consider growing on a smaller area or outdoors
The rule of thumb minimum with HID and blurple is 37,5w per sq. ft., and the minimum with high efficiency white light LED is 30w per sq. ft.
I've seen/tasted many good grows in 4x4 with 600w HPS.
PurpleGunRack
Well-Known Member
I have two 600w blurple's (label not draw) in my shed and they really only cover about a 3' x 3' section of it (or very well), may not be "optimal" but I have decent results, but to properly cover a 4' x 4' section I would need 3 lights.
Some pics from my grows that show the space:
So would vary on the size of plant and size of your pots, but I usually do 3 or 4 in that space. Again my not be optimal but I do ok on a budget, but haven't got to large amounts indoors yet (may be growing skill some too, hard to say as I'm still learning). A couple zips a plant and I'm happy enough, even though I could probably buy it cheaper at Dispensary now with prices here, but it has "hobby value" as I'm home all the time taking care of my wife and I know "what or if" any chemicals were used in growing it (got 4 1/2 zips off of each plant of my two outdoor ladies this year).
Some pics from my grows that show the space:
So would vary on the size of plant and size of your pots, but I usually do 3 or 4 in that space. Again my not be optimal but I do ok on a budget, but haven't got to large amounts indoors yet (may be growing skill some too, hard to say as I'm still learning). A couple zips a plant and I'm happy enough, even though I could probably buy it cheaper at Dispensary now with prices here, but it has "hobby value" as I'm home all the time taking care of my wife and I know "what or if" any chemicals were used in growing it (got 4 1/2 zips off of each plant of my two outdoor ladies this year).
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- #12
pointer80
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply, So the lights your referring to have about a 260+/- watt draw from the outlet correct? Also could you share the brand please? ThanksI have two 600w blurple's (label not draw) in my shed and they really only cover about a 3' x 3' section of it (or very well), may not be "optimal" but I have decent results, but to properly cover a 4' x 4' section I would need 3 lights.
Some pics from my grows that show the space:
So would vary on the size of plant and size of your pots, but I usually do 3 or 4 in that space. Again my not be optimal but I do ok on a budget, but haven't got to large amounts indoors yet (may be growing skill some too, hard to say as I'm still learning). A couple zips a plant and I'm happy enough, even though I could probably buy it cheaper at Dispensary now with prices here, but it has "hobby value" as I'm home all the time taking care of my wife and I know "what or if" any chemicals were used in growing it (got 4 1/2 zips off of each plant of my two outdoor ladies this year).
Not sure on the draw off top of my head as would have to find it's listing on Amazon if it still there, just some of the "El Cheapo" ones you can get on Amazon, as I didn't want to dump too much money into it at first and find out I was really good at killing plants
I will get something of better quality when I upgrade (not sure if I will stick with LED, but more than likely I will).
PurpleGunRack
Well-Known Member
You can NEVER trust the blurple labels, a 2000w lamp can draw as little as 150w, but the less dishonest brands are usually around 40-60% of the label, these are the ones that base their ''watt'' number on the maximum collective power the diodes can take.
However, it impossible and very stupid to run mono diodes at their max rating since the efficiency drops way below that of HID bulbs.
Other more shady companies make up an outragous HID equivalent, which is simply a lie.
Blurple and HID are both around 35% light and 65% heat output, now there are some differences in spectrum, spread, penetration and directionality.
But basically you have to use the same wattage blurple as you would HID, and with high efficiency white light LEDs you can take 20% off the HID/blurple wattage.
You're growing one of the most light-hungry short day plants, not cabbage
I have around 600w draw from 1332 Samsung LM561c / LM301b diodes in my 4x4 and it's very nice, but more would be nicer
And I can tell you, from experience, that 600w drawn blurple is nothing compared to 600w drawn high efficiency white light Middle Power Diodes, it's like going from 600w HPS to 1000w HPS, but better
However, it impossible and very stupid to run mono diodes at their max rating since the efficiency drops way below that of HID bulbs.
Other more shady companies make up an outragous HID equivalent, which is simply a lie.
Blurple and HID are both around 35% light and 65% heat output, now there are some differences in spectrum, spread, penetration and directionality.
But basically you have to use the same wattage blurple as you would HID, and with high efficiency white light LEDs you can take 20% off the HID/blurple wattage.
You're growing one of the most light-hungry short day plants, not cabbage
I have around 600w draw from 1332 Samsung LM561c / LM301b diodes in my 4x4 and it's very nice, but more would be nicer
And I can tell you, from experience, that 600w drawn blurple is nothing compared to 600w drawn high efficiency white light Middle Power Diodes, it's like going from 600w HPS to 1000w HPS, but better
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