Hey Widowsnest! Glad you stop by! Thanks for the compliment, I was wondering how an auto would do under the 49 myself when I built the auto box and I decided to go with the epistar 80 . But you can tell me! About my hanging distance , the light sits on cabinet top , my net is about 8 inches from the top so add 1/4 inches for the vinyl and it's about it! So I would say right now my nugs are 6.5 inches to the light. No heat sign in this box. The light is making exactly for what it's makes for! I would not go bigger with this one, I like the small cabinet size and this light is just perfect for it( on reserve) up to now I like what I see from it.