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Overdrive t8 for flowering only

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Pattycake63, Jan 3, 2019.

  1. Please only those who used over driven T8 fluorescent for flowering not vegging

    I have a 2 x 4 T8 overdriven that produces 216 Watts and 19200 lumens

    216/8=27watts sq ft
    19200÷8=2400 lms sq ft

    I have a 3 inch by 8 foot 4 Lamp T8 over driven 3inx8ft equals 2 square feet with equal numbers as above

    216÷2=108 watts sq ft
    19200÷2=9600 lms sq ft

    And I have a 4 inch by 4 foot T8 over driven two tube

    108÷1.33=81 watts sq ft
    9600÷1.33=7200 lms sq ft

    Please people just people that have experience with overdriven T8 in the flowering phase only
     
  2. I do have ample experience with T8's and T5's and on both = adding extra ballasts

    I suggest you use them on vegging only as a cheapy HPS at about 250w is ample reward

    using the extra ballasts shortens the tubes by 75%

    in bud they will blow leaving you wondering why your weed is late?

    more on recent T8*and T5 here:

    4' T8 Distance from Plant?

    good luck
     
  3. Thanks I am a lighting contractor or was and I have plenty of T8 bulbs ballast different size light fixtures that's why I'm using them

    Also if you look at my numbers 2 of my 3 fixtures seem to be well over the norm for flowering in respect to wattage and lumens

    I only use those for temporary lighting has we live in a winter climate that ranges from 30 degrees to 70 degrees during the day I have multiple green houses that are not able to be heated but this weekend I'll be in the upper 60s to almost 70 plants will be in direct sunshine for those days

    I have read thousands of post that if you don't use hid you have to be one of 10 of the terms idiot stupid whatever but my question is if I'm only supplementing with t8's and using the outdoor sunshine and if my numbers on my T8 are higher than hid I'm looking for somebody that might want to explain that to me but I am looking for people that strictly grew with overdriven T8 for flowering
     
  4. Fluorescent isn’t a good flowering light. It’s got the least effect penetration of all lights so you have to keep them close. The required wattage per sf is around 80-90 watts to provide an ok flowering experience. There’s so many better options
     
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  5. Thank you for your reply. As you see my results two of my three lights provide between 81 watts per square foot to 100 watts per square foot also I am only using them as supplement in flowering when there is either no sun or too cold out when I normally put them in a greenhouse
     
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  6. Bump one time please read the statistics
     
  7. I also am a electrical contractor and a lighting contractor it seems like when I asked the question everybody just tells you how stupid you are but when we do the math and do the calculation it comes up with the same thing by overdrive them times 2 I do the same thing with my lights because I have thousands of ballast for T8 and I've rigged up a bunch of Lights by doing the calculation it's just fine but I am very particular about what you just said when the sun comes out I dragged everything outside and let the sunshine have it I have a meter but I'm not very familiar about what it really means but I've gotten very gorgeous buds hope this helps
     
  8. Bro if you know everything about lights why the fuck are you asking us. I don't believe you are an electrical or lighting contractor because if you don't know and your asking people without electrical schooling then you are full of shit.

    Like @Soil2Coco said they do ok veg wise but fucking suck in flower. You shouldn't have to worry though being a contractor in two different fields I'm sure you can afford whatever light fixture you need.
     
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  9. Most powerful grow light known to man
     

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