1. Help Us Improve the Grasscity Growing Journal!

    We're rebuilding the Growing Journal feature and want your input. What tools or features should we add? What other platforms do you use and love?

    Click here to share your feedback!
    Dismiss Notice

Side Lighting Question

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by cshood45, Sep 12, 2018.

  1. #1 cshood45, Sep 12, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
    Hey guys! I currently have a grow in a 4x5 closet with a 150W HPS above a single plant (plus a smaller companion plant), and am using 3 clamp lights with splitters and 12 CFL bulbs equaling 314 true watts (not counting the 150W HPS) for the current side lighting. The plant is a week into flower. She is healthy and loving the lighting.

    I am considering cleaning up the grow room a bit for next grow by swapping out the clamp lights for something more closet friendly. Currently the clamp lights are mounted to some wire racks that I have zip-tied to my existing closet shelves. I can move them around pretty easily and it functions, but it is a big eyesore!

    I'm looking for suggestions for replacing the side lights ONLY. I'm going to be growing 1-2 plants at a time, and I know my 150W HPS limits.

    I've seen the smaller full spectrum LED grow light bars that daisy-chain together. How do those work compared to CFLs?

    Also, how about the smaller cheap 150W/300W LED grow lights? I figured since I'm not using them as my main light, they may have enough power for side lighting. Your thoughts please!

    I could mount either of those options vertically and make it look a lot cleaner than clamp lights.

    My budget isn't very high. Could I use anything besides clamp lights with CFLs and get the same or better results?

    Should I just wait until I get a tent setup a few months from now?

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Grasscity Forum mobile app
     
  2. #2 cshood45, Sep 15, 2018
    I guess nobody has experience with side lighting?

    I made some changes and it's looking better, but still open to ideas.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Grasscity Forum mobile app
     
  3. #3 Soil2Coco, Sep 15, 2018
    If you train your plants, side lighting isn’t needed.

    This plant is 14 weeks old and only 10” tall. But it’s 48” wide

    D2E273E0-C300-4B65-BDF4-29406ADAD600.jpeg

    Her sister, vegged for 9 weeks and already a month into flower

    1538E895-9323-450E-9CFA-D58E1438E22E.jpeg
     
  4. #4 4ala2sk0a, Sep 18, 2018
    Hey buddy, I understand where your at and the 150 watt sodiums do wonders next to fluorescents...

    But straight up you should just buy a 400 watt sodium. If your determined to not use a 400 watt HID, buy a 250 at least.

    In fact, 150 extra watts in led bulbs with the globes ripped off would smoke the CFL and sodium.

    A average 5 watt led bulb puts out as much as a 54 watt T5 in a 6 inch area 6 inches away. If that makes sense
     
  5. #5 cshood45, Sep 18, 2018
    I actually just scored some grow equipment for $40!

    1000W Sunleaves MH/HPS 2-way ballast with Sunleaves OptiLume 1000W MH and HPS bulbs

    Sunlight Supply 400W MH ballast

    Sunlight Supply Sun System shroud that is air cooled and has a bracket that allows me to adjust the light socket for different bulb lengths.

    SunMaster 400W Warm Deluxe MH bulb. This bulb is rated at 38,000 lumens and has more orange/red spectrum, he used this bulb for flowering with great success.

    I tested everything out and it all works. I replaced my 150W HPS setup with the 400W MH setup. I might grab an HPS conversion bulb, but the current MH is rated for flowering as well. I would've used the 1000W HPS, but it would be overkill for 1 plant with the current ventilation.

    He also tossed in a co2 regulator kit and Greg Green's Cannabis Grow Bible. Not bad for $40, right?!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1

Share This Page