So I'm currently growing 4 autos in a rdwc undercurrent system using 8qb132s at 480 watts at the wall in a 5x5 tent. Everything is going good so far but I know I'm underpowered for my sqf and wanting to upgrade. I'm thinking of adding another 8 of the qb132s at the same wattage for a total of 960watts at the wall and 16qb panels. My question is will that be too much light? 16 qbs would almost cover entire 5x5 area so I imagine it would give great coverage. Any opinions? I've added a pic of the current grow on day 32ish for reference. The plants on the left are different than the right hence the difference. Thanks Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
I grow autos in DWC in two separate tents. In a 3 ft x 3 ft tent, five 60 watt COBs were too much at 30 inches. In a 2 ft x 4 ft I bought a new HLG Rspec 320 watt light, but I've had to dim it to about 2/3 power, even during flower. My experience is that 25 watts per sq foot is enough for autos in hydro while following the VPD chart, so 625 watts might be enough. Anything over 30 watts per sq ft could reduce yield, so even 750 watts would be over-kill. Light intensity doesn't decrease very rapidly with increasing distance for grow lights (far from an inverse square law) , so don't get too much power unless the new light is dimmable.
So maybe I'd be better just adding 4 more of the qbs and another 240 watt driver. That would get me to 720 watts total and the drivers I'm using are dimmable. I do plan to grow photo period plants as well if that makes a difference. Thanks Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Dont add another 8 132s. Get hlg 96. They on sale for 69$ each. Get 4 of them and two hlg 320h 54a drivers. That will make that 5x5 pop.
In addition to my current lights or to replace them entirely? Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Keep the eight 132s and get the 4 96s. Have the lights look like this in the 5x5 _____________________ | 132 132 |1. 1 |3. 96. 96. 3 |2. 2 | 132. 132 | 132 132 |1. 1 |3. 96. 96. 3 |2. 2 | 132. 132
One 1000w hps would cover your entire 5x5 tent. Adding up to 960w of led you might as well use hid lighting.
Wouldn't that give me a wall draw of over 1100 watts including my current driver's? Just clarifying I'm understanding correctly. Thanks Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Not sure I'm following you? I thought watt for watt LEDs were more efficient and therefore a 600 watt wall draw led set-up was similar to a 1000watt hid. Thanks Maybe a better way of asking my question is. Without changing my current lights how many watts do I need to add to be comparable to the a 1000watt hid? I don't want to overkill it. I just want the ideal wattage to add to my current 480. Thanks Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
I was just saying if your pulling 960w wall draw to cover the 5x5 area, a single 1000w hps is good for a 6x6 area, and would be more then enough of the right light a flowering plant needs. I see so many setups from HID to LED just make no sense at all. Cheap LEDs require more hoods and added lights, mid LEDs work ok but not how I like, and high dollar LEDs just cost way too much for me. I'll stick to my HID lights for what small grows I do.
Ah got you. At this point as I'm already 2/3rds the way to were I need to be with what I believe are decent leds I don't think going back to hid would be worth it. I actually had a 1000 hid prev in a 4x4 prior to switching to the leds in 2 2x4 tents. It's a long story but I ended up with a new 5x5 tent without considering how many sqf that extra 12 inches made. I guess I could just go back to a 4x4 tent too. Thanks Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Grasscity Forum mobile app