Grow Lights running hot

Grow Support
1

I know this is a taboo thing to ask, but what kind of lights do you suggest at this point in your experience?

For example I have a couple 100W spider farmer lights. I do not recommend them. Run hot, low PPFD. Spend the extra dough for something better.

I also have Vipar Spectra 240W and Vipar Spectra 150W ( with the lens). The 240W runs hot anything over 50%. Works well though, just runs hot. Good PPFD. The 150W has a great spread of PPFD and runs warm. Perfect for a 2x2 tent in my opinion for veg or flower.

Personally I aim for value lights, as you can tell. From what I understand after reading around 250W of decent light per plant for flowering would be advised.

What I look for is the even spread, say in a 4x4 tent during flower, you want as much of the tent to have 1000 PPFD as possible. For me, (2) 240W Viparspectra does that well enough but doesn’t get around the sides all that great, then there is the heat from them.

I was thinking maybe (1) 1000W dimmable light would work well in a 4x4 tent to achieve the best possible light spread and PPFD. With the dimmer, it could be adjusted for what’s going on.

Is that overkill? For the plants in flowering even at 1200PPFD in the center, the outside edges are not getting that kind of reading. The plant itself seems to reach for the light even at 12".

The 100W spider farmer lights, even right up against the plant it’s like the thing is under a 5W bulb compared to the Vipar spectra dimmed to about 100W.

I want a one and done light, one that will cover 4x4 for flower and veg, providing the dimmer allows me to adjust it from seedling to flower- without the immense heat. It seems to me most of the budget lights do well at about 50%/75% settings without crazy heat output. Based on that If I oversize the light a bit and get what I need at most at 50%/75% of it’s stated wattage, it should run cooler.

Of course I am sure there are better light brands that typically run cool while providing the PPFD.

Any recommendations on light brands, or insight on my thinking?

2

Value lights are going to run hotter because they are built with inefficient diodes. Look for lights built with LM301 diodes for cooler running lights.

1,000 watt lights don’t really exist in the hobby market. Lights that claim to be 1,000 watts are either a very high end, very expensive light ($1,000+) or the seller is lying. Lying among light manufacturers is unfortunately very common. Insist on lights built with Samsung LM301 diodes to avoid the scams.

HLG and AC Infinity have good options. I would want a minimum of 600 watts in a 4x4.

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I second HLG. I also have a Kind brand light that works very well.

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This is a perfectly legitimate question that comes up frequently. Ask away…

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The Spider farmer lights I have claim to have these, these are the 100W lights that work the least for me and also seem the most dim so I just assumed maybe the most efficient wasn’t the best.

Thank you, what would you consider ideal in the same space?

I will check them out, I haven’t really heard of them.

Thank you, I have read quite a bit into it, mixing old and new models makes it difficult. Just looking for a fine “medium” or if I should just find a way to cool the less efficient lights.

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Spider Farmer lights are okay, but 100w is underpowered even for just 1 plant.

I run each of my plants at 1,100 PPFD. I don’t know what correlates in terms of lighting a 4x4.

HLG (Horticulture Lighting Group) is the gold standard in the industry.

The lights being “hot” may just be a perception issue. Lights are going to run somewhat hot and the heat coming from light’s power supply is alarmingly hot for those that aren’t familiar with the heat these devices can put out. They consume a lot of current and it’s going to generate heat as well as light. High-efficiency lighting will minimize the heat.

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Might want to check out @Low thread for lighting also. Tons of good info.

https://ilgmforum.com/t/low-s-light-thread-comparisons-coverage-diodes-warranty-price/100293?u=bigb2

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Is this the center or near center only, or the entire canopy?

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I don’t get that precise. I take a measurement a couple of places across the canopy and leave it at that.

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most of us that measure ppfd report a rough estimate of the average across the canopy.

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For me I am measuring about 1000-1200 in the center of the plant, as I go around the sides it drops to about 400. I keep the light away/dimmed to keep the center at 1000-1200 as to not damage the plant. Is that right or can I increase that until it’s a bit higher across the whole thing, even if the center runs higher?

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PPFD levels naturally drop off at the edges. I’ve never considered it to be a problem. You can get fancy with side lighting if you wish, but most growers won’t go to that extent. It’s just a hobby grow and I don’t worry about it that much.

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What you are looking for is achievable by a bar light that fits your tent like a glove.

You can increase average ppfd across the canopy by upping the wattage and raising the light. Small increments and measurements at a time. More wattage=More coverage over a distance, the closer you are the more drop off you have because the light is more direct, and doesn’t have enough distance to spread.

Edit
If you are looking for supreme coverage go for at least 800 watt bar light for the 4x4. The tighter it fits to the walls, the better. I doubt you will get it to 100% power but you will have that coverage you desire.

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It looks like these would fit this description:

AC Infinity IONFRAME EVO8 or the 10 for 1000W

Is it common to have that kind of coverage? From MidwestGuys Response it sounds like maybe I am paying too much attention to detail. My main goal is to give the plant(s) everything they desire to grow and flourish. I’d like the buds to be tighter/denser and not have to deal with a bajillion little fluffy things. I feel a combination of things, including training and the light would fix this.

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Good lighting is the main factor for dense flowers. It is why I run my plants at such a high PPFD.

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Exactly this. A lot of work goes into the details. Lighting is definitely one of the biggest players when it comes to density. If you want guaranteed coverage it’s the way to go. And always get the biggest fixture you can cram in there. Coverage won’t be an issue. You’ll run at a dim so you get more life out of it. This also helps in your goal of no more looking and wondering. The light you have picked out there is awesome, and it also has the top diodes on the market. As far as diodes go, there’s not much more they can do with them right now so it would be a great purchase, and could last you many years.

Edit
The 800 or the 1000 would be good. If you think you may see yourself wanting to go to a 5x5 tent in the future, the thousand would cover that tent really well also.

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17

Check out the HLG Tomahawk light. Its perfect for a 4Ă—4-5Ă—5 tent if you want to hang it lower to the canopy.

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I use the vivosun vsfd 6500 4 by4 full spectrum and love it. I just got some magnetic ionbeam s16 for side lighting. Can’t wait to get this next grow rollin.

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As long as the numbers hit your targets that’s what matters. :call_me_hand:t3:

I use 2 800 watt fixtures haven’t gotten further than 60% power

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IMG_73391512Ă—2016 927 KB

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Their newer line is absolutely high quality. I bought the 4x4 KS5000 500w and that thing will flower nine plants with no problem

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