So I’m trying to decide if a light rail 4.0 or 3.5 (light mover) would be beneficial with this 12 plant sketch up or should i line up all 4 lights over top just the 6 plants in a row and not expand to the 12?
The lights are hlg scorpion diablos (the light hang height is not proper in the sketch up, they would be adjustable)
The sketch up dimensions are 8ft wide and 19 ft long. The light mover would move 1 light over top 3 of the plants (marked in red)
What the cost difference in ditching the rails and added 2 more lights in the center I like the idea of light rails but I do not use one. It just seems like alot of moving parts to keep up with rather then a few more hangers. Just my 2 cents which don’t get ya much
I’m not very experienced but it seems to me the light rails do limit you to plants that have similar growth patterns. Individual lights would allow greater flexibility in your grow area…perhaps?
Light rails are a thing of the past.
To maximize PPFD and limit moving parts it is more effective to cover your canopy with evenly distributed stationary lighting.
Note: “maximizing lighting” refers to offering your plants exactly as much light as they need to reach their full potential, not as much light as you can afford to give them.
I don’t think so. I’m seeing some great results! Stationary lights you dial in at around 1200 ppfd. Since the light moves back and forth i have my lights Blasting them at 3000 ppfd when the light is directly over the plant and they are healthy as a horse with zero signs of stress or bleaching. They are also packing on the weight.
With the light in motion the plant doesnt have time to suffer light damage?
Are you balancing with CO2 to allow for 3000PPFD worth of photosynthesis?
I saw light rails phase out just before LEDs phased in so the use of them with high output lighting has little to no background. I work with large scale Micro and LP grows and we just don’t see them being used.
Ive never used added co2. I’m no scientist but my theory is the light is directly over each plant 6 hours a day with 3000 ppfd so the 12 hour light period it would be half of that. It lines up closely with the stationary light that gives the plant around 1200 ppfd for 12 hours. O and I went with 8 plants instead of 12 like the rendering above.
There is only so much light that a plant can use without augmented CO2 levels, the excess light is considered a waste product and potentially a source of plant stress.
I suggest doing some research on it, but my general rule is anything above 1500ppfd requires supplemental Co2 to be effective.
Below is a graph provided by Fluence as a reference:
But my light isn’t stationary so the plant only receives that intense light output for like 30 seconds then the light moves to the next plant giving the original plant a break.
I have rails i use when 4x8 up. Very very good system. I ran it on slow. Back and forth,back and forth…lol. Energy savings are real. Coverage is superb. Worth every penny in larger tents or grow spaces. Just my thoughts.
Also consider as said only so much light can be used. That being said rails allow you to run a little less power as you arent trying to fill an area with lights wide open. Temps drop. All plants get their dli with less energy used. This is an observation from experience. Ran for couple years till pulled down the 4x8.
So here is a pic of the setup. I’ve raised the lights up since i took this pic so they are getting 2000 ppfd (for the 6 hours a day the lights are directly above each plant). 4 lights 8 plants. Would you change my light height or how much ppfd they get when it’s directly over them?
Just watch the plants. No stress on too much really. Just on not enough. 75% in flower is fine with movement. 50% worked for me in veg. HLG550R back then. Es300 lights now…better and 5x5 so no rail.
I like the idea of light rails but I do not use one. It just seems like alot of moving parts to keep up with rather then a few more hangers. Just my 2 cents which don’t get ya much 
