6" Reflector Battle: Cool Tube vs Easy Cool

[indoor organic]

In the red corner we have the 6" Cool Tube, in the blue corner we have a 6" Easy Cool reflector.

6" Cool Tube

6" Easy Cool


DING! DING! DING!!!




Okay whats really going on here is im trying to compare all the aspects of these 2 reflectors, footprint, reflectivity, cooling capabilities, dimensions, etc.

If you have any information on either of these 2 products please post it in this thread as im trying to decide which reflector to go with, thanks to everyone who helps.

 

[sunnydog]

I like tubes.

 

[clowntown]

Next time, try the Equipment forum.

For now... I like anything but Cool Tubes for flat gardens in general... and this seems to be no exception. Depends on your wattage, too.

So far I'm loving these SuperSun 2's (per pico's recommendation / research) for my 1000w's. Gonna look into replacing my Daystar AC's in the future with SuperSun 2's probably, they're just much better designed and built hoods. Seems I can get 'em about 1 - 1.5ft from the tops and pretty fairly cover a 4x4 space.

Daystar AC on left row, SuperSun 2 on right row. Look at the far back poly "wall"; notice the trapezoid pattern reflected showing the footprint shape / size.



Seems the Daystar AC has a slightly more "diffused" output than the Super Sun 2's, and most obviously / likely attributed due to the smooth, diffused reflective insert on the Daystar's vs the specular pebbled surface on the SS2's. To be honest I don't know what's really good for the plants, but come closer to harvest I'll see what's up.



Exact same ballasts, same lot, purchased at the same time, utilized the same amount of hours; exact same bulbs, same lot, purchased at the same time and utilized the same amount of hours.

 

[Raoul]

I have the easycool and like it. The only difference between the super sun 2 and the easy cool are the dimensions and way the glass attaches to the hood. The SS2 comes with a lamp socket also. The easy cool is more square and the ss2 more rectangular. Both are about the same price. The easycool is about 10 lbs lighter.

http://www.botanical.com/hydro/lightsys/reflector/super_sun2.html
http://www.nehydro.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=464

 

[sunnydog]

Next time, try the Equipment forum.

For now... I like anything but Cool Tubes for flat gardens in general... and this seems to be no exception. Depends on your wattage, too.

So far I'm loving these SuperSun 2's (per pico's recommendation / research) for my 1000w's. Gonna look into replacing my Daystar AC's in the future with SuperSun 2's probably, they're just much better designed and built hoods. Seems I can get 'em about 1 - 1.5ft from the tops and pretty fairly cover a 4x4 space.

Daystar AC on left row, SuperSun 2 on right row. Look at the far back poly "wall"; notice the trapezoid pattern reflected showing the footprint shape / size.



Seems the Daystar AC has a slightly more "diffused" output than the Super Sun 2's, and most obviously / likely attributed due to the smooth, diffused reflective insert on the Daystar's vs the specular pebbled surface on the SS2's. To be honest I don't know what's really good for the plants, but come closer to harvest I'll see what's up.



Exact same ballasts, same lot, purchased at the same time, utilized the same amount of hours; exact same bulbs, same lot, purchased at the same time and utilized the same amount of hours.

Hey CT, Why don't you like tubes?

 

[indoor organic]

Next time, try the Equipment forum.

For now... I like anything but Cool Tubes for flat gardens in general... and this seems to be no exception. Depends on your wattage, too.

So far I'm loving these SuperSun 2's (per pico's recommendation / research) for my 1000w's. Gonna look into replacing my Daystar AC's in the future with SuperSun 2's probably, they're just much better designed and built hoods. Seems I can get 'em about 1 - 1.5ft from the tops and pretty fairly cover a 4x4 space.

Daystar AC on left row, SuperSun 2 on right row. Look at the far back poly "wall"; notice the trapezoid pattern reflected showing the footprint shape / size.



Seems the Daystar AC has a slightly more "diffused" output than the Super Sun 2's, and most obviously / likely attributed due to the smooth, diffused reflective insert on the Daystar's vs the specular pebbled surface on the SS2's. To be honest I don't know what's really good for the plants, but come closer to harvest I'll see what's up.



Exact same ballasts, same lot, purchased at the same time, utilized the same amount of hours; exact same bulbs, same lot, purchased at the same time and utilized the same amount of hours.

thanks for the info ct, i wasnt even aware there was an equipment forum(ive been stuck lurking in the growers section for the last few months on a few diff sites) yes why dont you like the easy cools? my grow is going to be in a closet w/ most likely a 600w possibly a 1kw depending on a few factors.


btw ive been follwing your grows, just dont like posting in em cause it seems like theres a hater for everyone in your threads. people must be jealous of what you got going on in your garden. nice work and thanks for all the info youve given to us.

 

[clowntown]

The reason I dislike Cool Tubes, in general, is that they throw out a poor quality footprint.

The reason I dislike the EasyCool, from what I can gather of it (and experience using, as well as seeing in action, a few other reflectors) is that it lacks a few features that some better reflectors have. Here's a list of things I can see right away:

• No restrike bend ("V" bend at the top)
• No reflective insert / material (besides white painted, flat surface) at the ends; another indication of a cost-cutting measure, makes it cheaper to produce
• Flat, rather than tapered ends. With multiple hoods, this adds extra unwanted turbulence and decreases total air velocity / movement volume
• Not so easy glass removal

Again, those are the shortcomings I see right away w/o even having tested the reflector. The $120 price-tag isn't attractive, either, as I know there are nicer hoods to be had for less, or much nicer hoods to be had for only a slight bit more.

Pictured below are the SuperSun 2's and a Daystar AC; SS2 is my current favorite (and at $90, cheaper than the EasyCool... although I can't guarantee everyone can find them for this price)



When I first got into air-cooled hoods, I thought hoods were hoods and that a bowl of metal can't possibly vary that much in performance... boy was I wrong. "Double hulled" reflectors such as Daystar AC, SuperSun 2 (and most others, including possibly this EasyCool) perform a little bit better in terms of amount of radiant heat escaped, compared to models such as the EconoCool which is basically a pebbled aluminum sheet that's been formed into an air-cooled reflector.

This is the EconoCool (the first air-cooled reflector I bought):

 

[Raoul]

Good thread right here. All of a sudden I will be ordering a few SS2's for my 600s.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=51325&highlight=cool+sun+reflector

 

[sunnydog]

I haven't given this stuff much thought lately, as I've been bittten by the verticle bug, thats why I'm into tubes.

 

[indoor organic]

Good thread right here. All of a sudden I will be ordering a few SS2's for my 600s.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=51325&highlight=cool+sun+reflector

haha i read that a few days ago and yea, im sold on the SS2's also

 

[ooga booga]

I just replaced another Daystar AC with a SuperSun 2. I'm still undecided / unsure on which one performs better, but the SS2's are built a little better IMO. They're also cheaper.

 

[zingablack]

i think it depends mostly on the enviroment your growing in that decides what light will work best.

 

[Guest]

IMHO Supersun II's are the best hoods. Pico did some tests about lightspread with a meter a while back and the SS2 was the winner as I recall.

 

[charlesweedmore]

tubes are not good,i will upgrade my hood to sun system 2 soon.

 

[Maj.PotHead]

tubes are not good,i will upgrade my hood to sun system 2 soon.

seing this old thread was dug up lol

i use both cooltube with 400w hps and 6inch super sun 6inch sealed hood w/400w mh it opens on a hinge downwards. and has a nice rubber gasket for the seal tubes are great esp with the bat wing refelctors. mine run side by side bulbs maybe 10inch apart. with these 2 lights i run approx 80w per sqft in flower

 

[lysol]

And?? which one is better?

 

[charlesweedmore]

pothead, could you post some pics ?
i grow 7 plants and one of them is great because it is under the cooltube. other 6 plants are corners or edges of the tent arent good and fat because they cannot get propery light. i tried to put 4 X 60W cfl bulbs on the corners of tent . tent was brighter but it didnt work ,too.