150w distance from plant

[lefthanded roll]

been using cfls, jst got 150w hps whats the proper distance from plants?? need help

 

[catman]

Do you have any pictures of your plants? Hold old are they? How many nodes do they have?

 

[querkle]

i had glass on my 150 and got it about 2 to 3 inches from the glass

 

[lefthanded roll]

srry no pics, but they just showd sex all femals range in size 5ins -8ins

 

[guineapig]

One handy trick is to hold the back of your hand underneath the HPS bulb......slowly move the back of your hand upwards......when you feel that the heat on the back of your hand is "too hot," then you have reached the point where the tops of the plants should not grow past.......

Make sure you keep an eye on the tops of your plants just in case the heat from your HPS bulb starts to cook them......sometimes these new-fangled reflectors can create "hot spots" which concentrate light like a magnifing glass, and you will notice that certain small sections of your canopy are burnt up.....if you want to keep the reflector, there is a "light spreader" product that will dramatically reduce hot spots and help even out your light pattern......(i'll post info about the "super spreader" at the end of my rant)....

Good luck and happy growing!!!!

kind regards from guineapig

addendum:



Super Spreader information:

The design of the Super-Spreader® is based on logic and simplicity. All horizontal reflectors create an over hot, over bright spot directly beneath the lamp. The Super-Spreader® spreads the excess light and heat proportionally to all areas of the grow room (especially the corners and edges which are often underlit). This creates even light and more harmonious growing conditions throughout the entire grow room.

NOTE: By attaching the Super-Spreader® accessory, the Adjust-A-Wings® performance may be enhanced significantly.

Adjust-A-Wings® fitted with Super-Spreader® can be lowered to an unprecedented (10”-12” from growing plants to produce awesome growing power while maintaining maximum area coverage and minimum heat build up. Yield increases of up to 50% are not uncommon with proper use of this truly outstanding product.

kind regards from guineapig

 

[djbenzo]

mines like ten inches away but mine gets pretty hot since the ballast is built in the fixture, enclosed with no venting

 

[lefthanded roll]

thanks for the info

 

[Rob547]

I try to keep mine about 4-6" away. There's a chart thing around here somewhere that shows the....diffusion of light as the bulb gets further away from the plants. I know thats not too helpful but it does exist

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/uploads/1063931-Foot-Candle%2520Chart%2520HPS%2520New%2520Done.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forums.cannabisculture.com/forums/ubbthreads.php%3Fubb%3Dshowflat%26Number%3D1225062&usg=__4t9ZBjDr5f65M8fXIMoWloDjdoU=&h=721&w=559&sz=150&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=TWAhKrL10K4PEM:&tbnh=140&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3DHPS%2Blumen%2Bchart%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-USfficial%26sa%3DG\

google ftw

 

[IndianHay]

For 150w is worth to buy some mini cool tube, then the plants can touch the glass...

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

something almost as important as distance is the heat cap around the bulb/fixture. a bulb in a cool tube or behind glass may not alone allow a plant to grow close to the bulb. vent as much of this heat as possible and hardened plants can grow very close to the tube, almost touching. plenty of growers do a 150 without glass, just put a pc fan on it. probably does just as good as glass. a well placed and proper size exhaust is BIG.

 

[itsaplant]

the heat on yer hand will tell you

 

[Reefire]

well its been tried 4-5" and toasted a few of the leaves. now its keep about 7+ inches above

 

[Reefire]

you just gotta experiment and find out how your lettuce reacts