Reflector height - proximity vs. saturation

[breaktheory]

I have an air cooled 600w - you can barely feel the heat 6-8" under the glass so I can get it really close to the canopy (small 5 plant SOG in a closet painted white)

When I have the reflector 10" from the canopy - the middle gets blasted with light but the edges of the garden don't really get a ton of light - I can raise it up to 20" or so to saturate the whole garden but I'm losing my proximity to the tops by 10" - thoughts?

thanks...

 

[Duplicate]

Would it be possible to raise the plants by stacking them on something or having a raised platform?

 

[FunkBomb]

My 600w is only about six inches from the tops of my plants. The cold weather and a small fan I thank for that. Here is a link worth reading about the physics of light:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse-square_law

-Funk

 

[supermanlives]

its always a compromise.

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

Soo my 1k's are in air cooled hoods. I normally keep it so I still cover the 4x4 but still keeping it close. I can keep them 6 inches away but I have a flat canopy and the edges lose too much light. So anywhere from 12-18 inches depending on the plants, canopy etc etc.

 

[Ursus]

im going with saturation because you're using more light evenly.

 

[IE2KS_KUSH]

Re: Reflector height - proximity vs. saturation

What about getting rid of the reflector and hanging the bulb vertically. Vert changes things a little hell I think its simpler. No worrying about lots of little things.

 

[qbert]

its always a compromise.

+1

Although, I will say 400w in a GL80 can be very close to the canopy and still light the edges well.

 

[FreezerBoy]

HID lamps throw light to the sides, very little aft and a shadow forward. As a result, even reflected light is more rectangular than square. Try a rectangular garden, say 3x4 with the lamp parallel to the short side of the grow.

The hot spot is still there but, greatly reduced. Consider a light spreader (some love them, some hate them) or a stadium setup with outlying plants sitting higher up.