LIGHTING SQUARE FOOTAGE.... - Growroom Lighting - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

MsHerbalivation · 02-10-2005, 02:43 AM

Hello everyone. I'm on the search to get the most of my grow. I'm adding some lights this weekend and want to make sure I'm not wasting any money, space, time, etc.... Having said that I found this chart to figure out how big an area a certain wattage will illuminate...

AREA COVERAGE (UP TO)

1000 WATT--------8 x 8

600 WATT---------7 x 7

400 WATT---------5 x 5

250 WATT---------3 x 3

150-175 WATT----2 x 2

If this infomration is correct, If I'm growing in we'll say 3' x3' space... I really only need 250W of light for HPS instead of the 400W even though more is better. Or is it that I only need 250W of total light be it from MH or HPS combined? Is this correct or not? I'm working on a limited budget so I want to make sure I spend wisely!!!

:smile:

MsHerbalivation · 02-10-2005, 07:22 AM

H E L P........
:smile:

02-10-2005, 07:32 AM

Using 2 400w mh in 4x5, I have to suppliment with compact fluorescents...

02-10-2005, 07:44 AM

I would always err on too much light....honestly, I would even maybe consider sticking a 600 wat in there.....imho

02-10-2005, 07:52 AM

Heres a light chart from a grow book i have. Hope this helps.

The goal is to give plants 10,000 lumens

1000watt
1 ft away 140,000 lumens
2 ft away 35,000 lumens
3 ft away 15,555 lumens
4 ft away 9,999 lumens

1000w HPS @ 4 ft= 10,000 lumens
4x4= 16 square feet, 1000watts/16 square ft = 62.5 watts per square ft

600w
1 ft away 90,000 lumens
2 ft 22,500
3 ft 9,999
4ft 6,428

600w HPS @ 3 ft = 10,000 lumens
3x3= 9 square ft, 600watts/ 9 square ft = 66 watts per square ft

400w
1ft away 50,000 lumens
2ft away 12,500
3ft away 5,555
4ft away 3,571

400watt HPS @ 2.25 ft= 10,000 lumens
2x2 = 4 square ft, 400watts/ 4 square ft= 100 watts per square ft

02-10-2005, 08:11 AM

Great info DeviLock.

I'm just now setting up a new grow area. Two... 3 X 3 tables with a 600w over each.

MsH... IF you can vent it properly... go with the watts... your fruits will LOVE you for it!

02-10-2005, 08:19 AM

I have been shooting for 70+ watts per square foot of canopy.

i have (2)600w hps bulbs going in my 4x4 space (75 watts per sq.ft.) that has the 3x3 flower tray in.

I will also change out my bulbs this time, it has been 3 cycles on these.

Tex

MsHerbalivation · 02-10-2005, 03:07 PM

Thanks DeviLock... By the way, what book did you get that out of?

Hey Hillbillie, TexasKid, Maistre... Thanks for the input. For this first grow, I'm working on a very tight budget. This first grow will probably remain a CFL grow at this point. I am however looking to upgrad all my lights for my second grow!!! I just found out that a friend of mines best friend owns a hydro shop so he said he would work me a deal on some lights... :smile: :smile: :smile:

JACKBAYBEH · 02-10-2005, 04:16 PM

I was always told that you should be running at least 50 watts psf.
Especially if you were attempting to grow sativas or sat. dom hybrids.
My bloom cabinet is running @ 62.5 watts psf now. Maybe I should go higher?
Tex, could you comment on the effect it has on the finished product,
say from what I'm running now to where your running @ 75 watts psf?
I know it depends on other factors as well but, going by your set up and
the strains your running would you say that the extra 12.5 watts psf would
make for a real noticable improvement in yield and especially potency?
Just wondering if I should be thinking about adding wattage on the verge
of starting a few Haze hybrids and RM's OPT x's. Any comments would be
appreciated. :smile:

02-10-2005, 06:53 PM

I have a cabinet 18x24 or about 3 sf using a 400w hps mounted on top. I move the plants up and down and leave the light still. Yeah, I know it is silly, but having an air-cooled 400w in a c13 cabinet with 8 plants is killer. I pre-bloom my plants to be 2' tall before I put them under this cabinet. I use a veg cabinet 2x2 with 2-125w fluoros both light spectrums. When they are ready for bloom, I pre-bloom them here and move them to the bloom cabinet when they are at least 2' feet tall. All my ladies are 3' tall or better bt harvest. I grow Dp-BB and DP-WW alot and others, superskunk.. Both stretch a lot. I designed my cbinet for these strains. A 400w hps would be best with some mylar mounted on cardboard as walls to reflect the lght back into the plants for better side light.

God Luck.

Avid

02-10-2005, 02:43 AM	#1
MsHerbalivation Princess of da Fruitage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Da Dirty Derrty Posts: 388	LIGHTING SQUARE FOOTAGE.... Hello everyone. I'm on the search to get the most of my grow. I'm adding some lights this weekend and want to make sure I'm not wasting any money, space, time, etc.... Having said that I found this chart to figure out how big an area a certain wattage will illuminate... AREA COVERAGE (UP TO) 1000 WATT--------8 x 8 600 WATT---------7 x 7 400 WATT---------5 x 5 250 WATT---------3 x 3 150-175 WATT----2 x 2 If this infomration is correct, If I'm growing in we'll say 3' x3' space... I really only need 250W of light for HPS instead of the 400W even though more is better. Or is it that I only need 250W of total light be it from MH or HPS combined? Is this correct or not? I'm working on a limited budget so I want to make sure I spend wisely!!! :smile: __________________ :smile: Loving life is living it like today is your last. :smile: Sitting here looking out the window into the blue filled sky I say to myself... I love... I love.... I love.... fresh fruit. M.I.A.M.I. ~MariJane Is A Major Issue~
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02-10-2005, 07:22 AM	#2
MsHerbalivation Princess of da Fruitage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Da Dirty Derrty Posts: 388	H E L P........ :smile: __________________ :smile: Loving life is living it like today is your last. :smile: Sitting here looking out the window into the blue filled sky I say to myself... I love... I love.... I love.... fresh fruit. M.I.A.M.I. ~MariJane Is A Major Issue~
	Quote

02-10-2005, 07:32 AM	#3
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Using 2 400w mh in 4x5, I have to suppliment with compact fluorescents...
	Quote

02-10-2005, 07:44 AM	#4
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	I would always err on too much light....honestly, I would even maybe consider sticking a 600 wat in there.....imho
	Quote

02-10-2005, 07:52 AM	#5
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Heres a light chart from a grow book i have. Hope this helps. The goal is to give plants 10,000 lumens 1000watt 1 ft away 140,000 lumens 2 ft away 35,000 lumens 3 ft away 15,555 lumens 4 ft away 9,999 lumens 1000w HPS @ 4 ft= 10,000 lumens 4x4= 16 square feet, 1000watts/16 square ft = 62.5 watts per square ft 600w 1 ft away 90,000 lumens 2 ft 22,500 3 ft 9,999 4ft 6,428 600w HPS @ 3 ft = 10,000 lumens 3x3= 9 square ft, 600watts/ 9 square ft = 66 watts per square ft 400w 1ft away 50,000 lumens 2ft away 12,500 3ft away 5,555 4ft away 3,571 400watt HPS @ 2.25 ft= 10,000 lumens 2x2 = 4 square ft, 400watts/ 4 square ft= 100 watts per square ft Last edited by DeviLock; 02-10-2005 at 08:19 AM.. Reason: type o
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02-10-2005, 08:11 AM	#6
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Great info DeviLock. I'm just now setting up a new grow area. Two... 3 X 3 tables with a 600w over each. MsH... IF you can vent it properly... go with the watts... your fruits will LOVE you for it!
	Quote

02-10-2005, 08:19 AM	#7
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	I have been shooting for 70+ watts per square foot of canopy. i have (2)600w hps bulbs going in my 4x4 space (75 watts per sq.ft.) that has the 3x3 flower tray in. I will also change out my bulbs this time, it has been 3 cycles on these. Tex
	Quote

02-10-2005, 03:07 PM	#8
MsHerbalivation Princess of da Fruitage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Da Dirty Derrty Posts: 388	Thanks DeviLock... By the way, what book did you get that out of? Hey Hillbillie, TexasKid, Maistre... Thanks for the input. For this first grow, I'm working on a very tight budget. This first grow will probably remain a CFL grow at this point. I am however looking to upgrad all my lights for my second grow!!! I just found out that a friend of mines best friend owns a hydro shop so he said he would work me a deal on some lights... :smile: :smile: :smile: __________________ :smile: Loving life is living it like today is your last. :smile: Sitting here looking out the window into the blue filled sky I say to myself... I love... I love.... I love.... fresh fruit. M.I.A.M.I. ~MariJane Is A Major Issue~
	Quote

02-10-2005, 04:16 PM	#9
JACKBAYBEH Cultivation Nation Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Ville Posts: 701	I was always told that you should be running at least 50 watts psf. Especially if you were attempting to grow sativas or sat. dom hybrids. My bloom cabinet is running @ 62.5 watts psf now. Maybe I should go higher? Tex, could you comment on the effect it has on the finished product, say from what I'm running now to where your running @ 75 watts psf? I know it depends on other factors as well but, going by your set up and the strains your running would you say that the extra 12.5 watts psf would make for a real noticable improvement in yield and especially potency? Just wondering if I should be thinking about adding wattage on the verge of starting a few Haze hybrids and RM's OPT x's. Any comments would be appreciated. :smile: __________________ The fastest way to succeed is to make it appear as though you are playing by other peoples rules while quietly playing by your own.
	Quote

02-10-2005, 06:53 PM	#10
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	I have a cabinet 18x24 or about 3 sf using a 400w hps mounted on top. I move the plants up and down and leave the light still. Yeah, I know it is silly, but having an air-cooled 400w in a c13 cabinet with 8 plants is killer. I pre-bloom my plants to be 2' tall before I put them under this cabinet. I use a veg cabinet 2x2 with 2-125w fluoros both light spectrums. When they are ready for bloom, I pre-bloom them here and move them to the bloom cabinet when they are at least 2' feet tall. All my ladies are 3' tall or better bt harvest. I grow Dp-BB and DP-WW alot and others, superskunk.. Both stretch a lot. I designed my cbinet for these strains. A 400w hps would be best with some mylar mounted on cardboard as walls to reflect the lght back into the plants for better side light. God Luck. Avid
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