Built a custom lighting controller for 48 lights/ballasts that has several time cycle programmed into a PLC. The PLC controls 6 different time settings that vary the number of ballasts/lights on in 18/6 or 12/12. Also controls a cascade from 12/12 to 10ON/14OFF, the last week.
When a group of lights shuts off, it does with programmed delays of 1 minute, total of 4 minute intervals, as 4 more lights turn on in 1 minute delays. The lights overlap being on so it gets to be a lightshow seeing all the random lighting patterns with so many possibilities. The last 2 weeks you can use half the lights and segue between the off and on ones.
Iv been wanting to add supplemental light ing for few hours.a day to mimic noon till basically adding few 4foot floro bars on the sides of the plants. Like 4 hours jjust 400 watt hps then 4 hours later have the bars light up the sides for 4 hours and back to the 400 hps solo.. Figure were tryin to play mother nature so it should in theory work great just cant figure where to mount the bars at... So same idea ur talkin about just opposite i wana add the light but good to read i wasnt the only person thinking it...
Been thinking along these lines, but mechanically, as I grow for personal use.
I have an 8 bulb HOT5 (wish I had 2 @ 4 bulb, or 4 @ 2 bulb) For this grow, in early veg I used 2 bulbs, as the plants strengthened I added 2 more, up to 8 for first couple weeks of budding, then back down