Air cooled reflector testing with Digital footcandle meter

[DonkDBZ]

Just out of curiosity why do people not like the wider hoods ... they are not as intense overall in the center, but isn't the light distribution more even overall better so you can have a more even canopy and the light lower, or are they just that much harder to air cool.

I grow over 4x4 tables, do you think the results would differ when considering a larger footprint with bigger bulbs

Typical wide hood. Kinda like the Sun System XXL, and the cool sun 6 inch that pico tested

I seem to like them better than the Daystars AC's ... are the SS2's that much better than the daystar's? they seem to me to be a similar design

The cool sun 6 inch wasn't that much less and I'm sure some of the wider hoods might be more reflective?
pico's #'s with the 3x3 and 600watt


Pico are you going to do the 1000W tests with the larger footprint?

I just bought the SS2 and the Footprint is just as good as my hood that is wider. All you have to do is look at the shadow on the wall to see. I would prefer my hood as small as possible makes it easier to move and mess around with.

I bought the IR blocking cover for the SS2. That thing is no joke with my 1000 watt MH the cover is cool to the touch.

 

[Pirate]

Questions.

Does the testing say that the SS2s are appropriate for a 3 x 3 tray? (600 watts HPS)

Does it put out a square pattern?

What would the minimum height be for total coverage? (like 18inches over tops or ??)

I need to buy 6 hoods and don't want to waste my money on crap. What is the suggestion for 3 x 3 trays of not the SS2. (600 watts)

Thanks in advance !!

 

[pico]

Jesus Christ, read the thread, my tests are all done with 600w over 3x3 area.

Short answer is yes, ss2 is badass for 3x3.

 

[kaljukajakas]

If anyone's looking for a cheap light meter then here's a digital one for less than 24$ with free shipping:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20170

Just got mine and it seems pretty decent quality.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

Not to bust on Pico's testing but he didnt test a Hydrofarm Radiant 6. I just did and the Radiant 6 smoked the SS2

Test parameters.

Hydrofarm Radiant 6 hood
SuperSun 2 Hood
Lux light gauge
48"x46" test area (that was the size drywall I had laying around)
Gridded every 12" except the short 46" side
Brand new out of the box 1000W MH bulb Hortilux
Brand new out of the box ballast
18" from test area, to bottom of hood

I tested the Radiant 6 first and let it warm up for 30 minutes, then pulled all my numbers. Then let it cool down, and installed the SS2 and let it warm up for about 45 minutes, maybe longer, I got distracted.

On almost every point, the Radiant was 10-20% higher then the SS2. There were 5 exterior points where the SS2 did a little better than the radiant but those numbers were real low anyway.


The only thing that would skew the results is the bulb and ballast. DO you think its possible the bulb being brand spanking new out of the box, was much brighter in its first run?


I can post the numbers but they wont mean diddly to the numbers here as I used a 1000 MH, different bulb, ballast etc.



But I can tell you the SS2 is getting the bench and the radiant 6"s are going in for sure.

 

[sparkjumper]

I dont see how it would lose lumens in its first run.Try the SS2 first and then the radiant and see if you get the same results

 

[Pirate]

Jesus Christ, read the thread, my tests are all done with 600w over 3x3 area.

Short answer is yes, ss2 is badass for 3x3.

Well thanks for the short answer.........and I did read the thread !! But like most threads.........to many opinions going on. I was looking for some clarification.

Hey......I got an idea...........post all your FINAL results (with hood ratings) in one location at the beginning of the thread to save 32 pages of reading.

I appreciate your hard work Pico !!

 

[doubledotdank]

it was easier to filter threads before, there was a button for it....now u have to search the targets name under advanced search in the thread....spool down pico....pirate is good shit...that being said....good thread pico...thanks for your research...very helpful.

 

[pico]

pirate- I knew that was going to be taken the wrong way, yet for some reason I posted anyways. Sorry if I busted your chops, was meant in the best way possible. The reason I said that is because the FIRST post clearly states this is done on a 3x3 grid with 600w lamps. So no need to read even past the first page. Almost all the results are in the first 2 pages, but I agree a dumbed down lay it on the line easy to look at first post comparison is a good idea.



yamaha- The reason I tested on old bulbs was because they are supposed to be more stable. New bulbs I hear can vary a bit. See if you can find an old bulb lying around and test with that. Also, test at 24" as well and show us all the numbers.

Hey, I will be just as happy as anyone else if there is a reflector that is better at getting the light to the canopy. I have no affiliation to sun systems and make no money from them being sold. I obviously put a lot of time and money in to testing the numerous reflectors I could find, and there are plenty more out there to be tested. So if you test again with a stable bulb and at some more heights and post your results, I will be stoked to see the reigning champ pushed aside.

 

[Pirate]

I appreciate the clarification.

The internet is like phone texting.........You don't have a face to read when someones talking.

No offense !!

 

[smokadepep]

how close to the tops can you get the super sun 1, while still maintaining a 4x4 spread??

 

[pico]

I didn't test over a 4x4, but I would guess that it would be around 18"-24" for optimal distribution.

 

[smokadepep]

so for a wide spread canopy like a 4x4 should i use a bigger grow hood like the cool sun, so i can get my 600watter closer???

 

[pico]

No. Go back to the first couple pages and do some reading.

 

[stoney419]

I use the super 2 sun 2 on a full 4x8 with canapy a mover because of poco's test and do great thank you pico if u ever need any help from me just ask

 

[boston]

good read

thanks for all the work wish i would have read it a few weeks ago

 

[Gunnarguchi]

If anyone's looking for a cheap light meter then here's a digital one for less than 24$ with free shipping:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20170

Just got mine and it seems pretty decent quality.

notice that this model is an 50.000 lux max
i just bought one that takes 200.000 max at a little less than 25 Euro on ebay

Pico
do you have any pictures of those 2batwings your testing on page 8?

most ppl in europe uses the standard reflector dutch Barn og Euro Wing models

i think getting ducting and all for an aircooled system would be both to big work and expenses atm but might try it later
but for now the grow room im building has bad insulation so no need to move hot air out
i was thinking though to get some Adjust A Wing batwings as they are suppose to be better then the standard reflector but of course also more expensive

AAW

similar batwing reflector

if you where to get an aircooled unit later i might look into this one as its one of the cheap models available at the shops i normally purchase grow gear
Coolshade 125 mm, 5 inch ducting

many ppl says this one is very good
Diamond reflector

any one did some testing lumens on those or have experience on any of them?

i just bought a light measure meter on ebay and might do some measuring later but for now im relying on those already made

it measures in lux instead of foot candle
any one knows the difference between the 2?

the batwings, coolshade and diamond reflectors cost 5-6x as much as the standard reflector so it would be nice to see how much better they perform and if they are worth the extra cost?

btw
how long did ppl let the bulbs run for each time before conducting the tests?
can a brand new bulb be used for testing or does it have a burn in period before its reliable
and if so how long is that?

 

[Gunnarguchi]

i just recieved a digital light meter model lx 1330b( 200 k lumen max) that i bought on ebay for 25 euro incl shipping

ill find some place to make accurate and a like readings
than i have a shit load of 400 watt bulbs i can measure and do comparisons with

reflectors currently:
Open standard model ( eurowing/dutch barn)
and some phillip gh lamps with built in hood
later ill buy a batwing also when i get more money

bulbs:
a osram planta star - used for a few months
ge localox hps - brand new
osram mh -brand new
20 x phillips son t pia - used for unknown length of time ( came with used gh lamps)

i also have 250 watt both metal halide and hps and a 125 watt cfl to compare with also

 

[GMT]

Hi Pico, I've only just found this thread, you've clearly put loads of work into this and its a great thread, though I must admit I didn't read it all. From your numbers though, the theory of "double the distance and divide the intensity by 4" doesn't seem to hold true. Can you comment on this at all? Have you done any tests to measure the intensity at say 6" from the glass to the floor compared to 12"? Or any double the distance measurements? I dont use cool tubes or even much ventilation at all, prefering to run a quieter cab with more distance between the bulb and the plant tops to deal with heat. I figured it was costing me quite a lot of usable light but am still happy with my results (normally lol). Just wondering quite how much light it is costing me, and your thread seems the only one actually testing this sort of thing.

 

[pico]

I think what you are refering to is the inverse square law. It isn't really double the distance = 1/4 the light. Although that does work for 1 foot to 2 foot.

The inverse square law is described here very well. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/isql.html

basically, if you consider 1 foot full strength, then 2 feet would be 1/4, 3 feet would be 1/9, 4 feet would be 1/16.....1/16 of the intensity at 1 foot that is.

Now this still applies to our lights, but the numbers will be a bit skewed for us because of the reflectors we are using. The inverse square law is based on a point source, and doesn't factor in a reflector directing more light to certain areas and all that. I still think it should be somewhat accurate. I didn't do any testing at 1 foot and at 2 foot, and at 3 feet, so we can't do an easy comparison there.