Hoods: Bigfoot, Raptor, or Magnum xxxl?

[PeopleWish]

Ummmm. No.

Why would you pay that much for that when blockbusters can be had for less.

Shit, check out the list price on the raptor at PLH.

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/hydrofarm-rp6ac-raptor-inch-reflector-p-3922.html

Look at my link again there are 6 reflectors in a pack for around 30$ a piece......... Raptors/magnums exe.. Are not worth the money unless you are forced to put your bulbs behind glass for fire code reasons....or have 1 light.

Check this out:
http://www.greners.com/reflector-test.html

 

[Hold Your Fire]

Oh damn! Your right on that one bro'.
My bad, that's crazy cheap, but so are the reflectors.

In my situation, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I have to air cool. I run 1 1000w light, per 4x4 tent.

None the less, thanks for the heads up on the insanely low prices on those hoods.
I'm sure there are plenty of folks who could put that six pack to very good use!

 

[Stonefree69]

Raptor and Bigfoot are superb and also adjustable. I still went with bare bulb vertical though. If you can try to forego the glass on those as they block a good 10% of light (when clean). Your plants will also get more UV light with MH bulbs. IOW buy a mini-split heat pump/ac instead of all that ducting, fittings and holes you have to make.

 

[Zumie]

How do the Raptors compare to the Magnum XXXL on price? Any problems with them not maintaining a perfect seal over time if running with a large in-line fan?

 

[unregistered190]

In my situation, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I have to air cool. I run 1 1000w light, per 4x4 tent.
quote]

so do you run the raptor you linked a few posts ago in your 4x4 tent? thanks!

 

[Hold Your Fire]

In my situation, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I have to air cool. I run 1 1000w light, per 4x4 tent.
quote]

so do you run the raptor you linked a few posts ago in your 4x4 tent? thanks!

No.

I'm running yieldmaster 2 supreme's, and Super Sun 2's, and am looking to upgrade.

Raptor's are too big for my tent's as are the XXXL's.

Blockbusters or Radiant 's will be my choice.

 

[unregistered190]

thanks, those blockbusters look great to me

 

[HighBurn8]

No.

I'm running yieldmaster 2 supreme's, and Super Sun 2's, and am looking to upgrade.

Raptor's are too big for my tent's as are the XXXL's.

Blockbusters or Radiant 's will be my choice.

Be careful when using the Blockbuster in the tents as they generate hotspots within 16"-18" away from the bulb. Im now using an 8" xxxl hood in my 5x5 tent with No problems at all. just had to simply reinforce the crossbar on the ceiling to hold the weight. easy as pie.

 

[StickyHands]

informative thread, thanks!

Im looking into buying some hoods, and these have got my attention.
Anyone know where to see any of these in UK shops?
So far, the websites im looking at dont have these makes stocked/listed.

thanks.

 

[gratefulart]

Just to comment on all the conversation about the raptors;

I bought 2 8inch raptors used off craigslist.

They work wonders, but taking th eglass off to clean is very non-user friendly. I have to take out 8 screws, take the rim off, and then pry the pane of glass off the gasket. Def cant do it alone unless i take the whole light down. It seems like Hydrofarm would of nullified this issue from the beginning.

Does anyone know if maybe I have an older design? Has anyone bought a new raptor recently, and if so, does the glass come out more easily than I described?

Thanks guys

 

[RaNgEr RiCk]

Just to comment on all the conversation about the raptors;

I bought 2 8inch raptors used off craigslist.

They work wonders, but taking th eglass off to clean is very non-user friendly. I have to take out 8 screws, take the rim off, and then pry the pane of glass off the gasket. Def cant do it alone unless i take the whole light down. It seems like Hydrofarm would of nullified this issue from the beginning.

Does anyone know if maybe I have an older design? Has anyone bought a new raptor recently, and if so, does the glass come out more easily than I described?

Thanks guys

That was the same design that I used, and removing the glass was the only downside. Not sure if they have an updated version, although I did see the dual lamp Raptors now available at my local shops. I think the only way they could get those things to have the best seal is by making it near impossible fro you to take out the glass.

 

[SacredBreh]

tagging on

 

[Kashplant13]

From my experience, air cooled without the Glass performs better, just like bare bulb runs, fatter buds, more resin, etc. i have a 600w bare bulb in one corner and it out performs my "Air Cooled" 1000w 'Cooltube' By a big shot!

(adds a extra 12 deg with 660cfm and vented outside/attic- vs-
A 16" $20 shop fan on a bare 600w one foot away from lholding at 72* approx) -

With that in mind, my new hood i need is for my Scrogg Setup, (48"l x 36"w frame) i noticed the buds on the edges not doing as well and nowhere near as dense as the middle, which im sure im losing par/lumens through the thick plastic surrounding the bulb in the cool-tube and smaller size of reflector ..hence wanting the ability to remove glass if needed.

i now want a giant hood i can either remove the glass from to get more UV radiation to the buds and fatten them up and increase resin..or use the Tempered glass to keep lower to the canopy? Will have to try a few side by side runs to know. The Maximum Spread of light, Less hot running Hood - is the most important factors right now.
Keep in Mind, Hoods in general are the biggest factors/creators of Heat!

ive heard good and bad from the Raptors and Magnum XXXL, 1st problem being that if i want to cover the entire scrogg screen, i would need to move up to 8 inch ports and get 2x reducers/expanded to go from a 6" fan and duct to a 8 " Hood, which from what ive read 8" is the best of the 2 sizes also with lowest heat/no hotspots etc. But would it be possible to use a 6" 440cfm inline fan to cool a big 8" ported Hood? would i lose CFM? or would my 6" 440 inline cool it down since its only 1 hood/light??
Or would it be better to cool the bulb/hood by taking off the glass,and add a close mounted table fan which works great for my bare bulb (holds the bare 600kw @ 72*f constant vs - 84*f from a 'Air Cooled' Cooltube with a 220cfm inline duct-ed into it,for fresh air, and then the 440cfm that was venting hot air out into attic-with the cooltube 1kw at 20" above canopy..Way too much power used for one light!!!)
With the bare bulb,or zero hood/glass i can literally place it right next to the plants( like 1.5 ft away, and creates bigger buds and more resin) So with the Biggest coverage i can get to cover all areas of the 48 x 36 scrogg frame, plus more when light if/when i add on, just using the 4 the intake- Then Let the ambient room air (68-72* 12K BTU Window unit) if needed, cool down any fried air from the hood and bulb from the workshop table fan maybe in addition to the inline,and let the 220cfm suck it out the roof into the attaic....or if lucky- maybe not even use the inlines except for my Carbon filter.....Just Ambient Cool Air to cool it all....

so for my purpose, which Giant Reflector can you remove the glass from completely, (or should i) ....and what is the best sized and quality hood out there for the screens dimensions-> [ 48"L x 36w"] ??

im also Stuck between going from either using my 6in inline fan and ducting, and adding 6-8" duct expanders on each end of hood, and running my 6" ducting, or use the 6-8" reducer to swap from 6" ducting to 8" and use the 8" Ported Hoods vs the 6" im set up for as is, to hopefully drop heat ,increase PAR, and overall coverage seeing how the 8" hoods are bigger, have less pressure, and create more of what i need for coverage...would a 440cfm inline cool it or should i need a 8" inline>? From past experience in Natural gas/Oil lines --The Smaller the O/D (Outer Diameter)=The Higher the Pressure///The Bigger the O/D= Results in Lower Pressure, so switching to 8" ducting might be whats needed keep a slower breeze of cool air to stay cool inside the hood and hold it from getting enough contact time to even get hot.....vs rapid quicker movement of air (6") which might pass by too fast to cool the internal surface area of the big Reflector vs slower air movement having time to slowly take over hold cooler...hhmm


((PS im in the deep South so it gets hot as hell from May-ish , even worse in summer... and miserable up until october....so this needs to be done right the 2nd time))


Thanks a ton for any future help, or responses in general!!!!

 

[pezthetoker]

Kash I am a big fan of no glass, as you stated its a lot more effective. I don't think the 8 inch reflector will help you much without an 8 inch inline fan to pull it. Also with that size canopy, I beleive a 6 inch raptor or magnum will work great. I run magnum 6". Over a 48 x 48 canopy great coverage with reflective walls. Hot spot is not too bad either. I have also done very well with adjust a wings, but that does not leave you an option for air cooling. Whatever you choose just remember to make proper temperature your first priority and intense light second. Don't worry about getting your reflector too close to your plants or your overall light spread will not be as good and you can be effected by hot spots. Blockbuster would also be fantastic for those dimensions you just have to be careful about the hot spot right in the middle if not using air cooling.