Light intensity meter readings ?!

[Kindman69]

I was wondering if any of you guys have a light intensity meter and would be willing to share what your readings are at 12" & 24" from a 600hps

Mine reads 5000+ lumen at 12 inches and 3500 lumen at 24". x-tra sun hood and glass.

Kindman

 

[Lazyman]

Well, I'm afraid I have never used a 600W, but I can post some reference numbers for 1000W bulbs:

Quantum digital ballast, Xtrasun 6" AC hood, no glass, 24" from NEW Eye Super HPS bulb: 6500 Foot candles

Quantum digital ballast, Xtrasun 6" AC hood, no glass, 24" from NEW Eye Super MH bulb: 5500 Foot candles

Sun Systems analog Ballast, Xtrasun 6" AC hood, no glass, 24" from NEW Eye Super HPS bulb: 5500 Foot candles

Sun Systems analog Ballast, Xtrasun 6" AC hood, no glass, 24" from NEW Eye MH bulb: 4500 Foot candles

All are on 240V, same timer/circuit. You can see how the analog ballast loses about 10% of light vs the digital, and the same drop going from HPS to MH.

Hope that helps someone! Good luck Kindman69

 

[*mistress*]

in fiction, bare bulb 1k's @ 2-6" away from bulb.

600 not over 6" away from plant.

will reach light saturation (~300 par watts) @ closer distance, when full spectrum lacking.

get plants as close as possible to light, and have lots of air flow.

there is thread here on icmag w/ link to how to make light meter.

 

[Lazyman]

run bare bulb 1k's @ 2-6" away from bulb.

would never run a 600 over 6" away from plant.

will reach light saturation (~300 par watts) @ closer distance, when full spectrum lacking.

get plants as close as possible to light, and have lots of air flow.

there is thread here on icmag w/ link to how to make light meter.

I've been running 1000 watt bulbs for 7 years now, and NO WAY can you put a plant 2-6" away from them without scorching, or at least heavy bleaching, and that's in an air-cooled hood with glass.

 

[Kindman69]

Good info guys, keep it coming!

 

[sparkjumper]

Good info lazyman,you aint lazy about posting info are you.And yes being a 1K horty man for years I would say having a 1K at 2" from the canopy sounds like an excellent way to have baked spinach for supper.I run vertizontals which are non-cooled parabolics and I like to get them around 12 inches or so above canopy.mistress get a lazer thermometer and check out the temps of your plant tops you could probably fry an egg on them.Hey eggs and spinach!