Light Mover or Not ??

[Pirate]

I am lookin for real world experience with the # of lights I should use. Here is my 2 choices.

Right now I have a 3' x 6' flower table. I run 3 - 600 watt HPS in a fixed position. There would not be enough space to move this many fixtures.

Would it be better to stick with the 3 in a fixed position OR Use 2 fixtures on a mover?

I already know about the more points of lights idea but I want to get a real world (Tried both ways or seen both ways) opinion.

Thanks all,
Pirate

 

[riverrat]

On my previous grow, I was running 2 lights in about the same space. A 600 & a 400. At first I had them fixed over 2 trays with a harvest of one tray a month. I avg. 8 oz per harvest. I was able to fit another tray in the space, bought a light rail and went to a 3 week harvest cycle. Still pulled about 8 oz per harvest per tray. I upped my yeld by almost a third with no increase in lights. So I was quite happy with the results.

My current grow I only have room for 2 trays and have to go back to a monthly harvest cycle. I'm still using the light rail, it moves the lights about 2 feet each way. I found I get a much more even grow with fatter buds on the sides of the plant with thw mover. Well worth your money if you ask me, more so if you can fit another tray in there and increast your harvest cycle.

RR

 

[riverrat]

I guess I mean shorten your harvest cycle!!! (I gotta quit smoking pot)

RR

 

[Pirate]

I guess I mean shorten your harvest cycle!!! (I gotta quit smoking pot) RR

LOL !! I knew what ya meant.

Thanks for that info.

In reality.................I have 4 - 3 x 6 trays that harvest every 2 weeks in a perpetual set up. I want to go from 12 lights down to 8 and save on electricity as well as heat.

I can see what you mean by the "buds are fatter on the sides" comment. That makes sense since moving the light eliminates shadows. Actually, after your input I can see that my lights wouldn't be moving very far (2 foot at the most) and light would still be hitting the entire garden at all times so moving the lights could only help I suppose.

I did install one in my Pre-Flower area and that made a huge difference. But I only ever had 1 light in there.

I am going to try it on 1 table and see what I get. Just don't want to spend the cash on a mover if it ain't worth it. I could spend that on something else.

Thanks again, (and layoff the pot!)
Pirate

 

[badugi]

There are many haters, but I'm all for light movers. Here's a real-world setup using a Light Rail 5.



Wanna see it in action? I know you do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDZFLodSpY

 

[Pirate]

Nice Real World photos and video BADUGI.

So you would say..........2 lights on a mover verses 3 stationary? Looks like you have pretty far spacing on the hoods and the mover makes up for that spacing.

You gave me an idea about using the trolly to move 4 hoods with 1 motor.

Thanks,

Pirate

 

[Purple_trees]

I used to use 1 thousand on a mover over a 3x6 table and it worked fine. I pulled about a lb per harvest. Now i use 3x600 stationary over 4x8 and i really like it. My local hydro guy gave me good advice...-If you are going to be air cooled, do stationary, if not its easier to use a mover. Very good advice i think. But yet i still have used a mover on ac lights and had no problems

 

[Pirate]

Thanks PT.
I am using air cooled. I already mapped out the way I'm gonna run the ducting for a mover. I don't anticipate any problems with it myself.

Thanks again,
Pirate

 

[badugi]

I used to use 1 thousand on a mover over a 3x6 table and it worked fine. I pulled about a lb per harvest. Now i use 3x600 stationary over 4x8 and i really like it. My local hydro guy gave me good advice...-If you are going to be air cooled, do stationary, if not its easier to use a mover. Very good advice i think. But yet i still have used a mover on ac lights and had no problems

I think comparing a 1000w over a 3x6 vs. 3x600 over a 4x8 is stretching a bit much. You're comparing apples to oranges. How much will 3x600 get you on a mover? stoney419 should know the answer.

I'm air-cooling AND moving, AND not stretching my canopy size above what I'd normally cover using stationary lights. I think your local hydro guy isn't very handy and isn't capable of creating solutions to make things happen.