Need good Horizontal, rectangular Reflector

[stink.whistler]

I'm sure this info is on the site and I just haven't found it in my searches, but here goes...

I'm looking for a good reflector that throws a rectangular pattern. I haven't decided yet if 2 x 250 CMH or 1x 400 CMH will be the way to go over a 2 foot by 3 foot area, but I'm trying to narrow down reflector choices.

Most manufactures don't mention what the optimum light pattern is for their reflectors, square or rectangular, but I have to think that every reflector is optimized for one or the other.

I would love to hear some thoughts and experiences on this, also whether you hang your reflector with the socket at the back of your cab or on one of the sides. I'm wondering if the area under the socket is less well lit than the rest of the area.

 

[PonicalChillin]

Check out the Hydrofarm Daystar AC reflector. Very nice rectangle hoods.

Go with the 400w - better penetration then both the 250w are going to provide.

 

[Philosophelon]

If you go with 1x400w bulb, I would definitely go with an Adjust-a-Wing with the diffuser attached, because it will give you an even footprint even with the bulb placed close to the canopy. If you go with 2x250w bulbs, you can use square-footprint reflectors, because there are two squares. It all depends what you want to do, 2x250w will yield more and be more efficient (assuming you have small plants or a SCROG), but it will be more expensive (addt'l ballast, cord, socket, reflector and bulb).

 

[stink.whistler]

I'm not too concerned about cost, I was also thinking the 2x250s would be nice as far as spreading the heat across more area. I would kind of like to avoid directly venting the hood (and instead vent the cab). Perhaps with two 6 inch fans mounted on the wall blowing up directly on the bulbs, then a vortex venting the cab.

All the bends in the ducting required to vent a hood kind of irritate me, If I go w/ the 400 I would prefer a hood I could vent from the top, run it straight up into the attic w/ a vortex (or similar) then through a muffler, terminating in a carbon filter. (I know it is less efficient to push through a carbon filter, but hopefully not too bad - I'd rather not waste space in the cab with a big carbon filter, but I want a carbon filter big enough to do the job right)

If I go with the two 250s, I would just have a vent in the top of the cab (and the rest the same as I mentioned with the 400). I think I could get away without directly venting the 250s, if I had small fans blowing on them (hell, Tick did that with his 400s).

But, whatever I do, I need to know which reflectors are square and which are rectangular. Thanks much for the replies, guys.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Lamps throw no light forward or aft, only to the sides. The result is a rectangular foot print whether we like it or not. If you hang perpendicular to the length of the grow, you can lower the lamp AND increase footprint at the same time.

A pair of 250s (83 wsf) sounds slightly overkill. Not bad or dangerous just more than you need. 400 (67 wsf) should do you well. My 250 delivers 56 wsf and I'm buried alive in too much weed



....... add .......

Check this out too http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=51325

 

[Philosophelon]

I agree with FreezerBoy 100% about bulb alignment. I also think that if cost is not an issue and you want to maximize your yield and efficiency, go with 2x250w. More smaller bulbs is always more efficient than fewer larger bulbs unless you are growing large plants and/or you have a light mover. As it happens my grow satisfies both conditions so I use 1Ks myself, but I digress.

Having two point sources of light will allow more leaves to receive good light, as light is shining on your canopy from two angles, as opposed to one angle with a single point source of light. Additionally, the light is more evenly distributed over the canopy (distance from the arc tube is the most significant factor correlating to light intensity), and you can place smaller bulbs closer to the canopy than larger bulbs, which also increases efficiency.

I think that you will achieve both a higher yield and higher efficiency (i.e. grams per watt) with 2x250w lamps, unless you plan to grow taller plants. Additionally, you will further maximize your efficiency by running a SOG, a SCROG, or doing LST to train a relatively short, bushy canopy (~10-14" deep).

As far as reflectors go (assuming you aren't on a tight budget), I would go with 2x P.L. Deep reflectors w/ light diffusers under the arc tube. In the interest of full disclosure, I should say that I am a big P.L. fan, and run all P.L.s in my veg room (I don't use diffusers on most, however, due to plant size). Also, the P.L.s dissipate heat very well with fans blowing on them, as they are all aluminum and do not have a steel housing like most reflectors.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I would go with either Galaxy or Lumatek digital ballasts

I believe CMH at 250-400 are still Mag Coils only but, double check.

2x250 will certainly produce more bud. But, with my single 250 as an example, I'm still smoking the Thunk I harvested last June. There's still the 3+oz from Thunk 2, 1+oz from Thunk 3, 4+oz from my Destroyer. That's a half pound of water cured weed I'm still waiting to get to. With more on the way.

Po' Freezer's gots too much weed Your mileage may vary

 

[Philosophelon]

I believe CMH at 250-400 are still Mag Coils only but, double check.

You are absolutely correct, my friend. Good thing somebody is paying attention -- neither Galaxy nor Lumatek digitals can fire CMH bulbs. I'm not actually familiar with any US electronic ballasts that can fire CMH, but there might be some. I was a wee bit baked and missed that part of Stink's thread.

Po' Freezer's gots too much weed

One of my favorite problems!

 

[stink.whistler]

Yea, still no digital love for CMH (that I have found).

Regarding bulb alignment and commercial hoods - the air cooled ones are tough because they mostly have the tubes coming out the wrong ends for correct alignment in a cab.

Thinking about it, one with the flange on top of the hood would probably be the way to go (I would like to exhaust the air through the top of the hood if I go with 400). The plain old Hydrofarm Daystar at least has flanges on the correct side for a cab setup if I did have to go out the side.

Does anyone know of a good reflector that exhausts from the top? I know I have seen one, it may have even been the non A/C daystar...

 

[Philosophelon]

Does anyone know of a good reflector that exhausts from the top? I know I have seen one, it may have even been the non A/C daystar...

The Sunlight Supply SunGro vents out the top, but you have to cut the grates off to get good air flow... SunGros are old though, and they might be hard to find locally (I still have one, I used to really like them for a square footprint with a 1K, although now there is a new P.L. for that ).

I feel like a bit of a douche on my P.L. soapbox, but if you run a P.L. reflector with the optional air-cooled housing, the vent flanges run perpendicular to the bulb, so it's easy to fit in a rectagular cabinet. I used a P.L. Midi with an A/C shroud on my first grow, which was in a rectangular cabinet so most hoods (with the A/C flanges oriented parallel to the bulb) wouldn't fit.

 

[stink.whistler]

Hey, that PL looks very interesting (hadn't heard of that one before) - They seem to have a pretty detailed website, I'll check it out tomorrow. Gonna hit the sack.


Thanks guys for all your info, I really appreciate it.

 

[Philosophelon]

No prob, glad to help.

I don't think that P.L. has a picture of the A/C Housing on their website, so here is one from my old store's catalog. It's got a 1Kw reflector and bulb in it.



Also, you can disregard the recommended mounting heights on their website, because they're for greenhouses.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Thinking about it, one with the flange on top of the hood would probably be the way to go

You may be able to do that yourself. Some reflectors have a batwing inside the "box" leaving them with an attic so to speak. You could cut a hole in the top without sacrificing any light.

 

[Vetus Fossor]

FreezerBoy, When I read you were buried alive in pot, I admit I thought of myself first and was going to offer to start smoking from the top and smoke my way down to save you. Then I got all full of love and peace and understanding my next thought was to offer you a glass bowl or some papers and a box of lighters. But like the fart that passed. Now you got yourself in this sitution, you smoke your way out of it. Sorry. It's just how I roll now a days. lol
Seriously, that diagram on light placement is pretty neat. Yep I used "neat."

 

[FreezerBoy]

Well crap! I'm laughing too hard to make a pithy retort. You're right. It's my own damn fault.

 

[Irie_Lion]

Blessed love and greetings, I just recently acquired a 600w PL light system with the deep reflector and was wondering what the best foot print would be? Thinkin about settin up an area about 40"x36" for flowering with 15 girls in 2g bags. Not sure if i should go for more in that space or less?? Probably gona flip them from clones at 12" wanna keep them somewhat small but height isnt an issue. What size area and yeild do u get off the 1k Phelosophelon? thanks for any advice!! Really lookin forward to gettin this thing up and running

 

[AndreNicky]

A member on this site Pico did a test with a bunch of Ac reflectors awhile back, according to his findings sun systems super sun 2 reflectors reflect light the best. You could also go for the super sun 1 with AC add on, gives almost same footprint as supersun2 but the AC hookup comes out of the front instead of sides

 

[stink.whistler]

Does anyone have the dimensions for the PL air-cooled hood? I have found the dimensions for the reflector, but not the hood that houses it.

 

[stink.whistler]

Duh, found the answer:

The Air-Cooled shroud dimensions are 21'' x 15'' x 8'' (including socket assembly).

 

[Philosophelon]

A member on this site Pico did a test with a bunch of Ac reflectors awhile back, according to his findings sun systems super sun 2 reflectors reflect light the best.

Oooh, that was a good thread, and I do like SS2s. But Pico only compared like 4 reflectors: The Arctic Sun, The Cool Sun, The Cool Sun XL, and the Super Sun 2. He maybe did the SS1 too, I don't remember. You can't say that the SS2 reflects light the best (it doesn't), just better than the three other reflectors he tested.