parabolic/umbrella reflectors vert lamp or horz??

[the gnome]

looking at going bare bulb and using the parabolic hoods, they offer vert or horizontal bulb mounting.
has anyone tried out both?

I'm thinking the vertical mounted bulb will give out more reflected lite and the horiz. mount gives more direct lite from the bulb but some of the lite from the top half of the bulb is going to not be used as effectively.

the new luxor hoods, the big ass ones are using a vert bulb so i'm thinking its the best way in the para hoods?

other opinions?

 

[the gnome]

just ran across this from sun systems para's


ADVANTAGES OF VERTICAL REFLECTORS:

Large size provides a wide area of coverage from low mounting heights.
Will accommodate all sizes of MH and HPS lamps.
Low mounting height reduces distance to plants and thus increases light levels.


ADVANTAGES OF HORIZONTAL REFLECTORS:

HID lamps emit light in a continuous 360 degrees ring emanating out from the arc tube. The main reason horizontally mounted lamps perform better is because much of their light is thrown downward

 

[Floridian]

I use the vertizontal 4 ft parabolic with the lamp horizontal and doubt seriously I could do better with vertical lamp

 

[Buffalo Brown]

I use the vertizontal 4 ft parabolic with the lamp horizontal and doubt seriously I could do better with vertical lamp

Floridian,

How uniform is the light with the vertizontal?

Thanks for your reply.

 

[AzGrOw-N-sMoKe]

Ive ran both, horizontal bulbs produce a better canopy.... for the price range nothing compares to the efficincy of 4ft paras with horizontal bulbs period.... Az

 

[SeaMaiden]

I use the vertizontal 4 ft parabolic with the lamp horizontal and doubt seriously I could do better with vertical lamp

I run vertizontals as well, I'm not sure how orienting the bulb vertically would really change the light footprint. I love running open hoods, much easier to keep the space warm after making that switch.

 

[Floridian]

BB I dont know how uniform it is bro I havent a lightmeter I just know you can grow hoglegs with it lol especially sticking to that 50W a sq ft rule

 

[SeaMaiden]

The 4'rs set up w/600W HPS (or, as on the right of the first pic, an overdriven 400W MH bulb) bulbs do 4'sq trays pretty well. I have that styrofoam sheet insulation, with the white side turned in, which helps reflect back a lot of light. Keep three sides of the trays well reflected, and I have access from the fourth.

These are older pix, prior to installing a Big 10" EcoPlus extraction fan (passive intake, and TONS of ventilation). I haven't run this room in a while, would love to now that we're on full solar.

 

[the gnome]

Ive ran both, horizontal bulbs produce a better canopy.... for the price range nothing compares to the efficincy of 4ft paras with horizontal bulbs period.... Az

thanks AZ,
so what do you think the difference(ballpark?) in yield switching over to the horizontal bulb para's as compared to the verts?

 

[AzGrOw-N-sMoKe]

You'd see an easy 5-10% increase ina traditional flat canopy style... the tip of thebulb produces less lumens, the one benifit for the vert style is that the bulbtip also produces significantly less heat meaning you can get it closer to the tops of plants but for this to be truely helpful each lighted area needs to be built like a bowl cnopy with the center under the bulb lower then the outsides of the canopy... Az

 

[Stonefree69]

You could try vertical bare bulb hanging right in the middle arrangement of plants in a circle (or donut) - top of bulb at or slightly below plant tops. No reflector whatsoever. I plan on making a 5-sided "umbrella canopy" out of Orca film and 1x2's to reflect the little light that may come from top of bulb down. Orca film and/or Reflectix EVERYWHERE.

Just check out Heath Robinson's vertical grows. He got over 2 grams/watt on a 600 watt bare bulb that way. In another he grew 1 lb+ trees. Many others are into vertical growing and it's the most efficient method w/your HID lights. There's a whole section here at IC on vertical grows, just check it out - Vertical / Colosseum Growing and Indoor Vertical Grow Systems 101.

 

[St3ve]

I have been doing a lot of experimenting over the last year and have been considering doing a side by side with a horizontal bulb/hood over a flat garden against a vertical bulb in a parabolic over a flat garden.

All I know is.. no matter what horizontal hood I have tried (7) and they are all very uneven with the light spread. The plants right under the bulb get WAY more heat and lumens than the ones further away. (confirmed with light meter and laser thermometer) If what I"m understanding is true.. then the parabolic hood with a vertical bulb will deliver more of an even throw of light as well as be able to be a little closer to the canopy for a more overall even exposure. We shall see..

 

[the gnome]

the more I mull over vert vs horz in a parabolic I'm thinking the vert would give better coverage. the new designs with the vert. bulb OG and Luxor hoods seem to reinforce
that view. I'm sure they did some CAD engineering on it to get it as effecient as they could

with a horz application I don't see much difference other than hood size over a rectangular magnum hood?

 

[Jamorg13]

A got a question that is pressing enough to bump an old thread, but does not justify a new thread.

I grow in a vertical checkerboard tree grow 1plant/1light flower room, and veg about 1-3 plants under horizontal 1kw mh. Right now I am vegging with air-cooled hoods that I acquired before I discovered vert. I am running them without the glass. They don't provide a wide enough light pattern as I would like. I have been considering switching to parabolics, would they be better for what I am trying to do? Should I run them horizontal or vertical in the parabolics?