choader

Nice thread mist!! Hats off to you! I'd like to add my .02 here on the lumens vs. spectrum vs. growth.

Seems that part of the disconnect is the link between lumens and growth vs spectrum and growth. We make the assumption that spectrum is most important and lumens is 2nd in importance, but don't really understand the tradeoff between the two. (aside from the blue for veg and red for flower).

We do know that given equal spectrum, that more lumens is better. But that really means the # of lumens AT THE PLANT, not the # of lumens coming out of the light. So, while an HPS has more lumens, it's the number of lumen at the plant leaf that counts. This should be fairly easily measured with a light meter. IF you can get more lumens at the plant because you can put the envirolite closer, then we may have something.

For example, I assume that there is a loss coefficent for light as it travels thru air. It's probably a differential equation because the amount of light loss is likely dependent on the amount of light present (similar to drug absorption rate in the blood stream). So if you lose 2% per inch (don't know if this is real, just an example) but if you can have the envirolite 6" closer, you simply do the math to figure it out.

If an HPS puts out 50,000 lumens and is 10" from the plant, it will lose:

1K the first inch leaving 49K
.98K the next leaving 48.02K

and so on.

Then do the same math for the envirolite and compare. Most lumens at the plant wins (given the same spectrum).

We need some equations. If someone would post any they know, I'd be happy to take a crack at solving them. I don't know the lumen loss factor of air (or whatever it's called).

Guess that was more like $2 than .02. Sorry for the long winded post. This is a great thread! I'm watching with anticipation as I am planning my first major grow inside. I'm contemplating using the 6 light envirolite hood. At a minimum, I can use them for side fill in addition to a HPS.

Thanks.

Choader