Hi im thinking of transitioning to LED lights from HPS but ive a final HPS experimental grow coming up just to see if i can smash my PB regarding HPS GPW.. now i do get very good yields under HPS anyway.. im unsure ultimately if id benefit from the change to LED, but i do have certain limitations where i grow that could tip the balance in favour of LEDs..
I do have a few questions id really appreciate anyones experience or input from as the answers in my research ive undertaken so far i cannot find.
Im limited with my grow by total power i can consume and the heat generated by it.. as best i understand LEDs run cooler and are more energy efficient so i may be able to use a larger growspace than i do currently with LED lights and consume about the same total watts in power from the wall as i do with HPS?
So my current setup is 2x600w lights in 4x8ft growspace. Im adding a light rail mover this grow - 1st time using one btw - and increasing my growspace to 4x10ft.
In the usual 4x8ft with good genetics 28-32plants i get @1.5gpw, quality bud. The canopy ends up rammed, i pull a row out wk9 the plants swell and fill the space again within days, then i crop the lot.
Im positive lack of space limits yield hence the lightmover this time, il still have 30watts perft2 and better light distribution. Ive tried to veg in a manner to give a deeper canopy with more bud sites instead but yields drop.
I grow in 10l pots, the clones are nipped once sometimes twice to give 6-8 main arms, defoliated and weak stems removed up until end of first week 12/12 . Theyre @8inch tall, about the same wide when put 12/12 just over 2ft when done.
So ive not used a light mover before. I plan on just 12-15inch movement on the rail, a 30 second pause each end. I can possibly extend my growroom even further, in the final week or 2 when the canopys full but the watts per ft2 would drop to 26watts perft2 if i went 11x4 - i think that may be too low and detrimental?
Is light intensity as crucial the last 1-2weeks? I cannot be certain but it appeared better trichs with slightly less intensity the last week or so - but ive never went as low as 26w perft2 in the past.
About LED lighting to replace 600w HPS, i get @1.5gpw using the HPS in 4x4 space per light, like i mentioned i doubt i can increase my actual yield per ft2 of bud with the growstyle i have shaping the plants in veg.. the LEDs are more efficient in light distribution and available useful light per actual watt used... if im to replace my 600w HPS what kind of LED lighting system can i use that say increases my total grow space area without using much more total watts?
I saw i think a
gavita 1700? That uses 645watts (may be wrong on the brand) that states it will flower a 5x5space in place of a 1000w HPS.. are they claiming with say 2gpw they mean the 645watts the actual LED light uses in the 5x5 space (its not gpw based on the 1000wHPS the LED replaces surely)
Im trying to comprehend exactly what conditions have been changed that has improved their yields, eg more available useful light in a larger growspace and if itll affect positively my yields if- when i change over to LEDs.
Sorry my posts long winded, one more question, would using a light rail mover on a LED light be bit of a waste of time really- im assuming that the LEDs are set to be efficient in their light distribution and yield over a given area, much more closer to optimal than a HPS?
Thanks for any replies guys n happy growing!