Light Movers - Yield Effect?

[Graybeerd]

Thanks Star. Now we're getting some actual light mover user feedback.

My plan was 3 plants across (now maybe more, 5?), and 8 to 10 plants in the row under a 1K HPS, with a six foot mover. (this is un a 12' x 12' room.)

I know, you probably think that's stretching it, but we'll see. I'll post the results.

[Earthy Dank]

Perplexed? I would think that the two 600W lamps would be more efficient than one 1K lamp, especially if they were on a mover.
On that advice about movers used to "make the original intentions more efficient". No matter how you slice it, if you move the lamp, you are "extending the grow" a certain extent. I know what he means, to vary the light angle so that areas of the plant that would not get light in a static setup would get some light periodically. But, like the old saying goes, "there is no free lunch", any time you move the light around the growing area you are diminishing the amount of light in any particular area.
This is the problem that I addressed in the original post, but nobody has come up with a formula, or opinion as to whether periodic intense direct light (with a mover) can be substituted for a static setup, and most important, where is the point of diminishing returns, how far can you stretch the growing area before you are impeding the plants growth.?
There has got to be a formula for a setup that would take advantage of the moving light to maximize the crop, but I haven't figured it out yet. Everyone says, "just add more lights". Well sure, thats a no brainer. I'm just trying to figure out how far you can stretch the ones you have to maximize the harvest.

I have had this same question for awhile. And after playing around with it I figured out my personal solution. I just add 50% more space and keep the distance of the lamp close yet keeping it high enough to shine on everyone. So for a 1000w I'd have it 4x6 with the light between 12" and 16" high. I can get 50%more plants and they actually grow much bigger and more stable with the mover... definately. a good investment. I've seen people do 4x8 and get great results but the size of the buds wasn't as good and he had a couple stretching problems early on. If he had used alot of rooted clones instead of big bushes he probably could have done better. It seems to me that smaller freshly rooted clones would be able to do better under "less" light than a big rapidly growing bush.. right?

[Earthy Dank]

The light reflector you use has a major effect on how the mover will work. enclosed reflectors typically force light down so there will be a 8"x12" hotspot right under the bulb. I have found that the best reflectors are the little cheap wing-tops. Its best to be the ones with the dimples and not the polished mirror but either one works amazing. It give a perfectly even footprint with NO noticeable hotspot... so i can keep it very close while still spreading light over a large area consistently.

[pyroboy4206]

I have been looking for something substantial on this subject for a few weeks now. Thanks for the reference here guys. more later from me.

[amaturegrower]

I have been using a light mover for some time now. it is amazing, but you are correct, you grow to the foot print and the appropriate application. I have two 3x9 foot prints. I have ran several light setups with optimum environment conditions (temp,humidity,co2,AC,PH, Nuts,Ect). For flowering for me, and my foot print (3x9) it calls for a 600watt HPS for a 3x3 space (1sq meter) My foot print in theory would require 3 600 watt HPS to properly cover the foot print for the recommended light. However because of the light track (5.0 commercial light rail x 2) I cover the foot print with 2 600 watt HPS lights, reducing heat, power and leaf burn as well as getting far better light penetration. So to summarize, I use 2 600 watt HPS to cover a 3x9 area. I currently run 1/4 of the legal limit for my self and my patients. 12 mature plants SOG, each side, typically around 750-850 grams per square meter (3 sg meters x 800 grams= 2400 grams, per side) pretty damn good.

I have also ran 2 300 watt LED, 8/1/1 ratio lights on each size (as they are very comparable) and the yield is slightly less, but you save soo much power, on the watts, the AC and all of the cooling components. No ducting and super quiet. I have been very impressed. when you turn one on they are bright and almost a purple light, but do not look nearly as bright as a 600K HPS or even a good 400 watt MH, but they work and work well. I tested these lights for a buddy because he knows my environment is very dialed in, and he wanted to get a good feel for the lights as in comparison to my HPS, here is the break down; (3 sq meters x 550 grams per meter = 1650 grams per side) so it is less but when you factor in the costs over the months and the fact those fricking LEDS last for like 5 years before you need to replace them it is really a tough call. I was knocking them pretty bad, just because I know HPS are proven if applied correctly. And I now stand corrected and humble on the LED lights. Anyways a honest run and opinion from a HPS guy on the whole LED craze

2 sum it up, more light is not always better, but don't try to over stretch it for the foot print, a light track can not replace light. If you move it though, you can get a 1.25-1.5 longer ( longer only not wider, it is very important) foot print and reduce plant fatigue, burning as well as help penetration and better light angles.

I rarely post on here unless I feel I have some real insight on what I write or comment about.

AG

[wman44]

awesome thread!
i've been wondering about getting a light mover myself.
recently i flowered with a 400 w hps in a 3x4 foot room with 12 lst'ed plants in 18 liter pots, and 4 more in one gallon grow bags. using only budswel (which is only one ingredient in my usual feeding schedule) we harvested 212 grams with 2 weeks veg and 8 weeks flower. i admittedly neglected the up keep on the training, allowed the space to become overgrown, and was ignorant of a calcium and magnesium deficiency.
i felt good about the harvest considering all the bugs.
this time around i have all my nutes and developed a feeding schedule, all environmental aspects are squared away.
currently were doing a sog in one gallon grow bags with 24 rooted clones that were put straight into flower. were at the end of the 3rd week of flower and have full colas on the top 6-8 inches of each plant.
from what i have read, i could expand my space to 3x6 with a mover, and keep the light closer to the plants? everyone else is talking about using 600 watts or more, does the equation still work with a 400 watter? should i use a 2x6 foot space?
thanks in advance for any replies!

[weeddaddy50]

Good information......that is what I am doing right now.....table is 4 x 6 with raptor hood and 1000k hps.....addind light mover to move 1 foot in each direction......40 plants in 3 gal grow bags

Graybeerd is on the same pg as me i think
I too am interested in finding the "just right" amount of light movement. My gut tells me that it is actually a short distance for maximum benefit.
My experience is mostly with 1K's in 4ft parabolic reflectors(vertical bulb) covering 5x5' areas, even up to 6' wide on one side....great success.

Now. We have 25 one ounce plants under that 1K in a 5x5' area achieving 1.56lbs every 9wks (2wk veg, 7wk flower).
If we make the area 5x7' and add the light mover, we add 2 rows of plants. 10 more.
So now the light is moving...but I figure that rows 2-6 can't possibly lose any yield and will AT LEAST produce the same as if those 5 rows(2-6...5rows) are still under a stationary light in their 5x5' space. BUT...those rows 2-6 are now getting slight light angles and technically, should yield more. But even if we just let them stay the same...1oz ea.
Rows 1 and 7...even if they "only" produce 1/2oz ea...10 of them total...5oz extra. Just by adding a mover.

That's my theory.
Just over a 1/4lb more on the very first cycle for the cost of a basic mover on your 1K light.

I think most people move the light too far.

[weeddaddy50]

Already getting about 1.5 lbs per light.....just trying to hit the over 2lbs and the magical 1 gram per watt....with these difficult to grow...low yielding OG's and bubba's