ATS Lights - Advice for replacement

[regmo123]

My ATS is running with two Boyu STS-350 lighting units, one either side of the screen. They each have 3x 8W T5's and I don't think I'm getting enough light to stimulate good, green growth.

I'm looking for advice on suitable lights to replace them. The length of my ATS is approx 14 inches so I need lights about 12 inches in length.

Any advice would be really welcome. Thanks.

[RkyRickstr]

I would go with DIY leds..

Rapidled works great.. 6 red and one blue per side.

[djmatteo]

I am finding out if I can get these with 3 watt LED:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-Power-Plant-Grow-Spot-Down-Red-Blue-Light-640LM-Bulb-Lamp-E27-7w-7-1W/554366637.html

Im not a DIY guy, this is clearly a better option for me if i can get them custom for me. If I do ill let u know.

[kotlec]

You dont need them at 3w at all. 1 watters works perfectly. Better get more bulbs for better coverage and dont burn screen.

With 3w you will need to position bulbs far from screen and get 2 more problems: light spill and space needed.

[regmo123]

Sounds like it could be a plan. Let me know if you can find them at lower wattage

[regmo123]

kotlec - any recommendations for 1W lights? And what mix of red/blue etc do you suggest?

thanks

[RkyRickstr]

Or even better, run the 3w for half the time. Its always better to have more watts and fewer hours.

[djmatteo]

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Par-Led-light-for-Led-grow-lighting-15W-red630-and-blue-460nm-high-quality-with-3years/569706625.html

I found 15 Watt ones, but the red isnt the 660nm as I believe is suggested. One would have to contact them to change it. Based on what I have heard I would go with a 13:2 Red:Blue config with this bulb.

Only problem is need to order 4 with this one

[kotlec]

13:2 or 12:3 sounds about right until further experiments with UV spectrum will presumably bring up something new.
Cant recommend any of shelf lights , as I am DIY guy whenever its possible. Can only help to DIY it if you decide.

[djmatteo]

Pulled the trigger on this:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Led-Par-light-grow-light-15W-red630-and-blue-460nm/567969442.html

I went 12:3 Red/Blue Red=660nm, Blue=450nm, 110v, 68 dollars.

May or may not work, but certainly should be an upgrade from 23w watt CFL

[Floyd R Turbo]

The LED floodlights are really only good for roughly the area of the lamp, or about 5x5. Anything out side of that circle will not get very good growth. What is the size L x W of your screen?

[djmatteo]

My screen is 9x4 with another roughly 3x3 section at the bottom of my screen.

Will putting the bulbs a little further back help with the spread, or mounting sideways and using a reflector help?

Bulbs are already ordered so going to give it a try anyway, so any suggestions to optimize it would be appreciated. I have a scrubber revamp coming soon, and a 5x5 screen would be more than enough for what I feed. I just got to con some friends who are handy with a table saw to cut the box up for me =)

[djmatteo]

You were absolutely correct, a little shy of 5x5 coverage.

Question tho, my screen obviously is larger than that do I have to redesign or will having extra screen that doesnt get light hurt my scrubbing? The light shines smack dab in the center of the screen. ~4x4 area If I equate the area the light is shining on from both sides its about perfect for my feeding, I just have a lot of extra screen not getting light.

If its not ok, I will have to go back to CFL and just scrap these floods and go against my will and try to do a DIY rig.. and while iim at it build a new box. I will get a scrubber working effectively eventually!

[sklywag]

If a 3x4 screen lit double sided will handle 1 cube a day. 5x5 is double that. You feed two cubes a day?