Live Stoners Trouble deciding on a 4x4 or 5x5 for 1200w LED

[Skurge]

Okay so I'm planning to pick up this cheapo, Chinese piece of trash, and I'm having trouble deciding on what size space I should use. I've had a bunch of people recommend that I go with COB leds, and I'd like to but they're just too expensive.

It's advertised as being able to replace a 1200w HID, but with 568w at the wall and 43k lumen output I'm pretty sure that's BS.

From what I was reading 40 true watts per sq ft is ideal when dealing with lower quality LEDs, not sure how accurate this is.

I want to grow 6 gals (max in my state) in 5 gallon Air Pots (roughly 10" diameter 2 rows of 3), and I'm having trouble deciding between a 4x4 or 5x5 space. I feel the 4x4 would be a bit cramped (enough room for 4.5" between each pot and from the walls), but on the other end I feel like this light wouldn't be strong enough in a 5x5 area.

I was thinking my best bet might be to grab a 5x5 tent, but only use 20 sq ft of space.

Or maybe I'm better off just running 4 in a 4x4 space, since the panel is only 24.5" long? From what I read these leds work best if the plants are directly under the light. The spread on 2 rows of 2 would be about 26" with 6" spacing between pots, or 42" with 2 rows of 3.

Any recommendations?

 

[Alaskan1]

Oh, hey, if you have room, bigger is better. You can always pick up a few more LED panels or UFOs later. I have a 5 X 5, and have the cannabis directly underneath the light, and on the edges of the tent I'm growing carrots! A man's gotta eat!

 

[Skurge]

Oh, hey, if you have room, bigger is better. You can always pick up a few more LED panels or UFOs later. I have a 5 X 5, and have the cannabis directly underneath the light, and on the edges of the tent I'm growing carrots! A man's gotta eat!

Are you running LED panels? My main concern is that the spread on 2 rows of 3 will be too wide for a single 24" panel even if it is 600 true watts, especially if I want to have 6-8" spacing. Seems to have really good par directly underneath and bad fall off out to the sides.

I'll be adding a second panel or upgrading to COB eventually, but I'm limited to around a 300-400$ budget on lighting for now.

So yeah, the panel is 24.5" x 15", 5 gallon Air Pots are about 10" in diameter.

I'm thinking more than 4 under a panel that size might be pushing it?

 

[AutoWonders]

I'm having trouble deciding between a 4x4 or 5x5 space.

I think for those size tents, you might consider two led lights for a much better light spread. Even if a little less wattage. So much of what led manufacturers spew about their specs, is often not the case. They up-sell as so many others do these days.

 

[Skurge]

I think for those size tents, you might consider two led lights for a much better light spread. Even if a little less wattage. So much of what led manufacturers spew about their specs, is often not the case. They up-sell as so many others do these days.

The plan is to eventually run 2 panels, or upgrade to something else. I'm confident that the true wattage is 550-600w, but yeah that's only about 30w/sq ft if I keep the gals in a 4x5 area.

Thinking my best bet is to go with a 5x5 tent, but only grow 4 for now in a 3x4 - 4x4 area until I can add a second panel or something.

Or maybe I'll try to squeeze 6 into that area, and the extra room will still be useful to give them more space from the walls.

I'm going to be growing Magnums which are supposed to be heavy yielders (5g equiv Air Pots, 3.6 actual), so I'm thinking 6 in a 4x4 space might be tight. Will probably be fine cause I'm going to LST anyway.

Trying to get everything visualized and planned out before spending $ xD

And I'm still worried about the par value fall off around the edges, because even with 4 plants they won't be entirely under the light with 3-4" spacing. Guess I'll just have to give it a shot and see how it goes.

I'm guessing the results will be better and will cause less heat issues than my 400w HID either way.

 

[Trichome farmer]

Oh, hey, if you have room, bigger is better. You can always pick up a few more LED panels or UFOs later. I have a 5 X 5, and have the cannabis directly underneath the light, and on the edges of the tent I'm growing carrots! A man's gotta eat!

Growing carrots I love it [emoji23][emoji23][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

Sent from my HUAWEI CUN-L01 using Tapatalk

 

[Arthur]

Use a portion of the 5X5, and the edges to start a second run 50 days in.

 

[Skurge]

Use a portion of the 5X5, and the edges to start a second run 50 days in.

Actually decided to upgrade to x2 1200w (500-550ish actual), so I'll have at least 1k, problem solved!