LED small grow cabinet...looking for opinions

poppiweed

Member
Hi. I have recently acquired this light: http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-7-Band-240w-LED-Grow-Light.asp used for $125 bucks. I have installed in a 2 x 2 x 5' high cabinet. I estimate 32" total grow height allowing 12-14 between light and canopy and the space for containers. The fans on the light act as only exhaust for the box and are keeping the temps in mid 70's so far. My question is this: Is this light sufficient for a small grow (either 1 bushy plant or 4 12/12 from seeds or 4 ruderalis strains). My goal here, above yield and all other concerns, is stealth. This box hides nicely. Does anyone think this setup will be good for the entire grow (I'm sure it's fine for veg, but will it be ok for flowering 2 x 2 feet 1 foot over tops?) I can optionally flower in a separate tent with a 400 hps, however not nearly as stealth. I tried to determine optimum height for lights over plants and didn't come up with anything. I was hoping 12-14" was a good guess. Thanks for any help!
 

somedude247

Well-Known Member
I think that will be a good light, but with 3w leds I think they work better at 20 inches or so above the canopy. I havent seen this unit in action, so I really dont know its optimum height, but I think 12-14 is too close. But if youre not worried about yield, you will do just fine. Should still be very frosty, dense buds.
 

hoss12781

Well-Known Member
While I have not used this panel either I agree with some dude. You should also get another fan in your room. Those cooling fans are not enough to promote good air circulation.
 

poppiweed

Member
Thanks for the input. I was hoping you would not say that. 8" is going to reduce my grow space by that much leaving me with only 24" total grow height. Does anyone know a way to determine actual distance to plants? There was nothing in the "instructions" (word used loosely) and HTG doesn't know much about their technology. Could i figure this out with a light meter? Thanks again for all the help. So glad RIU got LED sub-forum. The technology can be great but it's really hard to figure out as it is also so diverse (huge differences between good and bad lights).
 

somedude247

Well-Known Member
What medium you growing in? Maybe you can gain the extra height with different containers? Also, with the led, you can have it hanging just a few inches from the top of the tent if that helps.
 

poppiweed

Member
Medium is hempy buckets 2 gal. They are about 10" tall. 4 of them fit in the box perfectly with saucers to catch the overflow. I have the light strapped right to the top of the box with a hole cut out for the fans on top of the unit to vent the box. I had figured 3 3" computer type fans included in the light would be enough to vent the box. It's keeping the temps in line for sure. So the air is pulled through the sides of the light cooling it and then venting outside the box. I drilled 4 1" holes in the bottom of the box (which is above the ground on wheels) to allow incoming air. Right now I have seedling in the buckets on an adjustable shelf 14" below light...which I'm going to lower 6" in a couple of minutes just to be safe. That would put them at 20" down. Then I plan to lower the shelf as the plants grow (drilled holes every 1" so the shelf can be lowered at 1" intervals down to the bottom.) Perfect plan if the light could be 12" away. 24" is not a lot of height to grow even ruderalis. Currently have white widow and nyc deisal that I was going to try 12/12 from seed (modified...I'll keep them on 18/6 until they get their 2nd set of leaves). They only way I could get more headroom is to modify the box which would make it suspicious looking. Thanks for the help
 

hoss12781

Well-Known Member
its really going to vary depending on brand of light, viewing angle of the diodes, type of diodes used, and the degree to which they are driven to their capacity. Start out at 12 inches above the canopy and if you notice burning/bleaching dial them back. It's really the only way to find the best happy medium for your light and a little bleaching won't hamper your final yield.

Also with your small space I'd check out some quality auto strains.
 

poppiweed

Member
Hoss,
Yeah, I think I'll do that. Will be doing only auto strains after this grow. I bought the current seeds before I really knew how much better the autos would be for this application. RIU with folks like yourself and somedude have learned me a bunch in the last month or so. For now I can maintain 20" (for the next 24" of growth at least). I will hit the wall later and if need be I can finish them in the unstealthy tent. At least with current setup they will spend the least amount of time vulnerable to sight in the tent. What would be a sign that they are too far away from light? (would that be stretching?) Thanks again for all the help.
 

poppiweed

Member
Got it. If they stretch too far away. If they bleech or burn too close. Trial and error and aim for a sweet spot. Thanks.
 

supchaka

Well-Known Member
Sounds like a winner to me and if you start getting too close just start snapping branches away
 

poppiweed

Member
Yeah I'm planning on doing some amateur lsting too.... also with 12/12 from seed (ish) hopefully they won't get too big. Test grow with bagseed got WAY out of control and ended up doing a lot of bending and such to keep the canopy low. Thanks.
 
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