I really think you can get more life out of them then you're giving them credit for, brother. I think they are at 80% output at 2500-5000 hrs if I remember correctly. Don't quote me on that but I just remember seeing something along those lines.
im not sure but I just like replacing them because I notice they do get less strong after 4 grows but I bet I can go more than 4 that's for sure. I guess I will try that then to see if I can just run them longer each day. because by the fourth grow I usually have to run then a hour and a half where I would use like 60-75 a day. so who knows ill just try to get the most out of them and just run them long. just a little decrease it is their just not a horrible loss.
Yeah, as we use the Agromax bulbs usually less than 1h per day they can literally last for ever. Even after 5000h you would still get 50% of the initial UVB output which is still 3 times as much UVB as one can get out of a 12% reptile bulb. And the spectrum is not affected which means you still have UVB down to 285nm. Such an old bulb could be use in the transition stage or in late veg to make the girls used to it and reduce stress. One could also further use them in the flowring area with twice the amount of time and still get the same effects.
Very good to see you back and posting. This forum just got exponentially richer. Hope you are in good health.
I’m pretty sure you would need way more than 4 diodes
I havent tried myself but i trust what ive seen and heard. Also note that theres plenty of uva diodes well spread out. Giving only uvb seems to be a bit touch and go, plants needs exposure to uva in order to harden before getting uvb. So uva allday starting from day one, first a little and then more, and adding uvb for a short time midday then increasing. But i think he never could go over 3hrs without some damage. 60mW output total, 15mW per diode for noticeable change both in high and terp proofile.
uva doesn't do nearly as much as b and u want to have 385 to 285 because no one really knows how much u do need and what is needed to activate the uvr8 receptor. but from my experience heavy uvb is what really does the job for the plant. another thing I would have to say is doing it at the end of the light cycle so the plants can recover thru ought the whole night. When I ran my agros I did have way stronger terps so Idk I need to try solar cures see how they do compete with the agros. but I still don't trust uv leds yet not at least just because no one really knows how much of each spec u need to get the same results as the agro.
The thing about the agro is the hanging height, it doesnt work with the way we light the cannopy in the grow i work for. Power consumption is another issue. But each to their own. I tend to trust nacchooo on this, very few work their garden like he does with rare inland sativa genetics and lighting. But still anecdotal, no tests.
Yup both have their owns pros and cons.with the agros when their a bit older u can run them closer to the plant but yes their very strong and its very easy to burn plants with the agros I ran only 15 mins for the first few weeks at the end of the day and just the 15 mins were enough to burn the fuck out of my plant but that was with the bulb being 2 feet away. I'm not sure but once the uv hits the plants it activates the receptor thru out the whole plant idk or it could be only the places that uv hits but idk I feel like it affects the whole system of the plant. just like how red increases the stretch of the plant idk would like more research into how uv really affects the whole plant. just imo its helpful but Jesus its overkill having to hang it 2+ feet. but that really depends on how much the bulb has been used I would have to guess maybe a bulb that's been used 3500hrs u can run longer and closer to the canopy idk im a stoner that likes toying with plants.
Agree on all of that, especially the whole plant response for toughening up an increasing thc. Or at least its the way my thinkking leans towards.Yup both have their owns pros and cons.with the agros when their a bit older u can run them closer to the plant but yes their very strong and its very easy to burn plants with the agros I ran only 15 mins for the first few weeks at the end of the day and just the 15 mins were enough to burn the fuck out of my plant but that was with the bulb being 2 feet away. I'm not sure but once the uv hits the plants it activates the receptor thru out the whole plant idk or it could be only the places that uv hits but idk I feel like it affects the whole system of the plant. just like how red increases the stretch of the plant idk would like more research into how uv really affects the whole plant. just imo its helpful but Jesus its overkill having to hang it 2+ feet. but that really depends on how much the bulb has been used I would have to guess maybe a bulb that's been used 3500hrs u can run longer and closer to the canopy idk im a stoner that likes toying with plants.
well all in the end u have to remember the amount of uvb given off is just insane so maybe try to raise them and try to run them a bit higher. but this is coming from someone that just hangs lights pretty high usually 30 or so inches. then I have my agros about a inch under them. very strong at this height but usually when the plant gets some uvb it just hardens to it making it just not get as damaged. with diodes its just such a small area they really cover well. I'm not sure on how true this is so take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt. I've read about how uva helps with making the uvr8 receptor more susceptible to the effect of uvb so lets say 285-305. so this is why I'm thinking the bulbs are better in general idk I could be very wrong and it could be just one certain spectrum that activates it but that's what I've read at least.
In an open space without reflective walls it gets a bit unfeasible to run the lights that high, at least for us with the cost, and wanting to keep the power signature down. Think commercial red state. We use mostly leds similar to fotop boards, well spread out, running them soft and close, this works very well with evenness and spread. So many times we are around 8" from canopy. Edit: in our new place it looks like cmh is king cause the space wont heat up much at all but. But summer is coming...
this exactly why i lean towards leds on uvb.
but i also run it always...
If the primary issue in output loss is turning on than it doesn't matter if it's used for one hour or twelve per day since it's only turning on once a day regardless.
This is basically exactly what @nachooo did.