Has anyone actually proved cooltubes reduce lumen output?

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
As the title said, I've been searching for a little while and haven't found one piece of solid information that shows cooltubes cut down on lumen output. Not just words on a computer screen, someone using a lux meter to prove this.
 
http://www.greners.com/reflector-test.html

The question is, is space that big of an issue that you want a reflector that reflects light about half as efficiently as most of the common reflectors? I was convinced I wanted a cooltube but did some research and settled on the blockbuster. Could NOT be happier with it!

edit: am i allowed to link that?
 
Good link, I've always wondered if my cooltube was truly reducing lumen or not. I'll have to get a lux meter and see exactly what mine is doing.
 
Thanks for providing that link, I have three Xtrasun wing reflectors and it's nice to know I made the right choice and didn't waste all kinds of money on gimmicks and other hoods that can't perform as good as mine. Being in the northlands...bbrrrrrrr... has it's advantages sometimes I guess.
 
no but its a good indicator of the PAR the plant is actually receiving....if its receiving more lumens its receiving more everything. badda bing badda boom
 
As the title said, I've been searching for a little while and haven't found one piece of solid information that shows cooltubes cut down on lumen output. Not just words on a computer screen, someone using a lux meter to prove this.

It's a piece of glass between the light and the plants.....
It's gonna sap a few lumens, but more importantly it blocks UV light which is a major component in trichome production.
If it means that much to you why don't your do your own research?
http://compare.ebay.com/like/221117496232?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar
 
http://www.greners.com/reflector-test.html

The question is, is space that big of an issue that you want a reflector that reflects light about half as efficiently as most of the common reflectors? I was convinced I wanted a cooltube but did some research and settled on the blockbuster. Could NOT be happier with it!

edit: am i allowed to link that?
Good point. I wouldn't use a cool tube (well I would never use a cool tube) unless I was growing vert. Horizontally, there are SO many better options.
 
As the title said, I've been searching for a little while and haven't found one piece of solid information that shows cooltubes cut down on lumen output. Not just words on a computer screen, someone using a lux meter to prove this.
about an 8% reduction over bare bulb but any glass covered housing will do this...per nist certified 40k meter

TES-1335 Selectable Lux Meter / Footcandle Meter NIST cert.
 
"Has anyone actually proved cooltubes reduce lumen output?"

"Not just words on a computer screen, someone using a lux meter to prove this."

Didn't you just answer your own question?
 
IMO,

The type of reflector you choose will be dependent upon the type of space you have, using a 1000 watt open air reflector will not work in a small growing space, but a cool tube would. For my area, anything over 250 watts and I have to go cool tube or "ductable" setup or the heat buildup will get to me.

I have read there is a small amount of light level reduction thru glass, but imo, it is overcome by the ability to maintain the environment overall by reducing the heat load by a huge margin.

Tit for Tat so to speak

Peace and Great Grows

Asmallvoice
 
IMO,

The type of reflector you choose will be dependent upon the type of space you have, using a 1000 watt open air reflector will not work in a small growing space, but a cool tube would. For my area, anything over 250 watts and I have to go cool tube or "ductable" setup or the heat buildup will get to me.

I have read there is a small amount of light level reduction thru glass, but imo, it is overcome by the ability to maintain the environment overall by reducing the heat load by a huge margin.

Tit for Tat so to speak

Peace and Great Grows

Asmallvoice

idk about loss of lumens or par through glass, but the reason cool tubes suck compared to regular hoods that are air cool-able is down to the design of the cool tubes... they have a rather small foot print, and therefore aren't nearly as well at reflecting light as a good hood that is aircooled.. this is why you don't get the same lumen output as a normal setup..
i'm sure glass has a small reduction as well, but plenty of hoods have glass in them.. any loss in the glass in an aircooled hood is made up for in the fact that you can run the lamps much closer to the plants vs a non aircooled hood imo..
 
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