From what I understand, and I know
@BigSm0 has done some work in this area and can probably explain better than i, photos can take more light than autos do.
You can think of it in terms of total photons absorbed. Since photos flower in 12 hours of light, they can take more light.
Autos, flowering in 18-24 hours of light, need fewer lights in the tent as there is more photon absorption over time.
Ppfd+hours of light= total light
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