Lighting Side or bottom lighting?

[HemiSync]

Just getting caught up on all the information in this area and still have a few threads to read but I was wondering if anyone had tried using an extra AutoCob for side or bottom lighting? I have had some grows where it was so dense in the tent, even with training, that having a 150w HPS shining up through your lower canopy would sure have helped. Are these lights okay being run upside down or sideways?
Is this the stupidest idea ever? For example: If you had three photo ladies in a 3x3x5.5 tent with 4 autocobs. Do we leave the extra out, let it shine down on the canopy in some fashion, or use it for lighting under their skirts.

 

[HemiSync]

No one has done this or has any comments about it?

 

[lunarman]

you can tilt the lights at an angle. Needs 2 ratchet setups. One connected to the center of the heat sink and one has a clip or loop that can connect to a single heat sink fin on the side. I hang a light away from the plant so I can focus it on side branches at the right x/y coordinate. Then I hook up the second ratchet on to a heat sink fin and ratchet it up so that light ends up shining at a side angle instead of straight down. Hard to explain in words. A pic would be better. I got the idea from a pic from Bigsm0 had of this setup. He was using plant training zip cord thing to grab the heat sink fin. I can post a picture later. No time right now. But Bigsm0 will probably beat me to it!

 

[bakEQuatorial]

I use 3x2 COB lights from top down. These are 3500k ones. I then use 1x2 full spectrum/blurple lights on the side. Plant position gets changed occasionally. I did this once they begin to fully flower. Like a week before. Note that mine are not autocobs but draws 60++Watts from each bulb. About 130w per pair. Very bright lights. I feel my eyesight deteriorate only by looking at the plants for too long.

I'm a newbie so not yet concerned with GPW and other efficiency metrics. I just wanna give them more spectrum and light up any buds not getting enough lights. For now, I'm extremely happy with the results. Probably not a worthwhile thing to do if you consider power consumption vs yield increase. You'd be better off starting a new plant on the lights. But if you are stubborn like me and just like how it looks or feel, go ahead! I originally just wanted to see how it looks and how the plants react. Now, im gonna leave it on for the rest of the grow.

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[HemiSync]

I use 3x2 COB lights from top down. These are 3500k ones. I then use 1x2 full spectrum/blurple lights on the side. Plant position gets changed occasionally. I did this once they begin to fully flower. Like a week before. Note that mine are not autocobs but draws 60++Watts from each bulb. About 130w per pair. Very bright lights. I feel my eyesight deteriorate only by looking at the plants for too long.

I'm a newbie so not yet concerned with GPW and other efficiency metrics. I just wanna give them more spectrum and light up any buds not getting enough lights. For now, I'm extremely happy with the results. Probably not a worthwhile thing to do if you consider power consumption vs yield increase. You'd be better off starting a new plant on the lights. But if you are stubborn like me and just like how it looks or feel, go ahead! I originally just wanted to see how it looks and how the plants react. Now, im gonna leave it on for the rest of the grow.

Looking might fine. I just replaced my two P300 panels with four of the autocobs and due to an issue with one of the plants I’m only growing 3 this time. So I have an AutoCob over each plant and have this spare one. Currently have it dead center between the three shining down. I’m just curious if when the foliage gets too thick if it would be possible to position it pointing up at the bottom of the tent in between the plants. I’m afraid this might screw with the heat dispersal from the cob.

 

[bakEQuatorial]

Looking might fine. I just replaced my two P300 panels with four of the autocobs and due to an issue with one of the plants I’m only growing 3 this time. So I have an AutoCob over each plant and have this spare one. Currently have it dead center between the three shining down. I’m just curious if when the foliage gets too thick if it would be possible to position it pointing up at the bottom of the tent in between the plants. I’m afraid this might screw with the heat dispersal from the cob.

I basically use wall wattage equivalent of 6 cobs/bulbs from top and the area only has 5 plants (6 previously but ran out of space). I then added another 2 cobs (Exactly the same but are blurples) on the side. Top height around 18 to 24 inches once i got the hang of it. If they continue to grow, they will have to accept 12 inch heights soon but i think they will take it well. I have an oscillating fan on them. I just place some blocks on the floor to create my desired height. Then turn all 3500k lights off and only leave the blurple on. I adjust the lights until I'm satisfied with the lighting each plant receives. Just these 2 blurple bulbs is more than enough to illuminate all 5 plants from the side, although the back ones have lesser intensity. They penetrate through lots of bushes which greatly impressed me. I thought blurples are way less intense from what i read.

I have had zero issues with heat and the plants are doing good. Fyi, my temps AND RH is crazy high. A normal day has temps from 28C to 36C and I'm being conservative. RH is 50++ only a few hours mid day when temps can reach 40C sometimes. Mostly its 70ish to 80++. BUT....Ive only begun the side lighting less than 10 days. Can't remember exactly when though. So too early to make any conclusions.

So i got 8 x 60++ watts from wall on only 5-6 plants. Watt meter shows 485w from wall. Pretty similar to your situation with each plant having more than 1 cob. The way i see it, if it works with my rather extreme conditions, should be more than ok with yours. Especially if you're worried about heat.

Another thing to note is that all my bulbs have glass reflectors. I was told they are the same materials as car lights reflectors but different focus. They are perfect for my needs cos they focus the lights better, decrease light loss due to spread (very important for me) and increase intensity significantly.

Its only my first grow so pls take everything with a grain of salt. I'm really curious to see what is @BigSm0 take on this? He's da MAN!


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[HemiSync]

I basically use wall wattage equivalent of 6 cobs/bulbs from top and the area only has 5 plants (6 previously but ran out of space). I then added another 2 cobs (Exactly the same but are blurples) on the side. Top height around 18 to 24 inches once i got the hang of it. If they continue to grow, they will have to accept 12 inch heights soon but i think they will take it well. I have an oscillating fan on them. I just place some blocks on the floor to create my desired height. Then turn all 3500k lights off and only leave the blurple on. I adjust the lights until I'm satisfied with the lighting each plant receives. Just these 2 blurple bulbs is more than enough to illuminate all 5 plants from the side, although the back ones have lesser intensity. They penetrate through lots of bushes which greatly impressed me. I thought blurples are way less intense from what i read.

I have had zero issues with heat and the plants are doing good. Fyi, my temps AND RH is crazy high. A normal day has temps from 28C to 36C and I'm being conservative. RH is 50++ only a few hours mid day when temps can reach 40C sometimes. Mostly its 70ish to 80++. BUT....Ive only begun the side lighting less than 10 days. Can't remember exactly when though. So too early to make any conclusions.

So i got 8 x 60++ watts from wall on only 5-6 plants. Watt meter shows 485w from wall. Pretty similar to your situation with each plant having more than 1 cob. The way i see it, if it works with my rather extreme conditions, should be more than ok with yours. Especially if you're worried about heat.

Another thing to note is that all my bulbs have glass reflectors. I was told they are the same materials as car lights reflectors but different focus. They are perfect for my needs cos they focus the lights better, decrease light loss due to spread (very important for me) and increase intensity significantly.

Its only my first grow so pls take everything with a grain of salt. I'm really curious to see what is @BigSm0 take on this? He's da MAN!


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Wow, that’s some heat! Only time I have grown in those temps were outside in southern Florida. I cannot even imagine growing indoors in that heat. I have to shut my grow down every summer because we are far enough north that a lot of homes don’t have whole house air conditioning and yields suffer because of the heat and humidity in our tents. I don’t know how you do what you are doing and commend you on your efforts. Good luck!

The heat I was worried about was not really environmental, but the fact that the AutoCob is passively cooled with a huge heatsink. In my thinking this heat sink works exceptionally well when positioned over the cob but how well would it keep the cob cool if it were positioned upside down, shining upwards through the canopy? Was more worried about frying the cob, not the plants.

 

[bakEQuatorial]

Wow, that’s some heat! Only time I have grown in those temps were outside in southern Florida. I cannot even imagine growing indoors in that heat. I have to shut my grow down every summer because we are far enough north that a lot of homes don’t have whole house air conditioning and yields suffer because of the heat and humidity in our tents. I don’t know how you do what you are doing and commend you on your efforts. Good luck!

The heat I was worried about was not really environmental, but the fact that the AutoCob is passively cooled with a huge heatsink. In my thinking this heat sink works exceptionally well when positioned over the cob but how well would it keep the cob cool if it were positioned upside down, shining upwards through the canopy? Was more worried about frying the cob, not the plants.

I was worried as hell in the beginning. Still am....about RH mostly. They are practically outdoors cos indoors is outright impossible (Like u said) without AC which imo only creates more problems. My climate is equatorial, so uniformed throughout the year. In short, they are shaded from rain, sun and partially wind. Thats why i need focused lights. The reflectors i have are amazing for this purpose. I'm not in a tent with walls lined up with mylar so need as little light loss as possible. They are great for anyone in my situation, who wants to combine a little bit of both outdoor and indoor growing.

My cobs uses one fan for 2 bulbs but runs relatively cool so pretty sure individual heatsinks (which are supposed to be better) will do the job even better. Also, i place my side Cob sideways sitting down, which covers that side of air holes but it still runs pretty cool. Hope this helps. I have no idea if what im doing will affect longevity of the lights though....

Have you tried asking BigSm0? That would give you the best info imo. What im doing is a chit chat with u at best....lol



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[BigSm0]

Completely stumped. If I said anything more than I’ll try it I’d be lying.

 

[HemiSync]

I was worried as hell in the beginning. Still am....about RH mostly. They are practically outdoors cos indoors is outright impossible (Like u said) without AC which imo only creates more problems. My climate is equatorial, so uniformed throughout the year. In short, they are shaded from rain, sun and partially wind. Thats why i need focused lights. The reflectors i have are amazing for this purpose. I'm not in a tent with walls lined up with mylar so need as little light loss as possible. They are great for anyone in my situation, who wants to combine a little bit of both outdoor and indoor growing.

My cobs uses one fan for 2 bulbs but runs relatively cool so pretty sure individual heatsinks (which are supposed to be better) will do the job even better. Also, i place my side Cob sideways sitting down, which covers that side of air holes but it still runs pretty cool. Hope this helps. I have no idea if what im doing will affect longevity of the lights though....

Have you tried asking BigSm0? That would give you the best info imo. What im doing is a chit chat with u at best....lol

I knew BigSm0 would chime in but was just putting it out there to see if any of our other growers had tried it yet.

Completely stumped. If I said anything more than I’ll try it I’d be lying.

I always prefer the truth, even when being told what crap my LEDs panels really are. I might try running my extra one up through the foliage once it gets thick and see what happens. What’s the worse, I burn out the cob and have to replace it? By then I will have redone 2 or 3 panels and that should be a snap.