opinion on 2 different light set ups

18 years ago

I am hoping you guys can give me your opinion on 2 different light set ups that have been suggested to me.

Beginning next winter, I will be using my garage to overwinter a bunch of tropical and sub-tropical fruit trees (eg lychee, mangosteen, citrus, mango) and tropical plants (eg anthuriums, heloconias). The garage is approx 12ft long, 8ft wide and 10 ft high. from april to November, the plants will be outdoors.

Thr first option, will clearly be simpler to set up but a friend has given me a second option that he thinks will provide better lighting (i.e, enable to the plants to flower and fruit more).

If people agree with his assessment, I would be willing to forgo the convenience of option 1 (either way, I will have an electrician install whichever option I go for). Please let me know what you think.

option 1- Super spectrum lighting

approximately 2000w made up of 3 super spectrum lights (1000w, 6000w, and 400w [ I already own a 600w, so I dont have the option of simply buying 2x1000w)

http://www.3rlighting.com/oregon/WESTlights5.html

option 2- gavita lamp option

3 gavita lamps

3 600W HPS ballast

2 pulse start ballast

2 pulse start lamps

2 lumenmax reflector

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Comments (4)

object16
18 years ago
Please study the scientific evaluation of the lumenmax reflector. It kicked the butt out of all other reflectors tested in this very exhaustive study.

Here is a link that might be useful: Notice in this study how lumenmax captures just about all of the light, compared to other commercial reflectors, and the incredibly even pattern of illumination, which is why I bought 4 for myself.
object16
18 years ago
Also check out the spectacular performance of the Gavita reflectorized lamp, there really is nothing like it, and the lamp is cheap to boot!!! It comes in 400W and 600W, and is available cheap from HTG supply. Click on the link to show the certified photometric data of the reflector pattern --
there is just nothing to compare to -- a no brainer in my opinion, which is why I only use the Gavita lamp for my growing. Because the lamp has no external reflector, it stays much cooler than a lamp that is housed in an external reflector, and is easily cooled by convection. Disclaimer:
I am a pathologist, with no links to any lamp manufacturers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Certified photometric data on the Gavita lamp, again, it kicks the butt out of all other lamps, and I don't know why anyone would buy any other lamp.
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object16
18 years ago
It's really exciting to live at this time in history when we have available to us such high tech products that almost anyone who has a decent job can afford. I have discovered these things for myself, by looking at all that's available out there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Click on the thumbnails on this link to admire the engineering involved in producing a reflectorized lamp!
object16
18 years ago
Option 1 uses a single reflector for both MH and HPS lamps, so it's a compromise IMO. The reflector is 2 dimensional, compared to the designs of system 2 with 3 dimensional reflectors, and also compromised by using older technology MH. I just don't see the photometric data on system 1, and it's just a bent metal low tech reflector, that just won't be as even as the newer designs, which is why the manufacturer does not publish the data, and no one really bothers to analyze them the way they do with the more serious upgraded refectors. I hope someone else has something to say.
Paul Mozarowski

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to 3R lighting, anyone else with comments?