Question Best light timing for indoor vegetation period?

droidjordan

Active Member
Apr 11, 2021
42
120
I've been growing outdoor for years and have it pretty much dialed, but am just now starting to grow indoors. I have a 4x3 tent and 2 1500W LEDs, and am wondering:

- What on/off hours have been most successful for people, mostly for vegetation, but also for flowering if anyone uses something other than 12/12,
- Does it vary by strain at all, and
- Any tips about distance from light to plants?

I've read a bunch but would love to hear some real-life opinions, thanks!
 

Colamaker

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2020
900
1,520
Well depends on your light. You said 1500watts is this true watts or Amazon 1500w. Have to look at actual draw. Alot of companies say huge watts like 1500 but it depends on the efficiency of the driver. Example. A led is rated for 10watts x 200 leds that's 2000w. Which it can do but the light would start on fire from the heat. So the driver is usually set to run anywhere from 3 to 5 % efficiency out of 100%. Which drops that huge 1500w to around 150 ish true watts. Most companies will tell you actual draw on the spec sheet. Now in a 3x4 tent at 3000watts would be an atomic bomb flash in the tent and the heat would be crazy even with an exhaust. Im running 340 true watts in a 3x3x6 and venting is needed. In my 2x3x5 tent I'm running 200w and in that tent I have to exhaust the heat. Distance that works for me is 20 to 24 inches for veg 18 to 20 inches for flower. Keeping those distance throughout as ant grows. Depending on heat output some lights can get closer to the plant. Thats where you will have to figure out the happy place of your lights and plants response and adjust accordingly. Indoor photos I run 18/6 until the 12/12 to force the flowering. Autos I run 18/6 for the whole grow. Also the dimmer function comes in handy if plants are getting to much light and heat you can just back it down a notch. Growing indoors and outdoors both have their advantages and disadvantages. In tent watch your height of plant you can only go so high before hitting the lights. Then it's a bitch When you run out of room. Don't let em stretch in the tent lol.
 

droidjordan

Active Member
Apr 11, 2021
42
120
Thanks everyone! And yes, the LEDs are most likely Amazon-type rigs, inherited from my cousin. They're the purple-red kind if that's of any use - it looks like most of the new ones are pure white, but I haven't looked too much into it...

In any case. if I keep up the indoor grow, I'll most likely need to invest in some better lighting. Will keep you all posted on how this one goes, and thanks again for all the input! I will use it wisely :)
 

Colamaker

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2020
900
1,520
I have an 1800 watt updayday amazon that pumps 230 true watts. I doubt each light is pumping 300 to 400. More like 300 for both lamps combined which is plenty of light to grow. Also they are blurple lights. You miss alot of spectrum and that tells me they are not overly powerful.
 

Colamaker

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2020
900
1,520
Yea thats plenty. You'll be over 500 watts. I'm only running 340 watts and I get good outcome. Just watch that heat. 1 of mine heats a tent up pretty good. 2 will be definitely hot. Exhaust it or open the vents to release the heat.
 

droidjordan

Active Member
Apr 11, 2021
42
120
Yea thats plenty. You'll be over 500 watts. I'm only running 340 watts and I get good outcome. Just watch that heat. 1 of mine heats a tent up pretty good. 2 will be definitely hot. Exhaust it or open the vents to release the heat.
My current "tent" in garage has no roof, so I'm thinking it won't need much exhaust - I'm running a circulation fan in there with a humidifier, heater, etc... - but I may be wrong about not needing exhaust...
 

Alphatoy

Humble Helper
Oct 7, 2018
1,974
3,911
Thanks everyone! And yes, the LEDs are most likely Amazon-type rigs, inherited from my cousin. They're the purple-red kind if that's of any use - it looks like most of the new ones are pure white, but I haven't looked too much into it...

In any case. if I keep up the indoor grow, I'll most likely need to invest in some better lighting. Will keep you all posted on how this one goes, and thanks again for all the input! I will use it wisely :)
šŸ¤ when you use a led make sure it is full spectrum and i was finally surprised this last month my electric bill was $40.00 my 60 solar panels finely worked :mask:
 

Alphatoy

Humble Helper
Oct 7, 2018
1,974
3,911
Yes, that was another reason for me to prefer GLR as well.

If you are sure they are grow lights, you can check that part where you plug in your cable to find out the real wattage. I said if you are sure because there are many types of led lights which look like a grow light but it is not, such as aquarium lamps. And led grow lights have veg/bloom switch most of the time. Led grow lights have spesific leds on them to maintain the exact nominal values needed for plants. If they are different they may even harm or not feed your plants.

I dont think they will be working with real 1500w power but still might be around 300-400 w. If so, only one of them might be enough at least for the veg stage. And if it is more than that, 2 lamps with 300-400 real wattage would add some significant amount to your bill. I mean it is no use to waste 800 watts for seedlings or a few plants. But if you have about 5-6 big girls there, go switch to 800 šŸ‘
šŸ¤ Actually they are not Amazon type light they seem to me to be China type lights they are just bought on Amazon:mask:
 


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