You should go with the six 600 watters you get more coverage and fuck a light rail that shit is Jank when u can just put a light over it all the time instead of having a lite over it partially of the time
Do I need to do the math for you (2)1000W HPS versus (6)600W? Let us say you pay 10 cents per kilowatt hour, and you are running these lights on a simple 12/12 schedule everyday for a year.
(2)1000W = 2kw per hour
(6)600W = 3.6kw per hour
365 days x 12 hours per day = 4,380 hours total
Now that we have the total hours, we can calculate the cost of each individual setup.
(2)1000W; 4,380 hours x 2kw per hour x .10 cents per kw = $876 per year to constantly run (2)1000W HPS bulbs 12 hours a day all year.
(6)600W; 4,380 hours x 3.6kw per hour x .10 cents per kw = $1,576.8 per year to constantly run (6)1000W HPS bulbs 12 hours a day all year.
Now since you are going to be growing over the exact same area, a 12'x4' table, why on earth would you run so much light, do you honestly believe that you are going to be able to yield such a substantial amount of marijuana in comparison to someone running 2 1000W? Do you believe you will make up for the amount of electricity used? I didn't even account for keeping temperatures cool and how much easier it is to run ducting to two lights as opposed to six lights.
If a 600W covers a 4'x4' area and a 1000W covers a 5'x5' area, and you are running a 12'x4' table which is a total of 48 square feet. Now since 1000W covers 25 square feet, and two cover 50 square feet, why on earth would you go with 6 600W that would give you a total of 16x6= 96 square feet. You are wasting light, and wasting money, and efficient growing is how we are going to save the planet.
Yeah, I hear you. I don't believe in that light mover stuff really. I don't buy the coverage claims of the light companies either. It's clear as day to see that those coverage claims are a little off. Anything not directly under the light greatly under performs. That's why I was asking really. I've never used 1000Ws before, and don't have any idea just how powerful they are.
Don't believe in that "light mover stuff"? Tell me, do plants in nature get sunlight from one direction? Also on top of that, do you honestly believe that any plant not receiving direct sunlight "under performs"? If that was a reality then nothing would grow in the shade, all fan leaves under the canopy would immediately die and there would be no lower buds on the branches. Which clearly isn't true, so just because you have a bud 10" from the bulb and another bud 18" from the bulb you're trying to tell me that you could discern once dried and cured between those two top colas? No, you can't.
I'll likely pass on the light movers, but your relay idea is intriguing. Thanks.
Its more than intriguing, it is the most efficient way to grow.
You said sealed room, so I assume AC. 2-1000 watt hortilux bulbs with lumatek ballasts in large adjusta wings reflectors will work great. No need for more than two lights or a light mover. I know it's pushing it but I'd challenge you to find a dead spot of light.
A light mover would cover the discrepancy of the 1 foot not being covered by the 5'x5' footprint of the bulbs. Also what do you mean by "dead spot", no light? Not going to happen, but take a meter for measuring light intensity and you will see towards the edges how much the intensity will drop off.