Area 51 XGS-190

My PM's are empty, they might be shut off though, I don't really do PMing. If it's something that's tech related and can help someone else in their research and studies, I prefer for it to be discussed in the open. I'll get back to your email shortly.

PetFlora said:

Hey, still waiting to hear from you. PM me if you like. You also have my personal email

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I never thought a spectroradiometer could be so confusing. You are correct about the zero dark reading. This is what Stellarnet told me the 1st time that I called them:

1) Connect the spectro to your computer. 2) While in scope mode, turn on your light source and set your detector integration time so that the peak is right below the top of the chart area. 3) Turn the light off, and click the black lightbulb icon (zero dark). 4) Turn the lamp back on and put in the mode that you want readings from, watts, lux, par, etc...

I did just check the numbers again and this time I'm getting 19% blue. I am 100% positive that there is 15-16% blue. So, the sensor most definitely needs replacing.

I also found a really neat handheld spectroradiometer for 1/2 the price of mine, it only reads from 400-750nm whereas mine does 300-1150nm, but I still want it, for $2500, I'll probably pull the trigger closer to the new year.

MrFlux said:

From the numbers it looks like the peaks are clipped: The integration time of the spectrometer is set too high. That, and not taking a dark reading first (for subtracting ambient light) are classic rookie mistakes of new spectrometer owners

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Eraserhead said:

I did just check the numbers again and this time I'm getting 19% blue. I am 100% positive that there is 15-16% blue. So, the sensor most definitely needs replacing.

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19% blue matches exactly with the spectrum, if by blue you mean the power between 400-500nm. There are 15% of photons inside the 400-500nm range so perhaps that is what you were looking at back then. It helps to state the wavelength ranges and also to state the percentage of what exactly, it can be the percentage of power or it can be the percentage of number of photons (umols).

On the topic of the green gap, I am seeing that this is just typical for white spectra. Be it warm, neutral or cold white or any combination, there is always a glut of >40% power in the 500-600nm green range. The exceptions would be extreme warm whites (like 2200K), high-CRI parts and the Oslon SSL 2700K. These exceptions all have low efficiency. It looks like that for an efficient all-white spectrum the green gap is just a given.

MrFlux said:

19% blue matches exactly with the spectrum, if by blue you mean the power between 400-500nm. There are 15% of photons inside the 400-500nm range so perhaps that is what you were looking at back then. It helps to state the wavelength ranges and also to state the percentage of what exactly, it can be the percentage of power or it can be the percentage of number of photons (umols).

On the topic of the green gap, I am seeing that this is just typical for white spectra. Be it warm, neutral or cold white or any combination, there is always a glut of >40% power in the 500-600nm green range. The exceptions would be extreme warm whites (like 2200K), high-CRI parts and the Oslon SSL 2700K. These exceptions all have low efficiency. It looks like that for an efficient all-white spectrum the green gap is just a given.

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This is absolutely true^^ .............that's why very high lm per watt is going to be necessary IMO for all "white" panels......I would still like dedicated 660nm in mine though

And although I have used it in both led and HOT5s, I have yet to see 660 do anything to justify adding it. Plus, 630 provides 95% of the PR mj needs, so... MAYBE Sat doms will benefit... MAYBE. Of course YMMV

PSUAGRO. said:

This is absolutely true^^ .............that's why very high lm per watt is going to be necessary IMO for all "white" panels......I would still like dedicated 660nm in mine though

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PetFlora said:

And although I have used it in both led and HOT5s, I have yet to see 660 do anything to justify adding it.

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So you have used LED and HOT5 without 660nm aswell?

PetFlora said:

And although I have used it in both led and HOT5s, I have yet to see 660 do anything to justify adding it. Plus, 630 provides 95% of the PR mj needs, so... MAYBE Sat doms will benefit... MAYBE. Of course YMMV

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660nm
Guod!

GroenJoe said:

Anyone who is interested in buying a Area 51 light can use the discount code DISCOUNT50 to get 50 bucks off (usable for both the SGS and XGS)

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hi Joe,
where can I get "Code" for DISCOUNT50

thx

prozor7 said:

hi Joe,
where can I get "Code" for DISCOUNT50

thx

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Take a second and read that again.

Of course. How else would I be able to say it? Unless of course, I was trying to sell something.

Keep in mind I have had the same push-back when I first started suggesting "White Power" for growing, well over a year ago. And now, A51 is coming out with an all-white panel (with no 660 as far as I know). I doubt seriously they introduced it without having tested it

Chronikool said:

So you have used LED and HOT5 without 660nm aswell?

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PetFlora said:

Keep in mind I have had the same push-back when I first started suggesting "White Power" for growing, well over a year ago. And now, A51 is coming out with an all-white panel (with no 660 as far as I know). I doubt seriously they introduced it without having tested it

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I just dont recall you using an 'all white' LED all the way through any of your grows....saying it and using it are 2 very different things my friend....

And i certainly hope you arent suggesting you were the 1st to suggest white LED's for growing...

Also what has Area-51 got to do with you and a all white panel...?

To refresh your memory, all you have to do is go to my last grow, where I divided the led tent in half and added the R/B ufo 90 with 660 on one half, all white (3000K) on the other.

No not the first. My mentor from IC awakened me back in early May of 2012.

I have/had no input- A51 came upon an all white after doing their own R & D. All I meant was a bonafied company, who already has a good LED panel reputation growing mj, has chosen the white route, which is further evidence that it has merit.

Chronikool said:

I just dont recall you using an 'all white' LED all the way through any of your grows....saying it and using it are 2 very different things my friend....

And i certainly hope you arent suggesting you were the 1st to suggest white LED's for growing...

Also what has Area-51 got to do with you and a all white panel...?

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PetFlora said:

To refresh your memory, all you have to do is go to my last grow, where I divided the led tent in half and added the R/B ufo 90 with 660 on one half, all white (3000K) on the other.

.

I have/had no input- A51 came upon an all white after doing their own R & D. All I meant was a bonafied company, who already has a good LED panel reputation growing mj, has chosen the white route, which is further evidence that it has merit.

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Fair enough...my apologies...im sure you are right....im not going to go back and sift through your journal....

Its just your wording of post #49 that needs to be clarified.

Since you are using an 'older' 660nm UFO do you think that they affected your results....they may have faded...as you once told me that red LED's last less time then blue LED's...although im sure i agree with this..

A-51 seems to be a great company....there seems to be a lot of happy customers around here.. i just do my own research and consider my own results...i started using all white LED's based on the basis of white CFL's and my own naivety/curiosity....not because a company was using them. However...i agree that A-51 is a company progressing the evolution of white LED's.

PetFlora said:

when I first started suggesting "White Power" for growing, well over a year ago....No not the first. My mentor from IC awakened me back in early May of 2012

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So you meant.... when someone else suggested it and you posted in RIU

I took his 411 on white and applied it to confirm his results, or hypothesis. My 3 yo R/B ufo has not seen much use, but yes new 660 are likely better, but that does not negate the fact that 95% of PSR for mj lies in < 630. IMHO, why waste space on diodes/engines that barely do anything?

Chronikool said:

Fair enough...my apologies...im sure you are right....im not going to go back and sift through your journal....

Its just your wording of post #49 that needs to be clarified.

Since you are using an 'older' 660nm UFO do you think that they affected your results....they may have faded...as you once told me that red LED's last less time then blue LED's...although im sure i agree with this..

A-51 seems to be a great company....there seems to be a lot of happy customers around here.. i just do my own research and consider my own results...i started using all white LED's based on the basis of white CFL's and my own naivety/curiosity....not because a company was using them. However...i agree that A-51 is a company progressing the evolution of white LED's.



So you meant.... when someone else suggested it and you posted in RIU

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Hey pet

i got a long ways to catch up with some of the things you've tried. I think the deep reds do have some merit though. Just on the fact alone it's missing in most of the more efficient white leds available. If they can manage to make the high cri or warmer whites more efficient than it probably wouldn't be necessary.

one thing I've noticed in my progression with leds. From white floros, just a few bands prosource, to many bands first gen. spectra, to almost every band current light. The quality has improved with added spectrums. Aroma, stickiness, and overall health all seem better.

Sure a all white super efficient led light may out yield whites that are supplemented. But can it produce the highest quality possible while leaving out a lot of the spectrum?

but my mind is completely open to the idea of all white. It will be a wonderful thing if one type of led is all it takes. I can't wait to see what these new area 51s can do!

Even with the reduction in efficiency due to the coating, aren't the high CRI whites still extremely efficient as far as light sources go? Even more so considering that the spectrum fits so well with the requirements of the active chemicals (chlorophyll, carotene etc.)?

is this the upgrade those with the sgs-160 have been waiting for? they say its a $225 drop in upgrade, wonder if it's worth it

Goldy>> from my understanding once you start pushing some current through ww their efficiency drops quickly. Then the neutrals start looking better.

The xte in the Area 51 has a sweet spectrum on paper though. Could work awesome

chimone>> $225 upgrade!? Damn, I wouldn't buy anything but Area 51 if their going to support upgrades. The way this tech is moving that's the only way to go

What's the recommended coverage for this panel? Is it the 32"x32" listed on the site? I've seen in another thread that 2 panels was suggested for a 4'x4' space and other mentions that there is an A51 panel coming out with legit 3'x3' coverage.

Specifically, I'm wondering what the recommended coverage is for use in a larger space, rather than a tent. Say 12'x16' - would I need like a million panels for this?

Am I the only one who wants to see a showdown of this light versus the AT200? It might settle some of the red spectrum debate. I've basically got interested in LEDs a week ago and have been e-bingeing trying to get up to speed. Does anyone have a good resource for learning more detail on spectrum?

Try reading the astir thread in the led section. Long read but lots of information regarding spectrum..