Diy agramover

Hey, I have the option of customizing a grow tent for a 20'x 24' room... Im going to build a 15'x 20' grow tent (dimensions are subject to change) and I have recently been researching Light Rails, and Agramovers (which are just "industrial" strength Light Rails)...
I have discovered that since theyre a relatively "new" concept, that there's not too terribly much information out there.... Aside from distributors touting their efficacy, and relative science behind them.. I have found few testimonials...
The way that I understand it (thus far) is that the moving light subsidizes the use of more stationary lights by covering a larger area with essentially the same amount of PAR, and distributing lumens equally (though not constantly) across the canopy... thus allowing you to have fewer lights, more plants, in a larger area... (I know you cant substitute the amount of lights by THAT much by having them be mobile) but there in lies my dilemma.... HOW MUCH?
I have not been able to find any templates, or real guidelines on setting up mobile lighting to absolute efficiency/ efficacy...
I hae heard a few say that if you increase the light spaca/ footprint 2fold (from 4x4 to 4x that your outer plants may suffer, and not recieve as much light...


I am making a custom Grow Tent (from wholesale material/ + PVC) so the dimensions are up to me... and Im trying to grow 75 plants with 6 1000W MH/HPS (and 2000W CFL equally distributed throughout)


My question is... how much running space can I get out of each light (which will ultimately solidify my tent dimensions) I have thought of two configurations that might work... but really I am worried that I dont have enough light...


120,000Φv x 6 = 720,000 Φv / 75 plants = 9600Φv per plant
720,000Φv / 300(2) (15' x 20') = 2400Φv per ft(2)....


(I realize that measuring luminous flux Φv{Lumens} and
luminous intensity Iv {Candelas}
is not the most accurate way to measure the amount light waves emitted... but its a helpful template to reference the amount of µmol you obtain through PAR)


So with 6 stationary lights, staggered throughout my grow area I will produce 720,000Φv which is 7200Φv per meter(2) without (reflectors/ supplementals)
which is pushing it....
So in short... Im just wondering the overall distributable efficacy of making my lights mobile (i.e how long can I make my tracks without losing light on a specific are of my plant??)


I can either do it this way or this way
\/ (widthwise) \/ (lengthwise)


--------------> -----------> <-----------
<-------------- <------------ ----------->
--------------> -----------> <-----------
<--------------
-------------->
<-------------


Any knowledge or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

Think of It like this, your lights puts out at an uneven direction, if you move your light to far and your plant has to suffer with less than 5k lumens then its not worth going over that distance, I recommend honestly just extending a 4x4 to a 5x4 and if you have a lumen/lux meter you should calculate how much light is on the farthest side and how long it will have that lacked light, I dont recommend going to long with the distance as theres like you said very litrle information regarding this topic, but extending an extra foot wont destroy yield, it also depends on how your lights are moving also, from one side to the other or moving just slightly in the middle of the canopy?

I use light rails and think they are awesome, though I am not out for maximum amount as you are.

Here's where I got mine http://www.lightrail3.com/

I have the 3.0 in the veg, it holds one light and I had it running a second light on a slave trolley. Worked great. Now I only use 1 light in veg.

I have the 5.0 commercial mover in the flower room with 3 big ass air cooled hoods on it in a row that have 1000watts in each. That is overkill, should only be 2 hoods in that 8'-10' span, but I really wanted to blast them and use multi spectrum with HPS on the ends and MH in the middle.

I think you could use the 5.0 and 1 slave trolley with 2 1000watt lights on each cross-bar, mounted across the 15' span so the lights travel across the 20' span. This would allow 2' on either side of the 15 foot side for access and 11' of room for growth, and on the 20' side you can control where the lights stop to keep them on th eplants and leave you access all the way around.

If you wanted to you could add another trolley and cross-bar and set of lights, but that enters the realm of do you really need/want it and is the investment worth the return. The added heat and electric cost are also of concern.

Not sure if that answers anything, lol. Hope it helps.

CaptainCAVEMAN said:

I think you could use the 5.0 and 1 slave trolley with 2 1000watt lights on each cross-bar, mounted across the 15' span so the lights travel across the 20' span. This would allow 2' on either side of the 15 foot side for access and 11' of room for growth, and on the 20' side you can control where the lights stop to keep them on th eplants and leave you access all the way around.

If you wanted to you could add another trolley and cross-bar and set of lights, but that enters the realm of do you really need/want it and is the investment worth the return. The added heat and electric cost are also of concern.

Not sure if that answers anything, lol. Hope it helps.

Click to expand...

Thanks man, I really appreciate the input.... Im going to pencil out your scenario, and get back to you shortly (Slave Trolley's an awesome idea)
I checked out the LightRail (3.0/ 5.0) and then Agramover came up... and its essentially the same thing (except its industrial thickness/ strength... and cheaper wholesale) than the LM5.0
but yeah thats EXACTLY what I was looking for is testimonials... So thank you... were trying to blast ours as well, so Im entertaining this idea for maximum production...
As far as configuration (in this pseudo hypothetical paradigm) placement seems very important as Silicity pointed out... and Im trying to make the least time in "the shadow" as possible...
Im thinking that in the second diagram

<----------><---------->
<----------><---------->
<----------><---------->

if I set the lights like

o-----------|-------------o
-----------o|o-------------
o-----------|-------------o

and had them move like

>|<
<|>
>|>

sort of alternating between an "X Shape" and a "Diamond Shape"
that there would be very little darkness, on each area, at any given time
but Im gonna go pencil in the "slave trolley" scenario, into myplatform and see what I can come up with
Thanks again for the input

[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]i agree with CaptainCAVEMAN and LightRail is it. my friend uses it and he swears his plants are doing way better - much better yields!