Light Movers: Are they worth it?

chazbolin

chazbolin

Well-Known Member
Maybe I'm doing something wrong on my search but I don't see alot of advice on the use of light movers. I'm going to try and cover a 20' x 10' area and was thinking it would take two lights instead of the four I'd usually use to do it. But then I was thinking the ends would not get as much light as the middle points.

Has anyone here used them and seen the yields go up without having to run twice as many lights. Any advice, pictures of comments would be appreciated.
 
Dank Hands

Dank Hands

Active Member
well the ends never get quite as much light wether you have a mover or not. I have only seen a light mover used in 1 grow. If I can remember correctly, the Yield was increased by about 25% when compared to the same setup without the mover. I dont think you can get a 100% increase like u want. There deffinately isnt much usage of light movers on this forum unfortunately :sad:
 
dannyboy602

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
i'm using light rails for the first time. they are great! i think they work best if you have a lot of light to spread around, like 1000 watts. they don't work as good if your using a weak light source. you can double your footprint with light rails.
Christmas 2011 016.jpg
 
karr

karr

Well-Known Member
The middle will get more direct light as the light passes overhead twice in the same amount of time as each end gets one pass. Some light movers can pause at the end of each pass so that the ends get a little more exposure, but most simply bump a switch in the track to change directions so the ends get maybe 70% of the light exposue that the middle gets.

You do introduce new angles of light which helps develop bigger lower branches and more even production. If possible you can rotate the middle out to the sides continually to keep things more or less equal.


I should mention though, 10x20 is a lot of space to cover. That would be an incredibly long track and the 10ft width is too wide to cover with a single lit mover. Maybe two movers then its 5ft wide, i would also add in some stationary bare bulbs or your going to get some fluffy buds for sure.
 
T

thelightstuff

Active Member
As mentioned in the quote, you should be able to set your rails to pause the lights at each end to compensate for the double pass they make in the middle.
I noted this YouTube channel were there are grow/flower videos within a fairly dark greenhouse, using rails to get better results.

The grow also used some more efficient lights on one side and HID on the other.
:peace:
karr said:
The middle will get more direct light as the light passes overhead twice in the same amount of time as each end gets one pass. Some light movers can pause at the end of each pass so that the ends get a little more exposure, but most simply bump a switch in the track to change directions so the ends get maybe 70% of the light exposue that the middle gets.

You do introduce new angles of light which helps develop bigger lower branches and more even production. If possible you can rotate the middle out to the sides continually to keep things more or less equal.


I should mention though, 10x20 is a lot of space to cover. That would be an incredibly long track and the 10ft width is too wide to cover with a single lit mover. Maybe two movers then its 5ft wide, i would also add in some stationary bare bulbs or your going to get some fluffy buds for sure.
Click to expand...
 
LT1RX7 Drifter

LT1RX7 Drifter

Active Member
get more lights, a area that big would not benefit from movers as the time lapse would be to long from end to end , fyi a area that big needs a minimum of 8k
 
hyroot

hyroot

Well-Known Member
chazbolin said:
Maybe I'm doing something wrong on my search but I don't see alot of advice on the use of light movers. I'm going to try and cover a 20' x 10' area and was thinking it would take two lights instead of the four I'd usually use to do it. But then I was thinking the ends would not get as much light as the middle points.

Has anyone here used them and seen the yields go up without having to run twice as many lights. Any advice, pictures of comments would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Light movers work good just so as long as you move them in no more than 2 to 3 feet depending on the light in each direction from the center. There can not be darkspots. If you move the light more than that, there will be dark spots and bud size and yield will suffer. if you keep light directly over plants with out moving covering everything. You will have a better yield. .Ive seen and done the light movers. I would rather run more lights especially since they cost about te same. Its much easier to hang a light then mount a light mover.
 
K

KushDog

Active Member
light movers are the NUMBER ONE upgarde.

I got 1.5 oz off a plant under 2 13w cfls 2700k &5000k, they got swung by a small electic motor. every since than, I see how much it is worth it

medicalMJ 007.jpg
 
bigv1976

bigv1976

Well-Known Member
How much electricity does a rail use? I am thinking about going from 2 stationary 600s to a single 1000 watt on a mover.
 
Endur0xX

Endur0xX

Well-Known Member
KushDog said:
light movers are the NUMBER ONE upgarde.

I got 1.5 oz off a plant under 2 13w cfls 2700k &5000k, they got swung by a small electic motor. every since than, I see how much it is worth it

View attachment 1990707
Click to expand...

the light mover uses more energy than the CFL haha!! nice one man, I thought of doing something similar but I was told that my engine was too weak (I meant to move HIDs with mine) and it's now rotting in the basement hehe, maybe in the future I ll give it another shot
 
doc111

doc111

Well-Known Member
bigv1976 said:
How much electricity does a rail use? I am thinking about going from 2 stationary 600s to a single 1000 watt on a mover.
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I'll trade ya! I have a 1000w on a 4 ft. mover and am thinking of switching to 2 stationary 600's.
:mrgreen:
Do you mind if I ask why you want to switch to a single 1000w light instead of the 2 600's? I was under the impression that 2 600's would give a better yield than a single 1000w, even WITH a light mover.:-?
 
cowboylogic

cowboylogic

Well-Known Member
dannyboy602 said:
i'm using light rails for the first time. they are great! i think they work best if you have a lot of light to spread around, like 1000 watts. they don't work as good if your using a weak light source. you can double your footprint with light rails.
View attachment 1967457
Click to expand...
What he said. Also dont worry about the ends as the light rail has an adjustable pause that can be used at the ends. Its takes some tuning in, but once you get it all worked out you will love it. And your yields will increase. Stay away from Hydrofarms chain drive pc of crap, they suck!
 
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