Quick question. Not a noob. Pics included.

Alright. Quick question here. I'm running a few different autoflowers (don't diss them yet) as an experiment under my new LEDs (Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 with 10 Watt CREEs). The plants appreciate these lights quite a bit. I'm on day 14 of flower. The seeds sprouted on July 4, so these plants are doing quite well. Pretty sure that these things are way ahead of the curve even for autos.

My question is this. Right now, I have the lights about 2 feet above the average top of the canopy (some of the buds went skyrocketing upward and are about 10 inches from the light). The owner's manual says the lights shouldn't be closer than like 24 inches. Could I drop the lights a lot closer and pound the plants for a while without bleaching the hell out of them?

The colas that are closer to the light seem to be having no problems, and overall the light penetration is astounding, but I'm all about experimenting, which explains why I'm running all these autos right now. On the other hand, I don't want to completely burn what is a pretty dank and sparkly group of plants.

To lower the lights or not to lower them. That is the question. Of course, I would tie the taller colas over sides to even the canopy out if I lowered the lights. All in all I'm impressed with autos, and very glad to have ditched my HPS set up. Been doing this sixteen years. Never seen such a happy lot of ladies. Buds everywhere on them. I heard a lot of strange things about LEDs and autos, but I trust my own eyes.

Can I drop those lights and really give it to them or should I just stay the course? Heat from the lights is not an issue at all.

I think I put this in the wrong category. Maybe it should be in LED section or general. Would like some answers.

what len's do your panels have ?

12-24 " depending on the lenses if there narrow then farther away wider can get a little closer
i usually run 12-16" with the 3w 120 degree leds that i have
the blues will bleach up close as will ir and uv from my experience

I have no idea with led. but do have experience with 1000 watt mh and hps. AND cfl all I can tell you we put those close as possible some times the leaves hit the reflectors. just put your back of your hand under the light if you can keep it there and its not hot for a few minits. the plants wont mind it. so place it like I said butttttttt check on them with in an hour or so on and off look for leafs (CURLING) if none are then your good to goo. just keep close tabs on them for the few first days. and the closer the better . more penetration

tekdc911 said:

what len's do your panels have ?

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The 10w CREES (there are ten of these per panel) have 90 degree collimator lenses. The other LEDs (all 3ws) look to have the exact same bulbousness as the CREES, but I can't find the specs. I think they are all 90 degrees, which explains the better penetration but the smaller coverage area. Maybe I should just stay the course and see how they do. I don't like burning plants until after the cure.

if you were me If I had only a few plants I would put the light very close, makes a huge difference in yield, small risk for a huge return, and more harvest down the road,

kinddiesel said:

if you were me If I had only a few plants I would put the light very close, makes a huge difference in yield, small risk for a huge return, and more harvest down the road,

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But if I bleach them with the lights, then I'll just end up throwing it all away. Can't smoke that crap, so it's not really a small risk in terms of what could go wrong (I could ruin it all). Those lights are pounding the plants and if I drop the lights down, I'm dropping four very powerful panels down onto 26 plants. Oh, hell, I think I'm going to do it just to see what happens if I move in to the 8 inch range. I've got an outdoor crop going too, so... I will lower them tomorrow during lights out. I might make a bunch of albino weed and give it to the junkies down the street or something. I doubt anyone I know would even want bleached buds.

you can probably get away with 16-20 inches
you really have to adjust it until you find that sweet spot
if it bleaches its to close only real way to tell did you try the led section maybe someone is running the same panel

Wait. I'm an idiot. I can just lower one panel and experiment with 1/4 of the plants at close range. Criminy. Where'd my damn brain go?

you need to do what you think is correct. like I said I don't have any experience with led, in my experience closer the better, best to keep it safe if you cant afford a loss. 26 plants is some thing not many people can afford .

tekdc911 said:

you can probably get away with 16-20 inches
you really have to adjust it until you find that sweet spot
if it bleaches its to close only real way to tell did you try the led section maybe someone is running the same panel

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I wandered around the LED section for the past few weeks but didn't see anyone running it. Maybe there's a mod who could drop this thread into the LED section?

I will look harder. Good idea, Tek.

wouldnt advise getting any closer then a foot honestly

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/grow-lighting/184946-led-angle-light-burn.html read this ! just educated my self,

honestly if you gave the spec on the led
3w cree 90 degree lens one of the led guru's could probably tell you where to place it
its the led and lens is all that really matters

tekdc911 said:

you can probably get away with 16-20 inches
you really have to adjust it until you find that sweet spot
if it bleaches its to close only real way to tell did you try the led section maybe someone is running the same panel

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Hey, Tek. If those the tallest colas are like ten inches to 12 inches away from the lights, and they don't look bleached at all, can I assume that's a safe distance. Those tallest tops don't seem to be having a problem after more than a week up that close. Does LED bleaching happen right away or does it only show after weeks of exposure? Thanks.

ya its fairly fast acting if you have more than one panel i had luck with lowering the outside edges a bit kinda helps get around those tall cola's if you're not running crazy amounts of plants

kinddiesel said:

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/grow-lighting/184946-led-angle-light-burn.html read this ! just educated my self,

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You just blew my mind!

i use 3w and when i had it close enough to bleach it did so very slowly.. slow enough that i left it there for an extra day or two after i noticed it.. but that was just my experience.. and also tecdc911 was correct: it was only the buds that were under the blue lens that bleached for me.. and it definitely wasn't enough bleaching that i wouldn't smoke it.. if it was me i'd lower it half way to my final intended height for a cpl days then lower to where you want

CREE makes great LED's, i have used many of their products over the years and I am glad they are finally getting the attention they deserve. I use them at work on a daily basis, we use their X lamps mainly. Did you make this light fixture or did you purchase it? What brand is it?