GanjaGuru said:
I used light "tracks" and was diappointed with the results. I though I could achieve the benefits of extra lights. It didn't work that way.
Plants growth is affected by the intensity of light, not it's mere presence. When the light isn't directly overhead, the plant recieves less than optimum light.
The plant reacts to the presence of the light and the intensity. When that light is taken away for less than an hour, the photosynthesis changes not one bit. The MJ plant won't even "know" that the light was not directly overhead. This has been proven beyond any doubt by scientists. The plants growth and health will not alter in any way what-so-ever, except that the plants yeild and bottom growth will increse, not decrease. There are no differences in how this affects MJ plants.
If you had disapointing results after trying it, it's because you did it incorrectly. If you would like to explain to me how you used the tracks, and what other parameters you used, I'd be more than happy to show you the proper method to use.
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Why move your light?
Moving one light on a 6 foot rail should increase your light's area of coverage by approximately 1.6. This translates into lower operating cost due to higher single light yields. The lumens produced by a grow light decrease the greater the distance from the bulb. To avoid plant killing heat associated with stationary grow lights, the bulb must be kept at a greater distance from the plants. For example, your plants end up getting far less lumens than you are actually paying for. By moving your light, you may run a tighter plant to lamp tolerance (using more of what you are paying for) without generating plant killing heat. Again, this translates into lower operating cost through higher yields. Moving your light from one end of your garden and back will give your garden light at a much greater variety of angles. This allows more light to reach the foliage at the bottom of the plant, which is normally shaded by the foliage at the top of the plant. As a greater portion of the plant takes part in the process of photosynthesis, lower operating costs result from greater yields.
Light movers and light tracks replicate the natural movement of the sun, allowing grow lights to reach all sides of your plants. By spreading the light over a greater area, light movers and tracks promote even growth and are cost-effective since they alleviate the need for multiple lights. Light movers give you the control you need to grow vigorous and uniform plants.
A very popular way to grow more with less setup costs and a lot less running costs. Basically, the light is hung on a long rail. How long is up to you. The light is moved from one end to the other using a silent low wattage motor. When the light gets to one end it stops for approximately 1 minute before making its return journey. In effect, it does the job of two or three lights just using one. This light rail will reduce running costs by half to two thirds depending on the setup.
The most efficient way to use high intensity lights is to have them moving within the grow room. There are many advantages to this, and a number of different ways it can be done. Moving the lights will eliminate plants tendency to grow toward the light source and provide light to areas which otherwise may be shaded. Since the light is moving, it can pass quite close to the plants without burning the leaves. Moving lights cover more area than stationary ones, reducing electricity costs and ensuring more even growth.
More intensity also allows plants to be placed much closer together, greatly increasing yield and quality. The size and shape of your room will determine the type of light mover that will best suite your needs. Lineal light movers carry the light fixture slowly along a track and back again during the light cycle. Most are six feet long, support a single lamp, and are recommended when the growing area is long and narrow. Circular light movers are best when the length and width of the room are similar.
They are designed to carry either one, two, or three lights, ideally lighting a ten by ten foot area. This diameter can be reduced but rarely extended. Two arm and three arm light movers are most popular, with the latter supplying much more light per square foot. More intensity means plants can be placed much closer together, greatly increasing yields.
Light movers are mechanical devices that, as the name implies, move an HID in a fixed pattern over a garden. A light mover can increase the coverage of a light by 140%. The real advantage is MUCH more light is available to the plants when the light is in motion. With a stationary light all that is shaded will remain in the shade, but with a mover the light will hit from different angles giving better coverage.