Fluence Vypers [edit: Spydrs] are top-line but used mainly by commercial greens and herbs (not HERB) growers. The lights are meant to be used 6 inches from the canopy, typically in stacked vertical racks.
Keep that in mind - 8 inch tall hydroponic spinach has different light requirements that 3 foot mj plants. I would worry about penetration below the canopy. I note that Fluence’s spectral tests indicate the measurements were taken 6 inches from the lights. Most other grow light tests are done 12-18 inches from the light. Inverse square law of light says any light is 4x as intense at 6 inches than at 12 inches.
I’d second Lotus’ rec of Timber Lights (their 4-Vero 29 rack seems like a good basic light) if you are sold on LED, but if you are serious about lighting 100 sf I still believe HID is probably the better solution all-in. Check out ceramic metal halide technology.
At the current state of the technology, I think LED’s point of diminishing returns over HID is about the 1500-2000 watt region. That is changing quickly, but you can outfit your entire space in HID for the cost of a couple of Vypers that will maybe cover 25% of it well.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge LED fan. But for larger spaces, HID still has the edge, imo.
They say it’s actually 685W @ 1100umoL/s max. But COBs give you exactly that for this rig… And cheaper too, plus if you need to service the lamp you won’t have to ship it. Just couple of points of soldering and voila! Lamp working again… Not to mention it brings it own dimmer, which is detachable, and waterproof. Also 10Amp surge protector.
You mean Fluence Sypder - it’s the lower-intensity one designed to be close to the canopy. The Vyper is their higher intensity lightbar-style fixture, it should be good coverage for a 3X3 or 3X4 flowering area. (I have no connection to these guys, I just bought P.L. Hortiled Top led’s, similar 320w fixture)
Here’s my P.L. Hortiled Top “dream” light setup I bought to celebrate legalization - full-spectrum veg on the right, Cannablum spectrum on the left. These were $950 each vs. $750 for Vypers, but the efficiency of PL’s flowering light is better at 2.7 umo/J vs. 2.2 umol/J for the Vyper. PL’s full spectrum light is more similar to Fluence at 2.3 umol/J.
Full spectrum is really nice for viewing & working on the plants, but I did get sick yield amounts under the Cannablum pink one. These are all super nice lights, Fluence made in Texas, the Hortileds are made in Holland
i did a lot of research on both the VyperX (or Plus) and the SpydrX (r Plus)
VyperX: For greenhouses, to aid natural light, these fixtures usually hang about 15 feet from the ground providing supplemental light, for outdoor grows in a greenhouse. Same with the “Plus” version, which is currently being used by MJ growers because it’s very poderful.
SpydrX: For vegetative purposes only. “Plus” version allows 4x4 area to be fully covered with light since the foot print is 4x4 exactly. CO2 highly recommended if not necessary with this fixture. They recommend taking off the bars during veg, and to re-attach them for flowering since they currently do not carry a dimmer compatible with either fixture, they had it but took it off the market because it needed a lot of updates and they usually would fail and the need for troubleshooting was too much. The name was “Solunar”.
I like their Ray fixture too, was going to use it for veg but the Hortiled dims so I’m covered. Fluences’ fixtures tend to be very lightweight compared to most others.
Hopeully prices drop soon, I could use a couple Ray22 for all sorts of stuff, they’re less than a pound.
Now guys im get lost, its to much info for me lol. Maybe someone can send link here with specific lamp and tell me how many lamps i need in that area? Its be better thatlamp fits for all phases, thanks agin guys
Here is a thread I may be able to add to. I started playing with LED lighting back in 2010 when some of the first things actually stated working. I’ve also toured Illumitex and BML/Now Fluence and own lights from both companies. Built a couple of production lights as well
To the OP personally I would pass on Kind. I have never owned one nor used one but I know people who have owned them. There are certainly worse lights out there, but at that price range there are also far better lights.
I am currently testing a SPYDRx Plus on a mover to test a theory of mine that I have not seen done. Another thread for sure.
Also recently finished 6 plants with an Illumitex NS fixture [apparently now not made] with 270 watts and went a little over 1.76GPW.
The tech certainly isn’t for everyone, but the positives certainly out weigh the negatives.
@MadScientist I am curious as to why you would want a dimmer? I have a couple of friends at another site who run the larger DS fixtures from Illumitex and they have dimmers. On those the entire fixture is wired together at arrival, but the SPYDR has plug and play light bars which to my knowledge can be unplugged, so one can run every other bar. I’ve not read up on if that is doable but I have had one of the plugs be loose and a light not work here or there a minute.
I only ask because a lot of LED growers I know use the big lights only in their flower room, and smaller lights with a different spectrum entirely in veg.
Food for thought in any event to someone reading along.
to the OP couple of brands to look at if you want the best out there.
All of these are slight overkill for a 3x3, they could do more like 1 square meter. If the prices are too high I would just do 400w HPS, perfect for 3x3, get the Hortilux bulb.
Muleskinner i need them all to mixin room? Or just need to buy one kind ofthese lamps you showed me? If i need buy one kind how many vypers i need in that room for good light?
If you are at indeed 10x10 feet, 3.05 meters x 3.05 meters then you would need four. I’m assuming a lot here though, so it also could be as little as 2. The suggested coverage area is 4 feet or 1.22 meters, and the coverage is all spelled out on their site.
Each light can yield up to and possibly beyond 3lbs or 1.36 KG which has already been done, so a better understanding of what your after may be the better way to approach your lighting.
So it’s 10X10 and not 3x3? Of the Vyper & Hortiled Top I would say 8 of them to cover the 100 sqf. One of these 320 watters covers about 1 square meter.
If you’re spending that much money I would talk to Fluence about lamps and coverage area, they’re very helpful over the phone.
