I bought a couple AC Infinity Ionbeam targeted UV supplemental LED bars (11"), but I’m having a hard time finding reliable info on when to use them during my grow.
I’ve seen recommendations to use them continuously during veg and flower at the same time as the full spectrum lights.
I’ve also read that they should only be used in short bursts during late flower.
Can anyone give some insight on the best use of these lights?
I would personally run those same hours as your main light, regardless if you are veg or bloom 2x 24w is a fair wattage.
Now on the other hand If you were to spend quite a lot of time on the grow room for safety precautions I will turn it into during that period.
UVA/UVB can cause damage to the skin if the exposure time is too long, same goes to plants, if leaves are getting burnt or curly that is your best indicator that you went over the top.
But it all comes to UV spectrum ( A,B )and exposure. now days most of the comercial ‘full spectrum’ lights have them integrated somehow on the bars amongst the rest of the white/ red ones. I don’t think those are powerful either, depending on the model they might be between 0.5 to 2w each, do certainly you are on the safe side if you were to keep them on.
I’ve been running 4 of the small ACI UV bars in my 4x4 for about 4 cycles now. I run them at 100%, attached to my main lights, about 12-18” above canopy.
I run them all 12 hours of lights on. They certainly won’t fry your plants if you run them 12 hours a day.
Having said that, am I accomplishing anything by using them? Beats the hell out of me.
Its UVB your really wanting for adding a bit more potency and terpenes that is used last 2 to 3 weeks of bloom for around 6 to 8 hours daily. Look at t-5 lighting UVB/A reptile bulbs if your wanting summink like this happening more over what a standalone UVA led light will do in the same scenario.
Last i looked LED wasn`t able to produce UVB in the 280-320nm light spectrum hence why we use a t-5, t-8 or cfl UVB/A bulbs. Although I’ve not looked properly for years so LED may have come on a bit more since i did, that said if LED did produce UVB why aren’t they selling them like the do those UVA led strips. Just my opinion on jobby.