I commonly see confusion where light coverage is concerned. Don’t worry, it can be an difficult concept. Advertising for lights are purposefully difficult to understand sometimes. Anything to get us to part with our money, right? Although we can apply these concepts to any light and any sized space, here I’ll break it down in order to answer the question: “Will the Mars Hydro TSW 2000 light work in my 4’x4′ space?”
I don’t recommend or advise against this light, but am using it as an example because the price point make it a reasonable choice for a new grower, and you have to analyze each light on it’s own merits. The short answer is; “No, it won’t cover a 4’x4′ space.” let me explain why.
First, in order to bring cannabis through it’s flowering phase and turn out the best possible product, you want PPFD (measurement of light intensity) between 600 – 1000. This is the number your looking for int he coverage charts that any reputable manufacturer should provide.
Look closely at the Mars Hydro TSW 2000 light coverage chart above. Note that the edges of 2’x2′ (lightest blue) comes in at just under the 600 PPFD rating mentioned above. This means that this light will cover ~2’x2′ area for flowering. Pretty simple, right?
NOTE: Technically, I’d say that this light only covers 1.5’x1.5′ adequately – but let’s work with a 2’x2′ for discussion purposes.
How many of these lights would it take to cover this area? At first blush, someone might blurt out that it will take two lights, but this is wrong.
Have a look at this simple graphic of a 4’x4′ space. The blue area is a 2’x2′ footprint and is the coverage of the light in question. It will take 4 of these lights to fill an entire 4’x4′ tent. Wow! Four of these lights will cost more than $1000. Perhaps it makes more sense to save some money and buy a $1000 light that will cover that same space and provide even more light. The Grower’s Choice ROI-e680 is one such light and I do recommend it for a 4’x4′ space – it performs rather well!
Never fear – why not purchase the light to start your grow, then save and upgrade later to a larger light and then use the TSW2000 for your vegetative area? It can also work as a backup just in case.
Whatever you decide, remember to use your light(s) for the area they are rated for. Your cannabis will under-perform if you stretch that boundary. Under-performing plants won’t be perfectly healthy. Plants at less than 100% health can invite pests, decreases yield dramatically, and can reduce cannabinoid and terpene production as well.
Happy Harvests!
— The Lit Farmer —
