Spectrabox UFO 200W

The Spectrabox UFO 200W is the largest of the three: 200 watts at 2.8 µmol per joule, passively cooled and IP66, with the same 120 degree lens as its smaller siblings.

The vegetative area is not the flowering area

Almost every grow light is given a single area figure, and that figure pretends a lamp always lights the same space. It does not, and the manufacturer of this range says so themselves: at full power the vegetative area is 40 to 50 percent larger than the flowering one.

That sounds odd, because the lamp does not change. What changes is how much light is needed per square metre. A plant in vegetative growth does fine on a moderate intensity, so you may spread the available light across a wider area. Once flowering starts the requirement per square metre rises sharply, and the same lamp then covers only the middle properly. The edges do not go dark, they fall below par.

For this lamp that means 90 by 60 centimetres in flower and up to 100 by 100 in veg. Two figures for one fixture, and the smaller one is what you buy your tent against.

There are two practical ways to handle it. You can pick the tent on the flowering area and accept spare room during veg, which is the quiet route. Or you can run two crops side by side under one lamp, veg at the edges and flower in the middle, which asks more attention but uses the area better.

Technical Specifications:

• Model: UFO 200W
• Power: 200 W
• Efficiency: 2.8 µmol/J
• Flowering area: 90 x 60 cm
• Vegetative area: up to 100 x 100 cm
• Lens: 120 degrees, 90 degrees optional
• Minimum hanging distance: 10 cm above the crop
• Dimming: 0 to 10 V, dimmer available separately
• Driver: Sosen
• Cooling: passive, no fan
• Protection rating: IP66
• Warranty: 3 year manufacturer warranty

Frequently asked questions

Which figure do I buy my tent against?
The flowering area. That is the stage with the highest requirement per square metre.

Why is the difference so large?
Because a plant in vegetative growth settles for less light per square metre, so the same light may cover more ground.

Can I put it in a 100 by 100 tent?
For vegetative growth, comfortably. In flower it lights the middle of that to par.

Is the dimmer included?
No, you choose it separately. Dimming is most useful during vegetative growth.