Im very interested in vertical grows & to my understanding the best way to find out the right position to place your plants for the ideal point of penetration is by using a light meter. Although Ive never used one Id like to ask the growers who have which light meter would you recommend & what exactly should I be aiming for & in what units or measurements?

Been a vert convert for a couple of years mate and its the first time I've heard of this! Light meter ? Forget it and get on with the grow.

He he he, thats what another grower said from a different forum. How do I know where exactly to place the plants because once the system is built I wont be able to move it around, what if the plants arnt receiving enough light or if they're too close theyll probably burn right?

you could try putting a round mesh cage around your light with a fan in there too somewhere pointing at the light. Should keep it all from burning up.

Your hand is a great heat meter - just hold your hand there and if it's too warm it's too warm

Alternatively I've got an IR thermometer...cost about 20 quid....just aim it at the leaves to see how hot it is.

GN

That IR Thermometer could come in handy could you PM me with a link of the product please?

Can't PM you - tried. I think you need more posts.

Google IR thermometer, or non-contact thermometer. They've got them on fleabay for under a tenner but I'd be cautious of the super cheap chinese stuff.

GN

Ill check it out thank alot mate.

hxxp://bigbro.biophys.cornell.edu/~toombes/Science_Education/Light_Meter/Build_Your_Own_Light_Meter.pdf

Cheap enough to build onto a breadboard if you don't like soldering. I'd use an analog meter for the readout as all we need the meter for is comparing light levels and analog would be quicker than digital.

Thats a neat little tutorial thanks.