How Many GE35 Bars Fit on a Standard 1.2m Shelf? Layout Guide

One of the most common questions commercial growers ask when designing a vertical farm or shelf-based growing system is how many LED bars they need per shelf. The Koray GE35 series comes in multiple lengths — 606mm, 900mm, and 1200mm — so the answer depends on your shelf dimensions, crop type, and target PPFD. In this guide, we walk through the exact configurations that work best for a standard 1.2-meter shelf.

Single GE35-120 Bar: The Standard Configuration

The most straightforward setup is placing a single GE35-120T-F175 (1200mm, 60W) along the center of a 1.2m shelf. This bar delivers 530 µmol/m²/s PPFD at 0.2m directly below, tapering to 360 µmol/m²/s at 0.3m. For shelves that are 0.4-0.5m wide, a single centered bar provides excellent uniformity for growing lettuce, basil, microgreens, and herbs.

At 60W per bar, the energy cost is modest. Running 16 hours per day, a single GE35-120T-F175 consumes about 0.96 kWh per day, or roughly 350 kWh per year. Compare this to T5 fluorescent tubes that would require 3-4 fixtures to achieve similar PPFD levels, and the savings become substantial.

Dual GE35 Bars: Maximum Coverage for Wider Shelves

When your shelf is 0.6 meters or wider, or when you are growing light-demanding crops like strawberries and peppers, we recommend installing two GE35 bars side by side. The best combinations are:

For universal full-spectrum coverage: 2x GE35-120T-F175 (60W each, 120W total) delivers a combined PPF of 300 µmol/s. This creates an average PPFD of 400-500 µmol/m²/s across a 1.2m x 0.6m area at 0.2m distance, which is ideal for strawberries at the fruiting stage.

For high-light flowering crops: 2x GE35-120T-K6 (80W each, 160W total) with the 45° lens concentrates more red light into the canopy. Each bar delivers 760 µmol/m²/s at 0.2m, and the pair ensures no dark spots at the shelf edges. This configuration is perfect for commercial strawberry production and ornamental flower growing.

Using GE35-60T for Compact or Budget Setups

If your shelf is shorter than 1.2 meters, or you want a more budget-friendly option, the GE35-60T-F175 (606mm, 30W) is an excellent choice. Two of these bars placed at opposite ends of a 1.2m shelf provide overlapping coverage that achieves 350-450 µmol/m²/s average PPFD at 0.2m. The 30W power draw per bar keeps total energy consumption to just 60W per shelf.

The GE35-90T-F175 (900mm, 40W) is another popular mid-length option. A single bar covers most of a 1.2m shelf length, and its Ra>90 CRI makes it easy to visually inspect plant health under natural-looking light.

Power and Wiring Considerations

When running multiple GE35 bars per shelf, take advantage of the daisy-chain wiring capability. Instead of running individual power cables to each bar, you can connect them in series, reducing cable clutter and simplifying installation. For larger operations, the GE35-120T-DC-2H-VR model supports DC282V centralized power, allowing you to drive an entire shelf’s worth of bars from a single power supply.

The AC120-277V input range means the GE35 works with standard commercial electrical systems in any country. Combined with a power factor greater than 0.9, you get efficient power usage with minimal reactive power waste.

Summary: Recommended Configurations

For a standard 1.2m shelf, here is a quick reference: one GE35-120 bar for lettuce and herbs on narrow shelves (0.4-0.5m wide); two GE35-120 bars for strawberries and peppers on wider shelves (0.6m+); or two GE35-60T bars for a budget-friendly dual-bar setup. All configurations benefit from the GE35’s IP64 waterproof rating, 50,000-hour lifespan, and Koray’s proven secondary optics technology that eliminates hotspots and ensures uniform light distribution.

Koray Lighting has been a leading LED grow light manufacturer since 2009, with over 200 patents and exports to 60+ countries. Explore the complete GE35 product line at koraylights.com.