Getting close to choosing LED..Need educated opinions

Oddjob

Oddjob

Well-Known Member
Ok, so here I am 2 weeks in of straight up searching across various forums for info on which LED company I should go with and guess what?

I'm still stumped as to which brand I should go with lol. It also appears that different forums in general will have certain companies they like
more than others. With that being said, my grow area is a 4x4x7 tent which has been powered by 600w HID and I want to purchase from
these companies which appear to have the best rep:

Budget: $1500-2000 USD

1. Area 51 - Either SGS or XGS

2. Black Dog - Platinum XL-U

3. Grow Evolution - Bud Boss 343. Liking the COB Technology

I don't know if its better to have one huge 750w like the Black Dog XL-U or several smaller watt panels.

Thanks for any input. I do want to make the switch over to LED and realize this is going to be costly upfront, but hopefully I end of saving $
on the back end.
 
Gaius

Gaius

Active Member
IMHO

1. Can't go wrong with SGS
2. Overpriced...
3. Looks promissing, but no reputation for these yet.

Always better to have several smaller panels, as you can spread them out any which way you choose.
 
Oddjob

Oddjob

Well-Known Member
Gaius said:
IMHO

1. Can't go wrong with SGS
2. Overpriced...
3. Looks promissing, but no reputation for these yet.

Always better to have several smaller panels, as you can spread them out any which way you choose.
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So you think the Black Dog is too pricey for a true 750w pull? Looks like the brute of the bunch!
 
Greengenes707

Greengenes707

Well-Known Member
Out of those, a51 get my vote. 2-4 of them actually. Since your used to a 600hps in that 4x4 2-3 sgs's would do. I would go sgs over xgs personally specially if getting multiple panels, which you'll need.

For big panels with raw power I would look at apache over blackdog.

Are you looking to replace your 600hps or upgrade? As a rule of thumb, it will take about 55-70% of your hps wattage in LED's to replace it.
 
budbro18

budbro18

Well-Known Member
I use grow evolution and for the price theyre pretty good. Mid flower with them for my first time hoping to get comparable results to my 600w flower tent.

A51 ive heard the best about and ive heard good things about black dog but they are very pricey.
 
Oddjob

Oddjob

Well-Known Member
Greengenes707 said:
Out of those, a51 get my vote. 2-4 of them actually. Since your used to a 600hps in that 4x4 2-3 sgs's would do. I would go sgs over xgs personally specially if getting multiple panels, which you'll need.

For big panels with raw power I would look at apache over blackdog.

Are you looking to replace your 600hps or upgrade? As a rule of thumb, it will take about 55-70% of your hps wattage in LED's to replace it.
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I'm looking to at least replace 600w HID if not exceed it. But wattage is wattage correct? If I run 600w of LED cost will be the same?
 
Oddjob

Oddjob

Well-Known Member
midgetaus said:
yes but 600 true wats of LED is more like 1000W of HID...
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Oh wow, now this is getting my attention as I didn't realize that. And...top bin Cree is > Epistar and Bridglux?

So if I buy three of the SGS 160 I have a feeling that I will wish I had bought four instead? I usually have 4 bushes going in 5 gal dirt pots.
 
Yodaweed

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
Oddjob with that budget you should buy an Apachetech LED. They are the best LED makers right now imo they are really made in America by ex nasa scientists that researched growing plants for nasa.
 
Oddjob

Oddjob

Well-Known Member
I've seen the Apache AT600 but at that price man, which is like $2400, can the damn thing get me laid too lol? But in all realness, I realize that is one badass light
but I must stay within the confines of my $1500-2000 budget.

But...I just came upon another thread about the Lush Led. Checked out their website and some place named Kushington Farms that is rockin' the Lush and they seem to be killing it with their grows. The Lush website seems to be backing up their lights with lots of pics and vids, that should say something doesn't it?
 
hyroot

hyroot

Well-Known Member
Oddjob said:
I've seen the Apache AT600 but at that price man, which is like $2400, can the damn thing get me laid too lol? But in all realness, I realize that is one badass light
but I must stay within the confines of my $1500-2000 budget.

But...I just came upon another thread about the Lush Led. Checked out their website and some place named Kushington Farms that is rockin' the Lush and they seem
to be killing it with their grows. The Lush website seems to be backing up their lights with lots of pics and vids, that should say something doesn't it?
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kushington farms bullshits . Lush is eshine rebranded. They use low bin epistar leds. Not custom crees like they say. Cree doesn't make any custom leds for anyone. I'm surprised lush hasn't been sued by Cree yet.. Lush also drives led's to hard. Have high failure rates..

the top 3 are a51, Hans, apache, then after that California light works, illumitex, then maybe black dog.
 
Oddjob

Oddjob

Well-Known Member
hyroot said:
kushington farms bullshits . Lush is eshine rebranded. They use low bin epistar leds. Not custom crees like they say. Cree doesn't make any custom leds for anyone. I'm surprised lush hasn't been sued by Cree yet.. Lush also drives led's to hard. Have high failure rates..

the top 3 are a51, Hans, apache, then after that California light works, illumitex, then maybe black dog.
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Thanks for the heads up on that. Just more shit to make my head spin, that is mind blowing. Seems like a lot of snake oil with some LED vendors? At this point I'm probably really leaning towards the a51 and I read they might be coming out with another model pretty soon?
 
Oddjob

Oddjob

Well-Known Member
vladimiroslav said:
It depends on your definition of "pretty soon". Think june or july...
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Where are you guys getting this info anyways, I've been through all links on the a51 site and there is no mention of a new model. You would think they would have that info in their forum but they don't. But if it is June or July I'm not waiting that long. Where I live and in that time of the year we drive with oven mitts it gets so damn hot lol.
 
vladimiroslav

vladimiroslav

Well-Known Member
Oddjob said:
Where are you guys getting this info anyways, I've been through all links on the a51 site and there is no mention of a new model. You would think they would have that info in their forum but they don't. But if it is June or July I'm not waiting that long. Where I live and in that time of the year we drive with oven mitts it gets so damn hot lol.
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I think I've read it here, like a few days ago max, but cant seem to find it anymore...
Only one I've found is this but it says one month... so take my answer with caution, cant confirm it at now.

https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/797668-question-about-area-51-models-3.html#post10208839
 
midgetaus

midgetaus

Member
Oddjob said:
Where are you guys getting this info anyways, I've been through all links on the a51 site and there is no mention of a new model. You would think they would have that info in their forum but they don't. But if it is June or July I'm not waiting that long. Where I live and in that time of the year we drive with oven mitts it gets so damn hot lol.
Click to expand...
under FAQ's

Q: Are you coming out with other models besides the SGS-160 or XGS-190?
A: Yes, stay tuned for a new A51 series grow light around June/July 2014 (date subject to change).
 
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