New LED Grower Creative Destruction

[youknowthekid!]

So I'm planning an LED grow and would like to know, of the 5 below, what light is the best.

189X-PRO LED Grow Light
http://www.hydrogrowled.com/189X-PRO---290W-LED-Grow-Light-P86C60.aspx

Diamond Series XML 350 - 10W CREE XML (The 330w one)
http://www.advancedledlights.com/3w-led-grow-lights/new-diamond-series-xml-10w-cree-xml/

Magnum Plus2
https://357magled.3dcartstores.com/Magnum-Plus2_p_16.html

SolarStorm 440
http://californialightworks.com/product/solar-storm-440/

Sol9 LED
http://www.hydrogrowled.com//Sol-9-450W-900W-LED-Grow-Light-P162.aspx

I ordered them from worst to best, based on my very narrow perception. If you provide a better perspective, or mention a better light I'll edit the list What do you think is the best?
I read this guys journal http://www.uk420.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=328038&page=5, on the Sol 9 and it makes you want to believe in LED's.

• You would hope for at least 1g/watt given how little power most of these LED's draw.
• Can they be sized up on basic watts times diodes?
  • If so Magnum Plus2 would have to be the best at 240x3w= 720; then again it only draws 330 watts, so the bulbs are running at 330/720= 45% which means they'll last longer, but kick out less PAR, right?

 

[youknowthekid!]

Cmon at least one of you guys must have had a great experience with this (with proof), or have a link to a journal.

 

[puffenuff]

Out of all the lights you listed, I'd go with either the advanced xml or the solar storm 440. Even though the hgl lights may work, I've heard too many stories about the owner and how business is conducted and I don't want any part of that.

I've used pretty much every model advanced has put out and they have all met or exceeded my expectations. California lightworks is a company I've always wanted to use based on their build and reputation. I'm on the verge of ordering either the 220 or 440. I would also recommend looking into Apache tech, lumigrow, illumitex, or area 51 for other good leds.

 

[youknowthekid!]

Out of all the lights you listed, I'd go with either the advanced xml or the solar storm 440. Even though the hgl lights may work, I've heard too many stories about the owner and how business is conducted and I don't want any part of that.

I've used pretty much every model advanced has put out and they have all met or exceeded my expectations. California lightworks is a company I've always wanted to use based on their build and reputation. I'm on the verge of ordering either the 220 or 440. I would also recommend looking into Apache tech, lumigrow, illumitex, or area 51 for other good leds.

Thanks for the info puff. I think you're right about buying from someone with a good guarantee, and the industry standard seems to be 2years. For the money spent I'd certainly want to rest assured that if something blows early on it'll be replaced. Even Area51 offers a pretty sweet upgrade deal when better tech is released.

 

[PSUAGRO.]

Like puff said, stay away from magnum and hgl, very shady companies.

 

[youknowthekid!]

I just really want to see 1g/watt if I spend $1000+ on a light that's drawing 380w but with everything dialed in perfect most people are getting like .4g/watt, granted most are new growers.

 

[Bad Karma]

with everything dialed in perfect most people are getting like .4g/watt, granted most are new growers.

Don't forget to add that they are using cheap LED lights and expecting high efficiency from them.
Also, they often use an HPS growers mindset concerning their gardening techniques, instead of adapting to how plants grow under LED, because there are some differences.
Paying attention to the plant itself is the most important part of gardening, not the light source.
Just look at members like Multipass, The Dawg, BeefBisquit, CaptianMorgan, and myself, who have all had multiple, highly successful, large yielding, LED grows.
It's really not that hard to do if you can learn how to listen to your plants, having patience is key.
Good luck.

PS - As far as your list goes, I concur with the opinions above, go with the Advanced or SolarStorm.

 

[youknowthekid!]

Just look at members like Multipass, The Dawg, BeefBisquit, CaptianMorgan, and myself, who have all had multiple, highly successful, large yielding, LED grows.

PS - As far as your list goes, I concur with the opinions above, go with the Advanced or SolarStorm.

Thanks for the info brother. I'm going to scour a little further for some good LED grows because the ones I've seen, worth seeing, all seem like ads. I'll start with the names you mentioned for sure. After closer scrutiny the Solar Storm may just take the cake with that 2 year warranty.

What do you do differently vs an HPS run? I feel like I'll defoliate a whole lot less with LED because of the greater penetration.

 

[youknowthekid!]

So I wasn't able to track down LED runs from the mentioned names but I read through a lot of jela's and djwimbo's and they both had very impressive results that I think I should be able to match. That makes me happy as hell to see. If I could snag 280g off 380w solarstorm that'd make the kid happy

 

[kmog33]

Thanks for the info brother. I'm going to scour a little further for some good LED grows because the ones I've seen, worth seeing, all seem like ads. I'll start with the names you mentioned for sure. After closer scrutiny the Solar Storm may just take the cake with that 2 year warranty.

What do you do differently vs an HPS run? I feel like I'll defoliate a whole lot less with LED because of the greater penetration.

Go with the advanced.

And your statement here is wrong, leds do not penetrate as well as HPS, that's most of the problem, great spectrum, terrible penetration.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Rollitup mobile app

 

[youknowthekid!]

Go with the advanced.

And your statement here is wrong, leds do not penetrate as well as HPS, that's most of the problem, great spectrum, terrible penetration.

No kidding. I figured they did since most LED growers out there don't do much defoliation at all. If they don't penetrate well then people should definitely be trimming away lower fans and nugs so that the plants focus energy at the photo-zone.

Also, if anyone has any links to some quality LED grow journals I'd appreciate it! Still mastering the new RIU search

 

[kmog33]

No kidding. I figured they did since most LED growers out there don't do much defoliation at all. If they don't penetrate well then people should definitely be trimming away lower fans and nugs so that the plants focus energy at the photo-zone.

Also, if anyone has any links to some quality LED grow journals I'd appreciate it! Still mastering the new RIU search

Generally the people you see growing under leds keep their plants fairly small. Not always, but you get maybe a foot of penetration if you're using anything smaller than 3 watt leds. I've heard the 5 watt bulbs are better for penetration but I have no experience with them so I dunno. But my led with 3 watt bulbs gets maybe 2 feet down before its almost useless an it's supposed to cover a 4x4

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Rollitup mobile app

 

[Bad Karma]

What do you do differently vs an HPS run?

-Your plants will need more Cal/Mg under LED's
-You can let the room get into the 80's (without fear)
-You don't need to water as often
-Lollipop your plants!

Not always, but you get maybe a foot of penetration if you're using anything smaller than 3 watt leds.

With cheap LED's, that's the case, with good LED's, that's not the case.
I get around 24"-30" of penetration from my LED lights with 1W diodes.
My lights with 3W and 5W diodes get much better penetration, though.

 

[kmog33]

I

-Your plants will need more Cal/Mg under LED's
-You can let the room get into the 80's (without fear)
-You don't need to water as often
-Lollipop your plants!




With cheap LED's, that's the case, with good LED's, that's not the case.
I get around 24"-30" of penetration from my LED lights with 1W diodes.
My lights with 3W and 5W diodes get much better penetration, though.

I have a $1200 theorem innovations led so I don't think cheap is the problem. It just doesn't penetrate like a 600 watt hps which is supposed to be what it replaces. Bud quality is better but definitely doesn't match a 600. Up top the buds are on par, but if you go over a Foot deep into the canopy it just does not do the same job as my HPS.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Rollitup mobile app

 

[youknowthekid!]

-Your plants will need more Cal/Mg under LED's
-You can let the room get into the 80's (without fear)
-You don't need to water as often
-Lollipop your plants!




With cheap LED's, that's the case, with good LED's, that's not the case.
I get around 24"-30" of penetration from my LED lights with 1W diodes.
My lights with 3W and 5W diodes get much better penetration, though.

Thanks for the calmag tip, I'll probably run H&G in dwc and use coco A+B instead of aquaflakes since it has more calmag. Since I always lollipop to an extent under my scrog, and always have heat issues I should be a prime LED candidate.

Definitely going with the solar440 or xml350

 

[Bad Karma]

I have a $1200 theorem innovations led so I don't think cheap is the problem. It just doesn't penetrate like a 600 watt hps which is supposed to be what it replaces. Bud quality is better but definitely doesn't match a 600. Up top the buds are on par, but if you go over a Foot deep into the canopy it just does not do the same job as my HPS.

I'm sorry to hear that your experience with TI Smart Bar hasn't been a positive one.
Just because it was an expensive light, doesn't mean it was a "good" light, though.
There are a lot of LED companies out there that will rip you off an sell you a piece of junk.
That is why this forum, and it's knowledgeable growers, who have years of experience, using multiple different brands of LED lights, repeatedly recommend Apache Tech, Area 51, and the Hans Panel.
They have proven themselves again, and again, in grow, after grow.

 

[Chronikool]

They have proven themselves again, and again, in grow, after grow.

This is starting to emerge in the DIY LED world aswell....

But 'LED panel growerz' dont like 'LED DIY'erz'...so i'll leave it at that...

 

[kmog33]

I

I'm sorry to hear that your experience with TI Smart Bar hasn't been a positive one.
Just because it was an expensive light, doesn't mean it was a "good" light, though.
There are a lot of LED companies out there that will rip you off an sell you a piece of junk.
That is why this forum, and it's knowledgeable growers, who have years of experience, using multiple different brands of LED lights, repeatedly recommend Apache Tech, Area 51, and the Hans Panel.
They have proven themselves again, and again, in grow, after grow.

I.Have the smartlamp probloom 600 and its actual draw is 330 and would outperform a 400 watt HPS, but my 600 destroys it yield wise. The buds are better on the leds though and I came up on my led pretty much free from a buddy so I can't complain about getting ripped off haha.

Don't get me wrong, great buds just not as much a I would pull with the light it's supposed to replace.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using Rollitup mobile app

 

[Yodaweed]

The solar storm with those UVB t8's is pretty bad ass NGL but what type of LEDs does that use? it seems kinda pricey for me for the specs to be honest you could get better imo with a51 or apachetech or DIY .

 

[Bad Karma]

But 'LED panel growerz' dont like 'LED DIY'erz'...so i'll leave it at that...

Hey, I've got no problem with DIY'ers, to each their own, sir.