Sativied
Well-Known Member
That's far from 'the actual truth' of course. With a proper reflector hood you can achieve over 90% efficiency at over 90% uniformity on the surface/canopy. You're basing your conclusion on the assumption that "~ 50% reflected light from a hps probably doesn't account for much to the canopy." which is grossly exaggerated, especially when using decent gear. (get a 'gavita IR' if you're really worried about light not reflecting properly)Also, 100% of led is directed to the canopy. The ~ 50% reflected light from a hps probably doesn't account for much to the canopy.
Based on this, and quality led cobs, not 3w diodes, half the wattage is closer to fact than you realize
Main argument of Dutch growers against using LED is the lack of heat is emits to the plants. We 'need' the warmth from the HPS about 40 weeks a year. When a grow gets raided the media+cops actually sometimes refer to the HPS lamps as 'warmth/heat lamps'. Besides the positive effect they have on lowering RH. It would require the opposite of a cooltube (very rare here) sort of, e.g. somehow use the heat from the LED device to warm up the air that is sucked in through the intake at the bottom of the grow closet/tent.