Difference between cheap LEDs from China and Expensive well known LEDs?

nevergoodenuf

nevergoodenuf

Well-Known Member
Higher quality LEDs produce more light output than heat. that is why you will see us talk about efficiency. Say you run 100 watts of both cheap leds and quality top bin leds, the cheap ones will produce, say 25 to 30 watts of light output and the rest is heat. Now the quality top bins will produce, say 40 to 70 watts of light output and the rest is heat.
Spectrum King is running quality chips and they are running both whites and red, but nobody seems to know how efficient they are run at. As for the $350 Alibaba Light, it's not the same. Now you could pay more to have them built like the Spectrum King and you might save a couple hundred dollars, then you will pay hundreds to ship it here. I have done this. My only issue with this light has been the reflector. You might be able to save a couple hundred, but only if you find a quality builder on Alibaba.
With the China panels, it is what is inside, they usually cheap out on. The cheap fans failing will result in diodes burning up. Cheap drivers also fail easily and usually aren't label, so you can't replace them without knowing their output.
 
Redishx

Redishx

Well-Known Member
I don't know. I know the COB is better in every way, but I picked up the Mars reflector96 and its making the plant happier than ever.
 
G

GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
nevergoodenuf said:
Higher quality LEDs produce more light output than heat. that is why you will see us talk about efficiency. Say you run 100 watts of both cheap leds and quality top bin leds, the cheap ones will produce, say 25 to 30 watts of light output and the rest is heat. Now the quality top bins will produce, say 40 to 70 watts of light output and the rest is heat.
Spectrum King is running quality chips and they are running both whites and red, but nobody seems to know how efficient they are run at. As for the $350 Alibaba Light, it's not the same. Now you could pay more to have them built like the Spectrum King and you might save a couple hundred dollars, then you will pay hundreds to ship it here. I have done this. My only issue with this light has been the reflector. You might be able to save a couple hundred, but only if you find a quality builder on Alibaba.
With the China panels, it is what is inside, they usually cheap out on. The cheap fans failing will result in diodes burning up. Cheap drivers also fail easily and usually aren't label, so you can't replace them without knowing their output.
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I've been using Chinese LEDs for at least about 5 years. I honestly don't remember exactly which years I purchased them. They both "allegedly" use 3 watt LEDs and both have many spectrums. Keep in mind I am purely a hobbyist, I don't grow commercially and have never sold a single gram although I have shared quite a bit for free to my closest friends. But, I cannot tell you how many hours I've used them. I would say at least 1000's between the two of them. But not like 10,000 or more. And they both still work just like they did when they were fresh out of the box. All the fans still work, 1 has 3 and the other just one very large fan. All the LED's still work but, this one that never lit up. I think it's IR or some wierd spectrum like that. I don't remember but there is a reason. I checked on it a long time ago. And my electricity is cheap so I still use them along with HPS and sometimes CFL. I like the idea of mixing up the sources and combining the spectrums. Does it work better? I have no idea but it doesn't hurt anything either.
 
dgthumb

dgthumb

Well-Known Member
Chinese made led come with a risk of cancer or some lead poisoning...
Remember those toys they made with lead based paint?
 
G

GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
frica said:
Great Cree XTE SMDs or CXB cobs are twice to thrice as efficient as cheap China leds.

So it's the difference between having a 100 gram harvest or having a 200-300 gram harvest
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What do you think of these two?

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=172139426301&category=178989&pm=1&ds=0&t=1458474741315

http://m.ebay.com/itm/800W-COB-LED-Panel-Grow-Light-System-Full-Spectrum-For-Plant-Replace-HPS-Lamp-/291651237681?nav=SEARCH

Cheap. Worth a shot? I am seriously interested in these cobs. But, I will never recoup my investment so should I even bother when everything is already working to my satisfaction? Curiosity is expensive in this hobby. I am not at all commercial so...... From that perspective? I probably won't bother at this time. But all this talk about COB all over the RIU you can't help but want to try one. You guys are the best marketers for COBs. The vendors have gotta love you guys. Well. Except maybe not so much the DIYers which seems to be the thing for now.
 
frica

frica

Well-Known Member
GrowUrOwnDank said:
What do you think of these two?

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=172139426301&category=178989&pm=1&ds=0&t=1458474741315

http://m.ebay.com/itm/800W-COB-LED-Panel-Grow-Light-System-Full-Spectrum-For-Plant-Replace-HPS-Lamp-/291651237681?nav=SEARCH

Cheap. Worth a shot? I am seriously interested in these cobs. But, I will never recoup my investment so should I even bother when everything is already working to my satisfaction? Curiosity is expensive in this hobby. I am not at all commercial so...... From that perspective? I probably won't bother at this time. But all this talk about COB all over the RIU you can't help but want to try one. You guys are the best marketers for COBs. The vendors have gotta love you guys. Well. Except maybe not so much the DIYers which seems to be the thing for now.
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Those cheap ebay cobs who don't specificy exactly what part number they're using are complete crap.
Especially the 2nd one.
And the 1st one reads like a scam, "Also, its spectrum is almost the same to CREE CXB 3700, and is also a cost-effective replacement of CREE CXB 3700."
CXB3700 does not exist. "spectrum almost the same"
lol.

A relatively cheap Cree panel is the Hans one.
http://hanspanel.com/index.php/led-growlight-180-watt
It's 250/300 dollar euros and it draws 180 watts. Hans doesn't do false advertisement where he says it's a 300 watt panel but only draws 110.

But if you want quality without DIY you have to pay.
Those cheap ebay panels are always too good to be true.
Sure they grow, but they're less way less efficient at the end of the day
 
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OLD MOTHER SATIVA

OLD MOTHER SATIVA

Well-Known Member
quote

Spectrum King is running quality chips and they are running both whites and red, but nobody seems to know how efficient they are run at. As for the $350 Alibaba Light, it's not the same.

>>..same driver, casing ...the chips in the cheaper ones sure look like they are the same model and brand

.. have seen both do a side by side grow..?
 
Icemud420

Icemud420

Well-Known Member
Another difference I didn't see anyone mention between cheap LED's and "premium" ones.

Lumen Maintenance.

A cheap LED chip like a Epistar has a LM-80 of around 35,000 hours which means by 35,000 hours, it has potentially lost 20% or more of its photon output (over time it dim's) and becomes less efficient.

A better chip like a Osram SSL has a LM95 of 100,000 which means in 100,000 hours, the Osram SSL has the potential to lose only 5% of its photon output.

This varies depending on the chip and the brand but typically better chips (when using proper thermal management) will last almost 2-3x as long as a cheaper LED chip. Many factors can either compliment or hurt the length of a chips life such as junction temp and current which will obviously change the LM of the chips.
 
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