Cheapest starter LEDs?

[Airwalker16]

What do u guys use to measure the amount of light the plant is getting w LED?

Go off of what the manufacturer tells you.

Lol jk.

There's a formula that I dont remember, but @Rahz does to tell you your PPFD

 

[mauricem00]

The issue is going too cheap, and the answer is going to be 3x 315 CMH or a 1000W DE fixture. There's nothing wrong with those.

I guess what I'm saying is what you probably want is the cheapest LED solution that is more efficient than HPS.

I have a very cheap option I came up with in another thread...where was that.

8x CLU058-1825 ~$240
4x HLG-185H-48 ~$240
8x Mechatronix IceLED coolers ~$120

Which is ummmm $600? I mean beat that, anybody. I dare you. This will be 800W, 130k lumens or so. At least 48% efficiency, 1900-2000 umol/s.

Basically a fresh bulb 1000W DE replacement for $600, much less heat, no bulbs to replace, etc. Totally killer.

the local hydro shops in my area don't even sell LEDS but they tell me that CMH lights are the hot selling new item. as with most hydro shops most of their customers are commercial growers and the CMH lights seem to be a great upgrade from HPS. I only wish they made them in 150 watt units for us PU MMJ closet growers.the efficiency is good and the spectrum is very close to natural sunlight. white leds are effiecient but the monochromatic leds needed to fill out the spectrum are not which reduces system efficiency

 

[Olive Drab Green]

the local hydro shops in my area don't even sell LEDS but they tell me that CMH lights are the hot selling new item. as with most hydro shops most of their customers are commercial growers and the CMH lights seem to be a great upgrade from HPS. I only wish they made them in 150 watt units for us PU MMJ closet growers.the efficiency is good and the spectrum is very close to natural sunlight. white leds are effiecient but the monochromatic leds needed to fill out the spectrum are not which reduces system efficiency

Hydro shops are ripoff artists.