Going from HPS to LED. Worth it?

[Kingrow1]

So one can take 600 watts of led to a 5x5 canopy?

Dude im just taking what led growers are saying and applying some simple maths to the situation. 50% better than hps are the more wilder claims and quite frankly i cant wait for the next gen leds as im thinking ill double my yeilds and profits when they are yeilding twice what an hps yeilds. The futures bright, the futures led

 

[backtracker]

I grow exclusively with leds anymore. I've used all sorts of leds I own about 11 different ones and I'm supposed to get two new ones to try this week. If your growing style is locked down and all other aspects are good leds will serve you well. I can tell it epistle leds so those are iffy but I'm all about trying new lights. I use my kinds all the time when I'm not running cobs.

Which ones would you recommend?

 

[Budley Doright]

Cob leds are the newest technology and the best lights are DIY projects.. you can build a much better light than you can buy.. Do some research on cob leds and spend wisely...
www.cobkits.com
www.timbergrowlights.com
http://www.cutter.com.au

I am trying to figure out what makes a $85 COB better than a $10 one. The cost of Cree and other brand name COBs are really pricy here that I have seen. If I hit the proper spectrum and PAR is PAR, lumen a lumen is there really a difference? Sorry op if I'm highjacking but really curious about benefits of switching as well.

 

[Budley Doright]

Dude im just taking what led growers are saying and applying some simple maths to the situation. 50% better than hps are the more wilder claims and quite frankly i cant wait for the next gen leds as im thinking ill double my yeilds and profits when they are yeilding twice what an hps yeilds. The futures bright, the futures led

Double the yields? That would be amazing, a miracle almost I think. Been doing a bit of reading and what I getting is the yields are comparable but the quality may be better as far as trich production, etc. Honestly I'm curious enough to pull the plug on the HID, but not expecting more yield, if that happens I'll be a very happy guy lol.

 

[Odin*]

Higher up front coast doesn't seem to be stopping sales at the Cadillac dealership. Maybe you're getting something worth paying for?

I totally get what you're saying here, but "Cadi" is a bad example. They're getting killed by other "Luxury" brands (e.g.; MBZ, BMW, Audi, Lexus, etc.) and their resale value is atrocious.

That being said, next family hauler is a Cadi (they've been making great strides and in the segment I'm looking at there really isn't a better option).




Regarding lighting, I don't believe I've seen a single pic, read science supporting, or heard testimony that would drag me away from HID. I'm open to significant change, but only when it's cost to benefit makes sense. LED just isn't there yet.

 

[ttystikk]

So one can take 600 watts of led to a 5x5 canopy?

I put as much as 900W on a 24 sq ft trellis.

 

[TherealMickey]

I went from 400 HID switchable (MH and HPS) to the California Light Works Solar Storm 440 and found an increase in yield with only 1 issue: If your pulling air from the room the exhaust vents don't connect as well as most vented hoods do which are made for it. CLW does not have any recommended solution. I was able to rig it with a trip to the local hardware store for angled vent and a bunch of tape (T-Rex works best). I highly recommend this technology. Some say that heat isn't a factor with LEDs. It is. But IMHO it is still worth the switch given the output vs power draw and no bulb replacement.

 

[Lordhooha]

Which ones would you recommend?

Cobs are good I used a few citizen 1818's they're good I'm always buying new lights and trying them. @Odin* I can find plenty of scientific documents from universities and NASA showing the growing capacity for leds thus why the mars mission in 2030 will be using them. I recently did a report for my botany class on the same subject.

 

[Jeffro420]

I say forget the led. Get a tent that is twice as wide and add another 600watter. Double your yield for less than what the LED will cost. Just my 2 cents.

 

[papa canna]

Cobs are good I used a few citizen 1818's they're good I'm always buying new lights and trying them. @Odin* I can find plenty of scientific documents from universities and NASA showing the growing capacity for leds thus why the mars mission in 2030 will be using them. I recently did a report for my botany class on the same subject.

What have you found to be most effective thus far? And how does it compare to HID?

 

[GreenSanta]

I put as much as 900W on a 24 sq ft trellis.

There.

I was gonna say use SLIGTHLY less power with LEDs than u would with HIDs, and u will b killing it. The savings are not necessarily in the electricity bill but the fact that you won't buy 20 bulbs over the next 12 years.

And the quality??

Some of my weed comes out way frostier than anything I've ever seen in real life. LEDS for the win!!

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

i really like the idea of just running good cob leds for my whole set up.
until i have all my bills paid off, have a nest egg sitting in a safe place, and then can afford to buy the parts to build what i want, the h.i.d..s that i can buy cheap as hell off amazon and ebay are what i'm going to use to get there

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

Dude im just taking what led growers are saying and applying some simple maths to the situation. 50% better than hps are the more wilder claims and quite frankly i cant wait for the next gen leds as im thinking ill double my yeilds and profits when they are yeilding twice what an hps yeilds. The futures bright, the futures led

.................................?

 

[Chunky Stool]

i really like the idea of just running good cob leds for my whole set up.
until i have all my bills paid off, have a nest egg sitting in a safe place, and then can afford to buy the parts to build what i want, the h.i.d..s that i can buy cheap as hell off amazon and ebay are what i'm going to use to get there

I hear ya! My low budget 5x5 rig was less than $500 total and does a pound every round. I could do more, but crowding can lead to problems. There's a lot of good used equipment for sale on craigslist.

 

[ttystikk]

.................................?

I'm thinking it's a really racy sativa.

 

[Kingrow1]

Double the yields? That would be amazing, a miracle almost I think. Been doing a bit of reading and what I getting is the yields are comparable but the quality may be better as far as trich production, etc. Honestly I'm curious enough to pull the plug on the HID, but not expecting more yield, if that happens I'll be a very happy guy lol.

Leds smash hps so why would you bother with hps man when these leds growers are totally out yeilding hps. Seriously i think they are up to 50% better for yeilds. Anything else is just pointless when leds have far suppases sodium!

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

I'm thinking it's a really racy sativa.

i was actually the one making this argument to him last week, while he was extolling the virtues of hid...guess i converted him....? or was i high and imagined the whole thing?

 

[Chunky Stool]

Leds smash hps so why would you bother with hps man when these leds growers are totally out yeilding hps. Seriously i think they are up to 50% better for yeilds. Anything else is just pointless when leds have far suppases sodium!

You aren't paying attention.
One of the biggest advantages of LED over HPS is mixed spectrum (red, blue, UV, IR). You can do the same thing using HID, but it isn't as efficient.
You can get more PAR with less power using LED, that's all.
Light is light.

 

[Kingrow1]

You aren't paying attention.
One of the biggest advantages of LED over HPS is mixed spectrum (red, blue, UV, IR). You can do the same thing using HID, but it isn't as efficient.
You can get more PAR with less power using LED, that's all.
Light is light.

I am paying attention and can quote where multiple led growers of various skill levels say leds smash and out yeild hps. Now either its one or the other, if i wanted par i dont have a problem mixing plasma and hps! Oh and by the way i mix every spectrum of t5 in veg but it still isnt much better than just blue on its own, par shmar!

 

[ttystikk]

i was actually the one making this argument to him last week, while he was extolling the virtues of hid...guess i converted him....? or was i high and imagined the whole thing?

No fanatic is quite so intolerant as the newly converted, lol