As a broke newbie to growing cannabis (I'm a full-time carer looking after my wife, so money is tight)
The first grow room was lit by modifying 3 tube 18w fluorescent ceiling units, to hold 9 tubes providing 162w . Three of these units lit 15sq ft 486w and that translates to 32w per sq ft. The yield from the first grow (ever) was 1oz a plant from feminised auto. My limited growroom height meant the downside of these lights was headspace, they took up so much space.
After much research, I decided to go to LED: There were three options: cool white, warm white or full spectrum. It made sense to me to go with full-spectrum. The strongest lamps available at the moment are 100w and 200w cob LEDs were either cool or warm light. 50w full spectrum COB LED seemed an ideal choice. My main concern was the power draw from the wall, was it actually 50w and it was, so these are really 50w LEDS.
My 50w cobs were sourced from two suppliers, five from one supplier and four from the other to see if there was a difference. Eight LEDs were used in my "lighting system" (
link) 450w a slight reduction in my fluorescent setup but is seems much brighter. (eye-balling is a real scientific measure)
I'm tempted to add a few warm and cool white LEDs to widen the specrum. I'd also make it so the cool white could be turned off for flower.
The yield and quality will be the proof of the pudding.
There are really valid reasons for going with HPS and in hindsight, I could have used the heat in the winter.