LED grow lights - how much is enough?

[cannabis mechanic]

New grower here, I have 8 plants under a single 2000 W LED light. The plants are 3 weeks along, and they appear healthy and vigorous. I have another 2000W LED light on order from Amazon, and the fulfillment of that order is being delayed, so I ordered yet another 2000 W light from another vendor so I can be sure of having enough light when the plants get mature enough to need it. When I get my shit from Amazon I will have 6000 W of light for 8 plants.

I am sure that 6000 W for 8 plants is plenty. Question is, with respect to lighting, is more always better? Or do you reach a point of diminishing return? Looking toward my future grows, I should have 6000 W of light available. How many plants will this amount of light support? And when in the growth cycle will I need to upgrade to more light? As I mentioned I have 2 more 2000 W lights on order, One is on back order and I'm not sure when I'll see it, and the other I just ordered today, it is supposed to be here in a few days.

My plants are growing fast. I'm sure I will need more light soon as they get bigger. Looking for comments.

Thanks!

 

[Ryante55]

New grower here, I have 8 plants under a single 2000 W LED light. The plants are 3 weeks along, and they appear healthy and vigorous. I have another 2000W LED light on order from Amazon, and the fulfillment of that order is being delayed, so I ordered yet another 2000 W light from another vendor so I can be sure of having enough light when the plants get mature enough to need it. When I get my shit from Amazon I will have 6000 W of light for 8 plants.

I am sure that 6000 W for 8 plants is plenty. Question is, with respect to lighting, is more always better? Or do you reach a point of diminishing return? Looking toward my future grows, I should have 6000 W of light available. How many plants will this amount of light support? And when in the growth cycle will I need to upgrade to more light? As I mentioned I have 2 more 2000 W lights on order, One is on back order and I'm not sure when I'll see it, and the other I just ordered today, it is supposed to be here in a few days.

My plants are growing fast. I'm sure I will need more light soon as they get bigger. Looking for comments.

Thanks!

I really hope your a troll.

 

[coreywebster]

So the first thing is to ignore the title wattage they list

Like 2000w led grow light. Its not a 2000w light, its not a comparison or an equivalent , its the number of 5w diodes added together and it has zero relevance other than to make it sound powerful. Which it isn't.

You need to read the small print where it says "only consumes 185w" or whatever it says.
Then work out your square footage of area your lighting and roughly use 50w (real power consumption) per square foot.

That's for flowering, you can use 50%-100% for veg

 

[sarahJane211]

New grower here, I have 8 plants under a single 2000 W LED light. The plants are 3 weeks along, and they appear healthy and vigorous. I have another 2000W LED light on order from Amazon, and the fulfillment of that order is being delayed, so I ordered yet another 2000 W light from another vendor

Cheap Amazon (scam) burple ...... probably not enough to grow 1 plant.
You must be a troll because nobody could be this stupid.

 

[Ryante55]

Ok, those wattage, are overblown. While it may have 200, ~10w LEDs it is not a true 2000w usage. I would estimate you are pulling about 165w, per unit, from the wall. Target for LEDs is about 32w draw per sq.ft. which depending on for grow you should be good with all 3.

Where did you come up with 32w? That's a super random and super wrong number and you don't know how big the space is but apparently he's "all good"

 

[TreeFarmerCharlie]

Ok, those wattage, are overblown. While it may have 200, ~10w LEDs it is not a true 2000w usage. I would estimate you are pulling about 165w, per unit, from the wall. Target for LEDs is about 32w draw per sq.ft. which depending on for grow you should be good with all 3.

50+ watts per sqft for cheap LEDs like those. 32W per sqft is for quality diodes like LM301H or something equivalent.

 

[TreeFarmerCharlie]

Where did you come up with 32w? That's a super random and super wrong number and you don't know how big the space is but apparently he's "all good"

This is what has been recommended per suqre foot for LM301B, LM301H, and LM561C diodes for a long time...and it's not "super wrong", it works out for many people. They just applied it to shit diodes.

 

[Oakiey]

They always list the amp, amps times wolts equal watts

 

[Ryante55]

This is what has been recommended per suqre foot for LM301B, LM301H, and LM561C diodes for a long time...and it's not "super wrong", it works out for many people. They just applied it to shit diodes.

It is super wrong he clearly doesn't have lm301b the fact that you didn't know that means you need to not give out advice. and 32 is just a random number I would say 30-35w

 

[ComfortCreator]

Grow space width and length for those 8? Ceiling height? LST, straight up grow what are you doing so we can help w lighting.

 

[TreeFarmerCharlie]

It is super wrong he clearly doesn't have lm301b the fact that you didn't know that means you need to not give out advice. and 32 is just a random number I would say 30-35w

Read what I wrote again before you get salty. I explained where they got the 32W/sqft from. I also clearly said that they applied that logic to shit diodes and I listed the diodes that calculation is commonly used for. It's all right their in my post you quoted. 32W isn't just a random number...it has been the number recommended for at least the last year, probably because it is close to halfway in between the 30W-35W you seem to think is a better range to go with.

 

[Doug Dawson]

There are good and bad led lights out there. It's very hard to say what is going to work without knowing what lights you chose and what size space you have. Just so many factors to consider. Which led's did they use, what spectrum do they cover, how powerful are the LED's themselves. I would love to say your all set or you need more but there is just not enough info to give an informed answer.

 

[ComfortCreator]

There are huge variances in EFFICIENCY of lights...i.e. how much light per watt it puts out. There are ones designed for short
vertical spaces, ones designed for high spaces, wide spaces etc.

Even knowing what lights you want...the spread and distribution of those lights has a huge effect upon results. Your budget helps determine if you run a couple of fixtures or a whole bunch for even better results.

That is why knowing what space you have and how you grow is so important.. And your budget.

One can assume the OP is lazy or one could also assume he just knows what he knows and asked a good Q that could open the door to him getting far better lighting.

Help gents...ignore your own feelings of insult or irritation, focus on the Q and move forward.

 

[rob333]

like corey said and i would take every bit of advice he gives u on leds as he knows his shit 2000w leds prob around 200 true watts at the end of the day

my qbs come in around 560w but about 480w from the wall but the lumans come in around 800w of hps so im happy

 

[coreywebster]

3x 200w actual draw will cover 2x6ft

That's 3 plants to me, but everyone grows different size plants. 2x2 per plant is not big though.

 

[rob333]

hope ur not talking bout this 1
Item: 6000W LED light grow
LED Amount: 60PCS 10W Double Chips LEDs (Red Light: 44pc, Blue Light: 8pc, White Light: 2pc, Warm Light: 2pc, Ultraviolet: 2pc, Infrared: 2pc)
LED Type: Double 10W Epistar LED Chips
LED power: 600W
Actural power consumption: 120 W + -5%
Dimensions: 300mm x 121mm x 56mm
Color Ratio: Full Spectrum Red (620-630nm; 650-660nm), Blue (440-450nm; 450-460nm), Orange (600-610nm), IR (730nm), White (3500K, 6000K), UV (395nm) 410 nm)
Voltage (V): AC85V-265V
Working temperature (℃): -20 - +50
Working life: More than 50,000 hours
Ideal replacement: MH / HPS lamps
Certification: CE, RoHS

 

[SDS_GR]

Using any form (COBs,modules,strips,etc) of phosphor conversion white LEDs,
at any CCT from 4000K to 2700K with a CRI of either 80Ra or 90RA,either supplemented with monochromatic reds at 630 or 660 nm or not ,
with a PPFD of:

-500 umols/sec/m^2 = Good results start from here and on ...

-750 umols/sec/m^2 = ...and get much better here ...

-1000 umols/sec/m^2 = Far better !

- 1500 umols/sec/m^2 = Maximum amount of light for cannabis ,grown at the 400ppm CO2 environment of atmospheric air .

-2000 umols/sec/m^2 = Maximum amount of light for cannabis plants ,grown at elevated temps & CO2 enriched atmosphere.

Depending on the actual LED grow light fixture(s) used ,any of these amounts of light may be generated in an efficient manner ...or maybe not ...

 

[cannabis mechanic]

I am aware that an LED grow light advertised as a 2 kilowatt light does not draw that much power. I work as an automotive service technician. I also hold an extra class amateur radio license. I am more knowledgeable about electrical theory than the average person. But being new to growing cannabis, I was going under the assumption that LED grow lights were rated by the the incandescent equivalent of light output, so an LED assembly that is rated at "2000 W" would not actually be dissipating that amount of power.

To be clear, what I have is an LED assembly that draws 200W of power. It is advertised as a 2000W light, and I was under the assumption that this means it produces the equivalent LIGHT OUTPUT of a 2000W incandescent lamp. I am getting two more of these soon, so my total "advertised" wattage will be 6 kilowatts. Of course my grow lights will not be dissapating 6 kilowatts of power. I thought that was assumed.

I hope I can continue to avail myself of the knowledge that is available here on this forum, and as I gain experience I hope to be able to contribute to the forum myself. But if I receive insults instead of advice, I will go elsewhere.

 

[Ryante55]

I am dissapointed by some of the replies I see here. I am aware that a grow light advertised as a 2 kilowatt light does not draw that much power. I work as an automotive service technician. I also hold an extra class amateur radio license. I am more knowledgeable about electricity, and electronics, than the average person. But being new to this, I was going under the assumption that LED grow lights were rated by the the incandescent equivalent of light output, so an LED assembly that is rated at "2000 W" would not actually be dissipating that amount of power.

To be clear, what I have is an LED assembly that draws 200W of power. It is advertised as a 2000W light, and I was under the assumption that this means it produces the equivalent LIGHT OUTPUT of a 2000W incandescent lamp. I am getting two more of these soon, so my total "advertised" wattage will be 6 kilowatts. Of course my grow lights will not be using that amount of power.

I hope I can continue to avail myself of the knowledge that is available here on this forum, and as I gain experience I hope to be able to contribute to the forum myself. But if I receive insults instead of advice, I will go elsewhere.

see you later I hear grasscity is #1 have fun over there

 

[TreeFarmerCharlie]

I am dissapointed by some of the replies I see here. I am aware that a grow light advertised as a 2 kilowatt light does not draw that much power. I work as an automotive service technician. I also hold an extra class amateur radio license. I am more knowledgeable about electricity, and electronics, than the average person. But being new to this, I was going under the assumption that LED grow lights were rated by the the incandescent equivalent of light output, so an LED assembly that is rated at "2000 W" would not actually be dissipating that amount of power.

To be clear, what I have is an LED assembly that draws 200W of power. It is advertised as a 2000W light, and I was under the assumption that this means it produces the equivalent LIGHT OUTPUT of a 2000W incandescent lamp. I am getting two more of these soon, so my total "advertised" wattage will be 6 kilowatts. Of course my grow lights will not be dissapating 6 kilowatts. I thought that was assumed.

I hope I can continue to avail myself of the knowledge that is available here on this forum, and as I gain experience I hope to be able to contribute to the forum myself. But if I receive insults instead of advice, I will go elsewhere.

Grow a thicker skin and you'll be fine here. People can and will get salty...especially when discussing LED lighting. Now you know how LED lighting wattage should be referenced, and the basic W/sqft calculations to use to figure out what you need, and that's half the battle. It's also worth noting that your training in automotive service and HAM have nothing to do with LED lighting. Trust me...I was a mechanic in the military for many years, have a lot of electronics training, and knowing the type of diodes to use and wattage/temperatures required for them was and is still a lot to grasp.