wtf are these leds??

[go go kid]

This should maybe go in another thread, but here go's.
Im looking on amazon and ebay and these led grow panels. they say there 100 1500 2000 3000 watts but only draw 35 - several hundred watts power. have they done the impossable and come up with alternatives to big hps/metal halides at a fraction of the cost or are they a big gimmic item?

 

[tkufoS]

I got one of those gimmicky lights from that site..mar hydro 2000..it draws somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 watts..so I would think I have a light that's about 300w equivalent

 

[go go kid]

thanx. thats what i was reckoning.

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

These are the specs I pulled off amazon for a cheap 1500w LED light. You have to really look at these lights as the labelling and selling points are misleading to say the least. They take the number of individual LED chips and multiple them by their wattage to come up with their claim of "such and such wattage LED!". In this case it's 150 pieces of 10W LED chips. 150*10w = 1500w. If you look closely the actual power draw listed above it says "150W". So this is actually a 150w light, not 1500w.

 

[B_the_s]

I think I get it!
Actual Power is approximately what the light draws from the outlet when its running at max power.
Max Power is calculated by closing your eyes and making up a number that will sell your light.
Makes sense if you think about it.

 

[go go kid]

that was what i was focusing on, actual power used

 

[Tetrahedral]

If I have a 100 x 5watt LEDs that's 500watts. But if I power each at only 1watt that 500w unit becomes 100w.

They advertise it as 500w but true draw is only 100w.

 

[imreadyfortheend89]

Always look at the actual power draw when looking at those. I have a 1200W that draws ~300W and a 600W that draws 102W. Always check out the specs before purchasing or just look at the back of your light for the actual wattage, but yeah max power is bullshit.

 

[imreadyfortheend89]

2 words, quantum boards.

 

[hillbill]

HLG

 

[go go kid]

If I have a 100 x 5watt LEDs that's 500watts. But if I power each at only 1watt that 500w unit becomes 100w.

They advertise it as 500w but true draw is only 100w.

so there kinda like dimmed leds filling the panel?

 

[coreywebster]

Its an age old tactic from crappy LED companies to separate unsuspecting customers from their money.
Should be avoided at all cost.

Good LEDs don't need to do that.

 

[coreywebster]

so there kinda like dimmed leds filling the panel?

Yeah you don't run an LED at its max, you run them soft to make them efficient and give them a long life.

There is no reason to call a light 2000w other than to mislead people.

 

[HydroKid239]

Nothing wrong with them really as long as you know what's up when ur buying. I have 2 cheap square "1500W" (LOL) square boards in my tent... BUT... I'm only using them to cover the borders where my main light lacks reach. I also Use them both in a 2x2 to veg clones and they work.

 

[Doug Dawson]

This should maybe go in another thread, but here go's.
Im looking on amazon and ebay and these led grow panels. they say there 100 1500 2000 3000 watts but only draw 35 - several hundred watts power. have they done the impossable and come up with alternatives to big hps/metal halides at a fraction of the cost or are they a big gimmic item?

Not so much of a gimmick as they are a deception to fool the uninformed. It is amazing how many buy those falsely advertised lights and than go out and brag about how powerful their blurple lights are. There is also the power draw which most folks who know a bit more speak of, it is also deceptive. You can put 2 lights side by side with same power draw, one could be great and another could be garbage. Depends on how it was built, the circuitry, the led's used. 100 watt draw does not produce the same output on all devices. Just like anything else one has to do their research before dropping their money on the counter.

 

[dbz]

Seems to me that if an LED light doesn't cost at least around a dollar per watt, then there is probably some false advertising and numbers going on there.

 

[mauricem00]

false claims are common among LED makers. I question the life expectancy when high end LEDs lose 5-8% of their output in 6000hr

if they were really better than other lights than why do they lie so much https://www.hydroexperts.com.au/buying/resource-library/grow-lights/epistar-vs-cree-led/

 

[hillbill]

HLG is a prime innovator but good values at Spider Farmer and even Mars SP and TS.

 

[Tetrahedral]

If you use the crappy LEDs you just need to grow lots of small plants, I'm happy with low power lights and they get you started without having to make a substantial payment.

Use what makes you happy and fulfills you goals, a few ounce is easily grown with most lights and wattage (true watts lol)

 

[Doug Dawson]

If you use the crappy LEDs you just need to grow lots of small plants, I'm happy with low power lights and they get you started without having to make a substantial payment.

Use what makes you happy and fulfills you goals, a few ounce is easily grown with most lights and wattage (true watts lol)

Cant argue with that. Blurple lights do get the job done, just not optimal. I grew my first plant under this 1200 watt (150watt in reality) blurple light and it did fine. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07Y4XQ9RZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 . I did not find the buds as dense as I would like so I upgraded. The plant which was a freebie Northern Lights Auto did yield 3.5 oz once cured and was quite good.