Going from HPS to LED. Worth it?

NukaKola

NukaKola

Well-Known Member
mistergrafik said:
OKAY U LED GURUS * & FOO'S. I currently run an LEP setup. I like it ( I love it second to the sun ) but I want to do a side by side. I've been drifting around in here trying to decide what to blow some stripper money on and the only thing I'm for certain is that I'm not buying an LED with a fan in it. Want to fill a 4x6 space exactly like my experiment room.

Where should I start? Ebay?

thnks
Click to expand...
What's your budget?

4x6 is a bit of an odd footprint so you will most likely have to get several smaller fixtures.

3x HLG 240w QB ~$1100 (DIY: Have to wire lights)
3x Kingbrite 240w ~$500
6x HLG QB 96 w/HLG-480H-54A & HLG-240H-54A drivers ~$700 (DIY: Have to wire and build frame for lights).

Personally, I would go for the QB 96 option if you are a bit handy and can build a frame out of some angle, it is quite easy. Use code RIU10 if you order from HLG. I'd stay away from Ebay or Amazon for LED lights.
 
mistergrafik

mistergrafik

Well-Known Member
NukaKola said:
What's your budget?

4x6 is a bit of an odd footprint so you will most likely have to get several smaller fixtures.

3x HLG 240w QB ~$1100 (DIY: Have to wire lights)
3x Kingbrite 240w ~$500
6x HLG QB 96 w/HLG-480H-54A & HLG-240H-54A drivers ~$700 (DIY: Have to wire and build frame for lights).

Personally, I would go for the QB 96 option if you are a bit handy and can build a frame out of some angle, it is quite easy. Use code RIU10 if you order from HLG. I'd stay away from Ebay or Amazon for LED lights.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the list of goods man that is very informative. I love building stuff so this is perfect! No budget really I want to put the best thing possible together.

I will be putting it to a test side by side with 2 x NIT400 LEP units ( https://alphalite.com/nite-grower-plasma-grow-light/ )
 
NukaKola

NukaKola

Well-Known Member
Star Dog

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
I've only used my Led for 2 days and realised it's not much use to me when it's cold they don't produce enough heat, I never imagined that being a problem but there you go!

I had a mother and 10 clones under 4x T5s when I got the Led I swapped it over dimmed down to 100w but it was still to bright, I then turned it right down but then it was too cold {18c) ... So I put the T5s back in and it's now a steady 24/25c.

I don't regret buying the Led I'll get a use from it during the summer but to invest for flowering wouldn't be justified for me.
I need/rely on the heat from a hps/mh to maintain room temperature, but more than anything the yeilds aren't increased, they don't justify the additional outlay.
 
Xcoregamerskillz

Xcoregamerskillz

Well-Known Member
mistergrafik said:
OKAY U LED GURUS * & FOO'S. I currently run an LEP setup. I like it ( I love it second to the sun ) but I want to do a side by side. I've been drifting around in here trying to decide what to blow some stripper money on and the only thing I'm for certain is that I'm not buying an LED with a fan in it. Want to fill a 4x6 space exactly like my experiment room.

Where should I start? Ebay?

thnks
Click to expand...
HLG has the best ratings for LED from everyone here. Find an HLG with comparable wattage to your LEP.
 
P

P10p

Well-Known Member
Star Dog said:
I've only used my Led for 2 days and realised it's not much use to me when it's cold they don't produce enough heat, I never imagined that being a problem but there you go!

I had a mother and 10 clones under 4x T5s when I got the Led I swapped it over dimmed down to 100w but it was still to bright, I then turned it right down but then it was too cold {18c) ... So I put the T5s back in and it's now a steady 24/25c.

I don't regret buying the Led I'll get a use from it during the summer but to invest for flowering wouldn't be justified for me.
I need/rely on the heat from a hps/mh to maintain room temperature, but more than anything the yeilds aren't increased, they don't justify the additional outlay.
Click to expand...
If you're relying on light heat that much you might want to fix your environment.
 
Buddernugs

Buddernugs

Well-Known Member
mistergrafik said:
Thank you for the list of goods man that is very informative. I love building stuff so this is perfect! No budget really I want to put the best thing possible together.

I will be putting it to a test side by side with 2 x NIT400 LEP units ( https://alphalite.com/nite-grower-plasma-grow-light/ )
Click to expand...
Go optic slim line 600h if money’s no issue ,,, mars hydro tsl-2000 are 250-280$ and will flower 2x4 area perfectly their 300+ watts people shit on them but their ts series have really made other high end company’s bite their nails...2 tsl2000”s will out perform 1 hlg 650 and cost you 500-540$ for the pair vs the 1000+ for one hlg....the tsl 2000 has 1.5”of space between the face and ass end from my tent walls...it covers 2x4 extreamly even...
 
P

P10p

Well-Known Member
Xcoregamerskillz said:
Why would you add a heater when your lights provide the right amount of heat? If you run LED for efficiency, then have to add a heater, then it's a wash power wise.
Click to expand...
I'm not explicitly saying you cant take advantage of the heat. But you should have enough control of your indoor grow that you can control temperature independent of lighting.

What happens at night when the lights off and it's cold outside?
 
Xcoregamerskillz

Xcoregamerskillz

Well-Known Member
P10p said:
I'm not explicitly saying you cant take advantage of the heat. But you should have enough control of your indoor grow that you can control temperature independent of lighting.

What happens at night when the lights off and it's cold outside?
Click to expand...
∆T is is good enough to keep the plants warm enough during lights off. Also, as long as there isn't a frost, cold isn't going to hurt the plants, just slow them down a little. Also, run the lights on period at night, and lights off during the day, taking advantage of those respective temps. That's how I run my setups. Helps keep temps down in summer, and up in winter.
 
Johnny Lawrence

Johnny Lawrence

Well-Known Member
mistergrafik said:
OKAY U LED GURUS * & FOO'S. I currently run an LEP setup. I like it ( I love it second to the sun ) but I want to do a side by side. I've been drifting around in here trying to decide what to blow some stripper money on and the only thing I'm for certain is that I'm not buying an LED with a fan in it. Want to fill a 4x6 space exactly like my experiment room.

Where should I start? Ebay?

thnks
Click to expand...
HLG or Alibaba, depending on your budget.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Not for me. The cost of replacing my HID with an LED doesn't make sense. I grow in an unheated garage during the winter so no need to worry about heat. And running at night during off-peak hours and PGE's time of use pricing I only pay 4.128 ¢ per kWh for electricity. So I have no need to go to LED to save on the power bill. So I'll continue to use HID lighting and if and when my ballast goes out I'll shell out $100 for a 1000 watt dimmable ballast.

Both LED and HID will grow great weed. I just see no reason to spend $600 - $800 on an LED to get the same amount of light. I also don't have the height to keep an LED at the proper distance from my plants. With an air cooled hood the plants can get under a foot from the light.

I know many are all about LED lighting but as with most things one size does not fit all. I'm about growing weed and I'm doing that just fine with the HID lighting I'm using.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top