Teknik isn't here to defend himself, but as a distributor of these products and someone who works with Teknik on various horticultural projects, I can address most of these claims.
The link you provided explains much of the background of Buddies, but there's a bit more to it. Here is a quote from the link, from the horse's mouth so to speak.
Teknik travelled to China with
@Prawn Connery a couple of years ago to do some groundwork on future projects. Prawn speaks the language and lived in the region for something like 15 years, so he know's his way around China better than most "white boys". This is background you won't get from reading the forums but it emphasizes that there is always more to a story than you may realise.
Buddies housings were initially developed for outdoor advertsing. That's what makes them so robust. There was no point in reinventing the wheel and it is no secret that Buddies are manufactured in China based on an existing concept.
That's where the similarities end. A rebranded plastic housing is one thing but it's what's inside that counts. And this is where none of the Chinese manufacturers you link to will compete with what we sell. In fact, I for one would welcome anyone on these boards trying to procure any of the following for a better price. If you can, we'll buy them!
Each of these products has customised LEDs and PCBs inside. Perhaps if I explain how they are made, you will realise that – like the China story – there is more than meets the eye.
View attachment 4926301
This is the 660nm Buddies string. Inside each housing is a custom 2V PCB with a high efficiency 3535 660nm monochomatic LED. How high is the efficiency? About 2% less than the top "G" bin Cree XP-G3 (and you try buying "G" bins from Cree – the yield is so low that thay are almost impossible to buy in large numbers).
So let's try almost 4 umol/j – which we all know is close to the highest efficiency available from any manufacurer of any LED.
Here is the Cree "G" bin – 4.01 umol/j. If anyone doubts the legitimacy of LED Teknik's testing facility (more of which I can post below), this is exactly the same efficiency that Cree claims of their 3535 "G" bin 660nm LED.
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Here is the chip that is used in the 660nm Buddies – 3.94 umol/j at the same current (350mA).
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Now, who would like to be the first person to try to buy these in China? Again, if you can find the same rugged, water-proof housings with the same 180-degree diffusers and 3.94 umol/j LEDs in the same 24V format (2V x 8 LEDs) then please let me know – I will buy them off you!
I will be here waiting. In the mean time, let's look at the 730m Buddies – they are one of my favourite.
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What LEDs do you think are in these? What if I told you that the LEDs in the 730nm Buddies were almost exactly the same as Cree's XP-E2 series? Let's have a look.
Cree XP-E2
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LED Teknik 730nm LED
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I think you guys are now getting the picture that these are no common plastic-housing LEDs that anyone can buy in China. A lot more work has gone into these than most people give LED Teknik credit for. Fortunately I am one of those who has been given an insight into his work, so I am happy to buy his products and retail them without hesitation. We (Grow Lights Australia) stand behind what we sell as much as we stand behind LED Teknik's products.
Would anyone like to know about the 4000K CRI90 White and PC Red Buddies while I'm here?