May want to read this before buying from Black dog Led

Southernontariogrower

Well-Known Member
The very first light I bought was a black dog phytomax 200 LED.if you're not familiar these lights they are handmade supposedly high-quality products based out of Colorado. the light was approximately $650 for 200 Watts.ran the light for a single plant grow everything went fine but realized I needed more lighting for my space and I ordered the timber 4vl3500 k. I have been using the Timber without issue but decided to use the black dog on another single plant run.installed the Lite and got the grow running and noticed that one quadrant of the light board was not working and one of the three fans had failed.I swapped in the timber and I'm currently Trucking along but just wanted to give this as a warning to anyone looking at buying from Black Dog Led. after communicating with their service department they informed me that I would be responsible for all shipping cost and labor and that they would Supply any parts necessary to correct the problem .I don't disagree with their warranty and I understand they are running a business but if their light is only good for one single plant run before it fails I certainly would never buy from them again and don't feel that I should be liable for any cost to repair such an expensive lite with so few hours. I really hate to leave a poor review but if it helps someone else from wasting their money then it's worth it
Hows the pennetration with the black dog? Their lensing is supposed to be something special. Priced way out of my ballpark. But l can see why some would buy them, all their hype etc.
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
84 diodes. 210W $629USD.
It's insane. Granted they are 5W diodes. But still lot of power concentrated in a small area. No good for long term. Not to mention just poor efficiency on the diode so the boards will see more heat on their life than a board that creates more light.
The worst thing is that they suggest high wattage per diode is a feature and not a big, all in the name "penetration".
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Hows the pennetration with the black dog? Their lensing is supposed to be something special. Priced way out of my ballpark. But l can see why some would buy them, all their hype etc.
As far as I can see and understand penetration, in the sense of big buds low down on the plant, is a myth as far as the light concerned. I've measured our under canopy light levels where we had primo mugs and it was pitifully, like 50ish ppfd. No nug could grow that big if it was up to the light hitting it. Total absorbed light from canopy, amount of roots and how much you lolipop or prune your bottoms is what gives big lower nugs.
 

WubbaLubbaDubDub

Well-Known Member
Hows the pennetration with the black dog? Their lensing is supposed to be something special. Priced way out of my ballpark. But l can see why some would buy them, all their hype etc.
There’s a local hydro by me,they sell blackdog and Mars leds,obviously MH,CMH,HPS too.
I brought my apogee meter there when i first got it, now the apogee doesn’t pick up UV mind you.
But it was about the same penetration and numbers as the comparable watt Mars unit beside it in another Demo tent.
Both of which were blown out of the water by my HLG 350R and SD but that’s not a fair comparison with way more watts.

I think the black dog lenses help spread the light more evenly from their ‘small frame’ but they trade away depth to do it.
 

Fatleg77

Well-Known Member
Hows the pennetration with the black dog? Their lensing is supposed to be something special. Priced way out of my ballpark. But l can see why some would buy them, all their hype etc.
I was impressed with the performance of the light on the grow that I used it I thought it did a wonderful job and made great flower production. didn't see any issues with the penetration.having said that the timber light is able to penetrate the canopy at a far greater scale I realize we're not comparing Apples to Apples so to speak and the timber is a 400 watt light as opposed to the black dog being a 200 W light with a seemingly totally different Spectrum. the black dog does make a tremendous amount of heat even though it is cooled with three fans. the heatsinks that the timber uses are remarkably efficient in my opinion. also it seems as though the plant responded much better to the white light that the timber produces as opposed to the purplish color that the black dog made this could be user bias but it seemed to create a happier plant
 
Hey guys - lot's of misinformation here. If the goal is to look the best on paper - then yes, go with the cheapest light full of white and a few Red LED's. Or better yet - go all RED LED's and you'll get some crazy numbers. Looks great on paper - but not what grows the best Cannabis. I've been growing Cannabis for over 30 years and have used many different lights in my time and can say I've never had better results than with Black Dog. Questions?? Ask away happy to help. I just couldn't help but respond to this thread with all of the incorrect info. Happy Growing!
 
I was impressed with the performance of the light on the grow that I used it I thought it did a wonderful job and made great flower production. didn't see any issues with the penetration.having said that the timber light is able to penetrate the canopy at a far greater scale I realize we're not comparing Apples to Apples so to speak and the timber is a 400 watt light as opposed to the black dog being a 200 W light with a seemingly totally different Spectrum. the black dog does make a tremendous amount of heat even though it is cooled with three fans. the heatsinks that the timber uses are remarkably efficient in my opinion. also it seems as though the plant responded much better to the white light that the timber produces as opposed to the purplish color that the black dog made this could be user bias but it seemed to create a happier plant
White light looks bright to the human eye but is actually the opposite of what plants use to photosynthesize.
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
The worst thing is that they suggest high wattage per diode is a feature and not a big, all in the name "penetration".
Same thing when people go on about cob penetration.


Hey guys - lot's of misinformation here. If the goal is to look the best on paper - then yes, go with the cheapest light full of white and a few Red LED's. Or better yet - go all RED LED's and you'll get some crazy numbers. Looks great on paper - but not what grows the best Cannabis. I've been growing Cannabis for over 30 years and have used many different lights in my time and can say I've never had better results than with Black Dog. Questions?? Ask away happy to help. I just couldn't help but respond to this thread with all of the incorrect info. Happy Growing!
30 years and you still don't know better. Sounds like time well spent.
 

WubbaLubbaDubDub

Well-Known Member
White light looks bright to the human eye but is actually the opposite of what plants use to photosynthesize.
What’s your option of your uv diodes burning out quicker than the rest?

Yes sir I have a apogee metre which registers light plants can use and the BD was no better than the cheaper quieter Mars.
I also have lux meter which measures what our eyes can see and the BD losses again lol
 

farmingfisherman

Well-Known Member
What’s your option of your uv diodes burning out quicker than the rest?

Yes sir I have a apogee metre which registers light plants can use and the BD was no better than the cheaper quieter Mars.
I also have lux meter which measures what our eyes can see and the BD losses again lol
My dads awesome set of tools doesn't have one of those in it yet. :D
 

PioneerValleyOG

Well-Known Member
Leave the review on their website, explain that the light only lasted for one grow until you had to have it serviced at own cost (minus parts, which is likely less than shipping and labor or either or). Take a screen shot in case they just delete it.

Fair enough we do clank down on black dog for reasons mentioned above but I find it a bit harsh to pick on OP: this post have probably not changed the mind of anyone here already but this is the first I ever hear of their after sales which I assumed would be at least decent after hearing all their fan boys enthusiasm, thx for letting us know.
Got my attention, lol. I'm looking for something just to keep a mother or two going through the winter.... wondering if its feasible and can I do it without spending a gob of cash that is hard to come by these days.
 

bk78

Well-Known Member
Hey guys - lot's of misinformation here. If the goal is to look the best on paper - then yes, go with the cheapest light full of white and a few Red LED's. Or better yet - go all RED LED's and you'll get some crazy numbers. Looks great on paper - but not what grows the best Cannabis. I've been growing Cannabis for over 30 years and have used many different lights in my time and can say I've never had better results than with Black Dog. Questions?? Ask away happy to help. I just couldn't help but respond to this thread with all of the incorrect info. Happy Growing!

Great first post in 3 years being a member

You must work for black dog I take it?
 

Fatleg77

Well-Known Member
Hey guys - lot's of misinformation here. If the goal is to look the best on paper - then yes, go with the cheapest light full of white and a few Red LED's. Or better yet - go all RED LED's and you'll get some crazy numbers. Looks great on paper - but not what grows the best Cannabis. I've been growing Cannabis for over 30 years and have used many different lights in my time and can say I've never had better results than with Black Dog. Questions?? Ask away happy to help. I just couldn't help but respond to this thread with all of the incorrect info. Happy Growing!
You should go back and read my original post which is not questioning the performance of the light rather the failed performance of the light in such a small amount of time
 
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