Stupid question

[giggywatts]

I tried search and just may not word it right. I built my lights about 5 or 6 years ago. I used Vero 18 cobs. Do leds and drivers weaken over time like CFL and hid? I'm chasing a couple problems and strains I have worked with in the past (same seed stock) just don't seem to do as well now.

 

[ooof-da]

@Budzbuddha is kinda a light expert I believe? GL

 

[bk78]

What kind of problems are you chasing?

 

[giggywatts]

It is more then just the lights, almost like I have forgotten what I'm doing. I was under the thought that leds never weaken. A friend told me he had to change his lights cause they got weaker. So I'm asking, just in case I need to do that as well.

 

[bk78]

Only reason I asked is because you made it sound like your issues are arising from your 5 year old light?

They most definitely do degrade over time, but not enough to ruin a crop imo.

 

[ismann]

LEDs do degrade over time but at a very slow rate. Nothing comparable to CFL or HID lights. Whatever problems you're having is not the light.

 

[EKG Cal Canna]

No question is a stupid question. You'll get some crazy stupid funny answers here,but always ask the question!

 

[bk78]

You'll get some crazy stupid funny answers here

Seen many from you since you joined

 

[EKG Cal Canna]

Damn,you're on the attack this am ! If I was that miserable I'd just shoot dope, might make you feel better, just saying

 

[giggywatts]

Ok thanks, just trying to rule everything out. I have been thinking about some new lights but looks like I have some more time on them. Thanks everybody.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

Most LED chips have an L70 rating for longevity

Typical values are 50,000 - 100,000 hours until the light has lost 30% of its original output

 

[Flash63]

Depends on how hard you drive them as well, the hotter they are the faster they will degrade,I noticed a drop off in yield at the 5 yr mark,and replaced them all.your probably close to 30% loss and the efficiency of the new chips has substantially improved over the last 5 yrs.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

You said "same seed stock"? As in, the same seeds you were running 5 years ago? In my experience (20 years ago and a life time away, admittedly), 4 or 5 years is about the point at which my seed stock started to get a little long in the tooth. Seeds weren't bunk at that point, but I definitely noticed decreased vigor over all, as well as a decrease in germination rate.

Not saying 5 year old seeds are worthless, but they are worth less, if you catch my drift.

 

[V256.420]

How can you tell they are degrading? Light intensity? Par meter?

 

[Flash63]

How can you tell they are degrading? Light intensity? Par meter?

I noticed my yield decreasing,

then had my buddy bring his light meter over..the lights had almost 30,000hrs on them.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

You said "same seed stock"? As in, the same seeds you were running 5 years ago? In my experience (20 years ago and a life time away, admittedly), 4 or 5 years is about the point at which my seed stock started to get a little long in the tooth. Seeds weren't bunk at that point, but I definitely noticed decreased vigor over all, as well as a decrease in germination rate.

Not saying 5 year old seeds are worthless, but they are worth less, if you catch my drift.

Unless they've been stored in 120+°F attic or similar, 5 year old seeds should be perfectly fine.

 

[Comparator]

I tried search and just may not word it right. I built my lights about 5 or 6 years ago. I used Vero 18 cobs. Do leds and drivers weaken over time like CFL and hid? I'm chasing a couple problems and strains I have worked with in the past (same seed stock) just don't seem to do as well now.

Yes, moreover then originally mktd especially when not coupled with proper thermal mngmt or ran anything but soft w/o air movement.