LED LIGHTS BRANDS/MODELS : Which is the best and why?

MystaIcky

MystaIcky

New Member
NOW before i ask my question, i have done AS MUCH research as i could without knowing a single thing about led's and there output ability/strength and such,
i do understand you require the right spectrum for growth and flower BUT, i cant seem to find any info thats not bias for or against the led argument,
What i am wondering is:
Is there a brand/type that reigns supreme to others with spectrum and quality?, or is t a case of buying one, buying quality bulbs and fitting them yourself to get the right ration of colour spectrum/enough light strength?...if so hows the best way to do it?

ANYONE who has managed to use them successfully can you please let me know what model/strength/brand light you use with maybe a pic/link to your grow with it so i can have a look?, i trust people with hands on experience more then a light sales guy and or an anti LED warrior lol,

Yes i understand this question is prob asked a million times, i just have no idea where to start with LED.

Im wanting to do roughly a 2m square area so any help/suggestions would help :) as i dont have a an awful lot of coin to waste on trial and error and only used hps/mh on the smaller scale (400-600w) as far as indoors go.

Thanks again guys,

Mr.Icky



p.s i cant apologize enough as i know this would of been asked a million times before, im just still figuring out how to filter stuff to find what im looking for and such, so to all you vets out there that prob deal with this repetitive stuff everyday i am sorry lol
 
MystaIcky

MystaIcky

New Member
I have a budget of about 800-1000 AUD to spend on lighting LED wise for a 2m square area, so any imput from fellow LED users would be epic, as im happy to admit "If i know nothing about it, why pretend and waste money?" :D
also reading a lot about swapping out bulbs for grow/veg ?
 
MystaIcky

MystaIcky

New Member
Hyroot: i understand, i have looked/am reading as we speak through [h=1]"IF you are new to LED and want help choosing what to buy, POST HERE!",
i just get confused with the back and forth discussion of what is good/what isnt so i just thought i would "reach out" as i would trust a LED growers opinion if they have it working for them, how ever the further into i read into it tho the less confusing it seems to be getting, just having NO PRIOR at all of LED knowledge, i didnt even know where to start reading as i have questions to ask about "how they work" in comparison to HPS/MH and so on, but im slowly figuring the site out lol, didnt mean to piss anyone off,sorry if it has.

TWOSTROKENUT: I understand it looks like i havent but i should of expanded by "as much as could" i meant as much as i could with out ANY PRIOR LED knowledge, i didnt even know what to ask/what to start reading so thought i would throw it out there, again didnt mean to piss anyone off, sorry if it has.

Creeper: Thank you for a response, is there a journal your running atm?, so i can get an idea of space coverage and results your getting?, would love to have a look.

Would like to thank all 3 of you for responding since last post, thank you for your imput.

:)[/h]
 
B

barcelona100

New Member
we are v pleased with the led panel from plantphotonics, spain, yield is not huge...we getting an average of 17 to 22 g off each plant. female autos only but quality is excellent. 70 watt panel with 2 light modes. and v helpful seller also. good luck.
 
MystaIcky

MystaIcky

New Member
looking good creeper, soooo tasty, now the hard part of picking something potent i can sog the shit out of lol
 
twostrokenut

twostrokenut

Well-Known Member
Hey man no worries I was on your journey and specific path once........mine ended up forking off and ended with induction lights mainly because of the extremely high buy-in for the led's, the inductions weren't cheap either.
 
BigEasy1

BigEasy1

Well-Known Member
I just got 80 grams dried and cured off a single Dutch Passion White Widow Auto using a BlackStar Chrome 270.
 
G

green.green

New Member
Its been said 100 times before but here it is. Apache Tech makes the best panels if cost is no object. Area 51 makes the best bang-for-buck panels. You can hang the 190 watt area 51 LED panel about 3 feet on center. The AT600 has at least 4'x4' coverage.
 
Spiko

Spiko

Member
green.green said:
Its been said 100 times before but here it is. Apache Tech makes the best panels if cost is no object. Area 51 makes the best bang-for-buck panels. You can hang the 190 watt area 51 LED panel about 3 feet on center. The AT600 has at least 4'x4' coverage.
Click to expand...

Not trying to start shit but what evidence is there that Apache Tech is actually better? Have there been any side by sides?
 
S

solemnwoot

Member
Putting together a grow tent, and this is what I came up with while shopping around for LEDs:

I had several requirements while shopping:
A. No bullshit on the website. If you don't specifically give me actual watts vs total watts, I'm out. (This is why I eliminated Apache Tech. Their website gives absolutely zero information. Just a 2 minute video comparing their overpriced LEDs to useless Chinese crap. What a pointless bullshit video...)
B. Must be full spectrum LEDs. None of this 5 band 7 band crap.
C. No fans. Fans are a red light for anyone looking to buy LEDs. Fans mean the design is too shoddy to make a heatsink viable. Also, fans use more power and break.

Those three things basically eliminated 90% of the LED market.


The best I've found so far is the Black Dog line: http://www.blackdogled.com/BD360-U.html. True white full spectrum LEDs, no fans, manageable price, multiple sizes, solid high end LEDs and construction, and just TONS of information on the website have made this my #1 contender so far. The link I just posted links to the light panel I plan on grabbing to cover my 4x4 grow room. 340 actual watts (700W total) of real full spectrum LEDs for $950.

#2 was SuperGrow LED's Spectrum King, which is actually probably a bit better than the Black Dog LEDs but at almost double the price...

I'd love it if some of you could throw up some opinions. I've got a couple more weeks before I'll be purchasing.
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
^^^ um that black dog panel has plenty of fans and uses active cooling. ITs made in China with generic encapsulated leds IMO and give zero indications of bin #s or their real manufacturers;-)

If you read the sticky you would know this.......but I'll forgive you

Apache tech is the best ATM followed closely by area 51, now if your patient you can wait till Radiant put out their consumer products very soon and see if the hype is justified.
 
S

sovereignlife

Member
PSUAGRO. said:
^^^ um that black dog panel has plenty of fans and uses active cooling. ITs made in China with generic encapsulated leds IMO and give zero indications of bin #s or their real manufacturers;-)

If you read the sticky you would know this.......but I'll forgive you

Apache tech is the best ATM followed closely by area 51, now if your patient you can wait till Radiant put out their consumer products very soon and see if the hype is justified.
Click to expand...

elaborate on this radiant hype. I've seen there lab testing models.
 
Greengenes707

Greengenes707

Well-Known Member
solemnwoot said:
Putting together a grow tent, and this is what I came up with while shopping around for LEDs:

I had several requirements while shopping:
A. No bullshit on the website. If you don't specifically give me actual watts vs total watts, I'm out. (This is why I eliminated Apache Tech. Their website gives absolutely zero information. Just a 2 minute video comparing their overpriced LEDs to useless Chinese crap. What a pointless bullshit video...)
B. Must be full spectrum LEDs. None of this 5 band 7 band crap.
C. No fans. Fans are a red light for anyone looking to buy LEDs. Fans mean the design is too shoddy to make a heatsink viable. Also, fans use more power and break.

Those three things basically eliminated 90% of the LED market.


The best I've found so far is the Black Dog line: http://www.blackdogled.com/BD360-U.html. True white full spectrum LEDs, no fans, manageable price, multiple sizes, solid high end LEDs and construction, and just TONS of information on the website have made this my #1 contender so far. The link I just posted links to the light panel I plan on grabbing to cover my 4x4 grow room. 340 actual watts (700W total) of real full spectrum LEDs for $950.

#2 was SuperGrow LED's Spectrum King, which is actually probably a bit better than the Black Dog LEDs but at almost double the price...

I'd love it if some of you could throw up some opinions. I've got a couple more weeks before I'll be purchasing.
Click to expand...
A51. They don't just have info...it's the right and real info. You should want to know the out performance of a unit and that can be quantified. PAR readings and footprint charts, combined with spectral charts will give you the best way of seeing the potential of a unit. When you see what actual growing light(par photons) units are putting out, you really see what lights are going to truly live up to what their websites claim, intensity and coverage wise. Quality is another issue, but with good component info(like a51) you should have a good idea of that.

Websites are good and in a perfect world should reflect the products potential. Problem is that in the real world the website is just more marketing for companies. Since the likelihood of a customer actually seeing the product in hand is very low for LED grow lights...it is easier to exaggerate and lie about what is actually there. Even if their light is not going to do what it says it can, they can show you why "led's" are better(just not specifically theirs). Cost savings happen whether it performs or not. And facts about about photosynthesis and plant growth have nothing to do with the led light directly and how it will perform, they are just facts/science of growing. 5w chips don't mean greatness...it's the efficiency/output of the chips that do. If you want the best, max potential is one of the last things you look at. You want to know theory best output/w current and them work from there.

That BD360 isn't enough to flower in that tent, even they say it. Blackdog isn't a full white spectrum panel either. Their chips are average, and they use way more wattage to accomplish the same thing other units of 50% the wattage can do.

Super grows are so low output it would take too many to be practical.

sovereignlife said:
elaborate on this radiant hype. I've seen there lab testing models.
Click to expand...
I don't know the whole 411 on them...but they really are cool. More towards the science and research industry for sure. They can adjust each nm and they have a IP address and are basically their own computer. Computerized lights, like timing, dimming, spectrum will start to show it's self in more lights. Hopefully not at those prices.

Abiqua said:
Greengenes
Click to expand...
Thanks mans...but dawg outgrows the shit out of me, and he's an a51 guys. Puff has them both and kills it all around. The thing to note is that we are able to see and predict the differences(or similarities) pretty well with the output and footprint charts. Plus since their spectrums are so close it makes it such a fair one to look at.

Honestly when thinking of the small units...a51 hard to beat. The difference in output is fairly small...is it worth the extra cash for AT is up to ones self to decide. Apache's are truly american made, they use THE top quality in every aspect of their units. Also they are they only led grow light that I know of to be truly UL listed. Many use UL components...but that doesn't make thing UL approved. between the output, components used, and the institutions and scientist that back them plus totally UL. They are obviously my favorite, but a51 makes a good product and is a honest business man. I have serious repeat for them.

I care about getting the plant the best possible conditions to thrive. For light requirements...A51 and Apache are the ones that actually meet and raise the bar.
 
twostrokenut

twostrokenut

Well-Known Member
solemnwoot said:
Putting together a grow tent, and this is what I came up with while shopping around for LEDs:

I had several requirements while shopping:
A. No bullshit on the website. If you don't specifically give me actual watts vs total watts, I'm out. (This is why I eliminated Apache Tech. Their website gives absolutely zero information. Just a 2 minute video comparing their overpriced LEDs to useless Chinese crap. What a pointless bullshit video...)
B. Must be full spectrum LEDs. None of this 5 band 7 band crap.
C. No fans. Fans are a red light for anyone looking to buy LEDs. Fans mean the design is too shoddy to make a heatsink viable. Also, fans use more power and break.

Those three things basically eliminated 90% of the LED market.


The best I've found so far is the Black Dog line: http://www.blackdogled.com/BD360-U.html. True white full spectrum LEDs, no fans, manageable price, multiple sizes, solid high end LEDs and construction, and just TONS of information on the website have made this my #1 contender so far. The link I just posted links to the light panel I plan on grabbing to cover my 4x4 grow room. 340 actual watts (700W total) of real full spectrum LEDs for $950.

#2 was SuperGrow LED's Spectrum King, which is actually probably a bit better than the Black Dog LEDs but at almost double the price...

I'd love it if some of you could throw up some opinions. I've got a couple more weeks before I'll be purchasing.
Click to expand...
Nice first post......Blackdog sales rep?
 
twostrokenut

twostrokenut

Well-Known Member
Greengenes707 said:
A51. They don't just have info...it's the right and real info. You should want to know the out performance of a unit and that can be quantified. PAR readings and footprint charts, combined with spectral charts will give you the best way of seeing the potential of a unit. When you see what actual growing light(par photons) units are putting out, you really see what lights are going to truly live up to what their websites claim, intensity and coverage wise. Quality is another issue, but with good component info(like a51) you should have a good idea of that.

Websites are good and in a perfect world should reflect the products potential. Problem is that in the real world the website is just more marketing for companies. Since the likelihood of a customer actually seeing the product in hand is very low for LED grow lights...it is easier to exaggerate and lie about what is actually there. Even if their light is not going to do what it says it can, they can show you why "led's" are better(just not specifically theirs). Cost savings happen whether it performs or not. And facts about about photosynthesis and plant growth have nothing to do with the led light directly and how it will perform, they are just facts/science of growing. 5w chips don't mean greatness...it's the efficiency/output of the chips that do. If you want the best, max potential is one of the last things you look at. You want to know theory best output/w current and them work from there.

That BD360 isn't enough to flower in that tent, even they say it. Blackdog isn't a full white spectrum panel either. Their chips are average, and they use way more wattage to accomplish the same thing other units of 50% the wattage can do.

Super grows are so low output it would take too many to be practical.


I don't know the whole 411 on them...but they really are cool. More towards the science and research industry for sure. They can adjust each nm and they have a IP address and are basically their own computer. Computerized lights, like timing, dimming, spectrum will start to show it's self in more lights. Hopefully not at those prices.


Thanks mans...but dawg outgrows the shit out of me, and he's an a51 guys. Puff has them both and kills it all around. The thing to note is that we are able to see and predict the differences(or similarities) pretty well with the output and footprint charts. Plus since their spectrums are so close it makes it such a fair one to look at.

Honestly when thinking of the small units...a51 hard to beat. The difference in output is fairly small...is it worth the extra cash for AT is up to ones self to decide. Apache's are truly american made, they use THE top quality in every aspect of their units. Also they are they only led grow light that I know of to be truly UL listed. Many use UL components...but that doesn't make thing UL approved. between the output, components used, and the institutions and scientist that back them plus totally UL. They are obviously my favorite, but a51 makes a good product and is a honest business man. I have serious repeat for them.

I care about getting the plant the best possible conditions to thrive. For light requirements...A51 and Apache are the ones that actually meet and raise the bar.
Click to expand...

OMG I might have to find your twitter after all:)
 
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