Backup LED Lighting for an HID Grower

Is there anyone out there that uses a backup LED lighting setup for backup during a power outage? I have a very small grow that I have a single 1000watt HPS setup.

I wasn't looking to provide HID Equal lighting, but more interested in having something setup in my grow room that will come on when the power drops so the plants don't totally freak out and turn into Seed Machines.

We typically never have issues with outages in the past, but have had many this year possibly due to lots of new construction in our area.

What I was looking for is thoughts on what would possibly be an acceptable amount of light that I could build from LED's that would hook up to a modified-capacity APC UPS (large capacity marine battery) with a photoeye + timer so that when the power drops out these would kick on and keep the plants from stressing out too much.
I'm not really looking for LED Grow Light recommendations, but just approximately the right amount of light to get by until the power comes back on each time.

Thanks in Advance!

If it is just for power outages, you could use leds to keep the plants from going to sleep early.

A similar technique is used by greenhouses for food crops where a light comes on for 1 hour during the night to interrupt the darkness, thus keeping the plants from having long periods of darkness.

Hi Enal, I tried using my LED's on an APC 3000 kva UPS. While it worked, it only lasted 15 minutes with an actual 200W draw LED panel. Since then I've switched the circuit for the UPS to run my 48" shop lights (T8's) that have 2x 32W fluoro's if/when the power goes out. I find that's sufficient light and haven't tested but I'm thinking they'll last about 1 hour which should be plenty. I typically have very good service but during the summer it's common to get outages due to construction (had one for about 45 minutes yesterday, but during lights off). I won't be sufficient for any significant amount of time but in a pinch they're good enough to keep things going and avoid any total black-out's. The good news is that if you typically get good service and few outages, if you run your lights at night, construction related outages during the summer typically hit during the daytime hours.

Problem with LED's is you're not just looking to drive the lights, there are fans, power suplies involved so it's difficult to keep them going for any length of time on a smallish UPS.

GroErr said:

Hi Enal, I tried using my LED's on an APC 3000 kva UPS. While it worked, it only lasted 15 minutes with an actual 200W draw LED panel. Since then I've switched the circuit for the UPS to run my 48" shop lights (T8's) that have 2x 32W fluoro's if/when the power goes out. I find that's sufficient light and haven't tested but I'm thinking they'll last about 1 hour which should be plenty. I typically have very good service but during the summer it's common to get outages due to construction (had one for about 45 minutes yesterday, but during lights off). I won't be sufficient for any significant amount of time but in a pinch they're good enough to keep things going and avoid any total black-out's. The good news is that if you typically get good service and few outages, if you run your lights at night, construction related outages during the summer typically hit during the daytime hours.

Problem with LED's is you're not just looking to drive the lights, there are fans, power suplies involved so it's difficult to keep them going for any length of time on a smallish UPS.

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GroErr...Holee Shit dude...That's a hell of a nice UPS! I've got two big AGM Marine batteries wired up to an older APC unit that I guess I just need to test some shop-lights. Good point with all the other crap that goes along with the LED's. I'm sure they aren't enough light, but I have bought several rolls of the waterproof SMD LED's that are impressively bright, but after a couple hours I'm sure they will get quite hot. I guess I should give them a try at least.

I also thought about the shop-lights and will probably go with those like you. I do run my lights at night from 17:11 to 05:11 daily (superstitious thing about :11 that works for me(LOL). I do this for a few reasons...1. So I can get in there and work during the lights-on cycle. 2. Easier to keep cool where they are located 3. The "Fly-Overs" are only during the day here(LOL).

I grow for my wife that has Stage3c Ovarian Cancer and cannabis literally saved her life from the chemo, side-effect meds & pain meds...All of which she doesn't need now. So it's important that I not screw things up or that I don't have too many outages. The last grow I had lots of problems with outages and every single plant seeded, but I did still end up with some amazing meds.

The problem I've been having with outages in my area are mostly around 17:00 and the last one was nearly 5 hours so I'm hoping that doesn't screw me again. All of our utilities are underground, but the main feed into our subdivision is with another company and above ground so it's painful at times.

Churchhaze...That's interesting to hear and I'll have to do some Googling to find out more about that setup you mentioned. Maybe a call to a Commercial Greenhouse Supplier will help.

Thanks for your responses!

those SMD rollz will work fine to stop the ladies freaking out. I mean it's not like you want to get amazing growth out of them...they are a stop gap right? how long are the outages for? Also don't worry about the heat from the rollz...I have a bit of experience with them...they will be sweet

Chronikool said:

those SMD rollz will work fine to stop the ladies freaking out. I mean it's not like you want to get amazing growth out of them...they are a stop gap right? how long are the outages for? Also don't worry about the heat from the rollz...I have a bit of experience with them...they will be sweet

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WOW...Thanks for that Chronikool! Normally these outages are only for 1-2 hours, but lately they've been hitting 3-5 hours so it really cuts into my cycle time. Like you said...I just want to keep them straight and out of freak-out mode and yes this is purely for a Stop-Gap.

I've got some scrap aluminum channel that I was going to mount the roll-led's to so that it had a little dissipation and also have some heatsink material laying around. Looks like this will be a good project for the weekend and I'll make sure to take pictures and post the test results with what I come up with.

Thanks Again

Power outage , I have a generator for back up. I can go for day's if need be. Is there any reason that one wouldn't work for you? They make some nice quiet, small ones now.

I'm in computers so having a UPS around is normal, get to write them off too I like the SMD's idea, they don't draw much and would provide enough light. I grabbed the T8 shop lights on clearance for a song, I think they cost $17 or something stupid like that and needed some white light in there so it was a cheap option. I installed the UPS where I keep my routers/wiring panel and ran standard wiring/electrical box/socket into the room where I plug in the T8. It looks like any other electrical socket but it's running straight into the UPS. I wouldn't run a generator in the basement and can't run one outside so this is some protection covering most events. My area's great for power though, I've had 3 outages less than an hour long in 1 1/2 years.