I am about to make a major purchase of LED lights.. After much research I am leaning towards the HydroGrow 360 watt panels that I am told give a 4'x4' coverage at 24" above the canopy.. I am looking covering a 12'x12' area with 9 lights.. It is almost a $20,000.00 investment in lighting and with so many LED companies out there I am wondering if anyone has any experience with HydroGrow lights.. I have been experimenting with 2 similar ProSource LED's but have since found out they are from China.. Don't want to hear anything about my choice in lighting, just looking for the best product to invest with..... Thanks
Best LED's for 2013
- Thread starter ndm1952
- Start date
PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
I've seen some growers do well with them.......personally don't like the company's "ethics" but that's for another time ...... Many points of failure on them as well(chinese parts) and they will due to the lower quality/granted they will replace them free for a couple years, then what?? 9 lights with 16 modules/6 fans per light, wow it's gonna drive you crazy with part replacements in the future......IDK have you looked at CLW 800w ss(can use less panels/better quality parts) or maybe Area 51(free LIFETIME part replacement)
Just my opinion and I really don't know anything.............happy shopping
Just my opinion and I really don't know anything.............happy shopping
PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
Well if your really thinking about that large of a scale...........I would highly suggest passively cooled panel with less points of failure
IMO anything with fans in it will be loud and how are you going to tell if one/more fail?? leaving the leds to burn up rapidly, not to mention your sucking in all the humidity/dirt/dust into the internal components causing more failures if you don't clean it constantly.....
https://growershouse.com/neosol-300w-led-plant-grow-light passive cooling/drivers separated from leds and a nice even blend/spread from the illumitex led modules....par/umol readings should be good w the 50degree lens angles/very large panel should cover a big area.........have no idea how it performs because it's rather new. built in the USA if that matters
http://www.rhinogrow.com/RhinoGrow_400_Series.php also passive cooling and remote driver(dimmable) which I love.........awesome Osram Osolon leds and can cover a 3x3 in flower(you will need many) but wide lense angles should overlap each panel thus giving great results...Big discounts if bought in bulk...seen great grows on here...Also built in USA
these would be my picks if I was doing large scale grows with LEDS.......No issues to worry about just turn on and grow(if it doesn't turn on you know it's the driver/ because they both have high quality MCPCB/leds that rarely fail)
Going the cheap/ controversial way:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/400W-High-Power-LED-floodlights-Spotlights-LED-tunnel-lights/684559507.html Go with the warm white(take off the glass cover), I think SDS has almost proven that WW may be the best all white option.....Chronikool & Majorcocco have shown that it works well in flowering (all white leds)
The problem is QUALITY and WARRANTY, I have no idea how their built( it looks like the driver is outside the case/ which is good) and it will run HOT....If you believe their claims of 100lm/watt this fucker should be blinding(600w hps coverage/maybe)......cheap enough to try one and journal it here so we can see how it performs
IMO anything with fans in it will be loud and how are you going to tell if one/more fail?? leaving the leds to burn up rapidly, not to mention your sucking in all the humidity/dirt/dust into the internal components causing more failures if you don't clean it constantly.....
https://growershouse.com/neosol-300w-led-plant-grow-light passive cooling/drivers separated from leds and a nice even blend/spread from the illumitex led modules....par/umol readings should be good w the 50degree lens angles/very large panel should cover a big area.........have no idea how it performs because it's rather new. built in the USA if that matters
http://www.rhinogrow.com/RhinoGrow_400_Series.php also passive cooling and remote driver(dimmable) which I love.........awesome Osram Osolon leds and can cover a 3x3 in flower(you will need many) but wide lense angles should overlap each panel thus giving great results...Big discounts if bought in bulk...seen great grows on here...Also built in USA
these would be my picks if I was doing large scale grows with LEDS.......No issues to worry about just turn on and grow(if it doesn't turn on you know it's the driver/ because they both have high quality MCPCB/leds that rarely fail)
Going the cheap/ controversial way:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/400W-High-Power-LED-floodlights-Spotlights-LED-tunnel-lights/684559507.html Go with the warm white(take off the glass cover), I think SDS has almost proven that WW may be the best all white option.....Chronikool & Majorcocco have shown that it works well in flowering (all white leds)
The problem is QUALITY and WARRANTY, I have no idea how their built( it looks like the driver is outside the case/ which is good) and it will run HOT....If you believe their claims of 100lm/watt this fucker should be blinding(600w hps coverage/maybe)......cheap enough to try one and journal it here so we can see how it performs
mclovin478
Member
check out grownorthern and ledhydropinics.co.uk they have some top of the line stuff thats tried and true. there are alof of journals using these systems on AFN
puffenuff
Well-Known Member
Damn, 20 grand on lighting! Psuagro gave some great advice/options to consider. If I had a 12x12 & 20 grand to spend on lights, id get 16-20 apache tech leds. Get 2 rows of 8-10 units, maybe on lightrails. You'll have the most badass setup, highest quality leds, and using less power than if you went with the penetrators. I also like the neosol recommendation. Good luck out there.
This is exactly the input I am looking for.. I did not know about the Passive Cooling choice.. I am hot on it.. I have seen a few successful LED grows on YOUTUBE using the ProSource 180 watt but they do have 1 cooling fan on top.. I will update on my choice and plan on documenting the grow......
mclovin478
Member
corso how long can you run the 1k bulb how much electric does it take to run the fans theres more electric in a room than just the lights running 4000w would need a huge fans for intake and exhaust with led its less heat signiture so its more stealth and they save up to 80% on electric and last usually 5-7 years with normal usage. they are the future if you get the right setup, and hte light spectrum are alot more specific than the mh or hps bulbs. just my 2 cents
Bumping Spheda
Well-Known Member
$20k sounds extreme. Thought about Plasma?
Swiftowl11
Active Member
20k in led lights sounds like a stoners dream. Well, I have 20k in led lights if I bought them usa retail, before they are shipped from china. Best advice is do more research. Dont spend 20k at hydro grow, I can get 9 hydro grow 336x pro shipped to me for 4500. They are good lights, but there are better out their for way cheaper. I would point you in a direction, but there are way to many places to go. Research more.
I know some people probably think that diy is just for small grows but honestly, you can get much better quality light built to fit your space for your self. LEDs work really well directly over a plant and a few inches to the side but really don't disperse well like HID light. I would make panels or strip lighting that would fit the space/grow that you have almost exactly. Now if you work in a 12 x 12 foot area but basically use multiple 3 x 3 foot scrog sections then I might think about building multiple 2+x 2+ foot panels or a couple of 30 - 36 inch strip lights. I'd think that two great 30 - 36 inch strip lights could be built for about $300 each - by great I mean top bin Cree or Philips LEDs with a quality driver (like inventronics,meanwell,excelsys, etc) and a solid aluminum heat sink...and maybe a good fan. I do think that passive cooling is best but you can provide extra cooling with a good quiet quality fan. I wouldn't want to have to rely on it though. Remember, most of the LEDs are binn'd at 25 degrees C and the characteristics and longevity of the light degrade from there.
I know some people act like the spectrum is some great secret but the reality is that no one really knows exactly what a plant needs. I think predominantly red blue LEDs but with some of the new and really wonderful cool, neutral and warm whites as well to fill in spectrum requirements that we don't fully understand at this point. Plants do seem to be able to use almost any part of the spectrum including green; now having said that - blue, red and far red seem to be the most important so should be emphasized but look around for yourself and take any one who says they know it all with a really large grain of salt.
Do remember though about LEDs working well directly over the area that they cover but only a few inches to the side. Trying to use LED lights like HID just won't work. You can't put one powerful light in the middle of a 4 x 4 foot section and have it work well. You can put several lower wattage panels/strips into the area and do very well with about 60% of the wattage of HIDs that would work for the space....but you need coverage as well as watts. Coverage can be simulated (to some degree) by light movers.
I wish you good luck on your endeavor. I have a small grow and just finished my first LED grow and the buds were truly magnificent. Remember to watch your watering carefully. I overwatered a few times in my first grow during veg and slowed them down some...they just don't need as much water when it's so much cooler. I even had to add heat into my grow room this winter.
I know some people act like the spectrum is some great secret but the reality is that no one really knows exactly what a plant needs. I think predominantly red blue LEDs but with some of the new and really wonderful cool, neutral and warm whites as well to fill in spectrum requirements that we don't fully understand at this point. Plants do seem to be able to use almost any part of the spectrum including green; now having said that - blue, red and far red seem to be the most important so should be emphasized but look around for yourself and take any one who says they know it all with a really large grain of salt.
Do remember though about LEDs working well directly over the area that they cover but only a few inches to the side. Trying to use LED lights like HID just won't work. You can't put one powerful light in the middle of a 4 x 4 foot section and have it work well. You can put several lower wattage panels/strips into the area and do very well with about 60% of the wattage of HIDs that would work for the space....but you need coverage as well as watts. Coverage can be simulated (to some degree) by light movers.
I wish you good luck on your endeavor. I have a small grow and just finished my first LED grow and the buds were truly magnificent. Remember to watch your watering carefully. I overwatered a few times in my first grow during veg and slowed them down some...they just don't need as much water when it's so much cooler. I even had to add heat into my grow room this winter.
Thanks to all... I found my way across the pond to a company in the UK called GrowNorthern that is my best choice so far.. Passive lighting is tempting but I am not sure if the spectrum's are optimum.. GrowNorthern has just recently offered to ship their LED's to the US, they offer a 3 year guarantee, and are busy trying to improve their product as new technology becomes available.. I have seen a few grow journals with impressive results.. I intend on using the "Mainlining" method on several plants.. I think by doing so I will improve the light penetration to the lower branches and get a uniform product.. I am currently going with King Louie and as a Sativa, Chem Dawg... Any input on particular strains that work best with LED's ?? I am growing in Roots Organic with a variation on sub cool fertilizer.. Love all the input....
Endur0xX
Well-Known Member
10 years later, 200 bulbs later ... if you buy high quality bulbs, you will be over 20000$ without including higher electric bill
Psuagro had some great advice for you, one thing though is if you pay for high quality components, they shouldnt fail. I have never replaced fans in my computers.
Campo Cultivator
Well-Known Member
Listen to Endurox
Bumping Spheda
Well-Known Member
I hear what Corso is saying, however, I think there will be a used market for previous gen LED panels given quality control was in order per the brand in question. And if the panels grow good bud then where's the real incentive to upgrade to bleeding edge? It's not $20k in the trash just 'cause a new generation of spectrum tweakers are holding the reigns, imo.