Budget LED light options for 5x5 grow tent

Jim Mcnulty · Feb 4, 2016

I am currently setting up my first tent and originally planned to use 1000w HID. After doing some reading on electronic ballasts and RF interference I now hope to use LED lighting. My price range is around 300-400$. I don't mind a bit of noise or extra heat. My main concern is getting the proper lighting.

Jim Mcnulty · Feb 4, 2016

Would the 450w power draw be enough for 5x5 space?

Apollo Horticulture Full Spectrum 900 Watt LED Grow Light for Indoor Plant Growing
http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-Spectrum-Indoor-Growing/dp/B00UAWWOV6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

puffenuff · Feb 4, 2016

McNulty (The Wire was great), there is no led in your price range that will give you the coverage and intensity you need for a 5x5. The 1K hps is your best option

nevergoodenuf · Feb 4, 2016

Any LED that says it's one wattage but only draws half as much at the wall is garbage. Check out the site sponsors for some great led lights and don't be afraid to add lights as you can afford them.

littlejacob · Feb 4, 2016

Bonjour
He meant there is no GOOD cob panel for all your area in your price range...lol!
You should start with 200w of good cob from tastyled/pacificlightconcept/johnsongrowlight/gogreenled or consider diy...very easy to build your own panel like I did myself...thanks to some nice amd smart members here!
And before you will reach the gpw with a 1000w hps.....with cxb3590 ot is more than possible...I would say it is easy!
CU

Jim Mcnulty · Feb 4, 2016

I read somewhere that they draw less power to increase longevity. That just BS?

Anton Cherniavski · Feb 4, 2016

I would go with the 1k HID aswell,as someone who grew with cheap LEDS,they just do not cut it,efficiency wise.
as you probably heard before,with leds,you get what you pay for,and sometimes even less.
peace.

dandyrandy · Feb 4, 2016

Vero 29 diy would be the cheapest led option. Still a basic setup is $500. Hps is cheaper.

Jim Mcnulty · Feb 4, 2016

@

littlejacob said:
Bonjour
He meant there is no GOOD cob panel for all your area in your price range...lol!
You should start with 200w of good cob from tastyled/pacificlightconcept/johnsongrowlight/gogreenled or consider diy...very easy to build your own panel like I did myself...thanks to some nice amd smart members here!
And before you will reach the gpw with a 1000w hps.....with cxb3590 ot is more than possible...I would say it is easy!
CU

Yea, I'm currently trying to find a trusted HID ballast that is actually RF shielded.

Anton Cherniavski · Feb 4, 2016

Jim Mcnulty said:
I read somewhere that they draw less power to increase longevity. That just BS?

and efficiency of the light ofcourse,this is the best part,you get like the best watts out of a COB driven half strenght.

littlejacob · Feb 4, 2016

Bonjour
Yes after 15years.of hid...no more for me!
Those are heat factory and have many side costs...vents...a/c...everythings have to be oversized...
If it is your first grow why do you want to buy last century lights?
You will make more weed from 400w of cob than with a 1000w hps for a first grow...I would bet on it!
CU

grouch · Feb 4, 2016

I'll save you some trouble, led drivers put off rf noise too. Find an old magnetic ballast and use that

littlejacob · Feb 5, 2016

Bonjour
What is the problem with rf noise?
CU

Isawthelight · Feb 5, 2016

littlejacob said:
Bonjour
What is the problem with rf noise?
CU

Unmarked Helicopters hovering 'round...

grouch · Feb 5, 2016

littlejacob said:
Bonjour
What is the problem with rf noise?
CU

You can disrupt other electronics. You can test for it using an AM radio. I can hear it when the meanwells are on and it goes away when they shut off. If the rf noise is bad enough you could triangulate by driving around a neighborhood

BOBBY_G · Feb 6, 2016

Jim Mcnulty said:
I read somewhere that they draw less power to increase longevity. That just BS?

its mostly about efficiency (and somewhat about spectrum to a lesser extent)

t5 flourescents = ~25-30% efficient
traditional HPS = 30-35% eff
modern double-ended HPS - 35-42% eff
cheap LEDs=30-40% eff
HQ commercial red/blue LED panels 40-45% eff
the "COBs" that are popular in this forum 40-65% eff (higher end requires using more lights at lower power, hence higher cost.

heres a 'budget' COB setup (youd need 5 of these, aka $1100 for your tent):
@45.7%
(2) CXB3590 3500K CD 36V @ 2.5A (91.65W ea) $95
(2) HLN-80H-36A $90
183 dissipation W -> 99.37W heat
(2) Arctic 64 Plus CPU coolers $26
(2) lenses $8
83.63 PAR W covering 5 ft² = 749 PPFD
$219 = 2.62/PAR W

heres a "high efficiency" COB setup (youd need ~4 of these, aka $2200 for your tent):
@64%
(8 ) CXB3590 3500K CD @ 700mA (23W ea) $380
(1) HLG-185H-C700 $65
184 dissipation W ->66W heat ->
passive cooled heatsink 7920cm² -> 4.23"X44" $68 (could split these into 2 or 4 units)
or
active cooled heatsink 2640cm² -> 3.5"X36" heatsink (for spread) $45 + 80mm fan + psu $10
active cooled heatsink 2640cm² -> 1.8"X44" heatsink $34 + 80mm fan + psu $10
(8 ) lenses $32
117.8 PAR W covering 6ft² = 879 PPFD
117.8 PAR w covering 7ft² = 754 PPFD
$545 = $4.63/PAR W passive cooled

Rahz · Feb 6, 2016

grouch said:
You can disrupt other electronics. You can test for it using an AM radio. I can hear it when the meanwells are on and it goes away when they shut off. If the rf noise is bad enough you could triangulate by driving around a neighborhood

For less than 10 dollars a filter inlet can be added to a lamp to clear up the noise.

BOBBY_G · Feb 6, 2016

Rahz said:
For less than 10 dollars a filter inlet can be added to a lamp to clear up the noise.

link?

does it go between the ballast and the lamp or between the wall and the ballast?

if its so cheap why dont manufacturers do this?

Rahz · Feb 6, 2016

I use them and am sure I'm not the only one. But $5-10 spent on a non-essential component is $5-10 dollars less in profit.

Do a search for "emi filter inlet" for plenty of examples.

littlejacob · Feb 6, 2016

BOBBY_G said:
its mostly about efficiency (and somewhat about spectrum to a lesser extent)

t5 flourescents = ~25-30% efficient
traditional HPS = 30-35% eff
modern double-ended HPS - 35-42% eff
cheap LEDs=30-40% eff
HQ commercial red/blue LED panels 40-45% eff
the "COBs" that are popular in this forum 40-65% eff (higher end requires using more lights at lower power, hence higher cost.

heres a 'budget' COB setup (youd need 5 of these, aka $1100 for your tent):
@45.7%
(2) CXB3590 3500K CD 36V @ 2.5A (91.65W ea) $95
(2) HLN-80H-36A $90
183 dissipation W -> 99.37W heat
(2) Arctic 64 Plus CPU coolers $26
(2) lenses $8
83.63 PAR W covering 5 ft² = 749 PPFD
$219 = 2.62/PAR W

heres a "high efficiency" COB setup (youd need ~4 of these, aka $2200 for your tent):
@64%
(8 ) CXB3590 3500K CD @ 700mA (23W ea) $380
(1) HLG-185H-C700 $65
184 dissipation W ->66W heat ->
passive cooled heatsink 7920cm² -> 4.23"X44" $68 (could split these into 2 or 4 units)
or
active cooled heatsink 2640cm² -> 3.5"X36" heatsink (for spread) $45 + 80mm fan + psu $10
active cooled heatsink 2640cm² -> 1.8"X44" heatsink $34 + 80mm fan + psu $10
(8 ) lenses $32
117.8 PAR W covering 6ft² = 879 PPFD
117.8 PAR w covering 7ft² = 754 PPFD
$545 = $4.63/PAR W passive cooled

Bonjour
There is Vero29 cob too...
It is cheaper but does a good job too!
1w of 40% hps (1000w DE) will produce less gpw than a 40% efficient led/cob pannel...the light from led/cob goes all directly on the canopy...the hps one have 75% reflected and only 25% hit directly the canopy!
That's why it is easy to pull gpw from those cob!
Better take less watt but cxb watt...and you could add more later...if you go hps or crappy led you will regret it later!
CU

Budget LED light options for 5x5 grow tent

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