Cheap LED Grow Light Reccomendations

hoss12781 said:

Also if you're looking at a blackstar you should just go ahead and order them straight from China - here is the link and you'll get a five year warranty as opposed to a 12 month warranty. You'll also pay less. That's all gotham is doing. Just for shits and giggles I contacted Shenzhen lighting to see how much 10 of the blackstar 180s cost. You can pick up a ten pack for 135 bucks a pop. Pretty interesting to see the mark up on these. Check it.

blackstar 240

http://led-star.en.alibaba.com/product/507363234-210516231/Popular_in_USA_Canada_Europe_80x3w_new_led_grow_light_5_years_warranty.html

blackstar 180

http://led-star.en.alibaba.com/product/513251626-210516231/2012_LS_5G_01_60x3w_high_power_3w_led_plant_grow_lights_for_tomatoe_lettuce_pepper_herb_rose_cannabssss.html

You can also custom build or just use the same specs gotham orders. Pretty interesting. I haven't yet pinned down the source but researching is part of my profession so I like to play and am pretty much sure that the PG series and Advance are probably made in China as well. Can't really blame Gotham, HH, or Advanced for this, we have our government to thank for that.

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That's very useful info thanks.

But before anyone jumps in with two feet, I just looked at that website, and while it seems apparent that Shenzen is the manufacturer of the lights Gotham sells, it also seems that the ones you linked to aren't quite the same thing. In particular, the specs on the Shenzen 240 watt light are listed as follows:



Meanwhile Gotham specifies the following on its 2012 version:
http://www.gothamhydroponics.com/featured-products/blackstar-240w-led-grow-light-3w-cree.html


Its just a totally different spectrum profile, with different brand and different output diodes. (EG do you really need orange spectrum light? I don't think so).

This one is a little closer, in that it has UV&IR diodes, but its still not the same thing.
http://led-star.en.alibaba.com/product/518587435-210535839/240w_80x3w_high_penetration_grow_lights_for_indoor_plants_salad_orchid_pepper_lettuce.html

Now this manufacturer is literally putting out what appears to be dozens of different panels in different configurations, and you could contact them and ask them to sell you the exact same panel they're making for Gotham. Presumably they would, though I'd assume it would have to cost more than the other ones, if its really using CREE diodes in 6 bands.

There are a few companies that stand out among others, I'll try to list a few:

Not so expensive:
Blackstar
Pro-Grow


Not cheap:
Magnum
Spectra
Kessil

Posted in another thread. But yea those all have many grow journals with evidence of them being successful against the 1g/w standard. And grows with numbers both below and above of course.

Daemonn789 said:

There are a few companies that stand out among others, I'll try to list a few:

Not so expensive:
Blackstar
Pro-Grow


Not cheap:
Magnum
Spectra
Kessil

Posted in another thread. But yea those all have many grow journals with evidence of them being successful against the 1g/w standard. And grows with numbers both below and above of course.

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Did the price on theblackstars really hike up that much? the price for the 180 is what the 240 used to be...Thats crazy

Well im a month away before getting a led system and a couple 400 watt bulbs..My choices are now down to pg 180 and htg 240 watt led that resembles the blackstar 240..I might be the first to report a grow on it

wyteberrywidow said:

Well im a month away before getting a led system and a couple 400 watt bulbs..My choices are now down to pg 180 and htg 240 watt led that resembles the blackstar 240..I might be the first to report a grow on it

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Please do journal it if you get the HTG lights, I've read/heard the older models of LEDs from them really didn't have the right spectrum mixed in there. Hopefully the new ones are up to industry standards.

Daemonn789 said:

Please do journal it if you get the HTG lights, I've read/heard the older models of LEDs from them really didn't have the right spectrum mixed in there. Hopefully the new ones are up to industry standards.

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Yes I will most certainly.. I will do it for all to see if it's a good product or a bad one.

Do you think most of the lights are pretty good from that site you linked?j if the blackstAR were really 135 if buy atleast 4.I'm new to leds, you think any if those larger wattage lights are good to?

Did anyone follow up on alibaba?

The lady I talked to at alibaba said it was another company that makes the blackstar.

Any idea what ratio the blackstar uses with it's wavelengths so I can order one?

Jogro said:

Meanwhile Gotham specifies the following on its 2012 version:
http://www.gothamhydroponics.com/featured-products/blackstar-240w-led-grow-light-3w-cree.html

- Red: 630, 660nm
- Blue: 425nm
- Infrared: 730nm
- Ultraviolet: 380nm
- White: 12000k
​

Its just a totally different spectrum profile, with different brand and different output diodes. (EG do you really need orange spectrum light? I don't think so).

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Most of the sellers on Alibaba allow you to custom configure the LED's; given that, what would be the ideal proportions for the quoted combo? I contacted a few sellers and have been talking to one about getting 12 custom made true 90w UFO's (45x3w). I told him I want 70/30 red/blue and sent him the quoted spectrums. His reply:
"How many leds of Infrared and Ultraviolet do you like to use?
Because these two colors are more expensive than red/blue/white/orange, so i have to confirm then check a new price for you."
The price was 72.00 each + shipping for red/blue/white/orange.

Well sorry I have to say since the price is hiking up for led and I have no exp with I will not be buying it. After seeing only 1 grow where LEDs were superior to hps and that was Irishboy. He used a expensive ass led so that should our do the hps. But everything else does not compare. So I'll stick with the hps until led decides to match the price for hps then maybe I'll buy it.

totally makes sense, they are expensive, but for a small personal grow, even really expensive LEDs end up being cheaper, when you factor costs over a year. Plus if HPS was 3 times more efficient then maybe they would be as expensive as LED.

I would like to see a grow journal that sports 400w HID from the top and down all sides progrow 180s (or comparable quality/watt LED). Probably have to get a cool tube running but shit, harness the power of both worlds.

I'm thinking of pricing out a veg light with
635nm, 660nm, 6500k white, 450nm at 1:1:1:1 or 10:4:4:6

The first is what SupraSPL ran with. The second is close to what knna told me about a year ago.

Then flower try something like based around knna's work
25:7:7:4

Quitekeen said:

totally makes sense, they are expensive, but for a small personal grow, even really expensive LEDs end up being cheaper, when you factor costs over a year. Plus if HPS was 3 times more efficient then maybe they would be as expensive as LED.

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Quitekeen said:

I would like to see a grow journal that sports 400w HID from the top and down all sides progrow 180s (or comparable quality/watt LED). Probably have to get a cool tube running but shit, harness the power of both worlds.

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I agree for small grows and if heat is a problem go LEDs me on the other hand I'll go hps and cool tube it.. I'll spend less for the whole setup then just to get a led light.. This is my preference I'm not suing everyone has to follow me.

one day my garage will become a garden, not just bud but tomatoes and peppers and all kinds of delicious veggies, and for that I will have HID lighting. But my little 2x2x5 grow tent, lol would be up in flames!

Quitekeen said:

one day my garage will become a garden, not just bud but tomatoes and peppers and all kinds of delicious veggies, and for that I will have HID lighting. But my little 2x2x5 grow tent, lol would be up in flames!

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My first tent was a 2x2x5 with a 400.. Temps stood at 82-84.. I had those cheap grown right duct fans too

I enjoy long walks in the meadow, and the Statue of Liberty was designed by a Frenchman, but that is irrelevant to this forum, and thread.

Lol you are funny guy.. I'll leave it at that. I'm stating my opinion that's that you don't like don't respond.. There is plenty of threads where you can be defensive at because I sure ain't asking you to be here.

With over 100 days last summer over 100 degrees I need to cut as much heat as I can inside the house. Hard enough to keep it a/c as is. Middle of winter and I'm keeping my windows open to keep cool and still run 70-80. Thinking I definitely could use led as I can't vent to the outside stealth like right now