Considering LED light for vegging.

Has anyone got any experience with LED lights for veg phase only(will be switching to 600watt HPS for flowering.

I was looking for some advice on which light to choose for the job and experiences of people using LED for veg phase and whether they are good for the job or not.

Thanks in advance.

http://grownorthern.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=1&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=18&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=13

I was looking at this one but i know mext to nothing about led lights so any advice would be welcome.

I have been using LEDs for vegging and they are working out great. I veg about 6-7 plants under two UFOs and then flower under 600 watt HPS. The plants are very green and healthy and the stalks are thick. I only paid about $400 for both lights so I'm pretty happy.
This one is Barney's Farm LSD from seed, 6 weeks old.

I can get UFO's for £99 but was looking at the other one as its specifically for vegging or so it says. Thanks for the input dude.

I wil have 4 plants only and like the idea of LED's just for the veg stage.

Anyone elses input would be greatly appreciated.

I know of $999 '300' LED panel (actual/total draw of 360w) that performs at least as well as a 400w MH/HPS if you are willing to switch completely to LED

You can definitely get great LED lights for less than $200 if all you want is to veg with it

jdizzle22 said:

I know of $999 '300' LED panel (actual/total draw of 360w) that performs at least as well as a 400w MH/HPS if you are willing to switch completely to LED

You can definitely get great LED lights for less than $200 if all you want is to veg with it

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I may do eventually, this is my first grow and im in the process of building my cabinet. I would def like to give LED a go with Vegging and if im happy i may totally switch. I am going to flower this time with a 600 watt HPS.

Are there any particular lights you would recommend for vegging? I hear some people use LED with CFL's but im hoping i can find a decent LED that will do the job for me. The SCROG i will be doing is approx 3ft square.

Thanks.

BudBaby said:

I may do eventually, this is my first grow and im in the process of building my cabinet. I would def like to give LED a go with Vegging and if im happy i may totally switch. I am going to flower this time with a 600 watt HPS.

Are there any particular lights you would recommend for vegging? I hear some people use LED with CFL's but im hoping i can find a decent LED that will do the job for me. The SCROG i will be doing is approx 3ft square.

Thanks.

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You could probably go with a Kessil H150, a Spectra 120, or a Haight Solid State PPF-400 and do pretty well

personally I would look for at least a mix of 1w's with narrow angle optics. Awesome penetration can be had from led, but the idea that more is better usually doesn't pan out when you consider the optics used on 3w led's, when it comes to penetration.

gobbly said:

personally I would look for at least a mix of 1w's with narrow angle optics. Awesome penetration can be had from led, but the idea that more is better usually doesn't pan out when you consider the optics used on 3w led's, when it comes to penetration.

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Anything in particular you would suggest mate? As i say its only for vegging 4 plants. If i can find a standalone LED lightt that will compete with a 250 blue cfl ill be happy and pay the extra because i like the idea of them. I just dont want to fork out on the wrong thing and then have to suppliment it with another form of lighting.

There are a growing number of decent looking systems, but a few I have noticed in the past have been

http://www.advancedledlights.com/ (all sorts of optics and diode mixes)
http://www.stealthled.com/ (mixed if I remember correctly)
http://shop.haightsolidstate.com/Products_c2.htm (not familiar with them, but hear good things...)

After researching yesterday im so tempted to go with LED all the way. Theres a guy on ebay i was recommended who seems very honest about LED, i asked him for just a veg light and this is what he said, very honest answer which makes me think he wont try and blag me

In all honesty:
1)If its just for vegging, use flourescents, even normal household cf lights will work ok, use daylight ones (not warm light or white light) or buy the proper 125/250 watt compact grow ones from a grow shop.
2) Dont buy any led lights except mine, they are all crap. To cover 1 m2 with my lights costs £600 (for flowering, £400 for vegging), a UFO is what £150 (and a ripoff at that price). You need 210 watts of GOOD leds per m2 for flowering and about 140 watts for vegging. a 135 watt UFO is about enough for 1 plant - maybe. One of my 70 watt lights puts out WAY more light than a 135 watt ufo, because the leds are the best you can get and are about 3 times as efficient. PLEASE dsont waste your money on UFO's or any of the other led lights on ebay. There are 3 decent led lights, Lightblaze, Procyon and mine (and the others are 110 volts only and not as good as mine!). Thats it! For vegging stick to flourescents, any led light worth buying is too expensive to use just for that, only if you plan on flowering as well is it really worth it OR if you have a very restricted space like a cupboard and even flourescents give of too much heat.
Probably not what you wanted to hear but honest (and good) advice! You can also buy good cheap 2 or 4 flourescent TUBE fittings at a diy shop and buy standard (or special ones for vegging)tube flourescents which may well be cheaper. BUT you cant use flourescents with a timer without a relay box or you will kill the timer pretty quick.


Im so so tempted, its not so much the cost its the fact i dont want to buy one and end up dissapointed then switch back to HPS.

If i can be convinced i can get as good a yeild with as good a quaility bud in the same time as i would with HPS id be willing to try LED in both my veg and flowering cabs.

i just started using a 100 watt led hi-bay light in my veg room 2 weeks ago. im liking what im seeing!it is just as bright as my 400 watt m.h.but 75% less power and much much less heat. dont know alot about mine but its made by(seesmart.com) i have the sku#120001... costs about 500 bucks but you might find cheaper. i like it enough i bought a second one. ive got 14 sharks breath clones under those lights and after 2 weeks i have tons of growth and none of those plants are over 8" tall! its by far the best veg light ive ever used personally. check it out if you can afford 1, (or 2) good luck!

Thanks grow plenty.