Considering moving from HID to LED, looking for insight !

Greetings,

As some of you know I'm a die hard HID user !

But, my ballast has passed away and I'm due for two new tubes......

Thinking about investing that money into an appropriate sized LED bar light

And finally quenching my curiously

I don't Need a Mega Watt monster but would like to come somewhat close to what my 600w HID was producing.

Currently looking at @VIVOSUN Official VS FD 6500 (~$600 Cdn.) and the Marshydro FC-E4800 (~$490 Cdn.)...

FYI > I plan to continue growing Sativa's but am actually looking at training methods to Reduce my yields !

Still in SIP's and 4 strains per grow in a 4' x 4' x 4' high enclosure that expands to +5' x 5' x 4' high if needed (inside a 10' x 10' x 8' room).

Comments/advice appreciated on brands/how many watts is really enough if all other specs are similar in that price range !

Cheers

chuckeye said:

Greetings,

As some of you know I'm a die hard HID user !

But, my ballast has passed away and I'm due for two new tubes......

Thinking about investing that money into an appropriate sized LED bar light

And finally quenching my curiously

I don't Need a Mega Watt monster but would like to come somewhat close to what my 600w HID was producing.

Currently looking at @VIVOSUN Official VS FD 6500 (~$600 Cdn.) and the Marshydro FC-E4800 (~$490 Cdn.)...

FYI > I plan to continue growing Sativa's but am actually looking at training methods to Reduce my yields !

Still in SIP's and 4 strains per grow in a 4' x 4' x 4' high enclosure that expands to +5' x 5' x 4' high if needed (inside a 10' x 10' x 8' room).

Comments/advice appreciated on brands/how many watts is really enough if all other specs are similar in that price range !

Cheers

Click to expand...

So i was literally you a few months ago. i have written a couple of posts about this also. I have two tents and i decided to make one pure LED ( 5ftx5ft) i went with 800w of the best LEDs i could get. id say 800w was a nice substitute for my single ended 1000w HPS , if replacing a DE i would have gone 880/900W.
in my 1.2 i was using CMHs 2 of them at 315W i absolutely loved the results of those things so i decided to go for a mix and built an LED square around my light with a slight angle in and i must say the results were amazing! i had cool temps and over 700ppfd everywhere.(315w cmh and 400w LED) I have to add that those ppfd numbers are all useable spectrum. the lights i use also throw out light outside of the range meters can detect so reality is its +10%

One thing i will say is do not be fooled by companies saying their 300w led replaces a 600w HPS . if it was me i would be going with 400w and above

The Bodgeineers said:

So i was literally you a few months ago. i have written a couple of posts about this also. I have two tents and i decided to make one pure LED ( 5ftx5ft) i went with 800w of the best LEDs i could get. id say 800w was a nice substitute for my single ended 1000w HPS , if replacing a DE i would have gone 880/900W.
in my 1.2 i was using CMHs 2 of them at 315W i absolutely loved the results of those things so i decided to go for a mix and built an LED square around my light with a slight angle in and i must say the results were amazing! i had cool temps and over 700ppfd everywhere.(315w cmh and 400w LED) I have to add that those ppfd numbers are all useable spectrum. the lights i use also throw out light outside of the range meters can detect so reality is its +10%

One thing i will say is do not be fooled by companies saying their 300w led replaces a 600w HPS . if it was me i would be going with 400w and above

Click to expand...

Thank you @The Bodgeineers !

I've also seen some crazy claims but they don't provide a par map

Pretty well sold on the Mars Hydro FC -E4800 right now...

Or 4 Viparspectra XS1500 Pro's

Cheers

@chuckeye - I’ve got a pair of the viparspectra 2500 XS pro in the last pic I posted if you want to see a shot of em working. They are set up in an L shape in my 5x5 right now. I have a couple other panels to add for when I fill the tent up.

chuckeye said:

Thank you @The Bodgeineers !

I've also seen some crazy claims but they don't provide a par map

Pretty well sold on the Mars Hydro FC -E4800 right now...

Or 4 Viparspectra XS1500 Pro's

Cheers

Click to expand...

If you contact GLA with your parameters (desired hanging height, watts per strip/board, size, reflective walls they have software that can generate your ppfd. All their gear are reliably tested by a gonio which has the added value of digitizing the light throw (its a weird meter that measures all angles) : after that you can litterally generate a par map digitally of your desired setup. I was happy with my purchase

The Bodgeineers said:

So i was literally you a few months ago. i have written a couple of posts about this also. I have two tents and i decided to make one pure LED ( 5ftx5ft) i went with 800w of the best LEDs i could get. id say 800w was a nice substitute for my single ended 1000w HPS , if replacing a DE i would have gone 880/900W.
in my 1.2 i was using CMHs 2 of them at 315W i absolutely loved the results of those things so i decided to go for a mix and built an LED square around my light with a slight angle in and i must say the results were amazing! i had cool temps and over 700ppfd everywhere.(315w cmh and 400w LED) I have to add that those ppfd numbers are all useable spectrum. the lights i use also throw out light outside of the range meters can detect so reality is its +10%

One thing i will say is do not be fooled by companies saying their 300w led replaces a 600w HPS . if it was me i would be going with 400w and above

Click to expand...

I did a very similar cmh led mix a few months back and was blown away by the results, much higher quality than my led alone. Way to hot outside for this now, but fall/winter my cmh are going back up for further testing.

chuckeye said:

Greetings,

As some of you know I'm a die hard HID user !

But, my ballast has passed away and I'm due for two new tubes......

Thinking about investing that money into an appropriate sized LED bar light

And finally quenching my curiously

I don't Need a Mega Watt monster but would like to come somewhat close to what my 600w HID was producing.

Currently looking at @VIVOSUN Official VS FD 6500 (~$600 Cdn.) and the Marshydro FC-E4800 (~$490 Cdn.)...

FYI > I plan to continue growing Sativa's but am actually looking at training methods to Reduce my yields !

Still in SIP's and 4 strains per grow in a 4' x 4' x 4' high enclosure that expands to +5' x 5' x 4' high if needed (inside a 10' x 10' x 8' room).

Comments/advice appreciated on brands/how many watts is really enough if all other specs are similar in that price range !

Cheers

Click to expand...

Sylvania Grolux 600w
Efficiency: 141Lm / W
PAR: 1100 μmol / s; Efficiency 1.79 μmol / W

Lumatek High Par HPS 600w
Luminous Efficiency (lm/W): 150
PAR (umol/s): 1030; Efficiency 1.716 μmol / W

Most of the LEDs nowadays give over 2.5 umol/W.
So to replace 600w HPS with LEDs would be around 400W.

As for Sativas, eventually when I'll commit growing a +14week strain.
I've been thinking the best ways to limit the stretching and having more blue spectrum during the stretch period would probably help some.
Other two weapons againts stretch would be having warmer night temps than day and tweaking the N/P ratios.
Tho not sure what you mean when you want to reduce yields by training

I was a long time die hard bulb user. Lived my cmh 315's. Switched to led and now run the vipar ks 5000's. Their lights are really nice. Especially when paired to a controller for the sunrise features. You'll like the vipar you mentioned.

Just going to recommend this review/comparison, always worth checking out


In that review, there are also links to other sizes of grow lights to fit your grow space. I believe 600w is about what you'd want for a 4x4 growspace(?)

Just make sure they're lm301b or h diodes

chuckeye said:

Greetings,

As some of you know I'm a die hard HID user !

But, my ballast has passed away and I'm due for two new tubes......

Thinking about investing that money into an appropriate sized LED bar light

And finally quenching my curiously

I don't Need a Mega Watt monster but would like to come somewhat close to what my 600w HID was producing.

Currently looking at @VIVOSUN Official VS FD 6500 (~$600 Cdn.) and the Marshydro FC-E4800 (~$490 Cdn.)...

FYI > I plan to continue growing Sativa's but am actually looking at training methods to Reduce my yields !

Still in SIP's and 4 strains per grow in a 4' x 4' x 4' high enclosure that expands to +5' x 5' x 4' high if needed (inside a 10' x 10' x 8' room).

Comments/advice appreciated on brands/how many watts is really enough if all other specs are similar in that price range !

Cheers

Click to expand...

Been there and done that. Don't waste your $ on subpar LED lights or you won't be happy with them vs HPS.
You want an led with a proper spectrum that does not have a Blue spike taller than red on the Spectral Distribution Graph.
Also, no bare diode cheap out BS.
I tried the Mars, Bestva, Updayday, HLG, Migro, and many others. They were all meh... Just couldn't groove with those lights as HPS replacements.
Finally tried a few from BIOS and boom - lighting harmony!
Look at the Endeavor 1750 (Endeavor 650W when I purchased). I have 2 to them in a 4x8 flower chamber and am loving them.
These lights are super high quality with actual glass protection the diodes from dust, foliar sprays, corrosion, etc.
The performance and plant health under these lights has been fantastic.
I would also recommend a little gizmo called "TELOS Growcast" - a blue tooth dongle you plug right in to the bios driver and it gives you full dimmability and sunrise sunset programming right from your phone!!

I would also add the your are going to want an PAR meter of decent accuracy moving to led. You will soon realize how weak your 600W HID's were. Especially around the edges of your 4x4

cage said:

Tho not sure what you mean when you want to reduce yields by training

Click to expand...

Thank you @cage !

I want healthy plants that are able to fully express themselves but I don't need 2 - 3 pounds per grow

Considering main lining with one node...

Cheers

OneHitDone said:

Been there and done that. Don't waste your $ on subpar LED lights or you won't be happy with them vs HPS.
You want an led with a proper spectrum that does not have a Blue spike taller than red on the Spectral Distribution Graph.
Also, no bare diode cheap out BS.
I tried the Mars, Bestva, Updayday, HLG, Migro, and many others. They were all meh... Just couldn't groove with those lights as HPS replacements.
Finally tried a few from BIOS and boom - lighting harmony!
Look at the Endeavor 1750 (Endeavor 650W when I purchased). I have 2 to them in a 4x8 flower chamber and am loving them.
These lights are super high quality with actual glass protection the diodes from dust, foliar sprays, corrosion, etc.
The performance and plant health under these lights has been fantastic.
I would also recommend a little gizmo called "TELOS Growcast" - a blue tooth dongle you plug right in to the bios driver and it gives you full dimmability and sunrise sunset programming right from your phone!!

I would also add the your are going to want an PAR meter of decent accuracy moving to led. You will soon realize how weak your 600W HID's were. Especially around the edges of your 4x4

Click to expand...

Thank you @OneHitDone !

I'll have a look at the Endeavor....

Cheers

Thanks Everyone for your comments, I appreciate them !

I should have added it is going to be a stretch to keep my purchase under $500 Cdn, I just grow for personal use....

Retired and trying to live on Canada Pension, sigh....

Cheers

chuckeye said:

Thanks Everyone for your comments, I appreciate them !

I should have added it is going to be a stretch to keep my purchase under $500 Cdn, I just grow for personal use....

Retired and trying to live on Canada Pension, sigh....

Cheers

Click to expand...

@ that price point I would be looking at this


I picked up some of the 150H's just for spares / side projects and they seem like great quality lights

OneHitDone said:

@ that price point I would be looking at this

NextLight Mega Pro

The NextLight Mega Full-Spectrum LED grow light is the perfect solution for home/commercial grows. 640W. 2.6 PPF/W (μmol/J). PPF (light output): 1650 umol/s. Buy Today!

www.ledgrowlightsdepot.com

I picked up some of the 150H's just for spares / side projects and they seem like great quality lights

Click to expand...

Shipping not available to my Canadian address....

Sent them a message as they do state they ship internationally.

Cheers

EDIT > with the $ conversion, taxes and custom it is over my budget. Looks like a good light though !

My mars produces way fatter buds than my vipar. Just a thought. I just ordered some deep red supplement bars for the vipar. See if that helps. The vipar makes very sugary buds but def not as dense as the mars. I do run uv/infrared supplement bars in the mars room though.

Jjgrow420 said:

My mars produces way fatter buds than my vipar. Just a thought. I just ordered some deep red supplement bars for the vipar. See if that helps. The vipar makes very sugary buds but def not as dense as the mars. I do run uv/infrared supplement bars in the mars room though.

Click to expand...

Thanks @Jjgrow420 !

Top of my list, so far

Amazon has a coupon that makes it quite a bit less expensive than buying direct..

Cheers

chuckeye said:

Thanks @Jjgrow420 !

Top of my list, so far

Amazon has a coupon that makes it quite a bit less expensive than buying direct..

Cheers

Click to expand...

If you can, I'd say to wait till some sort of holiday etc. There's always much better deals around then, if you can't wait then try searching for an additional coupon code on the interwebs, usually can find something.

Jjgrow420 said:

If you can, I'd say to wait till some sort of holiday etc. There's always much better deals around then, if you can't wait then try searching for an additional coupon code on the interwebs, usually can find something.

Click to expand...

Fourth of July is right around the corner! Good idea Jj.