convince me led is worth it.

stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
ok so have a new grow area in the works, I will be adding at least two new lights. maybe up to 4. I am looking at some 1000w hps, affordable to buy, reliable, and I KNOW they work. will also experiment with adding uv light with either a powerveg t5 or solacure t12. have the fixtures bulbs about $40 each.
but that's a lot of watts to run and that cost add up, at least heat shouldn't be a big issue, actually probably need it in the colder months.

so looked at a blackdog phytomax-2 600, that looks to be comparable to the grow power of 1000w hps.
why blackdog? cause it seems general agreement that they are quality led. I am noob to led never ran or bought them for growing.

but the energy savings would take 3 years to cover the added cost of the unit($1900 amazon) v hps complete(cooling too) setup ($300-350). I pay about 18 cents a kilowatt.
4) 4x4x8.25 grow rooms scrog, lst, sog grows. don't run trees very often.

soooo.....I work hard for my money and I don't like wasting it, as I plan to have this area running in less then 8 months prices and tech. wont change that much.

can you that grow with led help convince me. (I do love my planet and hate the energy company)
maybe a cheaper led light? have you increased yield from hps? led best for those with deep pockets and don't mind just spending money for fun? thru google I haven't even seen a commercial grow using led, probably for a good reason? maybe more reason I haven't thought of? heck by time three years go buy that same technology could be whole lot cheaper.
 
OneHitDone

OneHitDone

Well-Known Member
The first answer you will get is that BlackDog is shit.
We all want to see an led light that truly replaces hid in all aspects of plant growth AND significantly reduces wattage.
People are growing dank with led but there always seems to be a "catch". Oh, your temps were this, your cal-mag that, or whatever.
A true hid replacement will be able to be directly swapped with an hid by any grower and just do what is expected.

If you have 8 months to get things together I would follow this thread closely.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/grandmaster-level-hlg-quantum-boards-vs-1000w-hps-side-by-side-youtube.945508/page-4#post-13776184

This will give you the real answer on what is considered by those around these parts to be one of the "top" led tech's on the market in about 6 weeks!
Happy Growing
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
stoned-monkey said:
so looked at a blackdog phytomax-2 600, that looks to be comparable to the grow power of 1000w hps.
why blackdog? cause it seems general agreement that they are quality led. I am noob to led never ran or bought them for growing.



can you that grow with led help convince me. (I do love my planet and hate the energy company)
maybe a cheaper led light? .
Click to expand...
I had a long drawn out reply ready, but I will just keep it simple instead.

Don't spend that sort of cash on that sort of light.


Go look at what everyone here uses as far as LEDs. Its nothing like those overpriced things.
 
greg nr

greg nr

Well-Known Member
Just as a point f reference, I built my own LED fixture using Quantum 288 panels and HLG drivers. It cost me about $0.80/watt. You can replace a 1000 watt hps with about 650 watts of QB.

It's not difficult to build them. Basic tools and the ability to follow directions. Just a thunk.
 
SoOLED

SoOLED

Well-Known Member
there is soO much data in this section, you should read a few threads.

in the end burn whatever you want, or can, or feel is best.

its gonna all come down to: how much effort, discipline, and experience in your cultivation techniques.

we have seen, excellent results under just about anything even CFL's.
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
I had a long drawn out reply ready, but I will just keep it simple instead.

Don't spend that sort of cash on that sort of light.
isn

Go look at what everyone here uses as far as LEDs. Its nothing like those overpriced things.
Click to expand...
The only catch is photon delivery, not hard to understand.

Deliver as many photons per sq ft as a HPS and fuck around with spectrum at same time. Rinse Repeat.
 
R

Rhood9095

Member
Hi i have 2 VIPARSPECTRA 600 LED Im using them along with hps there highly recommend been great so far. I wasnt convinced led alone would get me what im looking for so i got both. See what happens lol
 
stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
I would be down to build one. I am sure i have the skill now just need to get the knoweldge.
I want an led to save energy (maybe money) reduce waste and perhaps better spectrum. The hang up is cost thus why I asked. I know you can get good results from almost any light source but at what cost(money yield potency terpene etc.)
I will be checking out more of the countless threads. or just buy a dam king plus led(whatever else in that range) and hope it wasn't a complete waste. Those things do have great rating on Amazon. For what's that's worth. I guess maybe a better question is why did you go led? Which one? Was it worth it?
 
R

Rhood9095

Member
stoned-monkey said:
I would be down to build one. I am sure i have the skill now just need to get the knoweldge.
I want an led to save energy (maybe money) reduce waste and perhaps better spectrum. The hang up is cost thus why I asked. I know you can get good results from almost any light source but at what cost(money yield potency terpene etc.)
I will be checking out more of the countless threads. or just buy a dam king plus led(whatever else in that range) and hope it wasn't a complete waste. Those things do have great rating on Amazon. For what's that's worth. I guess maybe a better question is why did you go led? Which one? Was it worth it?
Click to expand...
I did lots of research too before buying LED the ones i told you about are top rated for the money. You can spend $1500 a light and im sure they are better so i got what i could afford. Id look at actually grow pics from the same LED thats what i did. Im told they produce a more quantity product but hps gives you the yield which is why i went with both. Im still in veg and unfortunately cant give you any end results at this time. I plan on the hps as main light source and LED for side lighting. Currently i have 2 1000w MH/HPS hoods and 2 600W LED. Should be going into flower in about two weeks. I feel like the LED are good under 1 or 2 plants if your looking for a max yield. I would definitely do LST as well. Hope all goes well
 
stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
Rhood9095 said:
Hi i have 2 VIPARSPECTRA 600 LED Im using them along with hps there highly recommend been great so far. I wasnt convinced led alone would get me what im looking for so i got both. See what happens lol
Click to expand...
Have you tried them without the hps? Did you lower hps wattage? Those would be reasonable price for me.
posted before refreshing. Opps
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
stoned-monkey said:
Those things do have great rating on Amazon. For what's that's worth. I guess maybe a better question is why did you go led? Which one? Was it worth it?
Click to expand...
Don't trust amazon reviews.

If you are interested in building one. Go check out growmau5 on youtube. Look at his early vids, he does a cob vs hps grow with results in grams. Then look at his 7 part DIY cob build vids. All you need to know. Bare in mind prices have come down on COBs since and newer chips are available with similar efficiency at much cheaper prices.

If you want to check out pre built fixtures.
TastyLED make fixture with a priority to good efficiency.
Timber growlights make nice kits and fixtures.
Horticultural lighting group make nice kits for COBs and Quantum boards as well as ready to hang pre built units. Highly efficient.

All of them cheaper than the blackdogs.

And to answer the question, I built my own cobs for half my flower tent(total size 8x4) and bought 2x 260w Quantum board kits from HLG for other half. Both are outstanding. I used to use HPS for years. I switched to lower wattage/heat and gain yield.
 
Last edited:
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
stoned-monkey said:
ok so have a new grow area in the works, I will be adding at least two new lights. maybe up to 4. I am looking at some 1000w hps, affordable to buy, reliable, and I KNOW they work. will also experiment with adding uv light with either a powerveg t5 or solacure t12. have the fixtures bulbs about $40 each.
but that's a lot of watts to run and that cost add up, at least heat shouldn't be a big issue, actually probably need it in the colder months.

so looked at a blackdog phytomax-2 600, that looks to be comparable to the grow power of 1000w hps.
why blackdog? cause it seems general agreement that they are quality led. I am noob to led never ran or bought them for growing.

but the energy savings would take 3 years to cover the added cost of the unit($1900 amazon) v hps complete(cooling too) setup ($300-350). I pay about 18 cents a kilowatt.
4) 4x4x8.25 grow rooms scrog, lst, sog grows. don't run trees very often.

soooo.....I work hard for my money and I don't like wasting it, as I plan to have this area running in less then 8 months prices and tech. wont change that much.

can you that grow with led help convince me. (I do love my planet and hate the energy company)
maybe a cheaper led light? have you increased yield from hps? led best for those with deep pockets and don't mind just spending money for fun? thru google I haven't even seen a commercial grow using led, probably for a good reason? maybe more reason I haven't thought of? heck by time three years go buy that same technology could be whole lot cheaper.
Click to expand...
I cannot answer your question about LEDs since I have not found an affordable one that will out perform HPS or CMH bulbs but if your paying $40 for power veg bulbs than your getting ripped of http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-BULBS-T5HO-HIGH-OUTPUT-FLUORESCENT-LAMP-2-4-ft-GROW-BLOOM-UV-1-4-8-25-packs/160895821950?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=460130683601&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649 for supplementing HPS you would do better with the UVA plus bulb.this will give you the UV, violet and blue that's missing with HPS. you only need 2 bulbs with a 1000 watt HPS to get better taste ans potency
 
R

Rhood9095

Member
Yes there running now i felt the veg was a little slow so i bought the HPS and the two combined plants are taking off. LED seem to have a hot spot in the middle if you do get one keep the recommend distace you think no heat move closer lol not the case. Oh the ones i did buy have 5k chips also some only have 1 or 2 so dont get fooled. Definitely need the full spectrum too. And i like the fact they have 3 light settings. Blue and white for veg and then turn red on when flowering. Yes i do have my MH lights dimmed down to 750w if its colder out i use the 1000w.
 
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