cityworker415
Well-Known Member
Pretty
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Sent from my SM-G900V using Rollitup mobile app
G8LED grow
- Thread starter DutchHaze
- Start date
MoReJew-ce
Member
Dorm Grow, or G8, whatever they want to be called, has a reputation for creating fake accounts and posting "grows" on forums. Anyone that knows anything about LEDs, even minimal knowledge, knows Dorm Grow sells Chinese junk, unchanged since 2009, can be had from Alibaba for around $0.50 per actual watt driven, same junk, unless you like paying a huge premium to have Dorm Grow spray paint their name on the side? Dorm Grow cannot compete with HPS watt for watt, they sell similar lights that Blackstar used to sell when they first started out, every company has moved on from that design, long time ago, except a few, Dorm Grow is one of them.
Why change something that performs well? Keeping the similar design allows lower costs, giving them an ability to cater to the mid market of LED grow lights.
Always wondered, what's the idea behind having to add an additional all red UFO? For one, UFOs cover about 18"x18" and needs to be 6" from the plant tops to even get anything out of them, except for the Progrow 180w ones, they have a little more coverage, can go a little higher, barely though. Shouldn't have to add additional lamps to complete a spectrum. I think it's designed just to get more $$$ from their customers.
First off, LED's in the ufo shape that are made with at least some quality produce better results at a minimum of 6". That distance on a clone can easily kill it tho. The point behind this is to offer a strategy of additional draw being added in the flowing spectra only for a boost. Its completely optional, but compared to a lot of shady practice out there, it's a pretty honest attempt to create larger profits. They aren't trying to sell some gimmick... adding more energy in the correct spectrum will increase yield. I guess you simply do not like the idea of this and attack it. Makes sense, if ppl want to try it, there's plenty of reputable journals out there. Not only the faked claims. I cannot speak one way or the other on that, b/c the ones I've looked at were members of forums I interacted w/ to ask questions. Found that to be best b4 committing to a new brand.
Because of all that, when Dorm Grow journals pop up, people are going to be suspicious of it being the company themselves behind it.
Its possible, but it's also possible that other companies create "bad hype" about their competition. EVERY manufacturer seems to claim another uses Chinese knock offs yet most brands use some sorts of Chinese parts. Chinese people are not sub par to us... they are quite smart. Their county isn't the one in debt to us remember. I also recall the stereotype of Chinese cars running very long times while beating the hell outta them.. it's stories, stereotypes and luck of the draw. I prefer to find first hand accounts of performances prior to a purchase and if a few are credible, weigh the option and see if it's worth the risk.
I emailed Dorm Grow in mid 2013 and asked about their lights, what makes them so great, they basically said it's their spectrum. I bought one, and sold it to a fellow on here shorty after I ran the numbers on it. It was advertised at the time to use UVB and IR, and all the pretty and magical colors between, balanced out of course to make their secret magic sauce spectrum. Under the spectroradiometer, it showed 2 blue spikes, 2 red spikes, and a very low levels between all that. No violet, no UV, especially no UVB, no IR or even Far red. It had 2 blues, 2 reds, and 2 whites, covered about 440nm to 670nm, very, very minimal between 480nm and 610nm. It was supposed to draw 320w, but only drew 245w. It ran hot and loud. Bought it for $600, sold it for $200 if I remember correctly. It's really not even worth that.
Actually, they do not even mention the spectrum in two emails to me, until I brought it up. Their focus is that they do not use lensing, so they do not lose light percentage due to absorption. You might have dealt with on odd ball or incorrect vendor. I'm not sure, but their blend of bands is not something that was focused upon from their Amazon vendor nor directly through email or phone. I have different ppl call to check if a vendor will be consistent. With Dorm Grow, they focused on their answer to spectra by offering an entirely different panel for straight bloom, and then separate panels for full spectrum. I agree that the blend isn't as potent as advertised, but with such little uv/IR lighting in their full spectrum panels, I didn't expect high levels. Its better to add a specialized UV light the last two weeks anyway. No more has been proven to make a difference in potency. But DG giving slightly higher specs, keeping their design and offering a lower price allows them to corner a mid market, n they seem to manage that level pretty well. They don't seem to be on par w the expensive brands, but they Def keep up... only with a higher level panel. Lets say you compare Advanced LED to Advanced Platinum LED... they have the same Chinese suppliers for hardware like casing, but the mid brand of Platinum LED matches output by comparing one model level higher than what the Diamond Series Advanced LED would be. Example would be the Diamond would be a 200 model, and AP would be a 300 model to have similar output.
The point in making is, we as consumers have to start doing the research and really differentiating the ultra high, high, mid, low and cheap knock off levels of LED quality lighting. Depending on budget, a properly categorized market would allow all budgets to have realistic perspectives on exactly what they are receiving. B/c the way it is currently, with all this high school sounding, infighting between brands and these low cheap blows to otherwise decent brands does nothing other than confuse newbies to LED tech. They all do a pretty effective job, it's mainly varying in the power pushing the actual panels and how many of each spectra they include. It does not make one brand shit, just less effective than another.
I can say this much, for the price and quality of g8's bloom spectrum builds, they are some crazy nice built "knock offs" if they really are. The quality is as heavy duty as a few other panels I've owned, so I can say from use and comparison of ownership recently has introduced me to dispelling another rumor. I'm not saying they have not done any dirty tactics themselves, but I can speak for their products. They work very well and u don't lose the small percentage of light that lensed brands do. And in terms of over advertising (what I call it when the brands say a "800w" draw is actually a 350w advertised model), their 240 model draws 140 from the wall. With bulbs at only around half power, I'd imagine they'll last for a reasonable amount of time, at least around the two year warranty.
Regardless, Dorm Grow is complete garbage, like I said, unchanged since 2009. LEDs have come a long, long way since.
Half of a decade is not leaps and bounds ahead... but as I mention, there's higher end brands and less efficient ones, and that's the free market. Electricity going through a diode has not changed that much, and the angled tech they use for the lighting is still relevant. It's not like they are trying to charge outrageous prices compared to competition for what they offer. I mean realistically, how much more growth will come from this new tech? The correct wavelengths are still utilized, and there's not many tricks to pushing electricity through a diode. The draw and spectra are what truly matter in terms of growth. The rest is just educated guesses from grows and little more. There's still not a ton of definitive answers on what exactly is better than another technology. And since every company seems to have just one or two proprietary gimmicks, we may not realize what combinations truly help the most bc everyone is so gd partial to strictly this or strictly that. One brand or another only. I believe in mixing it up, and finding what the plants respond best to. I make the educated purchases and see for myself. And I can say for sure that Dorm Grow is not bad at all.
If you want to see a new journal using them check back in about a month. Hopefully it can help convince others to begin categorizing this market as well, to produce some customer stability.
Yodaweed
Well-Known Member
We categorize them as over priced Chinese rebranded lights because that's what they are.
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
Can I buy some crack from you?
AquariusPanta
Well-Known Member
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
I try to come through as much as possible.
Did you know that I invented a new color?
I mixed red and yellow.
I call it Rellow...
These Dorm Grow guys crack me up. I am about 95% sure that the guy that quoted me from November last year, is Dorm Grow. Who else would defend them? 2010 Blackstar knockoffs, unchanged since, 2010.Ahh, your presence fills with me joy!
Did you know that I invented a new color?
I mixed red and yellow.
I call it Rellow...
mc130p
Well-Known Member
They utilize the nonlinear two photon absorption process as well in their panels. Boosts growth rates 200%.I try to come through as much as possible.
These Dorm Grow guys crack me up. I am about 95% sure that the guy that quoted me from November last year, is Dorm Grow. Who else would defend them? 2010 Blackstar knockoffs, unchanged since, 2010.
Did you know that I invented a new color?
I mixed red and yellow.
I call it Rellow...
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
˙ʎɐʍ ʇɐɥʇ ɹǝʇʇǝq ʞɹoʍ ʎǝɥʇ 'uʍop ǝpᴉsdn uᴉ spǝl ɹᴉǝɥʇ ʇnd plnoɥs ʎǝɥ┴
AquariusPanta
Well-Known Member
I had to flip my TV upside down just to read what you said...
So what are the details on the supposed 'new light fixtures' from Area51? They seem ultra secretive.
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
It's the secrets that grow plants best. Per each secret, that's an extra pound you can grow.I had to flip my TV upside down just to read what you said...
So what are the details on the supposed 'new light fixtures' from Area51? They seem ultra secretive.
For real though, it's gonna have Vero 29 v2s, choice of 3000k, 4000k and 5000k, and there's gonna be 6 configurations available, 95w, 190w, 285w, 380w, 570w and 760w.
AquariusPanta
Well-Known Member
A recipe for success!
I'm curious though about Area51's customer base; where do the majority of customers come from? Surely they don't simply google Area51 LED and buy away?
Yodaweed
Well-Known Member
Do they include a super secret unicorn mode that allows them to shine as bright as the rainbow and grow jack and the bean stalk sized marijuana plants?
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
I'd say 85% of all A51 customers are in the USA, another 9% in Canada, 5% in Europe, and 1% between AU and NZ.
There's an A51 distributor in Cologne, Germany in the works, I expect for EU sales to take a much bigger chunk than 5% by the end of the year.
All new customers are based on word of mouth, A51 has never paid $0.01 for advertising. I've always believed that the word of a happy customer will be much better than any paid ads. No one really likes ads anyways. I go to great lengths to block them all.
There's an A51 distributor in Cologne, Germany in the works, I expect for EU sales to take a much bigger chunk than 5% by the end of the year.
All new customers are based on word of mouth, A51 has never paid $0.01 for advertising. I've always believed that the word of a happy customer will be much better than any paid ads. No one really likes ads anyways. I go to great lengths to block them all.
Word on the street, A51 is creating a sister company. That's all I have to say about that right now.