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Hi. I am new to this site but am excited to see that there are so many other growers interested in growing with LEDs. I just bought a high-tech Heliospectra LED grow light from Sweden. I had been experimenting with a friend's and got some really good results. What I really like about them is that they have a dynamic spectrum so I can set a schedule to independently increase or decrease the white, blue, red, and far red diodes as desired. Since they are on sale for the next 4 days I decided to grab one. Check them out and tell me what you think: http://store.heliospectra.com/products/lx601-c-black-friday-deal. I will let you know how it pans out once I get it all set up.
 
Coppertop87 said:
Also. I have a 30"x19.5"x31" cab. What would the optimal amount of led watts be for that size? I was gonna get 2 of the lights I just posted which would be 360 actual watts I think. Would that be overkill?
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Your space is 4 sq ft. With inexpensive (less efficient) Chinese LEDs you need 40-50w sq. ft. That's about 200w total. With more efficient LEDs like Cree, maybe 30w, or 150w total.

With your limited height, you should account for the distance of the LED to the plant, how tall your plants will be. I think you should look for 3w LEDs and perhaps without a reflector (LEDs mounted on a white backboard). 5w and reflectors will require more vertical space.

If you don't want to spend money on a more efficient light, you might consider one Chinese import and supplement with Cree lightbulbs from Home Depot. (<<link). People are growing entirely with those. But, supplementing an inexpensive Chinese fixture might be a good start.
 
az2000 said:
Your space is 4 sq ft. With inexpensive (less efficient) Chinese LEDs you need 40-50w sq. ft. That's about 200w total. With more efficient LEDs like Cree, maybe 30w, or 150w total.

With your limited height, you should account for the distance of the LED to the plant, how tall your plants will be. I think you should look for 3w LEDs and perhaps without a reflector (LEDs mounted on a white backboard). 5w and reflectors will require more vertical space.

If you don't want to spend money on a more efficient light, you might consider one Chinese import and supplement with Cree lightbulbs from Home Depot. (<<link). People are growing entirely with those. But, supplementing an inexpensive Chinese fixture might be a good start.
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So when you say I shouls look for 3w LED's, do you mean just the LED's and build it myself?

The Mars Hydro fixture I posted, is that considered not efficient?
 
Coppertop87 said:
So when you say I shouls look for 3w LED's, do you mean just the LED's and build it myself?
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No, I mean: LED fixtures use 1w, 3w, 5w and 10w chips. Sometimes they're mounted in a reflector, sometimes on a white backboard. Higher wattage and reflectors has more penetration but may be too strong for your vertical space. I would go for softer light spread out more evenly around your space. This should let you use more of your vertical space. So, instead of 200w in one fixture using, say, 30x10w diodes mounted in reflectors (to take an extreme example), go with three 80w fixtures using 3w diodes mounted on white backboards. Consider using sidelighting to spread the light even further.

Coppertop87 said:
The Mars Hydro fixture I posted, is that considered not efficient?
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Mars Hydro (aka TopLED) is a Chinese import using Epi(whatever) LED chips. These lights will grow. I don't think it would be a bad choice, especially if you supplement with Cree lightbulbs as I described in my first post. But, they use more electricity, generate more heat, etc., than brands using better diodes like Cree. Area 51, RapidLED Onyx, ApacheTech, Hans Panel. Those are examples of efficient lights requiring less watts per sq. ft. In your case, the Hans might be good. I think A51's RW-75 (with 5w chips in reflectors) would be too strong for your height.
 
az2000 said:
No, I mean: LED fixtures use 1w, 3w, 5w and 10w chips. Sometimes they're mounted in a reflector, sometimes on a white backboard. Higher wattage and reflectors has more penetration but may be too strong for your vertical space. I would go for softer light spread out more evenly around your space. This should let you use more of your vertical space. So, instead of 200w in one fixture using, say, 30x10w diodes mounted in reflectors (to take an extreme example), go with three 80w fixtures using 3w diodes mounted on white backboards. Consider using sidelighting to spread the light even further.



Mars Hydro (aka TopLED) is a Chinese import using Epi(whatever) LED chips. These lights will grow. I don't think it would be a bad choice, especially if you supplement with Cree lightbulbs as I described in my first post. But, they use more electricity, generate more heat, etc., than brands using better diodes like Cree. Area 51, RapidLED Onyx, ApacheTech, Hans Panel. Those are examples of efficient lights requiring less watts per sq. ft. In your case, the Hans might be good. I think A51's RW-75 (with 5w chips in reflectors) would be too strong for your height.
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Okay, that makes sense. The only thing I'm confused about is the Mars Hydro fixture says it has 3w LED's, and then you said I should get 3w LED's. Sorry, I'm kinda stoned and I'm not great when it comes to this stuff.
 
Coppertop87 said:
Okay, that makes sense. The only thing I'm confused about is the Mars Hydro fixture says it has 3w LED's, and then you said I should get 3w LED's.
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Those 3w are in reflectors. That might be ok for you, but IMO 3w on white backboard would be better because it would be less intense.

Coppertop87 said:
Sorry, I'm kinda stoned and I'm not great when it comes to this stuff.
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You may want to cut back. The LED learning curve can be steep. If you just want to pull the trigger, buy the two fixtures you linked to and we'll talk again. There are people using MarsHydro/TopLED and getting good results. Some here prefer Vipar on eBay as the most desierable of the least desireable, but I think it's all about the same when it comes to Chinese imports. At these prices I don't think you can go too far wrong. Worst case scenario is that you'll add some sidelighting like I mentioned. (If it were me, I'd do a couple 80w UFOs and sidelight to bring it up to 35w sq. ft.).
 
So I just noticed that page 1 of this thread was started over a year ago. Is there any easy way to navigate this thread and find out what is the current thoughts and top recommendations for LED lamps? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
herbangrower said:
So I just noticed that page 1 of this thread was started over a year ago. Is there any easy way to navigate this thread and find out what is the current thoughts and top recommendations for LED lamps? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
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I have been watching this Youtube channel. Grower in BC was given a LED light grow light from the manufacturer. He is going into flower now. So far I am liking the progress. If all turns out well I might get some.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ZzO42mLqfdKguMdRLO0Qg
 
Wow, I just spent the last two days reading through this thread. Here's my newbie impression of the thread:

Write down a lot of manufacturer names
Cross out a lot of manufacturer names
Why are mommy and daddy fighting?
Numbers numbers numbers
The same question on each page (Found this LED on www.ebay.com/blahblahblah.....)
Cross out more names
Pull the trigger on Hans panels
More fighting
More numbers
Everybody decides that white is better than red
Shwagbag appears

So... my question is, according to the current school of thought on red and pink versus white, is the Hans panel still a good idea or should I try to cancel that order and do something else? My area is a tent 18" x 36" x 60" and I'd ordered two Hans panels, hoping to use them for all stages from seed to harvest.
 
HollyD said:
Wow, I just spent the last two days reading through this thread. Here's my newbie impression of the thread:

Write down a lot of manufacturer names
Cross out a lot of manufacturer names
Why are mommy and daddy fighting?
Numbers numbers numbers
The same question on each page (Found this LED on www.ebay.com/blahblahblah.....)
Cross out more names
Pull the trigger on Hans panels
More fighting
More numbers
Everybody decides that white is better than red
Shwagbag appears

So... my question is, according to the current school of thought on red and pink versus white, is the Hans panel still a good idea or should I try to cancel that order and do something else? My area is a tent 18" x 36" x 60" and I'd ordered two Hans panels, hoping to use them for all stages from seed to harvest.
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Great Post..
 
Cliffs notes:
chinese = facepalm
hans = small
area51/onyx = medium
Apachetech = large

Or you can build your own out of CoBs and have coaches and waterboys and cheerleaders and even surly commentators....

Wat r u.....chik'n.....?

HollyD said:
Wow, I just spent the last two days reading through this thread. Here's my newbie impression of the thread:

Write down a lot of manufacturer names
Cross out a lot of manufacturer names
Why are mommy and daddy fighting?
Numbers numbers numbers
The same question on each page (Found this LED on www.ebay.com/blahblahblah.....)
Cross out more names
Pull the trigger on Hans panels
More fighting
More numbers
Everybody decides that white is better than red
Shwagbag appears

So... my question is, according to the current school of thought on red and pink versus white, is the Hans panel still a good idea or should I try to cancel that order and do something else? My area is a tent 18" x 36" x 60" and I'd ordered two Hans panels, hoping to use them for all stages from seed to harvest.
Click to expand...
 
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