Illuminator 350w

AvidSmoker420

Active Member
So Im deffinently new to led but my main reason why I think I might join the darkside and go with leds is because the power consumption. And I would hope by now in 2014 that there are some damn good leds that could supplement hids. I've been reading about the 350w illuminator hybrid. Well its pretty costly about 1200$ a light and for my flower room i would need 3-4 for my flower room but in turn it would make it so a 4k room is only 1200w and I can deffiently live with that especially with no messing with heat and hardly any ducting and not so many fans. But my question is since I'm completely lost on leds but what led light out to date could get me what a 1000w super mh veg for 4x4 and to subsequent like 3-4k super hps hids. Or at least in the ball park.
 

budbro18

Well-Known Member
DO NOT DO THAT! Biggest gimmick of LED companies. "Our 400w equals a 1000w"

LIES!

Sure you have better par and less heat, but marijuana likes raw power. I use LEDs but when i switch over i got a 305w to replace my 400w for veg and 2x 305w panels to replace my 600w hps flower room light.

So if youre going to convert, do it right.

Also those prices are CRAZY!!!! Even black dogs and area 51 are cheaper than that. Stay away from any site trying to sell you things for that much. ITs a little more than a dollar per watt at max 2-3 dollars per watt for the higher end all cree ones.

I use grow evoluton leds and theyre on the middle cheaper side of things. Good quality for a good price. I spent a little less than 5 per panel plus i got discounts for ordering multiple of the same kind.

check em out. Growevolution.com and check my sig for my current LED grow.
 

budbro18

Well-Known Member
Im just not a fan of those sites because they have no type of warranty just direct from china. Grow ev has a 5 year warranty and free shipping. If youre trying to go big then go big and go for the quality panels. Black dog, area 51, and grow evolution are my top choices.
 

AvidSmoker420

Active Member
Ya the more I look at the 343 the more I want it. How many 343 which supposedly covers a 4x4 take for a 8x8? 4? Or 6?
 

AvidSmoker420

Active Member
Also I'm confused on the power. So the 343 supposedly draws 343w +3% (whatever that means) but under power it says 450w. So which wattage should I base my total wattage by. Because I need to be under a certain amount of power and I'd love go get 8 (2 for 4x4 veg and 6 for flower or maybe 4 flower in 8x8 and the other 2 in mothering/clone tent whatcha think. I believe you just switched Me to leds haha
 

Ghrimm

Active Member
343 is the draw from the lights + 3% for fans and such. Ur diodes wont run at 100%. Its max capacity is 450w but most LEDs wont run at max, they run a little under to max life span.

Edit: This changes depending on quality/brand. China LEDs run at about 50% while top of the line run close to 100%, but not quite there.
 

budbro18

Well-Known Member
the 343 is the amount the LEDs are dimmed to the 450 is the total amoount of LED watts in chips.

I have 3 of the 305w ones that they sold out of but check out the journal in my signature. They work well for my 4x4 flower and 2x4 veg. 2 in flower 1 in veg.

6 of the 343s would be nice for an 8x8. 343w is the LED output watts or actual draw the +3% is probably for the fans on board to cool them.

Ive got a discount code from my last order if you end up gettin em. 10 or 15% im not sure.

Edit: LEDs are epistar so not top of the line but in the upper middle class of leds haha
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
Diodes are not operated at full output. The actual output is probably more like 200w of average diodes

Their choice of spectral coverage misses the 500 range, which is important, probably more important than the PAR peaks they cherry picked

Here's a pick of my all-white led grow; 2 UFO 90s (3500 + 5000K)+ 3 led tubes @ 3000K


IMG_2055.jpg LED 2 of 2.jpg

 

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
I own five of the 180W Illuminators and they've worked well for me over the years.
When I purchased my lights, I was originally going to grab two of the 350Wers that you're eying, but their customer service talked me out of it.
They said the 350W lights are okay, but are better for veg rooms and whatnot, where the 180W light was better for flowering.
Now although I've had luck with ProSource lights, I wouldn't exactly recommend them, as there are much better LED lights on the market nowadays then when I made my purchase over 3 years ago.
As others have mentioned, Area 51 and the Hans Panel are the best examples of top LED light values for the money.
 

budbro18

Well-Known Member
@Flora those that you looked at ik are shit. Someone earlier pointed me towards Bud Boss and I think they look great what ya think I mean 4-6 of them in flower would be beast http://www.growevolution.com/lights/bud-boss-343/

Hope you go with them! Like i said not top of the top of the line but in the upper middle or lower upper class of LEDs. Epistar diodes

One of the few ive seen that give quantity discounts and free shipping!! Which is nice for multiple things weighin 20+ lbs a piece.

The guy i talked to who i think was the owner or someone working the owners email was a really nice guy and had my shit shipped in 3 or 4 days.

Good luck!!!
 

AvidSmoker420

Active Member
Ty sir. Can't wait to try them out. Ill probably usem until I can afford like 5 blackdog platinum xls unless I fall in love with them. :bigjoint:
 

budbro18

Well-Known Member
Im lovin em so far! The only ones ive seen that dont use lenses and thats why they cant burn until theyre a few inches away from the light. Most good leds have a minimum distance of 1-2 feet because theyre focused to a 50 60 90 or 120 degree angle. Which helps with penetration and not every LED on them is to the same focal length so you get a mix.

Im gonna start flowerin any day now so join the journal if you want. Youre about to order 4 or more more than i have so youll really be doin thangs. Gotta get some method sevens or work on a diy pair.
 

Thecouchlock

Well-Known Member
My take on this is not to buy anything that says it grows bud, companies claim all kinds of shit and when you don't get results its too late to send back. I have 4 300w advancedledlights diamond series, 1 100w diamond series and 1 240w taotronics. I like advancedledlights.com they have a nice warranty program and they grow buds! I have had the frostiest buds that I have ever grown. It could be genetics or it could be a thousand other factors but I like my picks. Even the chinese light is rockin but how long till it burns out is the biggest question
 

AvidSmoker420

Active Member
Once I sign the papers and officially get the place (between now and march) then ill start cleaning up and fixing her up then build the rooms and order all the goodies and ill start a journal. The plan is to do 20 think differents and maybe 10 auto diesel mass. Under a 1k super mh for a week or 2 then throwem in the flower room with 4-6 of those panels. Half in super soil and half in promix/ffof with bio buzz and ff nutes probably. Whatcha think? Big enough to yield me some decent weight and be able to finance the rest of my shit and hopefully begin saving for either solar or wind alternative energy
 

Thecouchlock

Well-Known Member
Idk, I would do all of the same strain if your looking for cash. One little hermie could turn your whole garden into a bunch of seeds...

(much easier to not stress the plants and you get the feel for what they want exactly.)
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
I am a fan of reflectors instead of individual lenses. The panel looks good, although it's actual power may be ~ 70% of what they say (typical marketing BS, as diodes are not driven at 100% of their wattage).

IME, mixing R/B spectrum specific diodes is not necessary. NW + WW provides all those ranges, including 490-600, which the Bud Boss omits. WTF?

At $400, it would be very good value, but at $600, I would go for an A51, even though it uses lenses


@Flora those that you looked at ik are shit. Someone earlier pointed me towards Bud Boss and I think they look great what ya think I mean 4-6 of them in flower would be beast http://www.growevolution.com/lights/bud-boss-343/
 
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