LED Bulbs vs CFL Bulbs

I’m curious because I know the method of watt = gram , but is that old school?

Are LEDs strips , bulbs, panels , advancing beyond this method? For example:

I have a standard cfl bulb 2700k ideal for flowering - 20w producing 1350 lumens

I also have a standard LED bulb 2700k - 13w producing 1570 lumens...

slightly more brightness But less watts...

LED are now in full spectrum not just your standard blue and red (blurple) - wondering if there now becoming the new powerhouse

Lumens are for humans - PAR ( Photosynthetically active radiation ) is for plants.

Qb are beyond those https://www.samsung.com/led/lighting/mid-power-leds/3030-leds/lm301b/

So PAR is the light spectrum , so how does a metric of electricity usage come into the plants energy absorption

I’m just wondering what makes watts the difference , how does a plant know the watts are better in that bulb lol , for example 2 bulbs both producing the same spec 2700k one cfl at 20w and the LED at 13w, sorry I know it’s probably basic but can’t seem to get a good answer lol

Bruce bugbee will help you

With everything you said I'm gonna answer with the plant wont know the difference CFL making 1400 lumen at 20 watts vs led bulb making 1400 lumens at 13 watts both at 2700k . You'll notice on your power bill with close to 50% less power used with led hope that helps but there's way more to lighting to explain watch the video

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of 400 to 700 nm is the most important source of energy for plants. It is important to give your plants “ usable “ light to promote growth not just watts. Some growers have and do use “ flouro “ style lamps ( T5 , etc. ) but there are more efficient lighting available - white leds , hps , cmh , etc.

CFL grows would be less efficient and effective in pushing proper growth , especially in flower. CFL throws the most light from its side - so reflectors would be recommended. Some growers STILL use them for single germinated seedlings - softer light to not overwhelm but are usually moved a few from plant. Because effective light falls off a cliff beyond a few inches .

Think Inverse Square law .... light vs. distance.

I really appreciate your help everyone - it’s the intensity of the light that matters , more watt = more intensity , a LED is less intensity but brighter and not hitting that PAR as hard, where as a cfl is more intense and hitting the par range harder because of the watts used.

@Budzbuddha thank you I really appreciate your help

more bills = more pounds

mr_unknown20191 said:

I really appreciate your help everyone - it’s the intensity of the light that matters , more watt = more intensity , a LED is less intensity but brighter and not hitting that PAR as hard, where as a cfl is more intense and hitting the par range harder because of the watts used.

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No.

mr_unknown20191 said:

more watt = more intensity , a LED is less intensity but brighter

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Nope - Led's are more efficient, requiring less power to produce the same light.

Hydrahail said:

With everything you said I'm gonna answer with the plant wont know the difference CFL making 1400 lumen at 20 watts vs led bulb making 1400 lumens at 13 watts both at 2700k .

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That's not actually true, as they will have different spectrums to achieve similar color temps. Personally I will use a 20watt cfl for cloning over a 13watt led bulb as I find clones like the cfl spectrum better, possibly because of IR.

mr_unknown20191 said:

I really appreciate your help everyone - it’s the intensity of the light that matters , more watt = more intensity , a LED is less intensity but brighter and not hitting that PAR as hard, where as a cfl is more intense and hitting the par range harder because of the watts used.

Click to expand...

Watts are simply a measurement of power consumption, not photon output. How can something be less intense but brighter anyhow?