BlazedMonkey
Well-Known Member
So youre a noob looking for your first LED huh? Well ill try to help a little.
Skip to end for suggestions. bold below
First off do you need an LED?
LEDs as of Nov 2011 are expensive. If you have no other qualms and just want to grow the biggest cheapest weed/medicine i would suggest you invest in HPS.
Now if you are very eco savy, have a slight tech fetish (or affinity for those offended), or are growing in small spaces where heat is an issue than maybe you qualify.
LEDs do produce heat please understand. Just much less than HPS/MH/CMH and less than CFLs as well as the heat is directed up and away from our plants.
Okay so you still want an LED even though there could be better cheaper options? Good, good.
LEDs are new, they have very little track records as far as long term lights. They are "suppose" to last 50,000+ hours but we all know how stuff like that works.
-For this reason i HIGHLY suggest you chose a light that provides a warrenty. Preferably 3+ years.
Anyone not providing a no hassle warrenty isnt standing behind there product and that should be suspicious.
-If you are flowering get an LED that uses 3W LEDs otherwise your buds will be airy for sure and you wont get penetration.
Look for grow journals, if theres a new awesome deal an a new LED light no ones every heard of theres probably a reason... its a scam or not very good.
Look for results, they are out there.
Look at actual draw. if a panel has 100 LEDs that are all 3W, it will NOT pull 300w. WILL NOT. Why? Because if it runs at full power (just like a car) it will overheat and fail. So it runs at around half (once again think rpms on a car). Notice this if a company is claiming it pulls 300 actual watts from 100 3w leds beware.
Look if the panel has a UVB bulb. You want this. It means you will have tons of trichromes and more THC.
Sounds like a lot of work? It is, doing good homework at least 10-20 hours of pouring over journals. Which is why ill suggest what i have found in my studies.
GrowLedHydro - Expensive, one of the best and has 5 year warranty ive heard is very good.
ProGrow (at hydroponicshut)- mid range expense, nice quality light (i have this one), 3 year warranty
Blackstar Gothamhydroponis- best watt/$, results prove that a budget (relatively) light can produce results. 1 year warranty Downside-heard a few issues on customer service but could be old news. I would check into it more before you buy.
Magnums 357-Ive done less research but seen a few good journals. Looks promising but i would double check for any negative feedback.
Kessil- Heard they are quality and look professional but i dont like the focused flashlight thing.
Build your own?
Very possible. You can save a little money and can customize exactly what you want (have some vertical ideas i would love to try). But you wont save much money in my opinion i would rather have it all neat and have a warranty.
Google Kanna or look up the DIY LED on the DIY section i posted a link there that where kanna gives amazing detail and tutorial on building one.
Thats my opinion. If others have experience feel free to chime in hopefully this thread can act as status of what brands/LEDs are reputable and a good deal at the current time as it will be changing drastically over the next 5-10 years. So if you feel its out of date write up a detailed update![Stick Out Tongue :P :P](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Skip to end for suggestions. bold below
First off do you need an LED?
LEDs as of Nov 2011 are expensive. If you have no other qualms and just want to grow the biggest cheapest weed/medicine i would suggest you invest in HPS.
Now if you are very eco savy, have a slight tech fetish (or affinity for those offended), or are growing in small spaces where heat is an issue than maybe you qualify.
LEDs do produce heat please understand. Just much less than HPS/MH/CMH and less than CFLs as well as the heat is directed up and away from our plants.
Okay so you still want an LED even though there could be better cheaper options? Good, good.
LEDs are new, they have very little track records as far as long term lights. They are "suppose" to last 50,000+ hours but we all know how stuff like that works.
-For this reason i HIGHLY suggest you chose a light that provides a warrenty. Preferably 3+ years.
Anyone not providing a no hassle warrenty isnt standing behind there product and that should be suspicious.
-If you are flowering get an LED that uses 3W LEDs otherwise your buds will be airy for sure and you wont get penetration.
Look for grow journals, if theres a new awesome deal an a new LED light no ones every heard of theres probably a reason... its a scam or not very good.
Look for results, they are out there.
Look at actual draw. if a panel has 100 LEDs that are all 3W, it will NOT pull 300w. WILL NOT. Why? Because if it runs at full power (just like a car) it will overheat and fail. So it runs at around half (once again think rpms on a car). Notice this if a company is claiming it pulls 300 actual watts from 100 3w leds beware.
Look if the panel has a UVB bulb. You want this. It means you will have tons of trichromes and more THC.
Sounds like a lot of work? It is, doing good homework at least 10-20 hours of pouring over journals. Which is why ill suggest what i have found in my studies.
GrowLedHydro - Expensive, one of the best and has 5 year warranty ive heard is very good.
ProGrow (at hydroponicshut)- mid range expense, nice quality light (i have this one), 3 year warranty
Blackstar Gothamhydroponis- best watt/$, results prove that a budget (relatively) light can produce results. 1 year warranty Downside-heard a few issues on customer service but could be old news. I would check into it more before you buy.
Magnums 357-Ive done less research but seen a few good journals. Looks promising but i would double check for any negative feedback.
Kessil- Heard they are quality and look professional but i dont like the focused flashlight thing.
Build your own?
Very possible. You can save a little money and can customize exactly what you want (have some vertical ideas i would love to try). But you wont save much money in my opinion i would rather have it all neat and have a warranty.
Google Kanna or look up the DIY LED on the DIY section i posted a link there that where kanna gives amazing detail and tutorial on building one.
Thats my opinion. If others have experience feel free to chime in hopefully this thread can act as status of what brands/LEDs are reputable and a good deal at the current time as it will be changing drastically over the next 5-10 years. So if you feel its out of date write up a detailed update