300-400w LED grow lights from decent companies should grow at least as well as a 400w MH/HPS
I've read multiple journals to support this, however such LED lights cost $999 or more
LED Grow V.S HPS Grow Question!
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I've read multiple journals to support this, however such LED lights cost $999 or more
wannaquickee
Well-Known Member
ive been doing alot of reading on LED fuck that and dont waste your money..
they will work but its not worth it..
they will work but its not worth it..
Isn't worth it in your opinion, as I've also done a lot of reading on LED lights and decided it was worth the money.
The higher quality light that uses less power and puts out 80% less heat is well worth it to me. It will also last longer than an HID bulb and doesn't require a separate ballast, reflector hood, its own exhaust fan and ducting, etc. Even if the one I want costs me $999, it will more than make up for that with even its first harvest/yield.
Serapis
Well-Known Member
I have grown with LED lights. That being said, I believe it is not long that they will replace HID lighting. On an environmental stance alone, LED lighting has a lot more going for it than HID, which wastes about 80% of the power it consumes. The problem with LED lights today is penetration. But I have seen some newer units coming out that address the focus of the lights, however the price will still deter most growers.
Even if a 300W LED will outproduce a 400w HPS, look at the price difference. Getting someone to invest several hundred to several thousand dollars for a single light is rare. Until prices come down and the focus of the light goes up, I'm back with HID lamps.
Even if a 300W LED will outproduce a 400w HPS, look at the price difference. Getting someone to invest several hundred to several thousand dollars for a single light is rare. Until prices come down and the focus of the light goes up, I'm back with HID lamps.
Brick Top
New Member
You are wrong about it being a hypothetical grow. Just because you have never seen one that was highly successful does not mean it has never happened.
Two boards ago, one that is now defunct, a member came into a large sum of money and decided to scrap his 1000-watt setup and go all LED. It did cost him a TON but then he had a TON to spend and money left over.
He researched and found the highest grade LEDs sold at the time. He had two large panels above his grow and he took bars of LEDs and attached them to what I call portable posts. He used 4x4's with a flat plywood bottom for balance and made some so they could be stacked on top of others making each one taller as needed. (If I were making the same thing I would use PVC tubing myself.)
He ringed his plants with portable posts with LED light bars on them. Between his plants he placed more portable posts with LED light bars on them, but on all four sides so they would direct light in all four directions.
He started out with his top panels low and his portable posts the shortest they could be. As the plants grew he raised his top panels and when there was enough height he would then add another section to his portable posts with another LED light bar, or bars in the case of the ones with four on each, and continued that until his plants grew to full size and it was time to harvest
He grow thread started with the construction of his new grow setup and ended with his dried and cured harvest, and it documented everything every step of the way.
His plants were the most impressive looking plants I have ever seen grown indoors. They were thick and lush and covered with buds. The colas were massive and even his lowest buds were about the size of buds I see most people get from just below their colas using a 1000-watt light.
It is the only grow like it I have ever seen but it was also the most impressive indoor grow I have ever seen.
That is when I came to understand that what I had believed, and what people like you say, that LEDs aren't all that useful, was totally wrong and that IF someone purchases the very best LEDs made and IF they purchase them in adequate numbers and IF they know how to use them in a way to get the most out of them they will easily out perform any other form of grow lighting.
But most people purchase inexpensive low grade LEDs and even if they purchase quality ones they expect far to much from them and they purchase to few and since so few people have any actual experience with them, especially in a properly designed and built setup, almost no one knows how to use them to their full potential.
IF someone can afford the very best and afford enough of them to be able to grow tall plants and IF they know how to use them to get the most out of them they would throw rocks at every other form of grow lighting and never consider going back to HID lighting, let alone crummy CFLs.
So no, what I said is not hypothetical. I have seen it and I have seen it work and I have seen it outperform any and every other source of grow lighting, so don't fool yourself into believing that just because you have never seen it that it has never happened, that it is hypothetical, or that it cannot and would not work absolutely fantastic ... because they will IF someone does precisely what I said is needed to be done to grow with LEDs.
If they don't then they should never have wasted their money on LEDs unless they just want them for mothers or clones or vegging to a short height. But if they can afford it and if they do it right they can end up with results that would make not only your jaw drop but the jaws of about 99% of growers who do not have a clue what LEDs can actually do.
Green Inferno
Active Member
I think a 300 watt would be a better choice, only if it's a good one though. There are some pretty crappy 300 watt panels out there.
I don't think a 300 watt would outperform the 400 watt HPS in terms in final yield, the 400 would probably yield more, but I do believe
the 300 watt LED, if it's a good one, will produce the same, possibly more yield per watt used.
You'll also save a little bit on electricity because you won't need a big fan to keep the light cool, just regular exhaust for the tent or closet,
or wherever you're growing in.
Don't buy the 300 watt panel from HTG. Those are no good.
I don't think a 300 watt would outperform the 400 watt HPS in terms in final yield, the 400 would probably yield more, but I do believe
the 300 watt LED, if it's a good one, will produce the same, possibly more yield per watt used.
You'll also save a little bit on electricity because you won't need a big fan to keep the light cool, just regular exhaust for the tent or closet,
or wherever you're growing in.
Don't buy the 300 watt panel from HTG. Those are no good.
stelthy
Well-Known Member
I have something interesting to bring up.. I went to my local Hydro store and got caught up talking about LED's and how they are perceived to be better at giving exact PAR etc etc.. Then we got into a discussion about a new HPS bulb, that Dutch scientist's are working on - Which gives a 20% PAR Boost to the 400W, 600W and 1000W bulbs which WILL undoubtably piss freely all over LEDs and retail at a fraction of the price of LED panels...
Then I went on to say about 'If you had a boostable Lumatek Ballast that pushes for 15% extra Lumens towards the end of Flowering.. and you were using a Dutch NEW HPS BULB with a 20% PAR boost (start to finish), Surely this would be the ultimate grow light setup ?!!
The Hydro workers nodded and smiled
I could tell they were looking forward to the new bulb, and now - so am I
Has anyone else heard about this? what are your thoughts ??? - STELTHY
Then I went on to say about 'If you had a boostable Lumatek Ballast that pushes for 15% extra Lumens towards the end of Flowering.. and you were using a Dutch NEW HPS BULB with a 20% PAR boost (start to finish), Surely this would be the ultimate grow light setup ?!!
The Hydro workers nodded and smiled
I could tell they were looking forward to the new bulb, and now - so am I Has anyone else heard about this? what are your thoughts ??? - STELTHY
marijane89
Member
I grew for the first time with led and It was pretty good. I used one ufo per plant 3plants, and I got 3oz from each and they weren't tall. Oh and my light bill was really low
TshirtNinja
Well-Known Member
been using led lighting for over 6 months now..... big improvement in tri productions as well as thc%. Plus this is the darkest green my ladies have ever been. I rock 4x 240w blackstar led units. It's about 2k worth of leds but I have killer grows in an apartment closet venting out to the rest of the place with no heat issues now. HID don't ever think of how people like me don't have the tolerance for how HOT HID lighting really is. Now if we are compairing units I would put any of my 240w vs a 250 HID any day of the week. I don't have light or airy buds and I use LED from start to finish with no supplemental lighting. If you haven't tried LED go buy a 240w unit for like 270 just to try it out. Otherwise you have NO reason to bash LED's over ohhhhhh my homeboy said............................
Green Inferno
Active Member
I just ordered 2 of the 240 watt Blackstars yesterday.
What kind of yields are you getting per each light? Could each light produce 1/4 LB?
TshirtNinja
Well-Known Member
depends on the strain and growing conditions but yes I could see a 240 busting out around 4 zips if done right.
Green Inferno
Active Member
I'm still trying to decide on a strain, something definitely higher yielding. I'll be growing in dwc buckets.
DNA Genetics Lemon Skunk caught my attention earlier today. That one yields better than average.
I also have a 90 watt LED from HTG, not too impressed with that light.
The lights I'm thinking of using are 3G 300 watt quad-band led pannels with 144 3watt lights. They are from growlighys.com n retail at £700 each so if ur going by price these have gotta b pretty good? The main reason for changing to led is for a more stealth grow but we dnt want the quality or yeild to diminsh from using a 500 hps. I personally thing LEDs are the way forward and would really appriciate any help or advice of the best growing method for LEDs or a good led panel to by with money not being an issue
I wouldn't buy an LED panel in £ as you will probably end up paying way more than if you bought one in $. If you live in the states especially*
Best method for LED is SOG or SCROG as they generally don't penetrate as well as HID (the better ones can penetrate 3 ft well at 2 ft from plants)
The blackstar 240 (really 140w) is a good panel that will do you well. That glow planel 45 is a waste of electricity and probably not even as good as a 1 or 2 24w CFL
Bad Karma
Well-Known Member
You say that you're sporting around $2000 of LED lights in your garden.
But the price tag for 4 Blackstar 240W LED lights (that sells for about $270 each, according to you) would be around $1200 max (shipping included).
Are you using other LED's that you haven't mentioned yet?
Otherwise your math is very perplexing.
TJefferson
Member
Saw this in Hightimes (in an ad):
http://www.gurugrowlights.com/zacks_test.phphttp://www.gurugrowlights.com/images/zack/1.JPG
Not too descriptive. Anyone ever try out one of the Guru lights? Web site is shoddy.
http://www.gurugrowlights.com/zacks_test.phphttp://www.gurugrowlights.com/images/zack/1.JPG
Not too descriptive. Anyone ever try out one of the Guru lights? Web site is shoddy.
TshirtNinja
Well-Known Member
I also am building side lighting panels myself and thats the difference. Sorry that slipped my mind.