LED or CFL?

beastbub

beastbub

Well-Known Member
Hey all, so I got a grow tent 3'X3' from secret jardin darkroom.
Now i am shifting between a led or cfl.
I have about 350 to spend on lighting system
for cfl set up i think the cost is pretty cheap, I checked out those 48watts bulbs they are i think about 20 dollars each and I ll probly get 8 of them, I think that should be enough for growing 3-5 plants.
for LED wise, I m not sure if I can actually find anything useful under 350 dollars.
Im in Canada and the same lights in the states that cost 180usd, cost 320 canadian dollars here...
so I found http://www.amazon.ca/Hydroponic-300w-100x3w-Spectrum-Blooming-AC85-264V/dp/B00E9YT3WY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395251801&sr=8-2&keywords=led+grow+light
this one on amazon... it claims to be 300 w but then it says"
  • No worry of the active wattage of the lights, it is not imortant, the important thing is that the lights can make you get more buds"
sounds some what sketchy to me :/

any ideas??

PS:i m only growing 3-5 plants, so I m not sure how many watts LED should I get, they say it's about 100 watts per plant, is this saying ture?
PPS: I live in canada, anyone knows good company sells quality lights with reasonable prices?

Thank you for any input :D
 
PetFlora

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
LED for the win, BUT, I would not buy a multi-spectrum led. It's pure BS, and the emitters they use are of low quality

Alas, your budget is too low for a quality led like A 51


I have used inexpensive 4 bulb vanity fixtures (@ 3ft) + a combination of Cree, Philips, Feit household led conversion bulbs. See captainmorgan thread on RIU

Later, when $$$ is available then move up to A 51
 
Slipon

Slipon

Well-Known Member
its 100x3W Epistar LEDs with a actual watt draw on 200W according to there info (LEDs don't run at max, my 120X3W Panel run at 280W)

look like a typical Chinese LED panel, if it got what they promise inside its a ok LED light and IME suitable for two plants, LEDs are pretty one directed and don't really spread there light out much

IMO its a ok budget panel if your low on $ and will preform similar to a 250W/400W HID (cover the space of the 250W with the quality of the 400W)

but it won't grow you 5 larges plants, or cover 3x3 ft, more like 2,5x1,5 a few CFLs at the corners could work until you have the $ for a panel more if you like the result (maybe go for quality next time as it most likely will last you longer with a better warranty and possible a bit better results)

I got two

DSC03298.jpg


the green panel at the right is a similar one to the one your looking at, also some chinise budget panel with 96X3W LEDs and a actually draw on 192 watt, its the second one I got to cover all my 4x3 ft and 4 larges plants or 6 smaller or what ever

hope this help some

Slip
 
JohnnySocko

JohnnySocko

Active Member
PetFlora said:
LED for the win, BUT, I would not buy a multi-spectrum led. It's pure BS, and the emitters they use are of low quality

Alas, your budget is too low for a quality led like A 51


I have used inexpensive 4 bulb vanity fixtures (@ 3ft) + a combination of Cree, Philips, Feit household led conversion bulbs. See captainmorgan thread on RIU

Later, when $$$ is available then move up to A 51
Click to expand...
Pardon me Pet, I'm not finding it with the search function (I will admit stupidity..ha ha) but can you link it for me? I'm sorta interested
 
beastbub

beastbub

Well-Known Member
Slipon said:
its 100x3W Epistar LEDs with a actual watt draw on 200W according to there info (LEDs don't run at max, my 120X3W Panel run at 280W)

look like a typical Chinese LED panel, if it got what they promise inside its a ok LED light and IME suitable for two plants, LEDs are pretty one directed and don't really spread there light out much

IMO its a ok budget panel if your low on $ and will preform similar to a 250W/400W HID (cover the space of the 250W with the quality of the 400W)

but it won't grow you 5 larges plants, or cover 3x3 ft, more like 2,5x1,5 a few CFLs at the corners could work until you have the $ for a panel more if you like the result (maybe go for quality next time as it most likely will last you longer with a better warranty and possible a bit better results)

I got two

View attachment 3027791


the green panel at the right is a similar one to the one your looking at, also some chinise budget panel with 96X3W LEDs and a actually draw on 192 watt, its the second one I got to cover all my 4x3 ft and 4 larges plants or 6 smaller or what ever

hope this help some

Slip
Click to expand...
Whoa! yours look amazing,yea I also figured it's probably not gonna get me any good for 350 eh...
So what other lights are you using other than that cheap one?
 
beastbub

beastbub

Well-Known Member
JohnnySocko said:
Pardon me Pet, I'm not finding it with the search function (I will admit stupidity..ha ha) but can you link it for me? I'm sorta interested
Click to expand...
Yea me toooo
one main reason i want a LED pannel is that I dont have to connect all the things together like I have to with the cfl....
I m really weak on the electricity stuff I dont want to get elctricuted :/
 
S

Smokenpassout

Well-Known Member
Do a combo of CFL and LED. I bought one of those 135 watt UFO Led lights off ebay. It worked well suspended over the tops. Then I used some big 100 actual watt CFL's for side lighting.
 
beastbub

beastbub

Well-Known Member
Yea I think that's what I ll do! But few questions, was the 135 watt ufo led light a cheap one or brand named one? The biggest watt cfl bulb i can find is 48 watts, but problem is that I have no idea how to set em up, how do you set them to be on the sides?
Can you please take a picture for me? I will be really grateful if you do :P!!!
 
PetFlora

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
All watts are NOT created equal! If you do not take the time to learn before you buy, you will likely get hosed. The money may not be a big issue, but the loss of a whole grow should alert you

beastbub said:
Yea I think that's what I ll do! But few questions, was the 135 watt ufo led light a cheap one or brand named one? The biggest watt cfl bulb i can find is 48 watts, but problem is that I have no idea how to set em up, how do you set them to be on the sides?
Can you please take a picture for me? I will be really grateful if you do :P!!!
Click to expand...
 
FilthyFletch

FilthyFletch

Mr I Can Do That For Half
Id go with the much better and cheaper option of a simple 600 or even a 400 watt digital ballast. you can get a digitail ballast with cords, hood, timers and 1 mh and 1 hps bulb delivered for under $200 and in flower the 600 watter will run about $40 a month while the 400 is around $30 a month. get the dimmable ballast and you can drop the watts to about 250 and still be under $40 a month running 24-7. Better yeild lower costs, better end products. Little to no heat really
 
beastbub

beastbub

Well-Known Member
FilthyFletch said:
Id go with the much better and cheaper option of a simple 600 or even a 400 watt digital ballast. you can get a digitail ballast with cords, hood, timers and 1 mh and 1 hps bulb delivered for under $200 and in flower the 600 watter will run about $40 a month while the 400 is around $30 a month. get the dimmable ballast and you can drop the watts to about 250 and still be under $40 a month running 24-7. Better yeild lower costs, better end products. Little to no heat really
Click to expand...
Dont you need a whole seperate electric set up for those kinds of bulbs? I just want something really simple like you can just plug it in and it works :P
 
PetFlora

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
Get over wattage is king.

75-150 quality watts, consisting of the spectrums mj actually needs, is superior to 300w of poorly designed emitters

My results that grow were ok. I was experimenting, as growers led tech had not yet met my expectations to buy in.

Much different just 2 short years later.

Area 51: http://area51lighting.com/

beastbub said:
looks pretty nice!
Just 1 question here, I think the highest watt led i can get is like 8 watts or something and for 300watts i ll need like 38 bulbs... one bulb costs about 15 dollars here at my place so that's like 600 dollars :O
How did you get yours to work with just so few bulbs :O!!
Thx for the reply~
Click to expand...
 
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