How did you come up with this list, just curious why you have these opinions because I see people happily growing with some of the lights on stay away and unproven sections of your list, not to mention other lights out there that are producing well
Well, I am only listing with products, that I have dealt with.
The good list:
GLH: Don't need to say much about GLH. Track record speaks for it self. Mike is a true business man and keeps it honest. He answers emails. I want everyone to send an email to all LED manufacturers, Mike will be the first to reply, I promise.
He care's about making a good LED which is what we are all after. I think he has done a fantastic job for a business in its first years.
Lets be honest. MH and HPS will be replaced by LEDs. I mean these things will get lighter, smaller, brighter, more efficient in the next decade. You will be able to fit all your Lights in a box in your trunk thanks to LED.
LUMIGROW:
I tested the ES330 and its a solid LED. It is quite expensive, but it is the ONLY american made LED, referring to the diodes. I am sure some parts come from China, like the housing. It has a good design and obviously a lot of money went in to making this solid LED.The light may seem out of spec as they have not changed the specifications or design for a while but it is true to specifications.
Jumbo LED, is also Chinese made. I have not personally tested this LED, however I have seen them in action/application and the results were on par with the Lumigrow es330. The only thing that i did not like was the UFO design. Its obvious that panel LEDs provide a better housing for higher powered units because of light distribution, even though the Panel LED will emit a circular distribution.
The bad list:
Sunshine Systems
I started with 2 sunshine system UFO 90w with 2 125 CFL's. I liked the UFO for veg, it did its job. I decided to test the power output and take the thing apart. I saw a light system than any high schooler could assemble. I don't want to go into technicality, but the "90" watt UFO was producing close to 58 true watts. I will give sunshine credit for great marketing and a very nice design, but thats it. They use 1w diodes from China and it's not Epistar. Sunshine also commercialized their product and spent more money on design and image. Even the box it comes with is pretty. They don't spend money on performance, which us serious guys want.
HGL:
Where can I start with this company other than the track record of the owner. A customer on here was shafted and disrespected after spending 6000 dollars with HGL. The Owner did the most dis honerable act to any grower, calling the cops, after a small dispute. Who in their right might would do that. Further investigation results in previous scam business' by the owner resulting in a change of identity and gender. Many users claim their LEDs are junk. The list goes on. What bothers me the most about it, is the fact HGL encroaches GLH. It does so by having a similar name and place of operation. I am sure many customers have confused the 2 companies, when in fact GLH is the best thing out there right now.
Blackstar:
Claims to use CREE diodes. Thats a straight out lie. They don't even use Epistar from China.
Their LEDs advertise a higher watt output than it produces. However, as we know now, wattage is not the only thing that makes an LED.
Blackstar uses the cheapest best material to make their LEDS. They are however an ok deal $/watt. Again, more wattage does not mean a better LED.
I have heard good things about Blackdog and was recently introduced to Future LED. However I cannot comment because I have not had personal exposure to these 2 products although I know they will perform well.
I hope I cleared things up and everyone has their own opinions, I understand I did not provide hard evidence to back up my statements. I will however do a Direct Test between all these lights, and will provide LED GUTS in a separate thread soon.
Thanks,
Ocean