SmokesLikeBob
Well-Known Member
This whole LED versus HID argument has been going on since LED's were first implemented into growing. Whatever you use is up to you, but HID is better IMO...Bottom line, it has been proven, time after time.
Use what works for you. I do not see the need for big lights until we can grow in GA. T8s work for me starting tomatoes.Do you think that ALL LED units are trash or did you price shop? Staying away from them will only slow research and development of ever better products!
There are companies like Blackdog who have developed some pretty damn impressive units. The votes ain't all in yet, and I have yet to see the products of the units, but I AM intrigued, and believe that they are the future. Just not the immediate one.
i used to feel the same way bob...i am not a led grower..but i will be in a year, the leds have caught up to hid in my opinion..i am seeing too many outstanding grows with led nowadays...if the hids and the leds were the same price then everyone would be using leds...the only thing delaying most growers from leds are the initial cost...a 10x10 room could be done with two 1k watters at a third of the price of three 600 watt leds
LED's got it's advantages... but the cons out-weigh the pros....And the only bad thing I can think of for HID's is heat. I know someone will probably say, "How about your power bill?", but these lights will do more than pay for themselves. You can double, maybe even triple your initial investment, plus the upkeep costs on the first cycle. Then every cycle after that is virtually pure profit.i used to feel the same way bob...i am not a led grower..but i will be in a year, the leds have caught up to hid in my opinion..i am seeing too many outstanding grows with led nowadays...if the hids and the leds were the same price then everyone would be using leds...the only thing delaying most growers from leds are the initial cost...a 10x10 room could be done with two 1k watters at a third of the price of three 600 watt leds
LED's got it's advantages... but the cons out-weigh the pros....And the only bad thing I can think of for HID's is heat. I know someone will probably say, "How about your power bill?", but these lights will do more than pay for themselves. You can double, maybe even triple your initial investment, plus the upkeep costs on the first cycle. Then every cycle after that is virtually pure profit.
With LED's it'll take you maybe 2 cycles just to cover the cost of the light.
LED's got it's advantages... but the cons out-weigh the pros....And the only bad thing I can think of for HID's is heat. I know someone will probably say, "How about your power bill?", but these lights will do more than pay for themselves. You can double, maybe even triple your initial investment, plus the upkeep costs on the first cycle. Then every cycle after that is virtually pure profit.
With LED's it'll take you maybe 2 cycles just to cover the cost of the light.
LED's are bad for your eyes and Plants :![]()
Please don't come here and categorically state things like that without citing references. Where did you get that info?? First I've heard about that. BTW< HIDs are bad as well. MH produces MAD amounts of UVB, as does plasma MH, but a normal MH bulb has filters built in. Plasma has no such protection AFIK. They are used by growers who want to expose plants to UVB as a way to increase THC.
I like a good 400w MH for veg. Bright enough but not too bright so it burns your plants.
I love how I always have to back up my claims but no one else does. Then we got this dude who has not even used LEDs arguing. LED is junk, if you can't control heat you have improper ventilation. How's this? I have REAL WORLD experience with t5's, HID, and LED's. For the price of the led lights you could buy a small HID and all the fan's, ect you need.
So how does a so called 'pro' grower examine lighting?
Efficiency vs Cost
Led's are by far the wost, reduced yield and high cost.
T5's are the 'middle' ground reduced yeild, poor penetration, higher cost per watt than HID
Now the winner is HID. Why? A 400w HPS puts out more light with greater penetration than an 8 tube t5. If the bulb is exposed it puts off less heat as well. Want to know the kicker? It uses less wattage than the 8tube!
So what are t5's and LED's for?
Growing at home in a really small space (a closet can easily accommodate a 400w hps). They are also a marketing ploy, this stuff is VERY cheap to manufacture. You just pay the 'gimmick' tax.
You are more than welcome to spend thousands on LED's while skimping on other equally important factors in grow space design. Not me though![]()
Obviously led's can be very close to autogrows ?? as there short? but in reality a large scale grower will not waste time with led's ?? simply not enough coverage ??? it really is not rocket science is it ?? why do ppl get so uppity about lights for god sakes ? Obviously your growing in a small area with your small plants ?? why am i the only person who can see this ???? SOMEONE show me an LED grow thats not in a box or closet ?
i used to feel the same way bob...i am not a led grower..but i will be in a year, the leds have caught up to hid in my opinion..i am seeing too many outstanding grows with led nowadays...if the hids and the leds were the same price then everyone would be using leds...the only thing delaying most growers from leds are the initial cost...a 10x10 room could be done with two 1k watters at a third of the price of three 600 watt leds
next time try using punctuation. I have no idea what the point you're trying to make is.
Maybe someday LED's can compete with HID's...but today is not the day. I'm still waiting to see just one nice sized commercial grow op running LED's to produce HID quality buds. All I hear is about all the great PAR numbers and the like. Nobody wants a new lighting choice more than myself and the other commercial growers in my group. But, it's just not there yet. I don't like needing 64,000btu A/C units, but I don't have a choice. We're getting ready to add 20 more lights to our bloom room and I've been holding off in the hopes of LED or induction producing a light that can do what my HPS's do. But, it's just not happening. When we add it will be flip boxes and 20 more HPS's. There is a reason that every commercial op you see is lit with HPS's. If LED's could do the job, we'd all be running them. Maybe they're ok for a closet grow, but they have no place in a production facility.
the amount of UVB that you get from a MH is not hat much and if you use a hood with a glass its almost completetly filtered out......
the only reason LED's dont match HID lighting is the light penetration. the light penetration will NEVER match HID lighting.Led's are by far the wost, reduced yield and high cost.
anyone who refers to someone punctuation and spelling in a debate is a peice of shit that cant back up there argument with logic so they have to defer to someones spelling ....thats weak sauce and weakminded.....If you cant beat him with logic and sense then you loose you dont get to cristize someones spelling as if that has anyting to do with his point.......
wow you know nothing about maijuana and THC. i just have to cover that right now.
you NEVER want to eliminate the UV/B Lighting. you want 4 Watts of UV/B lighting per Square meter (this is what the sun provides....)
maybe you should do some Research on UV/B and THC......
the only reason LED's dont match HID lighting is the light penetration. the light penetration will NEVER match HID lighting.
but then, theres Plasma Lighting..... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plasma-Grow-Light-Plasms-Light-Bulb-300-watts-/200527967618
LEP (Light Emiting Plasma) IS the future of lighting when the price comes down.
Plasma lights, get the same intensity and Lumen output from 288 Watts as a 600 HPS or a 1000 Metal Halide (Both of which have the same lumen intensity.....) there the only lighting so far that has been able to BEAT HID Lighting in every test.... lamp life, heat, safty, initial lumens, and wattage intake.....