Switching to LED. 600W or 400W, which one to buy

Reiss

Reiss

Well-Known Member
Hi,
I've decided to take the plunge and try out an LED set up.
Currently using a 250W CFL for veg & a 400W HPS for flowering in a 2ft x 2ft x 5ft grow tent.
Only grow 1 plant at a time but have the occasional heat issues, even with decent extract using a cool tube.

Not sure if I should go for the 400W -
https://cannaplightsolutions.com/products/viparspectra-reflector-series-450w-led-grow-light

or the 600W -
https://cannaplightsolutions.com/products/viparspectra-reflector-series-600w-led-grow-light

Is there such a thing as too much light?

thanks
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Yes you can have too much light. However raising any of them a foot higher than recommended solves that. Viparspectra does make a dimmable 700 watt. I would suggest looking at one. Better to be able to increase the output as plants grow and can use it more
 
JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
Hi Reiss and you too Harley...
Just wanted to see what discussion ensues. I'm woefully ignorant about LEDs but am seriously curious. Will have a new grow space soon and of course will need lights...so want to lean as much as possible before making a decision.

Reiss, would you mind explaining what attracted you to the Viparspectras? Rep? Price? Features? That dimmable 700 that Harley suggested sounds great.
JD
 
Reiss

Reiss

Well-Known Member
thanks for the replies.
was always going to favour the 450W, dimmable 700W or a 600W seems a bit overkill.

I've got 3 auto kush seeds, might do a comparison grow & post results here. 400W HPS vs 450W LED
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Reiss said:
Hi,
I've decided to take the plunge and try out an LED set up.
Currently using a 250W CFL for veg & a 400W HPS for flowering in a 2ft x 2ft x 5ft grow tent.
Only grow 1 plant at a time but have the occasional heat issues, even with decent extract using a cool tube.

Not sure if I should go for the 400W -
https://cannaplightsolutions.com/products/viparspectra-reflector-series-450w-led-grow-light

or the 600W -
https://cannaplightsolutions.com/products/viparspectra-reflector-series-600w-led-grow-light

Is there such a thing as too much light?

thanks
Click to expand...
The so called 450w vipar is a 200w light.

The 600w vipar is a 276w light.

So be aware you are stepping down in light intensity not up.

But I understand you are having heat issues. Frankly a 400W HPS is overkill in a 2x2.
Both those LEDs would work fine in that space.
But consider this, you are currently using a cool tube, that reduces the heat considerably, you wont have that option with these Vipar LEDs, for that reason I would be leaning towards a 250 HPS with MH bulb for veg, keeping your cool tube. I would be surprised if you didn't get lower temps from that than either vipar.

All that said, a strip build or a 135w Quantum board kit is what I would run in a 2x2.
 
Reiss

Reiss

Well-Known Member
thanks corey,
just the occasional heat issues as I wasn't able to run the lights during the night due to a noisy fan & an angry wife!
it's now 30c+ in London, I normally grow during the winter / spring when it's cooler. My tent was just over 30c the other day.
Now I have a quieter fan and run the setup 4pm - 11pm
Obviously with the LED, I wouldn't use the cooltube, but will still have the exhaust going
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Reiss said:
thanks corey,
just the occasional heat issues as I wasn't able to run the lights during the night due to a noisy fan & an angry wife!
it's now 30c+ in London, I normally grow during the winter / spring when it's cooler. My tent was just over 30c the other day.
Now I have a quieter fan and run the setup 4pm - 11pm
Obviously with the LED, I wouldn't use the cooltube, but will still have the exhaust going
Click to expand...
Yeah its god damn horrible heat wise up north so I can only imagine its been a shit storm down there!
 
DinoTech

DinoTech

Member
As coreywebster pointed out, you need to research your led's. Most LED companies will advertise the total wattage of the LED chips are capable of using but don't mention that they only drive them at 50% or less power so there low end chips don't degrade and fail over time. This is why it is so important to go with good chips and provide cooling to draw the heat away from the LED. People think LED's create a lot of heat but really it is the circuitry. Which is why when using an LED in a refrigerated environment can make them last forever almost.

So when shopping, find the actual power consumption, make sure quality LED chips are used, The correct spectrum, and correct thermal management.

I love the LED's I use now, however I will not recommend them because their customer service sucks baaaaad. So i don't refer their product to anyone. Even tho its great quality and tier 2 CREE chips used. There attitudes ruined it for me.

But for $950 and have a total actual draw on the meter of 800 watts with the bloom lights turned up. 400 watts during veg. I keep the light 2-3 feet above 4 plants and it is going great. My grow room never goes above 77 and never below 68. I don't use any heaters or coolers. Just a basement.

20180705_172335.jpg 20180705_171556.jpg 20180705_171617.jpg
 
Reiss

Reiss

Well-Known Member
wow! thanks DinoTech, some nice tight plants there.
I've researched quite a bit & those ViparSpectra seem to be received pretty well.
 
S

Skiball

Well-Known Member
I'd advise against vipar for flower. Just way to much blue in their lights. I have 2 meizhi 900 (the same spectrum as vipar) in my flower. Along with two other more red spectrum led. It's painfully obvious the plants under the prominently red finish faster n better all around. I regret not going with maxsisun instead. The dimmable maxsisun 600 is what I'd suggest for low-mid tier led. 125$, 275 watts at the wall, dimmable, built in timer, great spectrum, great spread and if you go to a 3x3 tent down the road your still good.
 
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