The Role of Lighting in Cannabis Cultivation
- Thread starter vostok
- Start date
Thanks vostok. 
Let's focus on what we can learn rather than another hid/led argument. 
https://www.natecontrols.com/
Let's focus on what we can learn rather than another hid/led argument. https://www.natecontrols.com/
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crimsonecho
Well-Known Member
Haha i watched this before its a good lecture.
tomate
Well-Known Member
A higher distance or bigger lights. It all depends on the light source you are using. Someone that is using strips can get as close to the plants as possible and still manage to have a perfect diffusion.
homebrewer
Well-Known Member
I'd only ever try LED lights if in a blind test end users could tell difference in the product.
CobKits
Well-Known Member
that falls off fast relative to light at a distance (minimized of course by the combined effect of lights of multiple incidence)
its diminishing returns. 9 cobs is superior to a single HID in coverage and "penetration" and strips are superior to that in theory, but probably by an order of magnitude less relative to single HID vs 9 points of light
CobKits
Well-Known Member
so if users could not tell the difference in product you would discount the 30+% savings in cost of production?
homebrewer
Well-Known Member
On a commercial scale that savings adds up but there is also a MUCH higher upfront cost to LEDs. For folks just running a few thousand watts, electricity is cheap.
I'd love to see the numbers for HID hobby growers making the switch to LED in terms of the upfront cost while factoring in electrical and replacement bulb savings. Some quick math puts me at nearly 4 years to break even for a single fixture.
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eyderbuddy
Well-Known Member
Well maybe stop buying overpriced brand-name lights, and get someone to build them for cheap in bulk....
Covetsculitvars
Well-Known Member
Your trying to mimic a big ball of fusion in the sky. Some love online to watch folks banter back and forth, I hole all enjoy their experiances with this cultivar
homebrewer
Well-Known Member
What if one doesn't need 'bulk lights'. What's the argument for the hobby grower to throw out perfectly functioning HID lights for pricey LEDs?
I like that part also. To me, it seems obvious that higher is better for a large grow area. But where is the sweet spot for a smaller area, with higher wall losses? I guess small areas are where side lighting comes in.
Depends on what you are buying.
You can buy cheap LEDs on amazon and you an buy cheap HID light ballists.
You can also buy either in high end.
High quality HIDs and High quality LED are not that far apart IMO.
HID you need ballists, bulbs and a reflector.
Can’t compare cheap Chinese crap HID to high end LEDs. For cost purposes
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Covetsculitvars
Well-Known Member
Screw in LEDs of decent quality are only limited by your space, wallet and imagination
Hortalux bulb 80-100$
Quality ballist 200-250$
Quality aircooled hood 150-200.
For argument sake say he leds last 5yrs. And you replace a hps bulb every year.
400$ in bulbs
200$ for a ballists
200$ for a hood.
800$ cost.
700-800 watts of COB will easily be on par with a 1000watt HID.
Timber grow lights. Fatty VS is 950watts. 1200$.
Build a comparable light for 800$ all day long.
Anyway. To each their own.
LED fit my situation much better. Plus I don’t need any extra cooling and I did with HPS. So factor that in as well. We are arguing over a few $
Quality ballist 200-250$
Quality aircooled hood 150-200.
For argument sake say he leds last 5yrs. And you replace a hps bulb every year.
400$ in bulbs
200$ for a ballists
200$ for a hood.
800$ cost.
700-800 watts of COB will easily be on par with a 1000watt HID.
Timber grow lights. Fatty VS is 950watts. 1200$.
Build a comparable light for 800$ all day long.
Anyway. To each their own.
LED fit my situation much better. Plus I don’t need any extra cooling and I did with HPS. So factor that in as well. We are arguing over a few $
