trippin' on my LEDs

DSCN1878.jpgI've been following LED technology for a few years now and it wasn't until this year that I decided I'd give them a shot. I first became interested when the 90 watt ufo's hit the market. I'm glad I stuck with my decision to wait for better lights to evolve. From what I've seen and read they are not very good and they can't do what they claim, or even close, which is usually, "replaces a 400 to 600 watt MH or HPS". Nope, sorry.
I decided to give Gotham Hydro, a New York based outfit, a shot because they where making much more realistic claims about their lights. I don't represent Gotham and I'm not claiming that they are the best, but when they advertised their 100 watt UFO using 50 x 2W (watt) LED's or diodes or whatever you want to call them, they said one would cover 3 sq. ft., 1.5' x 1.5'. Well, that caught my eye. There prices where much better than most as well, and the customer service was and continues to be great. Some companies where asking more for the famous Grow Panel 48 which, I believe, has 48 x 0.06W LED's and might, MIGHT, help cuttings root at the most, maybe, MAYBE. Anyway, I bought four 100 watt UFOs and I wish I hadn't. Waaaaaa??? you say? Knowing what I now Know I would have made sure every light I purchased used 3W LEDs. As far as output is concerned they blow away lights using 2W LED's. This means a true 3 watt diode, not 3 1W diodes under the same lense. Ya gotta be careful people! I bought 7 lights all together- 4 100 watt UFO's (60 actual watts drawn), 1 135 watt UFO using 3W LEDs (90 actual watts drawn), and 2 240 watt LEDs (130-160 actual watts drawn, depending on who your listening to) also using 3W LED's. Maybe you noticed the name of the light is different from what it really is, i.e., wtf??? a 240 only pulls 130 watts??? That's right. This is common in the grow light industry when it comes to LED grow lights. Some multiply the number of LED's by their rated wattage. 80 LEDs x 3W = 240, but they don't run LED diodes to their max because they wouldn't last 50,000 hrs if they did. Your probably safe to go with 60% of a stated wattage if they are just multiplying the number of LED's by their maximum wattage and calling their light whatever that comes to. Some companies state actual wattage, ya just gotta read the details.
Now, a word about where the lights are made. I have to admit, these LED grow lights are assembled in China. "Noooooooooooooooo!!!" I'm afraid so. But, the diodes or LEDs are made in America, by Cree. Cree and BridgeLux are both American and the brands most reputable companies are using in their lights. Also, I think many of us would be horrified by how much of our growing equipment is manufactured or assembled in China, if that kind of thing horrifies you.
Why am I trippin??? I didn't expect these lights to do as well as they have. I haven't done a complete grow using only LED from start to finish because I didn't have enough total wattage to do one until now, but now I'm taking advantage of the Summer sun. But, I did veg some plants with incredible results and I used all the UFO's I bought to supplement my last grow with a 1000 watt HPS. In retrospect, this was overkill. The plants I vegged under LED where like the plants from "The Land Of The Lost" or something. The third set of leaves that came out of the seedlings where HUGE and full sized and so where the trunks by that time. These where the most compact, dense little girls I had ever grown.
Since I'm taking advantage of the Summer, I am experimenting with my LED lights, also with positive results. I am growing some tomatoes in a 2'x3'x4' growing area with one of my "240's". 6 sq. ft. total. The exact coverage the light is designed for. Well, the plants under LED are healthier and have more blooms and more rippening tomatoes then the ones outside in my greenhouse. Granted, I live in Seattle, but we have had some nice weather in the last 3 or 4 weeks. The lights are at least 12 inches above the plants and they are not stretching at all, just becoming fuller and fuller. Also, I put my "135 watt" UFO above a big houseplant native to Hawaii called "Bird of Paradise". Hell, I had that plant under a 400 watt Eye Hortilux Blue, and a 400 watt Eye Hortilux Super HPS and it never even tried to flower, and, I didn't even know that that was the kind of plant it was until it flowered for the first time. In fact, all my plants that are under LED lighting and require a lot of sun to flower and be happy are very happy. I mean, if I can replicate the Hawaiian sun, I think I should be able to produce some fine, medical grade, gonja.
But hey, this is all speculation and maybe I shouldn't say anything until I have done a complete grow using only LEDs. But it's Saturday night and I can't sleep and I was bored, so there ya go...

welcome to world of LED growing, just remember, ventilation is key.