6500K LED Bulbs, help?

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SanjoPanjo

New Member
Hello everyone, first time posting here because it seemed like this site had a nice and helpful community.

There are these lights which are sold as "plant lights", they are bulbs-like LED. Now, I know I need 6500K lights to grow in the vegetative stage, but all the LEDs I've seen are purple, not white.
So, are 6500K LED like those ok for growing or do I need purple ones?
 
AquariusPanta

AquariusPanta

Well-Known Member
SanjoPanjo said:
Hello everyone, first time posting here because it seemed like this site had a nice and helpful community.

There are these lights which are sold as "plant lights", they are bulbs-like LED. Now, I know I need 6500K lights to grow in the vegetative stage, but all the LEDs I've seen are purple, not white.
So, are 6500K LED like those ok for growing or do I need purple ones?
Click to expand...
Yeah, 6500K should be great for vegetation.
 
A

az2000

Well-Known Member
SanjoPanjo said:
Thanks! Just for being sure, I mean these
http://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-12watts-White-6000K~6500K-Light/dp/B00DGHZ8J2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416642420&sr=8-3&keywords=LED 6500k
or these
http://www.amazon.it/LAMPADINE-ATTACCO-GENERAZIONE-LUMINOSI-EFFICIENTI/dp/B00MEBLI4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416341728&sr=8-1&keywords=6500k#productDetails
Click to expand...
@mauricem00 posted about these lights (<link) for much less. They're made from SMD5730 ribbon LED. I haven't seen any threads about whether that specific type of LED/spectrum compares to other choices. Not all whites are created the same.

I'd have the same concern about what you posted, whether the LED/spectrum is good.
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
SanjoPanjo said:
Hello everyone, first time posting here because it seemed like this site had a nice and helpful community.

There are these lights which are sold as "plant lights", they are bulbs-like LED. Now, I know I need 6500K lights to grow in the vegetative stage, but all the LEDs I've seen are purple, not white.
So, are 6500K LED like those ok for growing or do I need purple ones?
Click to expand...
people have used both types of lights successfully. the cool whites cover a broader spectrum than the purple lights which are just blue and red usually 460,630 and 660 nm. white leds use a blue diode( 450-460nm) to drive a broad band phosphor which covers the 540-700nm spectrum. there is no consensus on the best mix of leds for growing plants some believe that trying to target key pigments with monochromatic light is the best approach while others believe that plants need a broad spectrum of lights. the white leds work better than the 3 band (purple) grow lights. the purple lights are an older style. many are using a mix of white leds with 430,465,630,and 660nm in an effort to more closely approximate natural sun light but for a simply inexpensive grow light I think you will find the white leds work better.the diodes used in strip lights and corn cob bulbs are becoming very efficient.and will provide greater intensity than the old 3 band purple grow lights.these may be another option for a small cabinet (micro) grow http://www.aliexpress.com/item/SMD-5730-220V-110V-GU10-LED-Bulb-9W-12W-15W-18W-LED-bulb-24-LEDs-36LEDs/2019335964.html they produce 103 lumens per watt or better and are available with e 27 bases. gu10 sockets are available on ebay for a very low price and are more compact than e27 sockets http://www.ebay.com/itm/151436743889?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT these are ceramic and much more durable than plastic sockets
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
az2000 said:
@mauricem00 posted about these lights (<link) for much less. They're made from SMD5730 ribbon LED. I haven't seen any threads about whether that specific type of LED/spectrum compares to other choices. Not all whites are created the same.

I'd have the same concern about what you posted, whether the LED/spectrum is good.
Click to expand...
the spec sheet for the 5630 and 5730 led is available online. I was unable to upload the file but the spectral distribution curve is the same as for the Cree and bridglux white diodes. some white diode use a mix of blue red and green leds and do produce a slightly different spectrum but phosphor based leds produce a very similar spectrum
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
SanjoPanjo said:
Thanks! Just for being sure, I mean these
http://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-12watts-White-6000K~6500K-Light/dp/B00DGHZ8J2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416642420&sr=8-3&keywords=LED 6500k
or these
http://www.amazon.it/LAMPADINE-ATTACCO-GENERAZIONE-LUMINOSI-EFFICIENTI/dp/B00MEBLI4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416341728&sr=8-1&keywords=6500k#productDetails
Click to expand...
those are older style corn cob bulbs that use less efficient 5050 leds and the exposed connections create a risk of electrical shock. they are also more expensive than the ones from aliexpress that uses the more efficient CREE 5730 and have a clear plastic cover to protect against shock.Cree diodes are much better quality than the Samsung diodes used in those bulbs hope these post are helpful
 
S

SanjoPanjo

New Member
Thanks to everyone, you really helped me and I may consider LED the next time, but this time I went for normal CFLs, mainly because the room where I grow is quite cold and CFLs can produce just about enough warm to keep the temperature right.
I would close this thread but I can't find how to do it, so I'll leave this open for new discussion to be born.
 
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az2000

Well-Known Member
mauricem00 said:
the spec sheet for the 5630 and 5730 led is available online. I was unable to upload the file but the spectral distribution curve is the same as for the Cree and bridglux white diodes. some white diode use a mix of blue red and green leds and do produce a slightly different spectrum but phosphor based leds produce a very similar spectrum
Click to expand...
When the Cree A19 "lightbulbs" changed from XT to XB, @captainmorgan et. al. said the XBs were (slightly?) less effective for flowering. I'm wondering if there is a similar definitive comparison for the 5730.

BTW: I forgot you posted specs and datasheet in the other thread. (<<link) The spec for 5630 shows this SPD. I assume 5630 and 5730 are identical.

5630_SPD.GIF

Which wattage bulb do you use? I'm thinking about ordering some. The 9w is 107 lumens/w. The 12w is 125 l/w. (15w is 119, 18w is 114). I use 9.5w Cree A19 because I prefer more sources for more coverage. But, if the 12w version of this light is really 18 more lumens per watt, maybe that's the way to go.
 
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mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
I prefer the 15 watt bulbs but I use them for side lighting. the lumens per watt for the bulbs I use is higher for the 15 watt bulb then the 12 watt bulb the loss for the driver is pretty much fixed with only a slight increase as diode count goes up. leds are very directional so it is a good ideal to use many small sources spread around like with CFLs.leds have a very narrow beam angle these are the bulbs I use http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Newest-SMD5730-9W-12W-15W-18W-E27-led-bulb-220V-110V-Warm-White-white-24LEDs-36LEDs/2029684843.html they are also available with gu10 bases which I find easier to work with in DIY grow lights I use the 18 watt units in my house to replace 23 watt CFLs
 
A

az2000

Well-Known Member
I'd like to clarify a few things below. Sorry if I'm being tedious but if I repeat this information and give you credit for it, I don't want to accidentally misrepresent you.

mauricem00 said:
I use http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Newest-SMD5730-9W-12W-15W-18W-E27-led-bulb-220V-110V-Warm-White-white-24LEDs-36LEDs/2029684843.html they are also available with gu10 bases which I find easier to work with in DIY grow lights I use the 18 watt units in my house to replace 23 watt CFLs
Click to expand...
A few posts above (<<link) you linked to AliExpress seller GetInCoin. In the post above (and another here <<link) you linked to seller BuyBay. Is there a context in which you use choose one or the other?

mauricem00 said:
leds are very directional so it is a good ideal to use many small sources spread around
Click to expand...
I agree. That's why I would reach for 9w bulbs instead of 15w. This would give me an additional light or two on a plant. Do you see anything wrong with that approach? Overkill?

mauricem00 said:
The lumens per watt for the bulbs I use is higher for the 15 watt bulb then the 12 watt bulb the loss for the driver is pretty much fixed with only a slight increase as diode count goes up.
Click to expand...
Where do you get that information?

I derived what I posted from information on GetInCoin's product page. The information on BuyBay's page is slightly different. But, the 12w still comes out higher. Here's the information from the product pages:

GetInCoin:
Bulb Lumens Avg Lum/w
9w 880-1050 965 107/w
12w 1350-1650 1500 125/w
15w 1630-1950 1790 119/w
18w 1880-2240 2060 114/w

BuyBay:
Bulb Lumens Avg Lum/w
9w 850-1080 965 107/w
12w 1250-1680 1480 123/w
15w 1650-1980 1815 121/w
18w 1950-2250 2199 116/w
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
az2000 said:
I'd like to clarify a few things below. Sorry if I'm being tedious but if I repeat this information and give you credit for it, I don't want to accidentally misrepresent you.



A few posts above (<<link) you linked to AliExpress seller GetInCoin. In the post above (and another here <<link) you linked to seller BuyBay. Is there a context in which you use choose one or the other?



I agree. That's why I would reach for 9w bulbs instead of 15w. This would give me an additional light or two on a plant. Do you see anything wrong with that approach? Overkill?



Where do you get that information?

I derived what I posted from information on GetInCoin's product page. The information on BuyBay's page is slightly different. But, the 12w still comes out higher. Here's the information from the product pages:

GetInCoin:
Bulb Lumens Avg Lum/w
9w 880-1050 965 107/w
12w 1350-1650 1500 125/w
15w 1630-1950 1790 119/w
18w 1880-2240 2060 114/w

BuyBay:
Bulb Lumens Avg Lum/w
9w 850-1080 965 107/w
12w 1250-1680 1480 123/w
15w 1650-1980 1815 121/w
18w 1950-2250 2199 116/w
Click to expand...
leds are very directional but corn cob lights use many small leds mounted around a central axis making them omnidirectional. I am sure 9 watts will work as good as 15 watts.I use the lowest lumen number for comparison (worse case design standard engineering practice) as far as suppliers they are both selling the same product. both use CREE diodes only the base is different. american homes use E27 style sockets but good quality G10 ceramic sockets are cheaper on EBAY and have a lower mounting profile. as far as suppliers I'm a cheapskate I look for the lowest price I can find on quality products.you are not being tedious it is good to ask a lot of questions and try to understand things as fully as possible before making a choice. I am glad to contribute what I know. we are here to learn from each other good luck with your grow
 
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