Buds quality LEDs VS HPS

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
I came very close to going CMH but opted for LED and am happy with my choice. Unlike HPS and CMH which you can buy off brand bulbs that the performance is not that far off, LED is all in the quality of the diodes used. It's like comparing a Caravan to a Viper, they both have gas engines but they don't compare.
But unless installed separately the full spectrum led has no ir or uv and marijuana depends on both to reach potential.

I realize that these are all in diminishing returns. The environment and grower are more important.

i am waiting for proper horticulture led to progress before I switch. Should be complete and affordable sooner than later.

I also need the heat from the bulbs I use. I heat my house supplementally with the growroom exhaust in winter.
 

captainmorgan

Well-Known Member
But unless installed separately the full spectrum led has no ir or uv and marijuana depends on both to reach potential.

I realize that these are all in diminishing returns. The environment and grower are more important.

i am waiting for proper horticulture led to progress before I switch. Should be complete and affordable sooner than later.

I also need the heat from the bulbs I use. I heat my house supplementally with the growroom exhaust in winter.
I have no problem with CHM or even HPS if your in a colder climate. IR is overrated unless you need the heat and UV is easy enough to cheaply supplement if you choose to. Efficiency is king and many growers will be in jeopardy when the man starts to look at electric usage to find what they term as illegal growers and the HPS guys with all the tonnage of AC will stick out like a sour thumb, you know that tactic is coming to Michigan soon.
 

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
I have no problem with CHM or even HPS if your in a colder climate. IR is overrated unless you need the heat and UV is easy enough to cheaply supplement if you choose to. Efficiency is king and many growers will be in jeopardy when the man starts to look at electric usage to find what they term as illegal growers and the HPS guys with all the tonnage of AC will stick out like a sour thumb, you know that tactic is coming to Michigan soon.

I have no worries. I am a small medical grower with a few lights. But I hear you. I have already decided to remain out of the way of the industry and the caregiver system.

I think everyone should know the facts and choose the right tools for the job.

Just like my beloved guitar amp vacuum tubes my light bulbs will become quite rare and expensive at some point and I will go solid state just like with my instrument.

But this which is better argument is pointless and there is all the info on light spectrums and plants needed out there to make decisions.

And I don't know much about cobs but the 2700k ones sound about right for flowering. Eventually I will buy some and compare myself.
 

Buba Blend

Well-Known Member
I have no worries. I am a small medical grower with a few lights. But I hear you. I have already decided to remain out of the way of the industry and the caregiver system.

I think everyone should know the facts and choose the right tools for the job.

Just like my beloved guitar amp vacuum tubes my light bulbs will become quite rare and expensive at some point and I will go solid state just like with my instrument.

But this which is better argument is pointless and there is all the info on light spectrums and plants needed out there to make decisions.

And I don't know much about cobs but the 2700k ones sound about right for flowering. Eventually I will buy some and compare myself.
Here is one you might like. I don't worry now about growing and even before when I should have worried I figured I would not have to big of a problem for my small personal grow. I followed all the rules that made me a good stealth grower and neighbor.
I was always concerned about how the room appeared if something happened. I was afraid to put up inline fans and duct work. I was afraid that made the room appear more professional, at least to an amateur jury if I needed to stand before one. Might be silly but it was the way I thought.
I usually don't grow in the summer, next summer I'm thinking of experimenting with LED's.
 

Humple

Well-Known Member
I have no worries. I am a small medical grower with a few lights. But I hear you. I have already decided to remain out of the way of the industry and the caregiver system.

I think everyone should know the facts and choose the right tools for the job.

Just like my beloved guitar amp vacuum tubes my light bulbs will become quite rare and expensive at some point and I will go solid state just like with my instrument.

But this which is better argument is pointless and there is all the info on light spectrums and plants needed out there to make decisions.

And I don't know much about cobs but the 2700k ones sound about right for flowering. Eventually I will buy some and compare myself.
No need to go solid state for guitar amps these days, man. Plenty of good, affordable, new tube amp on the market!
 

Dave455

Well-Known Member
There is a 2 part video by John Berfelo (I think) that shows a side by side between hps, cmh and led.

The first vid is the growroom and a subjective discussion. Second vidbis him with a gas chromatograph and test results.

Cmh had 4% more thc than either hps or led. They both tested at around 18% and cmh at 22%

Subjectively 3 growers said that led had the best smell. And hps had the biggest densest nugs.

End of Grow comparison

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL8aHC4zMZ25CLxGsQqNO3opO1QPWz1lnV&v=hbdG-qEUruo

Test results

Just mount some of the UV bulbs available ....
 

Humple

Well-Known Member
It's the tubes. Not the same and too expensive. But I do love my old ac15. :-)

Really I was just using it as an analogy. They won't make tubes forever either.
Ahh, vintage amp. Yeah, that's a bummer, man. Never had a chance to play on a vintage Vox myself, but of course I've heard a lot of classics recorded on them. But I have to disagree with you about the future of tubes, man. The tube amp market keeps growing, so I don't expect the manufacturers to bail. Tone matters too much to too many!

Sorry for derailing the thread, folks!
 

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
But unless installed separately the full spectrum led has no ir or uv and marijuana depends on both to reach potential.

I realize that these are all in diminishing returns. The environment and grower are more important.

i am waiting for proper horticulture led to progress before I switch. Should be complete and affordable sooner than later.

I also need the heat from the bulbs I use. I heat my house supplementally with the growroom exhaust in winter.
My grow area is in the garage so I can choose whether to vent outdoors or keep the heat in the garage. I wonder if there's a way to share some heat with the rest of the house. Maybe blow it into the attic?
 

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
Ahh, vintage amp. Yeah, that's a bummer, man. Never had a chance to play on a vintage Vox myself, but of course I've heard a lot of classics recorded on them. But I have to disagree with you about the future of tubes, man. The tube amp market keeps growing, so I don't expect the manufacturers to bail. Tone matters too much to too many!

Sorry for derailing the thread, folks!

So do Grow bulbs to growers but technology will move on. Nothing is forever. It only lasts while the money does.
 

OLD MOTHER SATIVA

Well-Known Member
i am using 3000k led panels..i have used hps since 1979
after two crops
i think they are vegging/flowering as good or better than the hps.and certainly per/w.an...d thats without..uv or ir..
butt hey do not seem to need it..yield/smoke test/taste test
i welcome trying ir/uv someday..but its too twiddly to bother with right now because i am slamminin it
..hps works fine..gives heat in winter.....i will never go back..for more than a few reasons

am into old tube amps..but old solid state has a sound of its own too..
that and analog tape machines@ 15 ips
 

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
i am using 3000k led panels..i have used hps since 1979
after two crops
i think they are vegging/flowering as good or better than the hps.and certainly per/w.an...d thats without..uv or ir..
butt hey do not seem to need it..yield/smoke test/taste test
i welcome trying ir/uv someday..but its too twiddly to bother with right now because i am slamminin it
..hps works fine..gives heat in winter.....i will never go back..for more than a few reasons

am into old tube amps..but old solid state has a sound of its own too..
that and analog tape machines@ 15 ips
I agree about old solid state. My friend still has an 80's peavey bandit. Sounded better than my classic 30 I had.

I always use a solid state vox pathfinder at home. Sounds pretty authentic and feels good to play.

And I will switch to led when the right lamp is available. But the budget argument is not on the side of led in my situation. I save a lot of money in propane heat with the bulbs. And it all still works great after 3 years of use.

But most of my warranties are past so I admit to thinking about this a lot.
 

Dave455

Well-Known Member
i am using 3000k led panels..i have used hps since 1979
after two crops
i think they are vegging/flowering as good or better than the hps.and certainly per/w.an...d thats without..uv or ir..
butt hey do not seem to need it..yield/smoke test/taste test
i welcome trying ir/uv someday..but its too twiddly to bother with right now because i am slamminin it
..hps works fine..gives heat in winter.....i will never go back..for more than a few reasons

am into old tube amps..but old solid state has a sound of its own too..
that and analog tape machines@ 15 ips
Agreed. Applying great conditions (e.g. LED lighting (COBS/Quantums), nutrients and temps will bring out the strains inherent attributes. Many of you great growers have demonstrated these results time after time proving LED will continually get better.
 

Capt. Stickyfingers

Well-Known Member
I agree about old solid state. My friend still has an 80's peavey bandit. Sounded better than my classic 30 I had.

I always use a solid state vox pathfinder at home. Sounds pretty authentic and feels good to play.

And I will switch to led when the right lamp is available. But the budget argument is not on the side of led in my situation. I save a lot of money in propane heat with the bulbs. And it all still works great after 3 years of use.

But most of my warranties are past so I admit to thinking about this a lot.
Vox makes good shit. Underrated in the metal community. I have a Vox head and a 5150, and I find myself plugging into the Vox much more often. Another good thing about solid state is getting a nice sound at low volume. Tubes have to be pushed to sound good.
 
Top