IF you are new to LED and want help choosing what to buy, POST HERE!

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Zto

Member
Hey guys, I'm looking for T8 LED tubes. I remember Pet Flora mentioning some with built in reflectors. This would be super ideal. I'm looking for T8 4' LED's.
 
daveroller

daveroller

Well-Known Member
Zto said:
Hey guys, I'm looking for T8 LED tubes. I remember Pet Flora mentioning some with built in reflectors. This would be super ideal. I'm looking for T8 4' LED's.
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T8 tubes are fluorescents, not LEDs. I think you're looking in the wrong place here.
 
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solemnwoot

Member
Hey guys, first time grower. As soon as I get my lighting taken care of, I'll be starting a grow journal here.

Thanks for the awesome information here, guys. You really helped alleviate the awkward fury-induced tic I had developed from pouring through countless LED distributors' websites that said absolutely dick about their lights.

But maybe the mods could kind of condense the info so new users don't have to spend four days slogging through a 173 page thread (which, admittedly, was a much more satisfying experience than shopping on my own)?

Anyways, I plan on vegging and flowering 6 plants in a 4x4 grow tent with two XGS-190s. Do you guys think this will be too much light? If it is, can I fix any bleaching by raising the light up a bit?
 
Bad Karma

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
solemnwoot said:
Hey guys, first time grower. As soon as I get my lighting taken care of, I'll be starting a grow journal here.

Thanks for the awesome information here, guys. You really helped alleviate the awkward fury-induced tic I had developed from pouring through countless LED distributors' websites that said absolutely dick about their lights.

But maybe the mods could kind of condense the info so new users don't have to spend four days slogging through a 173 page thread (which, admittedly, was a much more satisfying experience than shopping on my own)?

Anyways, I plan on vegging and flowering 6 plants in a 4x4 grow tent with two XGS-190s. Do you guys think this will be too much light? If it is, can I fix any bleaching by raising the light up a bit?
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Glad that all of our silly bickering was helpful to you, lol.
Two XGS-190 will do great in a 4x4, you'll be better than fine, you'll be up to your neck in buds.
Good luck with your grow.
 
D

Donktastic

Active Member
Ok I have been considering making the jump into LED's from HID and here is my "help me decide what to buy" post. I have a lot of overall growing experience, 12+ years indoor/outdoor hydro/soil big/small etc, but all my indoor experience is with HID's. My current set up is 2 x 1000W HID's, 8'fan cooled in a space approximately 12 feet by 6 feet but only 82inches tall. Besides my vertical issue this is much more space than I currently need so I'm planning on downsizing to one flower tent (maybe two in the future) and one veg tent which will be merged in from another room. The tents I'm looking at are from HID hut sized 55x55x79. Also for what its worth I grow in coco and use a blumat gravity fed auto watering system.

So LED wise I am looking for the most bang for my buck. I could spend up to $1500 if it is an amazing system that is worth the price, but really I would like to keep my cost closer to $500 if I can get away with it. I need something that will cover 55x55 floor space (ten size) and will be comparable to a 1000w HID or more. I have been looking at the Mars II as a cheap buy for less than $500, but I've com across some complaints about quality from the Chinese companies on alabi and even TopLED. Area 51's xgs190 looks decent at $575 as far as quality goes but according to their specs it would barely cover my tent and I might need 2 per tent? HID hut's supernova also looks good at $899 but I can't many reviews on it. HID hut also has the mothership for $1299 that is tempting because its marked down, but again Im having some issues finding reliable reviews or comparisons. Blackdog is suppose to be more high end but then Im getting $1500+ and it seems to me that I should be able to accomplish my needs for less than that. At this point Im thinking bang for buck and reliability wise Im leaning toward either one or two Area51 xgs190's or HID's supernova if I can get some solid reviews of it.

Opinions?
 
Cococola36

Cococola36

Well-Known Member
Donktastic said:
Ok I have been considering making the jump into LED's from HID and here is my "help me decide what to buy" post. I have a lot of overall growing experience, 12+ years indoor/outdoor hydro/soil big/small etc, but all my indoor experience is with HID's. My current set up is 2 x 1000W HID's, 8'fan cooled in a space approximately 12 feet by 6 feet but only 82inches tall. Besides my vertical issue this is much more space than I currently need so I'm planning on downsizing to one flower tent (maybe two in the future) and one veg tent which will be merged in from another room. The tents I'm looking at are from HID hut sized 55x55x79. Also for what its worth I grow in coco and use a blumat gravity fed auto watering system.


So LED wise I am looking for the most bang for my buck. I could spend up to $1500 if it is an amazing system that is worth the price, but really I would like to keep my cost closer to $500 if I can get away with it. I need something that will cover 55x55 floor space (ten size) and will be comparable to a 1000w HID or more. I have been looking at the Mars II as a cheap buy for less than $500, but I've com across some complaints about quality from the Chinese companies on alabi and even TopLED. Area 51's xgs190 looks decent at $575 as far as quality goes but according to their specs it would barely cover my tent and I might need 2 per tent? HID hut's supernova also looks good at $899 but I can't many reviews on it. HID hut also has the mothership for $1299 that is tempting because its marked down, but again Im having some issues finding reliable reviews or comparisons. Blackdog is suppose to be more high end but then Im getting $1500+ and it seems to me that I should be able to accomplish my needs for less than that. At this point Im thinking bang for buck and reliability wise Im leaning toward either one or two Area51 xgs190's or HID's supernova if I can get some solid reviews of it.

Opinions?
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I have owned a supernova led and it was decent, but nothing to write home about for 899...i paid 425 on ebay for a used one so it wasnt so bad at the time. It uses 1 watt leds so the pentration factor just isnt there without any secondary lenses. You do know the more area51 panels you get the better the price and theres a discount going on as it is. I've honestly used everything there is besides black dog and apache tech and with that said, area 51 worked the best. Just my two cents and good luck
 
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NewGrower2011

Well-Known Member
I've been following many threads here and I'm looking at possibly 2x on the Area51's now... A lot more than I wanted to shell out... but...

Also really contemplating the array/COB-based DIY routes with something like those Bridgelux Vero's... I still need to get my head around driver/power-supply sizing (the math) & the selection/options out there and then figure out the whole optics angle though...

Part of me says just buy it... And so far those Area 51's are looking solid... I had previously considered building up an array of 2-4 of those 200w SolarFlare's from California LightWorks... over time... I like the modular notion and then I can repurpose/reconfigure away over time...

Someone on these LED forums has a coupon code for Area51... forget who now... and the site has a $50 code right on front page... I'm hoping the member has a better discount code... especially if going for multiple units...
 
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NewGrower2011

Well-Known Member
I also read somewhere on here about new sizes for 2014 from Area51... I wish they'd get more specifics out there sooner than later... might sway my decision... I'd rather get multiple smaller fixtures personally... even if it costs a tad more than a larger single unit...
 
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Donktastic

Active Member
Good info guys, thanks. I think area 51 will probably be it. Also good call on the discount now, I see it on their web site discount code discount50, but an extra $50 if I get 2. What do you consider the 190 equivlant to in HPS, like a 600w? What about its light? It says warm white?
 
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NewGrower2011

Well-Known Member
I'd love to see someone who has proven DIY experience/a success story at least and fr them to do a true cost comparison break-down... comparing DIY raw parts-only costs to building something comparable to well known/popular models... i.e. the California LightWorks 200w model... And definitely the Area51 given its popularity...

I'm wondering when comparing apples to apples exactly what the cost differences would be... but I'm not quite to the point of knowing enough on specifics to do that accurately myself...
 
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