Thinking of converting to LED any ideas??

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
I've been growing for a couple years now and I've been using a hps light however I just moved down south (florida) where before I lived up north where it was much cooler and heat was totally easy to keep under control.. I just bought a house and I don't want to cut holes in the roof or anywhere so I'm thinking of converting to LED.. with LED would I need to venter to the point of cutting a hole in the roof to get rid of heat? Do they grow sativa and indica ? The current strains I got are tangerine dream and strawberry blue or something like that.. I got a 4x4 space to work with.. I can go bigger if needed and if the heat would be slim to none.. basically any ideas to go from 600w hps to led would be excellent..

I would also like soil and nutrient suggestions. I currently use coco but since my supplies has been sitting Im thinking my bluelab ph meter is most likely dead... any opinions on that? Also what would be good to grow the seedlings? A cheap seedling t5 or led would be nice i think I prefer led though..
 

nogod_

Well-Known Member
What is your budget?

I've been growing for a couple years now and I've been using a hps light however I just moved down south (florida) where before I lived up north where it was much cooler and heat was totally easy to keep under control.. I just bought a house and I don't want to cut holes in the roof or anywhere so I'm thinking of converting to LED.. with LED would I need to venter to the point of cutting a hole in the roof to get rid of heat? Do they grow sativa and indica ? The current strains I got are tangerine dream and strawberry blue or something like that.. I got a 4x4 space to work with.. I can go bigger if needed and if the heat would be slim to none.. basically any ideas to go from 600w hps to led would be excellent..

I would also like soil and nutrient suggestions. I currently use coco but since my supplies has been sitting Im thinking my bluelab ph meter is most likely dead... any opinions on that? Also what would be good to grow the seedlings? A cheap seedling t5 or led would be nice i think I prefer led though..
 

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
FD, commercial growing lamps are just about to turn a corner. Some new lamps will be featuring COBs which significantly improve efficiency and can lower cost. So far we have seen 2 that claim to use quality parts from Cree and Bridgelux. @hyroot just got one with Cree CXAs from Amare and I have one on the way from Optic lighting that claims to have Vero 29s. With all due respect to the straight shooters, commercial LED lamps are guilty until proven innocent, but they were cool enough to send me a sample so we will soon find out. A few more COB lamps should be coming out in the next few weeks so for now I would advise to hang tight, unless you are considering building your own.
 
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DutchHaze

Well-Known Member
You shouldn't need to cut any holes in your roof if you go to LED. I could suggest a cheaper LED panel but I will be shouted down from the rafters. Check out my grow journal and see if that's something that would satisfy you.

I aslo read somewhere that you don't want to veg under t5 then switch to LED. I don't know the science but I think it's not great for the plant, but there's more experienced people here who could confirm or deny that. Good luck
 

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
FD, commercial growing lamps are just about to turn a corner. Some new lamps will be featuring COBs which significantly improve efficiency and can lower cost. So far we have seen 2 that claim to use quality parts from Cree and Bridgelux. @hyroot just got one with Cree CXAs from Amare and I have one on the way from Optic lighting that claims to have Vero 29s. With all due respect to the straight shooters, commercial LED lamps are guilty until proven innocent, but they were cool enough to send me a sample so we will soon find out. A few more COB lamps should be coming out in the next few weeks so for now I would advise to hang tight, unless you are considering building your own.
Alright I'll just wait a few weeks then. I'll build my wallet up in the mean time ;)
 

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Ya you can veg under amazingly low wattage with LED. I use ~110W of LED veg for a pair of 650W LED flower rooms. If I am not careful the 110W veg can get ahead of the flowering room.s LED vegging is a very good way to save Watts especially because they are on 18-24 hours a day.
 
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Donktastic

Active Member
I just started my second run with this LED.

http://www.topledgrowlight.com/mars-ii-1600w-led-grow-light.html#.VJIgdCvF-Ok

Im really impressed with the first run. Its claimed as a 1000w replacement but really its more like a 600w and pulls 750watts, also my 5x5 tent is just a little to big for it, 4x4 would probably be perfect. I found that everything directly under the lamp does great but the drop off after that is much greater than an hps, I think thats pretty consistent with LED's though.
 

OutofLEDCloset

Well-Known Member
Have the xgs too! Love it. Wish it was bigger. Thats what the wife says. :bigjoint:

Theres tons of information on here. Supra is great place to start. Know his stuff and can build it too.
 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
I just started my second run with this LED.

http://www.topledgrowlight.com/mars-ii-1600w-led-grow-light.html#.VJIgdCvF-Ok

Im really impressed with the first run. Its claimed as a 1000w replacement but really its more like a 600w and pulls 750watts, also my 5x5 tent is just a little to big for it, 4x4 would probably be perfect. I found that everything directly under the lamp does great but the drop off after that is much greater than an hps, I think thats pretty consistent with LED's though.
^^^^How the hell is it cheaper to ship to the US than Japan from China???, basically can throw rocks at each other.........oh wait, that's right, the Japanese hate POS quality productsbongsmilie
 
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captainmorgan

Well-Known Member
Anyone wanna throw up a link of a decent cheap veg led?
If your in the USA you could grab some 5000k Cree bulbs from home depot as a temporary solution until you decide on a panel then just use the Crees around the house when you get the panel you want. Area 51 has a W100 and the XGS with 3750k and veg great unless your looking for very tight nodes,the W has a 50 and 100 watt setting and the XGS has a 100 and 195 watt setting. Your most efficient route would be some DIY CXA 3070 COB's on a dimmable driver.
 

stardustsailor

Well-Known Member
If your in the USA you could grab some 5000k Cree bulbs from home depot as a temporary solution until you decide on a panel then just use the Crees around the house when you get the panel you want. Area 51 has a W100 and the XGS with 3750k and veg great unless your looking for very tight nodes,the W has a 50 and 100 watt setting and the XGS has a 100 and 195 watt setting. Your most efficient route would be some DIY CXA 3070 COB's on a dimmable driver.
If your in the Zhongshan ,you could just go shopping on neighbour's local open market ...
:P....





Chinese Vendor Sells LEDs at Unbelievable Low Price

China’s low LED prices have taken on a whole new definition in Zhongshan City located in Guangdong Province, where bulbs are being sold in a similar way to vegetables on the market, according to an Alighting.cn report.

In Zhongshan LED bulbs are being sold at 10 Chinese Yuan (US $1.61) per kilogram.



LED bulbs being sold similar to vegetables in the market by a Zhongshan LED manufacturer in China. (All photos courtesy of Alighting.cn)


“LED bulbs here cost less than 1 Chinese Yuan, and even lower than 68 cents,” a vendor called out. “We’re selling bulbs 10 Chinese Yuan per kilo. Come take a look!”

Bulbs being sold in a similar manner as dairy products in a traditional market, since when were LED bulbs being sold this way? Is this a new marketing strategy? Or just a show?


The Zhongshan vendor calls out to potential buyers.

This is the scenario of a LED manufacturer in Zhongshan, who has decided to sell all their products in the inventory cheaply as a last resort to payback suppliers, said industry insiders. Towards the end of the year, suppliers are urging manufacturers to pay up, while employees are waiting for their salaries. Some manufacturers have declared bankruptcy as they find it increasingly difficult to survive with their low product sales, and easing market demands. However, this is the first company to sell products cheaply.


“This is darkness before sunrise,” said Zhengzhe Wu, former General Manager of Everlight China.Manufacturers that survive are still those that rely on manufacturing, and in general products costs will be further lowered, have higher efficiency and are easier to assemble. The future platform will have to utilize Internet network advantages to establish a platform that can select or eliminate competitors to further advance the industry. Cooperation and integration will be the basis for innovation, since the platform will not belong to an exclusive manufacturer or industry. Manufacturers will need to be able to lower costs, maintain growth rates to maintain a competitive edge. This has allowed participants to surpass competitors that are outside of the platform and clear out the market.

........

Banging a cookware pan with a LED bulb ,like a drum !

Ahhh,the way of the dragon ...
Same strategy ,for some thousands of years ...


Cheers.
8-)
 

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Nice, updated pricing and info. Looks like they slightly reduced the power on the bloom lamp. $2.09/dissipation W or $7/PAR W.
 
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