speedyganga
Well-Known Member
Overall a nice explanation, I set on this.
Cheers
Cheers
What's the Skinny with Epistar LEDs???
- Thread starter Jonny Fly
- Start date
GrowinWeedEazy
Member
Im using epistar right now and my plants are entering week 2 flower, so far they are happy. I have another grow going with samsung leds. I could let you know which performs best in a month. I can say this. The epistar running at 300 watts is running pretty hot. My samsung bulbs at 120 w isn't even needing a fan in the 2x2 closet. Something to consider ...
greg nr
Well-Known Member
Before you even begin to talk about the epistar led's, learn about drivers.
The non-led components these "discount" light manufacturers use are the cheapest they can get away with, and their designs compound your problems.
So why does 1kw worth of LED's pull only 300 watts at the wall? It's the drivers. They are likely using very inexpensive, low capacity constant current drivers. There is a difference between a $100 meanwell driver and a $12 no-name/label driver.
So if they only use drivers capable of 300 watts, that is all you see drawn at the wall. They essentially de-rate the led's.
They also use very thin heat sinks, which leads to severe thermal issues. That is the primary reason so many mars like lights have burned out epistars on them.
So in this case, you get what you pay for at the package level.. But it isn't all the LED's fault (although the epistars are 10 year old tech).
The non-led components these "discount" light manufacturers use are the cheapest they can get away with, and their designs compound your problems.
So why does 1kw worth of LED's pull only 300 watts at the wall? It's the drivers. They are likely using very inexpensive, low capacity constant current drivers. There is a difference between a $100 meanwell driver and a $12 no-name/label driver.
So if they only use drivers capable of 300 watts, that is all you see drawn at the wall. They essentially de-rate the led's.
They also use very thin heat sinks, which leads to severe thermal issues. That is the primary reason so many mars like lights have burned out epistars on them.
So in this case, you get what you pay for at the package level.. But it isn't all the LED's fault (although the epistars are 10 year old tech).
6 year old zombie thread. Do ya think we haven't known for years?
OLD MOTHER SATIVA
Well-Known Member
"So why does 1kw worth of LED's pull only 300 watts at the wall? It's the drivers. They are likely using very inexpensive, low capacity constant current drivers. There is a difference between a $100 meanwell driver and a $12 no-name/label driver. "
>no..its because one uses a 300w driver..period then extrapolate that the diodes could go to "11" [1000w]
>no..its because one uses a 300w driver..period then extrapolate that the diodes could go to "11" [1000w]