Dorm Grow's G8 900 Watt

dougeyy

Active Member
Hi all, I was going to start a new project with a 3x3 grow tent and was wondering if a 900 Watt Led from G8 is too much for the small area? Should I opt for the 450 Watt and add in 2 of the UFO's? Any help is appreciated.
 

puffenuff

Well-Known Member
The 900w G8 should be fine at about 540 true watts. I would imagine if it were me and I went with the next model down, i'd eventually want/need more power in the 3x3. On the other hand, if you go with a smaller one first, then you can decide if you like it enough to by another dorm grow, or maybe try out a different light from another company.
 

HrilL

Active Member
From what I have found from using G8 lights is that even the listed actual power draw of the lights is lower than they claim. I have every model from 240 watt to 600 watt except for the bloom spectrum ones. The 240 watt draw about 125 watts max, the 450 watt draws about 230 watts, the 600 watt draws about 340 watts. Basically you can expect about half the actual draw of the model wattage. As for getting a smaller light and adding the 90 watt UFOs. I have two of those they use 1watt LEDs and don't penetrate very well. plus you won't get even coverage with those added. I still use mine but my flowering space also has two 450 watt models and UVb 4' T5s over a 4.5x4.5. Probably a little over kill but we'll see. I had pretty good results with just my 600 watt over a 4x4 my second run I got about 350 grams but that was with the two all RED 90 watt leds added. While I have been happy with my lights so far I had to get to a real understanding of what I was actually working with. Dormgrow doesn't have PAR charts for their lights though I have asked them a few times. I'd make some but I don't have $360 for a meter that I wouldn't use more than a few times. Wish their was a local place that rented them.

For a 3x3 the 900watt would probably work just fine. I don't have one but if I had to guess at actual power draw based on my findings of their other models it will probably pull about ~480 watts. It should be more than enough to have a decent par reading over a 3x3 9sqft. I Just got a new 3x3 for more veg space and only have two 240 watt models in there and that seems like plenty of light since they're growing pretty damn fast still. Though for flowering I'd want more wattage. If you're welling to spend that much why not go with two of the new Area 51 190 watt lights. You'd get more even coverage and a better warranty plus save on some power with more efficient LED tech. Only downside is waiting until after january 14th for them to ship.
 

dougeyy

Active Member
Thanks for the informative post HrilL. I'm going with the G8 LED's because they also come with the infared and uv spectrum. Thanks.
 

Eraserhead

Well-Known Member
UV and IR most certainly does exist in LEDs...

Ledengin, Sibdi, Semi, Heliopto and many others makes UV.

Ledengin, Epistar, Optotech and Heliopto makes IR, others do to, just none I can remember off hand...

As far as UV and IR existing in a "Dorm Grow" lamp? Y'all judge for yourself:

I bought one just to see what it's all about. Not a terrible spectrum, just no "UV-B" like they claim, and if you consider 700-715nm IR, then, well, yes they do have it.



If I were the OP, for the money I planned on spending on their "900w", I'd check into an Apache Tech or 4x Han's panels. Either route, you'll get tons more for your money. better warranty too.
 

The Dawg

Well-Known Member
UV and IR does not exist in the LED world, yet
Hold On Brother I Have An Area-51 2011 Panel That Has IR.As Far As The UV Is Concerned They Do Exist However The Price VS Effecienty Is Not Their Yet.Guess What My Brother My A-135 Also Has IR And I Just Snaped A Pic.The IR Led Is The 1 That Doesnt Looked Lite But It Is.:peace:

IR 001 (533x800).jpg
 

Scotch089

Well-Known Member
lol thats what I get for trying to make a quick point... Well, UV and IR are out of range for the cheap ass chinese companies like Blackstar, Dormgrow, Hydroponics Hut, what ever they are called this week. Glad A51 was using IR at one point or another- but I hardly believe UV led's are ready to be thrown into panels.. (especially of that pedigree) and if they are, what is the panel going to cost? Frankly those "get-rich-quick" companies don't give a fuck about your results or truth, they just need you to believe them till you get off the phone.

Look into other company OP, look at all your options- or start a journal and show us all something.
 

HrilL

Active Member
Looks like Dormgrow did change their site to say UV-B but it used to say UV-A which I think was more correct. As for any UV-B LEDs the most powerful ones I could find in 300-320nm were only 180mw max and thus pretty much worthless. Their prices have also gone up quite a bit from when I got them. I think the warranty used to be 3 years too. Must be making good sales to raise the price on everything though. They're definitely not the best LEDs out there but they'll grow plants decently. I've used them for a while and am happy with my results. If buying today I'd probably go with Apache, Area-51 or build one myself.
 

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
wondering if a 900 Watt Led from G8 is too much for the small area? Should I opt for the 450 Watt and add in 2 of the UFO's? Any help is appreciated.
Regarding the dorm grow 900, it claims to draw 550W so its LEds are dissipating about 460W. It is called a 900 to make it sound like a better deal.

As far as I know, UVB LEDs are still very expensive, and I would consider them very dangerous to your eyes and the DNA in your skin. UVA on the other hand are readily available and cheap, but they are very inefficient and a waste of wattage in a growing lamp IMO. Because of this, some lamps (solar flare) use UVB fluorescent bulbs, which are also very inefficient and suffer from lumen depreciation. Sorry to be so negative!
 

stardustsailor

Well-Known Member
As far as I know, UVB LEDs are still very expensive, and I would consider them very dangerous to your eyes and the DNA in your skin. UVA on the other hand are readily available and cheap, but they are very inefficient and a waste of wattage in a growing lamp IMO. Because of this, some lamps (solar flare) use UVB fluorescent bulbs, which are also very inefficient and suffer from lumen depreciation.



Regarding the dorm grow 900, it claims to draw 550W so its LEds are dissipating about 460W. It is called a 900 to make it sound like a better deal. Sorry to be so negative!
Maybe the time has come ,that RIU should consider splitting the Led Section into two sub-sections ...

Commercial led fixture section ,where everybody can be left in their peace ,to talk about
how their $300 240 watts ,3Watt 8mm diode(BIN: xxx-??? ) led light ,
grows better than a 1000Watt Hid ! o_O

And then the rest of us ,poor DIYers can have our own -peaceful- section ,to try to figure out
how on earth we 'll deal with all those obstacles in the way ,
trying to make our lights at least grow as efficient as a 400 Watt HPS .>:(
 
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SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Ya I hope that RIU is helping the LED grow lamp companies that are up front and honest make money, and those that thrive on overstating their capabilities lose money. Over time that is helping to make even better lamps available to growers and we are paying about the same/W for high quality lamps.
 

Oddjob

Well-Known Member
Ya I hope that RIU is helping the LED grow lamp companies that are up front and honest make money, and those that thrive on overstating their capabilities lose money. Over time that is helping to make even better lamps available to growers and we are paying about the same/W for high quality lamps.
Agreed. This finally represents the time where the legit LED companies leave the wannabees in the dust. Results have displaced hype once and for all, LED technology is here to stay.
 

stardustsailor

Well-Known Member
UV and IR most certainly does exist in LEDs...

Ledengin, Sibdi, Semi, Heliopto and many others makes UV.

Ledengin, Epistar, Optotech and Heliopto makes IR, others do to, just none I can remember off hand...

As far as UV and IR existing in a "Dorm Grow" lamp? Y'all judge for yourself:

I bought one just to see what it's all about. Not a terrible spectrum, just no "UV-B" like they claim, and if you consider 700-715nm IR, then, well, yes they do have it.



If I were the OP, for the money I planned on spending on their "900w", I'd check into an Apache Tech or 4x Han's panels. Either route, you'll get tons more for your money. better warranty too.

I do not see any UVA ,here ...
What actually I'm seeing is a really fine spectrum for frying both photosystems ,
-if used in high irradiances - in less than 6 hours time ...
 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
Maybe the time has come ,that RIU should consider splitting the Led Section into two sub-sections ...

Commercial led fixture section ,where everybody can be left in their peace ,to talk about
how their $300 240 watts ,3Watt 8mm diode(BIN: xxx-??? ) led light ,
grows better than a 1000Watt Hid ! o_O

And then the rest of us ,poor DIYers can have our own -peaceful- section ,to try to figure out
how on earth we 'll deal with all those obstacles in the way ,
trying to make our lights at least grow as efficient as a 400 Watt HPS .>:(
Yeah.............sure........lets put up a Berlin wall in the led section!:wall: My head hurts trying to get to the other side....lol.......seriously though, most of us get along in here

I got first dibs on the "west" if it we get divided:mrgreen:
 
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