Help picking an LED flower light to replace my 1000w HPS. (On a budget.)

Hello all,
Long time grower here with much to learn. I've recently decided to start back growing after a 5 year hiatus. One of the deals I made with the wife is that I would try to use less electricity than in the past. I was running 2 1000w hps lights in a 4x8 space and had to run an air conditioner to keep it cool. As you probably know that was making for a pretty high bill every month.

I was thinking if I could upgrade my flower light to an LED maybe I wont have to run the AC. I've been reading and doing lots of research and to be honest the more I learn the dumber I feel. WoW, the new technology that has come to the market over the last 5 years is mind blowing.

Any ways ... I'm disabled and living on a fixed income so I cant really spend to much on a light. I have around $600 in my budget for a good flower light to cover a 4x4 space in the flower room. Is it even possible to find a light for that price capable of replacing a 1000w hps?

I've been looking at the Spider Farmer 4000, but I've read good and bad about it. It's in my budget but I'm not convinced that its enough light for the type of flowers I'm used to. Any one have experience with this light? Please chime in.

Well that's it. I have my veg room all set up and seedlings going. Have about a month before I will have to decide. Please, any and all opinions and recommendations are welcome. Thank you!
Max

I personally have one and LOVE it. It is awesome and will be plenty of light for a 4x4. Shouldn't need an AC either. Just depends on the ambient temp.

Hi Max, although I don't grow with LEDs there are many here who do who would love to help out.

For your budget of $600 I'd say you would get a real nice flowering light but DIY would be your best bet.

LED strips are very cheap now and you could really light up a 4x4 with $600.

Good luck pal

Going to be plenty of suggestions by morning...

For a 4x4 you only need 480W of quality led.

The cheapest decent plug and play option is either a strip or board light from China via Alibaba. Meiju seems to be a popular choice. Lots of people use those here and can tell you the pros and cons.

HLG is the US brand that many of us are fan boys of, me included. Great customer service and warranty.

The cheapest bang for your buck is if you can do basic DIY electrical stuff or are willing to try (its really simple, plenty of video and we will hold your hand if you get stuck).

HLG has some good DIY kits, or you could do a strip build and source everything from scratch. Strips are the most time intensive but probably the best solution for even coverage. Plus they are the most fun to build

0vergrown420 said:

HLG 550 V2 ECO

Our HLG550 V2 ECO Indoor Horticulture LED grow light is designed to replace a single-ended 1000watt HID. ECO Model of HLG 550 offers highest output and efficiency for your money. 3000K Spectrum recommended for flowering and 4000K recommended for Veg. Samsung LM301H LED

horticulturelightinggroup.com

I personally have one and LOVE it. It is awesome and will be plenty of light for a 4x4. Shouldn't need an AC either. Just depends on the ambient temp.

Click to expand...

Also remember there is a 10% discount for RIU members so the price comes in below your budget. Very good for a quality plug and play.

Not sure about the discount code but someone here will post it up when they read this post hopefully.

You'll end up with so many options it will get you even more confused!

KK26 said:

Not sure about the discount code but someone here will post it up when they read this post hopefully.

Click to expand...

RIU10

KK26 said:

Also remember there is a 10% discount for RIU members so the price comes in below your budget. Very good for a quality plug and play.

Not sure about the discount code but someone here will post it up when they read this post hopefully.

You'll end up with so many options it will get you even more confused!

Click to expand...

Wish I would've know about that discount when I ordered mine lol

Hi Max here is another choice in LED's I have 5 they are less then $100 each I have 2 in flower and 3 I Veg with, like il said you'll have plenty of options this morning. I'll send you 3 picks one I have in flower now and 4 I have in Veg plus the info. I say 4 but because I sold the one in the left front to a friend...

.

DIY is a great idea, but you might be cutting it a bit short as it usually takes more time than a month to do it all, especially sourcing parts.
however, if you wanted its really only a matter of getting say eight china boards, from meijiu or kingbrite; about 240 dollars plus shipping and tax, some cut alu sheet and 2x 240 drivers, another 150 dollars or so, and all you need for tools is a drill. You would score a light with better spread and twice the amount of diodes as the HLG, running cooler and for less.

0vergrown420 said:

HLG 550 V2 ECO

Our HLG550 V2 ECO Indoor Horticulture LED grow light is designed to replace a single-ended 1000watt HID. ECO Model of HLG 550 offers highest output and efficiency for your money. 3000K Spectrum recommended for flowering and 4000K recommended for Veg. Samsung LM301H LED

horticulturelightinggroup.com

I personally have one and LOVE it. It is awesome and will be plenty of light for a 4x4. Shouldn't need an AC either. Just depends on the ambient temp.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your response! Checked it all out...with the discount it would be $599 shipped. What kind of flowers will this light produce?

KK26 said:

Hi Max, although I don't grow with LEDs there are many here who do who would love to help out.

For your budget of $600 I'd say you would get a real nice flowering light but DIY would be your best bet.

LED strips are very cheap now and you could really light up a 4x4 with $600.

Good luck pal

Click to expand...

DIY huh? IDK I was thinking plug and play to start and as I learn maybe putting something together... thank you for the suggestion!

ilovereggae said:

Going to be plenty of suggestions by morning...

For a 4x4 you only need 480W of quality led.

The cheapest decent plug and play option is either a strip or board light from China via Alibaba. Meiju seems to be a popular choice. Lots of people use those here and can tell you the pros and cons.

HLG is the US brand that many of us are fan boys of, me included. Great customer service and warranty.

The cheapest bang for your buck is if you can do basic DIY electrical stuff or are willing to try (its really simple, plenty of video and we will hold your hand if you get stuck).

HLG has some good DIY kits, or you could do a strip build and source everything from scratch. Strips are the most time intensive but probably the best solution for even coverage. Plus they are the most fun to build

Click to expand...

Now this I could get on board with. I just don't know if I have the time or the fore thought to pull it off... I love the fact that there are so many here willing to help! DIY is for sure going to the top of my list... thanks for the response.

KK26 said:

Also remember there is a 10% discount for RIU members so the price comes in below your budget. Very good for a quality plug and play.

Not sure about the discount code but someone here will post it up when they read this post hopefully.

You'll end up with so many options it will get you even more confused!

Click to expand...

Thank you again! Possibly saved me $70.

ilovereggae said:

RIU10

Click to expand...

It works. Thank you.

Romeo7701 said:

Hi Max here is another choice in LED's I have 5 they are less then $100 each I have 2 in flower and 3 I Veg with, like il said you'll have plenty of options this morning. I'll send you 3 picks one I have in flower now and 4 I have in Veg plus the info. I say 4 but because I sold the one in the left front to a friend...

.View attachment 4734341View attachment 4734343View attachment 4734344View attachment 4734345

Click to expand...

IDK if these lights can produce the colas I'm accustomed to. I had my 1000watters on light movers and could get pretty close to the canopy...making for some dense, potent flowers. That's what I need. What kind of flowers do these lights produce?

Rocket Soul said:

DIY is a great idea, but you might be cutting it a bit short as it usually takes more time than a month to do it all, especially sourcing parts.
however, if you wanted its really only a matter of getting say eight china boards, from meijiu or kingbrite; about 240 dollars plus shipping and tax, some cut alu sheet and 2x 240 drivers, another 150 dollars or so, and all you need for tools is a drill. You would score a light with better spread and twice the amount of diodes as the HLG, running cooler and for less.

Click to expand...

For sure something to consider...the plot thickens and I'm even more confused...lol

Max Ehrmann said:

IDK if these lights can produce the colas I'm accustomed to. I had my 1000watters on light movers and could get pretty close to the canopy...making for some dense, potent flowers. That's what I need. What kind of flowers do these lights produce?

Click to expand...

You've been growing long enough to know that depends on more then just the light all conditions have to be real good to get the best you can get... Here's a pic of my last White widow I harvested 3 weeks ago, she was lollypoped and trimmed heavy 3 Weeks before flower temps kept at 76 to 78 f, humidity at 56 and fed with 10/30/20 started at 12/12 on flip the last 2 weeks went to 10 on 14 off. She did good IMO...

Max Ehrmann said:

Hello all,
Long time grower here with much to learn. I've recently decided to start back growing after a 5 year hiatus. One of the deals I made with the wife is that I would try to use less electricity than in the past. I was running 2 1000w hps lights in a 4x8 space and had to run an air conditioner to keep it cool. As you probably know that was making for a pretty high bill every month.

I was thinking if I could upgrade my flower light to an LED maybe I wont have to run the AC. I've been reading and doing lots of research and to be honest the more I learn the dumber I feel. WoW, the new technology that has come to the market over the last 5 years is mind blowing.

Any ways ... I'm disabled and living on a fixed income so I cant really spend to much on a light. I have around $600 in my budget for a good flower light to cover a 4x4 space in the flower room. Is it even possible to find a light for that price capable of replacing a 1000w hps?

I've been looking at the Spider Farmer 4000, but I've read good and bad about it. It's in my budget but I'm not convinced that its enough light for the type of flowers I'm used to. Any one have experience with this light? Please chime in.

Well that's it. I have my veg room all set up and seedlings going. Have about a month before I will have to decide. Please, any and all opinions and recommendations are welcome. Thank you!
Max

Click to expand...

MJ-650. Meijiu from Alibaba. Fills a 4 x 4 PERFECT. Approx $650 usd delivered.

Best option available for a 4 x 4 at the moment for the price point.

I wouldn't think twice about buying them again. Anyone who recommends those little 240 watt boards is doing you a disservice. Way better options available now. (I run 2 x 240 watt bava boards in a 4 x 4 as well as a MJ-650 in a 4x4... want to buy two 240 watt bava boards?)

Romeo7701 said:

You've been growing long enough to know that depends on more then just the light all conditions have to be real good to get the best you can get... Here's a pic of my last White widow I harvested 3 weeks ago, she was lollypoped and trimmed heavy 3 Weeks before flower temps kept at 76 to 78 f, humidity at 56 and fed with 10/30/20 started at 12/12 on flip the last 2 weeks went to 10 on 14 off. She did good IMO...View attachment 4734383

Click to expand...

Yes that is a pretty flower! And you are right without knowing at least the basics you can have all the light in the world and not be able to produce such a specimen. Thank you!

DrKiz said:

MJ-650. Meijiu from Alibaba. Fills a 4 x 4 PERFECT. Approx $650 usd delivered.

Best option available for a 4 x 4 at the moment for the price point.

I wouldn't think twice about buying them again. Anyone who recommends those little 240 watt boards is doing you a disservice. Way better options available now. (I run 2 x 240 watt bava boards in a 4 x 4 as well as a MJ-650 in a 4x4... want to buy two 240 watt bava boards?)

Click to expand...

IS this the light?( Led Grow Light Meijiu 650W Full Spectrum ETL Samsung Lm301h Osram660 Grow Light 8 Bars, High Luminous 3.0 Grow Light Led Strip ) If so I like it and all but after checking it out its like $831 shipped. Ahhh my wife will kill me...lol.