In The Market for full spectrum L.E.D. or CMH.

Been in the hobby for about 5 years. Always had a digital ballast (iPower 1000, Apollo 600) Ushio, Hortilux Bulbs; along with 4-4ft T5 for early Veg. But I'm in need of an Upgrade and have been super impressed with Top Shelf Full Spectrum L.E.D.'s as well as the new Ceramic Metal Halide's.

i.e.
Electric Sky s300
https://thegreensunshineco.com/product/electric-sky-es300-grow-light/ $695

Unit Farm Water-Proof IP 65 Cree
https://www.unitfarm.com/led-grow-light/unit-farm-water-proof-ip-65-cree-osram-chips-meanwell-driver-grow-bar-for-sale $387 maybe get 2?

Main Grow Space: 4.5 x 4.5 x 8 . (Intake Fans and Exhaust fans with Carbon Filter.)

Extra Tent: 2ft x 4ft x 7ft

I also like what CMH's do. Low Wattage, Full Spectrum Bulbs, love it.

Just confused as to what to get ?

is One Electric Sky better than 2 Unit Farm Bars? Should i go with 1 bar and a couple of Ceramic Halides from Yield Lab?

https://growace.com/yield-lab-professional-series-120-220v-630w-dual-bulb-cmh-open-wing-complete-grow-light-kit.html

Im pretty indecisive as to what to upgrade to. I pretty much want the same coverage of 1,000 watts with les wattage consumption and something flexible to move in and out from main grow room to Tent.

Also, ive heard some good things from Blurple L.E.D's but I'm not %100 trustworthy of a lot of Chinese products out there.

I heard MEIZHI is a top contender in the low shelf L.E.D's along with Viparspectra. UGH! So many Choices!!!

https://www.amazon.com/MEIZHI-Reflector-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Switches/dp/B01J19AGRM


My budget caps off at $700.

Thank you all in advance for your input.

- SAM.

Also ... QUANTUM BOARDS! this one sparked my interest.

https://growerslights.com/products/horticulture-lighting-group-320-watt-xl-quantum-board-led-kit

maybe pair that up with a CMH?

but then ... the boards may not be full spectrum. May need one for Veg and another for Flower??!!

MongolianMonkeyNuts said:

Also ... QUANTUM BOARDS! this one sparked my interest.

https://growerslights.com/products/horticulture-lighting-group-320-watt-xl-quantum-board-led-kit

maybe pair that up with a CMH?

but then ... the boards may not be full spectrum. May need one for Veg and another for Flower??!!

Click to expand...

I like HLGs products because I own them and use them and have seen the results.
There are things I don't like about electric sky, they seem to use the concept of confusion to sell their lights and justify their price.
I don't know enough about unit farms lights to criticize or praise them.

If you want to mix lighting you may be better with 315cmh and a couple of HLG260xl kits either side for a good spread and blend of light.

Also check out timbergrowlights and chilLED.

Stay away from cheap LEDs, you will end up needing as much wattage as you had with HPS.

The LED section is defo a better place to see what folks are growing with and get advice.
Just don't rush into buying anything. Take your time to research and find folks using the lights you are interested in.

I have no valid opinion on the latest LED's, but I'm lovin my CMH's

My buddy uses blackdog leds and swears by them, he’s pretty secretive about his yields but I’ve snuck a peek at his flower tent and WOW it was nice.

Shit!!! I just looked at there website. Crazy expensive!

MongolianMonkeyNuts said:

the boards may not be full spectrum

Click to expand...

Lights flying the "full spectrum" banner, are quite often farther from actually being full spectrum, than any white LED source.....

A 630 De cmh is probably your cheapest option, but I'd also say @coreywebster has good suggestions as well.

Here are Some alternatives.

- Pre build unit

https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/all/products/refurbished-hlg-550-v1

- Kit, minimal assembly required. Likely what I'd grab if I was going to use that budget.

https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/kits/products/hlg-600h-kit-with-slate-5

Or run 6-700 watts of Samsung strips and kill a 1khps.

coreywebster said:

Stay away from cheap LEDs, you will end up needing as much wattage as you had with HPS.

The LED section is defo a better place to see what folks are growing with and get advice.

Just don't rush into buying anything. Take your time to research and find folks using the lights you are interested in.

Click to expand...

Amen. Good LED costs more up front but saves electricity, especially if it reduces the need for air-conditioning. If you need the heat, cmh/hps are probably better.

https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/products/refurbished-hlg-550-v1

HLG550 for $599, thats where my money would go

Guys, thank you so much for the input. Sorry i'm a little late, but i really do appreciate it.

coreywebster said:

I like HLGs products because I own them and use them and have seen the results.
There are things I don't like about electric sky, they seem to use the concept of confusion to sell their lights and justify their price.
I don't know enough about unit farms lights to criticize or praise them.

If you want to mix lighting you may be better with 315cmh and a couple of HLG260xl kits either side for a good spread and blend of light.

Also check out timbergrowlights and chilLED.

Stay away from cheap LEDs, you will end up needing as much wattage as you had with HPS.

The LED section is defo a better place to see what folks are growing with and get advice.
Just don't rush into buying anything. Take your time to research and find folks using the lights you are interested in.

Click to expand...

Since i last posted on here, I kind of made up my mind on getting the HLG 320 XL. That way I can experiment on it with s Scrog in a 2x4.



https://www.ledgrowlightsdepot.com/collections/led-grow-lights/products/horticulture-lighting-group-320-watt-quantum-board-3000k-diy-led-grow-light-kit



But then i was informed that i can D.i.Y an HLG ELITE 360 for half the Price: 2 qb96elite and one HLG-320H-54a for about $350. qb96elite engines are $100 each and the driver is $87. Thats like 290 rounded up, other materials= 350ish. However still kind of confused on how i will rig the two engines and driver.



Soil2Coco informed me about it on this other forum. He has some pretty cool rigs.

https://forum.grasscity.com/threads/in-the-market-for-full-spectrum-l-e-d-or-cmh.1529137/

Hugo Phurst said:

I have no valid opinion on the latest LED's, but I'm lovin my CMH's

Click to expand...

Yesterday I visited my grow shop to buy some Ona Gel and asked their opinion on this matter. They really didn't know much on these New LED's and told me to keep away from them. However, they did inform me on EYEHORTILUX new Ceramic HPS 600 bulb and i was blown away on its Red Spectrum Scale.

https://eyehortilux.com/grow-lights/super-hps/

Ive been growing with the Super HPS 1000 and love the Results, but i was somewhat disappointed when i saw its Spectrum Graph.

https://eyehortilux.com/grow-lights/super-hps/

I compared it to the HLG Spectrum and the LED pretty much has the SUPER HPS beat.

I would love the Ceramic HPS but the bulbs are 150 and they only Run on Hortilux Ballast. CHa - Chiiiing $$$$.

So Now, Im still stumped on whether to go with Es 300 or HLG.

I found this site that explains the uniqueness of the ES 300 and the Emerson Effect.

https://moldresistantstrains.com/are-these-not-so-cheap-led-grow-lights-even-worth-the-price/


However, its still $660-700.

But ... LED Grow lights Depot lets me try it out for 90 day money back guarantee.

So tempted ... UGH!

If you can diy an hlg elite id go that route, it has far red aswell. Get in touch with hlg, they are happy to help people diy build. The grand master level show is every Friday on youtube/zoom and the hlg crew is there to answer questions/give advice. Check it out they give away free lights every month.

Either one is going to be an upgrade. The CMH has better spectrum. The LED has better efficacy. It's a give and take. From everything I've seen over the years they are pretty much equal in terms of yield. LED is probably cooler for the same results.

CaptainT said:

If you can diy an hlg elite id go that route, it has far red aswell. Get in touch with hlg, they are happy to help people diy build. The grand master level show is every Friday on youtube/zoom and the hlg crew is there to answer questions/give advice. Check it out they give away free lights every month.

Click to expand...

dude... thank you !!!

MongolianMonkeyNuts said:

Yesterday I visited my grow shop to buy some Ona Gel and asked their opinion on this matter. They really didn't know much on these New LED's and told me to keep away from them. However, they did inform me on EYEHORTILUX new Ceramic HPS 600 bulb and i was blown away on its Red Spectrum Scale.

https://eyehortilux.com/grow-lights/super-hps/

Ive been growing with the Super HPS 1000 and love the Results, but i was somewhat disappointed when i saw its Spectrum Graph.

https://eyehortilux.com/grow-lights/super-hps/

I compared it to the HLG Spectrum and the LED pretty much has the SUPER HPS beat.

I would love the Ceramic HPS but the bulbs are 150 and they only Run on Hortilux Ballast. CHa - Chiiiing $$$$.

Click to expand...

He told you to stay away from it bc hes a salesman. He wants to sell you a light. The new leds that are out now. Will out perform a chps. PERIOD. They will out yield watt for watt, better trich production and if done right take a few days off your flower cycle. Oh and it cost less to run.

Edit: I run 660+ watts of leds. It will absolutely crush 600 chps. And out yield a 1k hps.

Choices choices!! Like a kid in a candy shop, which way to turn..

The page you linked about the "uniqueness of the ES 300" is an amazon traffic generating website, there job it to direct you to an amazon product and spend coin.
That's just how the internet works these days, One thing they say is that the ES300 is the most popular LED light in the USA this year, I find that hard to believe since im pretty sure I would of seen someone using them on any forum , anyway that's irrelevant as like I say its just an amazon traffic generating website.
Its hard to find anything genuine about a product these days thanks to pages like that and unscrupulous youtubers.