LED heat output comapred to T5 fixtures? 200w of LED vs 8 bulb T5 (435w)...

Still contemplating/researching whether I want to order 2x SolarFlare 200's to replace a T5 8 bulb 4' fixture.

Heat is one of the driving factors... the T5 fixture is currently manageable... but I had 2 fixutres and can only run 1 due to heat. Leading me to wonder if I can get the same effective PAR/wattage of 2 of my 8 bulb fixtures packed into the footprint I have but going with LED to make the heat management possible...

Would 2x SolarFlare's run cooler than a 8 bulb T5 (BadBoy fixtures) maybe going to 3 flares long-term...

I also think I've heard that I shouldn't be thinking about watt for watt equivalency... i.e. I don't need 435w of LED to replace 435w of T5... is that the case? I don't want to reduce my effective light level but rather I'm looking to increase while lowering temps... if at all possible...

You should look into T8led tubes. They putout the same amount of light(in µmols) as a T5, but only run 18w-22w/tube. I speak about only the white one, not any specific red or blue or even grow. The whites are a cool white so they are mostly for vegging. They are way cooler than T5's(not that t5's are hot). There are even a few flowering grows going on under different ones right now.

I measured a 6 tube led fixture putting out 570µmols@~6" pulling 106w and also a 6 bulb T5 it did 611µmol@~6" pulling~340w. That is pretty close considering it's using 1/3 the power to do it.

Solar flares seem good, and many seem to use them for veg. But I would see if the tubes would fit your needs first. 4ft tubes make covering an area easier and evenly.

About how much per tube and any good sources you recommend? Also do you have to mod the fixtures (i.e. bypass the existing ballasts and give direct A/C?)...

I also looked at a DIY LED site to compare what it would cost to mimic a SolarFlare with 20 x 5w and I was unsure on driver arrangements so I went with 2 Meanwells for the XP-G's and added a heat-sink/fan pre-drilled/etc... $279 in cart without shipping or anything I'm missing... So maybe DIY isn't so cost effective here after all...

RapidLED was where I was looking... I haven't done my homework to find the best sources for DIY grow lights/kits...

Pet flora is probably the most knowledgeable on all the brands of tubes. He can find the best price but about $30-$40/tube is pretty good.

You do have to bypass the ballast so if that matters.

I also looked at a DIY LED site to compare what it would cost to mimic a SolarFlare with 20 x 5w and I was unsure on driver arrangements so I went with 2 Meanwells for the XP-G's and added a heat-sink/fan pre-drilled/etc... $279 in cart without shipping or anything I'm missing... So maybe DIY isn't so cost effective here after all...

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depends on what you want, im building a true 360W Panel with cheap 30W cobs and 3W for like 210$, if I had used cobs only it would be 170$ for 360W including Heatsink and fans etc...but no Hightech cree efficient cree there, but on the other Hand cobs r pretty efficient, even if they r chinese made, since they consist of like 1W arrays