LED in my current setup

so I'm coming out of retirement and I'm setting up my 3.5 x 3.5 tent with my 600w hps/mh and I wanted to add some additional lighting. I get good results as is but I always felt the lower and some side buds could get more light. I can't really add too much more heat so I was leaning towards LEDs for some
side/additional lighting. Would I notice a difference or am I wasting my $$$$.
I also can get a good deal on 2 - 300w grow LEDs or 1 - 900w for pretty much the same price.
Not sure how hot they run or if it's even worth the $$$$.
Any advice is much appreciated..

Thanks

got a link to the lights? also, if you're already at the limit for your heat extraction capabilities, then adding more lights probably isn't recommended until you can fix that.

Rezin said:

so I'm coming out of retirement and I'm setting up my 3.5 x 3.5 tent with my 600w hps/mh and I wanted to add some additional lighting. I get good results as is but I always felt the lower and some side buds could get more light. I can't really add too much more heat so I was leaning towards LEDs for some
side/additional lighting. Would I notice a difference or am I wasting my $$$$.
I also can get a good deal on 2 - 300w grow LEDs or 1 - 900w for pretty much the same price.
Not sure how hot they run or if it's even worth the $$$$.
Any advice is much appreciated..

Thanks

Click to expand...

I was in your exact position 1.5 years ago. I bought (2) cheap marsII 400s to replace my 600w, to put it simply, it was far from a replacement.
My advise: stick with your HPS for now, do a couple runs as you research the higher end LED lights and add a couple led light bars like you mention.
- a 600w HPS in a 1 meter sq is plenty of intensity, so if your goal is to side light some lower buds, here is what I would suggest:
(2) 36" bars using the 3.5" heatsink usa profile ($85)
(10) cree xml-2 4000-5000K leds per bar ($66)
(2) meanwell LPC60-1750 drivers ($36)

This will give you 60w per bar and some additional blue wavelength. It will run passively so no cooling fans needed and its a very easy build. If you don't want to solder, you can buy solderless LEDs from rapidled.com & thermal epoxy. I think it would be a great supplement for $187. You can even silicon some lenses on it to make it water resistant.

Bonjour
You fell like you have a lack of intensity with a 600w hps in a square meter...!
I had the same set up a few years ago and I bought a 4x4 for the 600hps...so many light and heat...except if you grow plant taller than 3 feet (when you know a 600hps lighting 4 feet max, and that you need 1.5feet between bulb and plants...!)
Switch to cob and throw your hps away...you will enjoy it!
Have a great day ★