Which LED ?

JackStraw74

Well-Known Member
I have been using a full spectrum LED for a little while now, was advised not to because it was cheap so cant be good yada yada. But had a little bit of extra money and wanted to experiment without spending a bunch of money.
Mine works great, "300W" version, think its really like 35, went to this from a 250W HPS. The heat is a non factor, could not keep my tent under 80 with the HPS fans blasting etc, never goes past 77 with LED, got a fan controller and can barely hear it. Also dropped my electric bill vs HPS setup
Plants respond well to it as well vs what I dealt with due to heat...
 
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nicougrik

Well-Known Member
Depends on how long you plan to use it!
It probably costs you more than 1000$ but it will pay for itself by the higher yields very quickly. If you get ~800g from the 1000w hps you could get up-to 1200g out of 1000w LED.
50% more yield will compensate for the higher upfront costs very quickly and from then on you will only make profits with LED.
Have a look on ChllLED website, there is a LED cost calculator and a well explained video.

But it seems you have already made your decision. If so, we can close the thread actually.
Part of the criteria was that it would be short term, so yeah the long run aspect isnt valued much here.

Quick question though what would be a 1000w hps equivalent in LED ? (Link product?)
Thanks
 

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
First law of tbmhernodynamics: "THOU SHALL NOT DESTROY OR CREATE ENERGY..in an isolated system!"

Makes sense that x amount of energy (ps: watt is a measure of energy), You cannot creat or destroy that x amount of energy. Energy only gets converted (in this instance) to sound, and mainly light and heat.
I agree that the TOTAL energy released into a space is the same for all types of lights. My question is this: MH/HPS produce alot of IR spectrum, the plant doesn't use this energy to grow so it is expended into the space-temp goes up-1st Law. LED's don't create a significant amount of IR so does that infer that there will be less energy available to add to environment.
I think the question is this: can LED's produce more usable spectrum light watt for watt compared to other sources. Some can but not all, so for x amount of electrical watts consumed they can be more EFFICIENT. And also remember, some of the energy released into your space is converted to plant not heat-at least until you smoke it....
 

pop22

Well-Known Member
Just another junk Chinese lights. How about looking at lights built by vendors here on RIU, several of which are guys who started here in the forums. Your wasting your money if you buy these shitty lights

 

pop22

Well-Known Member
compare a DIY 500-600 watt LED rig to an HPS with a good hood, both will run you a total of $500 -$600. HPS 25-30% efficient, LED 45-50% efficient. Plus, even with a hood the losses to diffusion and much higher than with LED, which creates a much more directional light. HPS MH produces IR as part of its waste energy. With a properly built LED light you will get a lot more photons directly on the plants. Spread the heat out evenly??? what does that mean? HPS is dead technology, 5 years from now, it will be vanishing. Gavita is already bailing out, selling its HPS divsion to concentrate on LED.

First law of tbmhernodynamics: "THOU SHALL NOT DESTROY OR CREATE ENERGY..in an isolated system!"

Makes sense that x amount of energy (ps: watt is a measure of energy), You cannot creat or destroy that x amount of energy. Energy only gets converted (in this instance) to sound, and mainly light and heat.

Anyway back to the original post..haha

Even though leds are more efficient in terms of output per watt. Im looking for the higher output per dollar (purchade price)
So you tell me. Do i get a 1000w hps at ~300 bucks or those $1000 led rigs ?

As far as i can tell i will get more light per dollar if i go for bulbs. But you tell me, ive been out of the loop for a few years lol.

Also, if i wanted to soread heat out more evenly, wiuldnt a bulb be better ? Since led have heatsinks ?
 

Stone_Free

Well-Known Member
Do not buy these cheap LED's. I made that mistake and spent a long while trying to work with them and failed miserably. They are OK for vegging but will not flower. You will be wasting your money. Use either QB's, COB's, Strips or the boards made by a couple of the other members here. With any of these options the proof that they work is here. Other people have made the mistakes so that you do not have to.
Spend your money wisely and spend it once........
 

Johnny Lawrence

Well-Known Member
I have been using a full spectrum LED for a little while now, was advised not to because it was cheap so cant be good yada yada. But had a little bit of extra money and wanted to experiment without spending a bunch of money.
Mine works great, "300W" version, think its really like 35, went to this from a 250W HPS. \
Maybe cause 250 HPS is the least efficient of any light available?

BTW - your "300 watt" light is likely closer to 100 watts, rather than 35.

Oh, also, sweep the leg.
 

Rolla J

Well-Known Member
Maybe cause 250 HPS is the least efficient of any light available?

BTW - your "300 watt" light is likely closer to 100 watts, rather than 35.

Oh, also, sweep the leg.
i like a roundhouse kick better!. Yeah them stupid lights companies and their marketing strategies are deceiving.
 

Dave455

Well-Known Member
Forget the question!
Both are not worth theq money.
If you are willing to spend between 150-200$US, have a look at Quantumboards from HorticultureLightningGroup.
If you can imagine yourself to build one, look at Samsung's F-Series strips or Citizen CLU048-1212C4 COB's.
DIY makes it significantly cheaper and you could build a 250w lamp for about 200$.

For instance,
5x 4ft. F-Series strips,
5x 4ft.x ⅛" aluminum channel and a
HLG-240H-C1050B driver...
fit's perfect in a 2x 4' tent and is easily scalable if you want to enlarge it later and whats most important ... likely twice as much light as from the bigger amazon LED.
Double f strips ?
 
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