Worth switching to LED???

Hey guys, I've got a 400w HPS right now that I just grew 4 plants under, they all turned out pretty well, but keeping the temperature down has been near impossible. I'd say I averaged 85 when lights were on, but got over 100 at some points.

I've got a 4x4x8 closet with a 190 CFM fan w/ carbon filter and a box fan pointed up at my light blowing the hot air to the fan. For intake, the only "door" i have is a curtain, so I leave the corner cracked open a foot or 2, seems to cool down a bit if i open it up more. No matter what I do though, it's been near impossible to keep it in the 70's, so here's my question... Is it worth it to try cooling this room down, or do I switch over to LEDs?

I haven't seen TOO many LED grows, but I was thinking 2 90w UFO's would be nice for the closet, runs about $200 for both and the heat would be way down. I figure it's either that or buy an air cooled hood for about 60 bucks and then probably have to buy a portable ac unit for 2-300 dollars.

If anyone has suggestions, I'm taking all advice! The cheaper the better. My OTHER solution was to buy a grow box instead of the closet I'm currently using and put that in the basement where the air is cooler. However, if I could, I like where it's at in my upstairs closet, I just need the temp way down! Thanks in advance!

How hot is the room you're drawing air from? The reason I ask is your wildly varying temps suggest your intake temp is all over the place, too. I take it it's not air conditioned? An air-cooled hood helps immensely, but you would need to exhaust outside, which requires a window nearby or putting a hole in the wall. If I had to start all over again without the cooling set up I already have, I would go with LEDs. If you factor in the hood, A/C, fans, ducting and stuff, you can get the LED for about the same price or just a couple $100 more. You'll still need to ventilate to control humidity. Portable A/Cs suck.

^^^^Same thing I was thinking.

I'm able to do all of that, I currently vent out the window near my closet, if I decide to stick with that closet I'm going to put a hole in the ceiling right out through the attic. The room I'm pulling from can get warm and that's definitely the issue at hand, mind you, it's really only warming up BECAUSE of the HPS though. The room is air conditioned, but I'm basically running the whole house AC JUST to keep that room cool and it's costing me a lot in electricity. I'm very interested in how much a air cooled ballast could potentially help though, because I could run an intake fan from outside, which, with fall coming up, wouldn't be impossible to do. I'd still be hurting next summer though I'd imagine.

My HPS was $110 with hood/ballast etc., the air cooled hood is $65.....so I'd really hate to go buy that, but I'll do what I have to do. I am very intrigued with these LEDs though, but don't want to regret switching over and then be back to square one...tough decision.

Well thats what its going to ball down the extra cost on electricity due to cooling or buying a led light. Like said you will still need to cool during summer months but not nearly as much as a h.i.d

Cool Red andWyte, thanks very much for the quick input. I'm trying to make a decision soon cuz my laughing buddha's finishing up this week then I'm switching over to my 4 new plants and I want them to be perfect! I'll let you guys know what I decide on, maybe I can put these 90w UFO LEDs to the test and see what they're all about!

pellpell4 said:

Cool Red andWyte, thanks very much for the quick input. I'm trying to make a decision soon cuz my laughing buddha's finishing up this week then I'm switching over to my 4 new plants and I want them to be perfect! I'll let you guys know what I decide on, maybe I can put these 90w UFO LEDs to the test and see what they're all about!

Click to expand...

if going led I would not go with ufos those will have you thinking leds are trash. I would go for something like a apache tech, area 51, onyx or even california light works

OK cool, I wasn't set on those, especially since I just read they only really cover 24 x 24, I'll keep doin some research and see what's worth my time. May even just consider going 600w HPS with air cooled hood. So many choices so little time lol

Oh, and thanks for the suggestions, I'm looking into them now

the HPS might be cheaper upfront but figure in electric costs and the LED might be better in the long run not to mention LEDs give you better quality buds.

Yodaweed said:

the HPS might be cheaper upfront but figure in electric costs and the LED might be better in the long run not to mention LEDs give you better quality buds.

Click to expand...

Any specific suggestions on a nice LED? I'd like something that can cover an area of at least 3x3ft w/ as much power or more than the 400w hps

Area 51 LEDs are great, Apachetech LEDs have great proven results and rapidLED just made a new light called the onyx bloom light seems good too.

pellpell4 said:

I'm able to do all of that, I currently vent out the window near my closet, if I decide to stick with that closet I'm going to put a hole in the ceiling right out through the attic. The room I'm pulling from can get warm and that's definitely the issue at hand, mind you, it's really only warming up BECAUSE of the HPS though. The room is air conditioned, but I'm basically running the whole house AC JUST to keep that room cool and it's costing me a lot in electricity. I'm very interested in how much a air cooled ballast could potentially help though, because I could run an intake fan from outside, which, with fall coming up, wouldn't be impossible to do. I'd still be hurting next summer though I'd imagine.

My HPS was $110 with hood/ballast etc., the air cooled hood is $65.....so I'd really hate to go buy that, but I'll do what I have to do. I am very intrigued with these LEDs though, but don't want to regret switching over and then be back to square one...tough decision.

Click to expand...

The best way to cool a hood would be to pull air from the window and exhaust out the window or attic. If you turn your A/C blower to the "on" position instead of the "auto" position, you'll have more even temps. The ballasts with fans put out the same amount of heat as those without. The Area51 LED can be used in veg or bloom, the Onyx comes in a veg model and a bloom model, tho many use the bloom throughout. The Apache is good for either, but will make you shit when you see the price. You may need more than one, also. Figure a grand or more. But they'll last 10 years or more. Quality LEDs are very expensive.

The Apache AT600 draws 750w watts and covers a 4x4 as well or better than a 1000w HPS. $2400 list. There was a code to get it for $1900 and change, but I read it was no good anymore. Contact GreeneGenes here and see if there is a new one.

A51 cover 24"x 30" Don't quote me on that. Onyx I assume would be similar.

Yodaweed said:

the HPS might be cheaper upfront but figure in electric costs and the LED might be better in the long run not to mention LEDs give you better quality buds.

Click to expand...

why do leds give better quality buds?

a mongo frog said:

why do leds give better quality buds?

Click to expand...

They don't.

They give better quality buds because they have more diverse spectrums than traditional lighting. Just look at greengene's 1000w HPS vs Apachetech LED he got his weed tested and the LED grown marijuana was higher in all cannabinoids than the HPS grown and they were clones cut from the same mother all same nutrients only difference was the light.

That thread is a great one for anyone wondering if led can do a good job compared to hps.

Yodaweed said:

They give better quality buds because they have more diverse spectrums than traditional lighting. Just look at greengene's 1000w HPS vs Apachetech LED he got his weed tested and the LED grown marijuana was higher in all cannabinoids than the HPS grown and they were clones cut from the same mother all same nutrients only difference was the light.

Click to expand...

LEDs have a LESS diverse spectrum. Greengene finally published his tests? Are you sure? I waited like six weeks after his harvest and he had yet to publish it.

Red1966 said:

LEDs have a LESS diverse spectrum. Greengene finally published his tests? Are you sure? I waited like six weeks after his harvest and he had yet to publish it.

Click to expand...

That's a new one to me, hps has 1 source of light mainly 1 bulb that outputs 1 spectrum of light of 2100k light, now you can use white lights in LEDs of similar color and you can also use red lights, blue lights, cyan lights, amber lights, deep red lights, UV lights, far red lights...and the list goes on while the hps is limited to 1 source of 2100k light.