Cheap LED's?

William west

William west

Active Member
I'm in the market for some LED lighting. I've researched my options and I am curious as to wether I should buy an expensive, lower wattage LED or go with a cheaper higher wattage generic brand. I'm getting ready to grow in a 3x3x5' tent and I could use some advice.
 
Yeah I know they are not at all cheap. The generic ones are cheaper.....but it looks to me as you get what you pay for. I guess I'll try Area 51 and see how it works out. Man growblu sure have some nice stuff.
 
if you can afford area 51, just get that. check out my grow journal if you want to see what a less expensive model can do.
 
Yeah I have skills with soldering and can read and write wiring diagrams just fine. I just don't really know where to buy. I will probably just go ahead and purchase area 51's 150 watt unit for 420$. I was also looking at some lighthouse brand lights, but I really like the Area 51 150.
 
William west said:
Yeah I have skills with soldering and can read and write wiring diagrams just fine. I just don't really know where to buy. I will probably just go ahead and purchase area 51's 150 watt unit for 420$. I was also looking at some lighthouse brand lights, but I really like the Area 51 150.
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You can build your own with better components for half
 
churchhaze said:
If you want cheap leds, you should probably get an HPS lamp.
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I have tried both cheap and high dollar LED lights and yes I got good smokable bud, but nothing compares to HID.....I use an Mars Hydro 450watt green panel to veg with as I do find it tightens up the nodes a little better, but I am back to ole faithful HID for bloom.
 
BAMS said:
if you want cheap, then the Mars Hydro II 700watt is an option. They are the exact same thing as BlackDog 450watt just without the fancy CNC cut out on the vents.
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Is that what you use? I saw those on the internet but was a little unsure because of lack of reviews.
 
Read the "DIY" and "CXA" and "Vero" threads in the LED section and you'll find lists of components, prices and where to buy them, plus guides to putting something together.
 
I have used the Mars Hydro 450watt (green panel, which I still currently use for veg), I have also used the Mars Hydro II 700w side by side with my mates BlackDog 450w after I heard that they were the exact same light (Results were amazingly the same with only variance being a 7 grams lighter yield from the BlackDog). After I show my mate with the BlackDog's (yes "s", he bought 2 of their panels and cost him just over $3500aud with postage and duty to get into Australia) the Mars II lights he pretty much went off is dial and cried being we can pick Mars II 700watts up for $350aud/panel
 
William west said:
Yeah I have skills with soldering and can read and write wiring diagrams just fine. I just don't really know where to buy. I will probably just go ahead and purchase area 51's 150 watt unit for 420$. I was also looking at some lighthouse brand lights, but I really like the Area 51 150.
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Don't buy a lighthouse product!

I have relatively no skills (bought a solder iron for this job) and I just completed building this 5x CXA3070 setup the other day. It was a walk in the park.

Looking back I am very pleased with myself and the plants love it, so I'm never buying a prebuilt again.
 
Don't listen to opinions, go look at results, but remember the grower matters more than the lights.

Look at the light output, the input watts, the cost, and your environment/setup (how much does heat cost you.) If you pick the right color LEDs they will all kick ass, it's all about sizing them right and determining if you want/need the most efficient light or if you are better served with a cheaper less efficient option.

I would size at:
55w SQFT for the most efficient leds
75w SQFT for the cheaper option
50w SQFT for HPS

Note I don't go weak on any of the lights, those all put out about the same amount of usable light.

LED is expensive unless you are willing to DIY. If are willing to DIY look at the Vero, Epistar, and Cree CXA options and decide for yourself based on your needs.
 
Thanks fellas. I'm gonna go with Area 51 150 that has Cree white and red lights for now. I'll see how well it works on a few dwarfs I have and in the mean time I'll get to work on building my own. Thanks for all the input.
 
Al Yamoni said:
Don't buy a lighthouse product!

I have relatively no skills (bought a solder iron for this job) and I just completed building this 5x CXA3070 setup the other day. It was a walk in the park.

Looking back I am very pleased with myself and the plants love it, so I'm never buying a prebuilt again.
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Honestly, reading a post like this almost convinces me that anyone (I) could do it. Congrat's on your light and I hope it grows monsters for you!
 
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