Micro Grow box questions about LED lighting.

H

hod928

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone here is my new Microgrow box I built, I still gotta add my intake fan I just havent done it yet. Im too the point now where all I need is my lights and im good to go. I was going to go CFL but decided to spend the few extra dollars and get a LED light. My question to you is what LED light do you think would be better for this box. It is a 2'x2' box

http://imgur.com/MmreHK1,E5JYcx0,RfSeLCz,61LyGVz,Hr6l19L,Bu8hOUN#0

LED light links...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsHydro-1...949?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43c8ce733d

or...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsHydro-3...853?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5aefa47fad



Thank you!
 
hod928 said:
Hey everyone here is my new Microgrow box I built, I still gotta add my intake fan I just havent done it yet. Im too the point now where all I need is my lights and im good to go. I was going to go CFL but decided to spend the few extra dollars and get a LED light. My question to you is what LED light do you think would be better for this box. It is a 2'x2' box

http://imgur.com/MmreHK1,E5JYcx0,RfSeLCz,61LyGVz,Hr6l19L,Bu8hOUN#0

LED light links...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsHydro-1...949?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43c8ce733d

or...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsHydro-3...853?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5aefa47fad



Thank you!
Click to expand...

I actually have the 180 watt LED from marshydro. I bought it before they changed their ebay name to marshydro. I know it's a 9 spectrum but, it is an older model so I think the newer version has different specs. It should work fine in your 2x2. Is it the best? I dunno, but mine has clocked more quite a few hours and still works like it did out of the box. And it will grow just fine. I just picked up a 150 watt HPS just because and to tell the truth, I don't know if it will do a better job. Yet. I would purchase from marshydro again if I needed another LED. Anyway.... Good luck man.
 
GrowUrOwnDank said:
I actually have the 180 watt LED from marshydro. I bought it before they changed their ebay name to marshydro. I know it's a 9 spectrum but, it is an older model so I think the newer version has different specs. It should work fine in your 2x2. Is it the best? I dunno, but mine has clocked more quite a few hours and still works like it did out of the box. And it will grow just fine. I just picked up a 150 watt HPS just because and to tell the truth, I don't know if it will do a better job. Yet. I would purchase from marshydro again if I needed another LED. Anyway.... Good luck man.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Im considering the 180w UFO over the 300w just to help with heat but were im tied between the two is, is it worth the extra 30$ to upgrade to the 300w one. If its not gonna make that much of a difference or I wont be able to grow my plants as tall because of the extra heat output then I wanna go with the 180w
 
hod928 said:
Thank you! Im considering the 180w UFO over the 300w just to help with heat but were im tied between the two is, is it worth the extra 30$ to upgrade to the 300w one. If its not gonna make that much of a difference or I wont be able to grow my plants as tall because of the extra heat output then I wanna go with the 180w
Click to expand...

Well. That's up to you. I actually have 2 LEDs the newest is the Mars like 2-3 years old. The older one has even fewer spectrums. I have also used ginormous 65 actual watt CFLs.

Think about your grow space and the electricity you will use as well. Thing is, if you could get a switchable 300 watter I might go that route. Otherwise, myself a 1 plant guy, I would not want to burn the extra electricity on the early plant. But, later in flower I have used combinations like both LEDs together or an LED and a CFL. I start the seedlings under a plain ole household CFL, move to the 65 watter and within a month I am up to the 180 Mars. And the kicker is, I just bought a 150 watt HPS just because I wanted to try it.

So at the end of the day, if your gonna grow 1-4 small plants that 180 will be fine. If you're going for 4 or more than the 300 is better I guess. But, down the road you are probably gonna get the itch to try something different and that 180 is perfect for side lighting or whatever.

I dunno man. Also note, you can get a 150 Watt HPS off ebay for $65. But, the LED puts out less heat by far than HPS or CFL.

Also keep in mind. The 180 LED only draws about 110 watts per the manufacturer. They have a web sight too, Google it. You're good to go either way and I'll bet down the road you will eventually get something else anyway.

Edit. 1 more thing. I like to use combinations because they include different spectrums. Just saying. Makes sense anyway.
 
Last edited:
What's your budget?

I would seriously consider building your own light. Very easy, basic tools, top quality, last for years....

The problem with the Ebay leds, is that they are more than likely Less efficient than a HPS of similar wattage, which as someone commented is around 110 watts....

So if the 110 watt light was 25% efficient overall [still better than cfl], you would have about 27.5 watts of useable light and 82.5 watts of heat....

These lights also usually have little to no heatsinking. Usually an aluminum pcb plate that all led's are soldered to and then fans create active cooling.....still this can lead to hotter LED's at the Tc [junction temp, where the LED and metal/Tim meet...and doesn't help when more heat is also heating up ambient air [Ta].

An 150w HPS is probably about as efficient and maybe a touch more so with a new bulb....but after your 1st cycle, the bulb will start to depreciate in efficiency....

Quality diodes that you can build and select your own colors are readily available....some I run for instance are over 40% while running about 18" in height over plants....

You could easily run a softer driven LED [less current] in a shorter space and still get maximum penetration and coverage from your own fixture...:peace:
 
GrowUrOwnDank said:
You wind up with a lot of overthinking it on the RIU.

Just saying. I love efficiency and all that bullshit, but......... Most don't have an education. Merely an entitled voice of opinions.
Click to expand...

so we should all just shut up then, the master has spoken....

Why is efficiency bullshit again? Is than an educated reply, since you don't like voicing your entitled opinion?....:peace:

You make at sound as if getting smarter is harder or something......
 
fyi....build your own and learn a little about photometrics and current.....

Get the highest efficienct diodes you can, if there is no information on the type of diode included in the fixture [datasheet, sun god promise, anything] then skip them.....quality diodes manufactures are not afraid of including their light specs....be EXTREMELY wary when this is not the case. Lumens do not count either!

Those cheap diodes are not what you are looking for....Building a DIY LED fixture can take a single hour if you planned right.....

Intensity/ penetration 1st, spectrum 2nd.....

Also, maybe the most important....$/Par/W is a key figure....the cheapo's are always high....
 
safety meeting said:
What's your budget?

I would seriously consider building your own light. Very easy, basic tools, top quality, last for years....

The problem with the Ebay leds, is that they are more than likely Less efficient than a HPS of similar wattage, which as someone commented is around 110 watts....

So if the 110 watt light was 25% efficient overall [still better than cfl], you would have about 27.5 watts of useable light and 82.5 watts of heat....

These lights also usually have little to no heatsinking. Usually an aluminum pcb plate that all led's are soldered to and then fans create active cooling.....still this can lead to hotter LED's at the Tc [junction temp, where the LED and metal/Tim meet...and doesn't help when more heat is also heating up ambient air [Ta].

An 150w HPS is probably about as efficient and maybe a touch more so with a new bulb....but after your 1st cycle, the bulb will start to depreciate in efficiency....

Quality diodes that you can build and select your own colors are readily available....some I run for instance are over 40% while running about 18" in height over plants....

You could easily run a softer driven LED [less current] in a shorter space and still get maximum penetration and coverage from your own fixture...:peace:
Click to expand...
All I know for a fact is I have owned that 180 Marshydro for several years and it's works fine and has logged quite a few hours. I doubt its the best, but for the money it is a good light. I am sure there are better out there but I trust that one from that seller because of experience. Can't debate DIY or other LEDs since I have not used any other except my second LED which is older and not labeled. It works fine too.
 
safety meeting said:
What's your budget?

I would seriously consider building your own light. Very easy, basic tools, top quality, last for years....

The problem with the Ebay leds, is that they are more than likely Less efficient than a HPS of similar wattage, which as someone commented is around 110 watts....

So if the 110 watt light was 25% efficient overall [still better than cfl], you would have about 27.5 watts of useable light and 82.5 watts of heat....

These lights also usually have little to no heatsinking. Usually an aluminum pcb plate that all led's are soldered to and then fans create active cooling.....still this can lead to hotter LED's at the Tc [junction temp, where the LED and metal/Tim meet...and doesn't help when more heat is also heating up ambient air [Ta].

An 150w HPS is probably about as efficient and maybe a touch more so with a new bulb....but after your 1st cycle, the bulb will start to depreciate in efficiency....

Quality diodes that you can build and select your own colors are readily available....some I run for instance are over 40% while running about 18" in height over plants....

You could easily run a softer driven LED [less current] in a shorter space and still get maximum penetration and coverage from your own fixture...:peace:
Click to expand...

My budget for lights is around 125$ Since my cab is so small I have been told I cant go LED because I would have the light to close to the plants. So it looks like im going CFL
 
I just retuned 4 Apollo bulbs to low baller seller, 2 bulbs were wrong and one was broken, the cxa3070 Cree bulbs can be as close as 6 inches, good luck with the large cfl, it will grow bud for sure
 
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