Thinking about LED

Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
Not sure if u decided yet but I have just started to look into ceramic discharge lighting as an alternative to my HIDS.
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
I already run 400 CMH. Its nice to have the option to run vertical. Been using them for quite a few years. I do like the results and still have enough new bulbs to last a few years.
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
Alexander Supertramp said:
I already run 400 CMH. Its nice to have the option to run vertical. Been using them for quite a few years. I do like the results and still have enough new bulbs to last a few years.
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Sorry if u mentioned that. Sooo not something I should replace my HPS/MH with? Really thought with the limited research they looked good.
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
Ok the two grows. both induction w/pontoon, were impressive. Both will be finished in a month or so. Will get the yield numbers then. Still leaning towards the Plasma though. Only to have a comparison to other lighting. I really cannot find anyone using them yet.
 
littlejacob

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Bonjour
You did not explain why you want to change of lightning system!?!
How many gpw did you pull from your current setup
What kind of grow do you use?prefer?
Do you know how to use tools?
What surface?
Have a great day...
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
littlejacob said:
Bonjour
You did not explain why you want to change of lightning system!?!
How many gpw did you pull from your current setup
What kind of grow do you use?prefer?
Do you know how to use tools?
What surface?
Have a great day...
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Just want to try something new. I have grown for many, many years. Eye Hortilux 600 HPS is my preference. The last year the garden has been under a DE Ushio 1000 HPS. I like it but still think 2x600 is better than a single 1000. I don't really keep that close an eye on gpw. But am probably in the 1.5 gpw or so range in Promix HP/CC.
And yes very handy with tools. Have a killer machine shop. I am a farmer which by proxy makes me a fabricator. After more research I have swithced back to going with LED. Going to do a few DIY lights for specific areas. Researching parts sources currently.Anyone have any good sources on parts please share some links. Hope to have one or two complete this fall.
 
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Smokenpassout

Well-Known Member
I use Kessill Led's. I am very pleased with the results as far as yield and quality. I isially do 2-3 plants, not for large scale grows...unless you have more led's.

Setup:

Kessil H350 Deep Purple
Kessil H350 Magenta
Kessil H150 Blue wide angle
Kessil H150 Red wide angle
 
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Smokenpassout

Well-Known Member
I like to shoot for a 2.5 to 3 square footprint. This equates to one plant directly under each H350. I hang them about 24" from tops and gradually lower them to about 14" as plants mature. I use the smaller H150's as side lights (12" from foilage) and hit both plants from the left and right.
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
I like the basic design of the BML series LEDs. Simple and adaptable. You could configure a light to fit most any need and space. Flexible and possibly some interchangeable pieces. Heat sink/aluminum sourcing easy enough. And there is space between light rails for T-5 UV.
 
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churchhaze

Well-Known Member
If you want to try LED's just for the sake of trying something new, definitely go the DIY route using cxb or vero. (or you're probably going to be disappointed)

I'm very happy with both my cxb2530 (3000k driven at 500mA) and my vero 18 (3500k driven at 700mA) setups.

It's questionable whether you will actually save money in the long run over HPS, but they're definitely great lamps that put out a ton of light and yield extremely well. (1.1gpw+, 30+g/sqft every grow). Last harvest, I pulled 290g from a 2'x4' using 240W of vero 18 3500k at 700mA. I'm in the process of trimming my second haul from the 193W cxb2530 setup, which is looking to be a killer harvest as well. (for a 2x4 tent).

Also remember that some LED drivers are more efficient than others. The larger HLG-C series drivers are between 92-94% and have active power factor correction, while the cheaper drivers range from 80-85% efficiency and do not have active power factor correction. Cheap e-bay drivers have been known to completely stop working in a short period. HLG-C is king imo.
 
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churchhaze

Well-Known Member
Jamie Starr said:
ordering my Vero 29 LED light from Optic Lighting tomorrow.

going with the big one, the 500watt model, and will add another in a month time.

really excited about these Vero LED chips. all of my research has pointed me in this direction.
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The one thing to keep in mind with vero 29 (driven at 2.1A) is that you will have to keep them about a foot from the canopy to prevent burning. Vero 29 at 2.1A is like a death ray when at point blank. (~30W of radiant power in the area of a US quarter will start a fire) It will fry your canopy if the plants get to close. Just keep this in mind if you have a very short room with very tall plants.
 
Jamie Starr

Jamie Starr

Active Member
ODanksta said:
This was a 8-880 SolarStrom test run of mine..

https://www.rollitup.org/t/ridiculous-monster-cropped-6-400-watt-led-grow.870744/
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That's where I started.. looking at the Solarstorm, Blackdog, Kind, etc..

It just became more obvious the more I looked that in terms of efficiency and long term durability, cost of maintance/repair, and risk... as well as the benefits of the COB lighting vs the traditional LED fixtures that the COB lights like the Vero 29 made more sense.

I will say that I did see some amazing grows however with the Solarstorm. Your grow looks quite nice.

Excited to jump into the world of LED growing VS HID.. I have a stack of used ballasts and reflectors that I can't wait to retire. One by one, little by little.. I'll replace them with COB lights.
 
Diesel0889

Diesel0889

Well-Known Member
I just wish the price would come down a bit but I've had great luck with LEDs. Cali light works I think it's called,advanced led, mars hydro, and even a few cheap ufo have gave. Me decent results....I think LEDs are the future of growing and I hope they continue to improve and a lot of the company's that make them make wild claims that are not true and give LEDs a bad name and make people not want to try them. Cobs seem to be the latest and greatest thing now but some of the older ones work very well IMHO. If company's were more honest about the specs more people would want to try them in the end. Making claims like (one 90watt ufo will replace 400 watt mh/hps is total bullshit) and IMO is not the way to run a. Company and get people to buy your product. But if for personal use they work great...:bigjoint::peace:
 
神秘人

神秘人

Well-Known Member
come to china
SSHZ said:
I too have been looking at LED, trying to cut the massive heat created by my HP's. There are so many company's competing against each other, it's hard to decipher what's what. I'm been doing my homework for a couple of weeks and am no better off now than I was when I started. This site has some promise: http://opticgrowlights.com/led-grow-lights.html.

I also came across this: http://ledgrowlightguide.com/current-top-rated-led-grow-lights

The best thing I believe you can do is start researching other's grows using the different brands and follow their comments. Do not listen to the company's advertising. Look for a no-questions-ask 90 day return policy which the better ones offer, including a super long warranty between 3-5 years. If a company has the confidence both of these, they must have some confidence in their products. Lastly, don't buy the cheap chinese crap lights on Ebay, or you'll be sorry eventually!
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wow! you are a super customer! i appreciate it
 
神秘人

神秘人

Well-Known Member
forget your diy bro, come to china, the samll factory does any thing for you. although the components are not good like the 999$ led, it has a great cost performance! choosing the components and the fan and the spectrum by yourself, a 300w led noly cost you 155$. its performance is not bad, im using them you can see my 25days old girls in my post:wink:
 
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