Flowering with Ecosunlite

fearnoevil

fearnoevil

Well-Known Member
Mypassion, good read so far, I'm completely new to this kind of lighting, although I've checked into it in a few years ago and the numbers just didn't work for me. And while I'm handy with a lot of stuff, for some reason I've got a mental block and just can't get a grasp on what's what the numbers/specs on these cobs/bins mean (yet, I'm still trying, lol).

So how much light does this unit produce, or maybe I'm wording that wrong, compared to a standard MH/HPS, what's the equivalent output in watts? I'm running 6x600w MH/HPS with an effective grow area 8'x10'. If I'm looking to replace the the current setup, any idea what the best way to go would be?

My last grow my electrical bill was an extra $135 per month, so not that bad, but if I can replace my old lights with something that puts out more energy/spectrum, creates less heat and uses less juice, I'm seriously interested. But the most important factor is output, I'd hate to run a full grow and find the yield or quality suffered. Appreciate any input.
 
horribleherk

horribleherk

Well-Known Member
cool thread I've talked shit to these guys but in all reality they have my interest I'm thinking the questionable item might be their house brand drivers keep up the good work & keep us posted on your upgrade money being tight might sway me this way as well
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Their lights are awesome. The lenses kick ass too. I wish they'd power more components with less drivers, but other than that, I love my fixture.
 
M

mypassion

Well-Known Member
fearnoevil said:
Mypassion, good read so far, I'm completely new to this kind of lighting, although I've checked into it in a few years ago and the numbers just didn't work for me. And while I'm handy with a lot of stuff, for some reason I've got a mental block and just can't get a grasp on what's what the numbers/specs on these cobs/bins mean (yet, I'm still trying, lol).

So how much light does this unit produce, or maybe I'm wording that wrong, compared to a standard MH/HPS, what's the equivalent output in watts? I'm running 6x600w MH/HPS with an effective grow area 8'x10'. If I'm looking to replace the the current setup, any idea what the best way to go would be?

My last grow my electrical bill was an extra $135 per month, so not that bad, but if I can replace my old lights with something that puts out more energy/spectrum, creates less heat and uses less juice, I'm seriously interested. But the most important factor is output, I'd hate to run a full grow and find the yield or quality suffered. Appreciate any input.
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I knew from the start that this led will have more intensity than the 600w hps that was @80cm above but I was sure I won't get better coverage... wrong, at 120cm it has more spread and intensity everywhere.
So if lux is bigger then the HPS maybe the PAR too, efficiency...
I can't compare it to a bigger hps, never ran more than 1 hps, but I can say it kicks 600w hps all day long with waaay less heat.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
mypassion said:
I knew from the start that this led will have more intensity than the 600w hps that was @80cm above but I was sure I won't get better coverage... wrong, at 120cm it has more spread and intensity everywhere.
So if lux is bigger then the HPS maybe the PAR too, efficiency...
I can't compare it to a bigger hps, never ran more than 1 hps, but I can say it kicks 600w hps all day long with waaay less heat.
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Hell ya. Switch out them cobs already!!!
 
M

mypassion

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
Honestly, that red and blue cob tech in it, I'd probably keep. I like the addition of red and blue a LOT.
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But won't the light be more efficient with Cree instead of these? They kinda look low budget. Don't know what to think of them. I wouldn't mink keeping the light like this but if 3070 has more par mb with less heat...
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
mypassion said:
But won't the light be more efficient with Cree instead of these? They kinda look low budget. Don't know what to think of them. I wouldn't mink keeping the light like this but if 3070 has more par mb with less heat...
Click to expand...
Definitely. I just know I'm adding 8 of those clusters to my serupt
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
mypassion said:
But won't the light be more efficient with Cree instead of these? They kinda look low budget. Don't know what to think of them. I wouldn't mink keeping the light like this but if 3070 has more par mb with less heat...
Click to expand...
Definitely. I just know I'm adding 8 of those clusters to my setup.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
fearnoevil said:
Mypassion, good read so far, I'm completely new to this kind of lighting, although I've checked into it in a few years ago and the numbers just didn't work for me. And while I'm handy with a lot of stuff, for some reason I've got a mental block and just can't get a grasp on what's what the numbers/specs on these cobs/bins mean (yet, I'm still trying, lol).

So how much light does this unit produce, or maybe I'm wording that wrong, compared to a standard MH/HPS, what's the equivalent output in watts? I'm running 6x600w MH/HPS with an effective grow area 8'x10'. If I'm looking to replace the the current setup, any idea what the best way to go would be?

My last grow my electrical bill was an extra $135 per month, so not that bad, but if I can replace my old lights with something that puts out more energy/spectrum, creates less heat and uses less juice, I'm seriously interested. But the most important factor is output, I'd hate to run a full grow and find the yield or quality suffered. Appreciate any input.
Click to expand...
Have a look on youtube for growmau5, he is a member on here and documents lots of his grows. He is mostly known for his amazing light builds and DIY cob fixtures. But check out his earlier vids documenting his grows and his grams per watt.
I did ask him once on his gpw with previous hps and I seem to remember it been less than 1gpw with hps going to 1.4gpw and higher using slightly older cobs that people are using today.
If you go down this route then I dare say you would be happy, you will have a lot to layout financially but given how many hps you are running I dare say you can afford it.
You have two choices, premade units, a few companies on here. Or DIY or kits, again a few companies on here.

DIY try
cutter.au or timbergrowlights.com or cobkits (people use one cob per square foot at around 50w)

Pre made units
Northerngrowlights.com
Tastyled.com
pacificlightconcepts.com
 
fearnoevil

fearnoevil

Well-Known Member
mypassion said:
Or if you want to spend even more money than that there are lots of other brands out there.
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Lol, no I don't want to spend a lot of money, although I have considered taking out a small loan from my credit union in order to change all the lights over in one fell swoop. That way I can also get rid of the big inline duct fan which will cut down on the noise (which you can just hear whenever you walk by the window exhaust).

Plus cutting down on the ac and dehumidifier use as well (thinking lower temps will reduce evaporation hopefully, as I've been combating constant mold/fungal issues in my basement). But if I need 6 of those Ecosunlite units he was offering for $400 a piece, that's $2400 bucks, which is still a lot more than I can afford or want to pay.

coreywebster said:
Have a look on youtube for growmau5, he is a member on here and documents lots of his grows. He is mostly known for his amazing light builds and DIY cob fixtures. But check out his earlier vids documenting his grows and his grams per watt.
I did ask him once on his gpw with previous hps and I seem to remember it been less than 1gpw with hps going to 1.4gpw and higher using slightly older cobs that people are using today.
If you go down this route then I dare say you would be happy, you will have a lot to layout financially but given how many hps you are running I dare say you can afford it.
You have two choices, premade units, a few companies on here. Or DIY or kits, again a few companies on here.

DIY try
cutter.au or timbergrowlights.com or cobkits (people use one cob per square foot at around 50w)

Pre made units
Northerngrowlights.com
Tastyled.com
pacificlightconcepts.com
Click to expand...
So Coreywebster, with the DIY, can I achieve the same results for less money, say $1600? I do like DIY projects, and even if I don't understand the principles, give me a set of instructions and I can do almost anything, cept for maybe brain surgery, lol. Just last month I successfully changed out my Volvo's alternator and AC unit, for less than half the cost of what the mechanics quoted me, just watching Youtube videos, and I am NOT a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination ;?D
 
fearnoevil

fearnoevil

Well-Known Member
Cory, 1.4gms per watt sounds fantastic, I'd be happy with around 1gm so that's good news ;?)

"DIY try cutter.au or timbergrowlights.com or cobkits (people use one cob per square foot at around 50w)"

So if my grow area is 80 square feet, then I need 80 cobs??? That sounds like a lot, lol. What's the cost on those each?
 
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M

mypassion

Well-Known Member
fearnoevil said:
Cory, 1.4gms per watt sounds fantastic, I'd be happy with around 1gm so that's good news ;?)

"DIY try cutter.au or timbergrowlights.com or cobkits (people use one cob per square foot at around 50w)"

So if my grow area is 80 square feet, then I need 80 cobs??? That sounds like a lot, lol. What's the cost on those each?
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I'm not advertising Ecosunlite but if you can diy with lesser cost, same wattage do tell. I doubt it though.
It costed me 400usd to make a 200w diy with just cxb3590, no reds, no blues, no monos just cob's.
400usd for 500w sounds appealing.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
fearnoevil said:
Cory, 1.4gms per watt sounds fantastic, I'd be happy with around 1gm so that's good news ;?)

"DIY try cutter.au or timbergrowlights.com or cobkits (people use one cob per square foot at around 50w)"

So if my grow area is 80 square feet, then I need 80 cobs??? That sounds like a lot, lol. What's the cost on those each?
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Its a tricky one because the options are many. The cobs would cost around $35 dollars a piece, the heat sinks about $12 a piece and 20 drivers at somewhere around $50 plus wire, aluminium frame and other odds and sods. Its not a cheap thing to do.

And yeah, ecosunlight is probably cheaper. I don't wana hijack mypassions thread with all these other companies. Check out those vids I mentioned, he has a breakdown of parts and cost and where you can source them. cutter and northerngrowlights are as good a price as you can get to be fair. But its a lot of cost either way
 
fearnoevil

fearnoevil

Well-Known Member
Mypassion, yeah at those prices I can see that Econsunlite is indeed cheaper, too bad I was looking forward to another challenging project, lol. So maybe I'll just have to start with 4 of those units and just for fun build one myself as I can afford the parts (maybe have one done by Thanksgiving ;?). If I can get close to 1gm per watt, I should be able to get better production than I have with these juice guzzling, heat producing HPS, and then buy more after this next grow.

Coreywebster, thanks much for that information, looks like I need to do a lot more reading on this subject, but I still want to build a couple of these just for the fun and challenge of it. I'll keep an eye on the DIY threads too, the more I read the more I seem to be gettin a handle on this, and roger that, don't want to hijack Mypassion's thread ;?)
 
M

mypassion

Well-Known Member
Do what core said. Check Growmau5, he is awsome and his videos are the best ever. That's how I did my diy, there I have learned what I know about LEDs.
I brought an engineer in electronic to help me out, not trusting myself, and it was 0 help. I already knew more about what I wanted him... he couldn't help me figure out how I should wire the dimmer... So yes, the videos are awsome.

@coreywebster no worries, you are not hijacking me. You offered help imo so that is always cool with me. In the end we all want the same thing. More with less.
 
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