Help me choose my lights

[Eph3m3raL]

I’ve been looking at DIY as well as a few companies for LED and the Gavita. Having a hard time making up my mind as to what to go with. I've got around 3k budget for lights. Trying to keep the grow under 2500W for 2 8X4, or 8X4 and 1 4x4, or 1 8X4.

Thoughts on Spectrum King?
Thoughts on Perfect Sun COB?
DIY?
HID?

 

[goldberg71b]

I suggest you use the search bar and decide what's best for you! All the info is there for the taking. Everyone who will answer is generally bias to their methods. So if you talk to a LED guy. He's going to push you his way. You talk to a CMH guy he'll push you that way. They all work but they all have pros and cons. So just like a great many things in growing one thing effects the other. The question is what do you want? Don't buy something because someone says this is the best. Or this light won on a poll.

You should be researching everything. From lights and fans to genetics. You also might want to choose more than 1 type. I'm using T5 for cutting. Then I've got MH&HPS. But I've also got CMH. They all work.

 

[Eph3m3raL]

I have used that search bar quite a bit. Currently leaning towards the CMH. Seems to have the best PAR/Spectrum for wattage of any light. Though LED has very good spectrum as well but quite a bit more $. The CMH is more appealing as well due to the fact that the research i've done is not from the manufacturer.

 

[coreywebster]

I think the downfall of cmh as far as the 315w goes anyway is these guys using them are saying flowering footprint of 3x3 feet which is a bit poo for someone wanting to use an 8x4 tens or multiple. I'm not familiar with the double bulb 630s but I imagine 2 of those would cover an 8x4. Perhaps post another thread with "anyone using a 630cmh in the title" or search for it, might be one already.

Or you could look at quantum boards which you could light up a 4x8 with some kits like 2 260w per 4x4 area. They are $285 per 260w kit so 1040w across one 8x4 would be $1140
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/diy/products/260w-qb-led-kit

COBs are obviously an option but there's too many variables for me to price that one out...

I think you would be happy with either option. Its a matter of preference.

The lights you referenced I'm not familiar with but the perfect sun looks fairly solid.

BTW nice to see someone with an ample budget for new lighting.

 

[Eph3m3raL]

Those LED look like a good choice.

The 630 DE CMH look pretty good as well at a reasonable price. Growers choice has them for $600.

LED 1040W vs CMH 1260W per 4x8

I think both would do very well over 2 4x8

 

[sonson176]

With the space you have to cover, and your budget, I'd say keep it simple with tried and true HPS and magnetic ballasts. 4 600 watt setups will get you close(2400w)to your desired wattage. You'll have around 37 watts per square foot. On the low side but still functional. I'm sure there's others that disagree, but I haven't seen enough of an advantage to switch to LED's from HID. The money saved is better spent elsewhere. If money were no object I'd say run both. Any reason for the limit on total wattage?

 

[Eph3m3raL]

With the space you have to cover, and your budget, I'd say keep it simple with tried and true HPS and magnetic ballasts. 4 600 watt setups will get you close(2400w)to your desired wattage. You'll have around 37 watts per square foot. On the low side but still functional. I'm sure there's others that disagree, but I haven't seen enough of an advantage to switch to LED's from HID. The money saved is better spent elsewhere. If money were no object I'd say run both. Any reason for the limit on total wattage?

It's more a limit on Amperage where i'm going to be doing the grow. Trying to keep the amperage around 20-25 in order to have enough left over for co2 burner, water pumps, fans, AC etc...

What do you think about the 630 DE CMH? Seems to have a better light spectrum and from what i've read they seem to have a very good GPW.

 

[OrganicGorilla]

If I had $3000 to spend, I'd go with COBS. Either Tasty LED or Timber Grow Lights. With Timber, you could buy 2 x 600w Vero 29 Frameworks for just under $2000 without tax or shipping to cover a 4x8 space. That's the route I would go. These lights make way less heat and you won't need an A/C unit going to save even more $ in the long run.

 

[Eph3m3raL]

If I had $3000 to spend, I'd go with COBS. Either Tasty LED or Timber Grow Lights. With Timber, you could buy 2 x 600w Vero 29 Frameworks for just under $2000 without tax or shipping to cover a 4x8 space. That's the route I would go. These lights make way less heat and you won't need an A/C unit going to save even more $ in the long run.

If I chose to go with the 600w Vero 29 I'd only be able to cover 1 4x8 area. I was looking at the Perfect Sun COB which has 6 cobs

 

[sonson176]

It's more a limit on Amperage where i'm going to be doing the grow. Trying to keep the amperage around 20-25 in order to have enough left over for co2 burner, water pumps, fans, AC etc...

What do you think about the 630 DE CMH? Seems to have a better light spectrum and from what i've read they seem to have a very good GPW.

The 630 is two 315's in one fixture. The cmh's do offer a pretty versatile spectrum from what I've heard, I haven't ran any yet and probably won't mostly due to the heat they put out. I had the opportunity to check out one once, it was being used on a mover as a suppmental light source, and it felt quite a bit hotter than 1000w bare bulbs at the same distance. Might've just been the different spectrum or something, but that thing felt like a darn jet heater. Unless you can find a side by side comparison(same strain/phenotype, same medium, etc) illustrating some distinct advantages over other HID's, I'd take most claims with a grain of salt. They do sound good on paper though. Hopefully somebody with some good experience running just CMH's can chime in.

 

[Eph3m3raL]

The 630 is two 315's in one fixture. The cmh's do offer a pretty versatile spectrum from what I've heard, I haven't ran any yet and probably won't mostly due to the heat they put out. I had the opportunity to check out one once, it was being used on a mover as a suppmental light source, and it felt quite a bit hotter than 1000w bare bulbs at the same distance. Might've just been the different spectrum or something, but that thing felt like a darn jet heater. Unless you can find a side by side comparison(same strain/phenotype, same medium, etc) illustrating some distinct advantages over other HID's, I'd take most claims with a grain of salt. They do sound good on paper though. Hopefully somebody with some good experience running just CMH's can chime in.

I watched a video on youtube and they were using 3 of the 315's and were able to pull more than 1 1000w.

They also have the DE 630 bulbs at growershouse with fixture for $549

 

[coreywebster]

CMH are cooler than HPS. For a start a 315 puts out at least 500w worth of hps in terms of light.
I ran HPS for years, I have a 315cmh and its not as hot as the 250hps was I once used in veg when I started.
I recently had my 315cmh hung between 3 plants which were 3" away from the bulb and the plants loved it, couldn't of done that with the HPS because of all the IR.
The spectrum of a CMH is far far superior than HPS which is essentially a terrible spectrum even though it does grow plants.
The cmh is better for resin production and strengthening stems.
630w of cmh should be cooler or as cool as 600w hps. Not sure what was going on with the one you saw @sonson176, possibly a cheap bulb.

 

[Larry Bovvah]

Those LED look like a good choice.

The 630 DE CMH look pretty good as well at a reasonable price. Growers choice has them for $600.

^^ This is what id go with for sure!!

LED 1040W vs CMH 1260W per 4x8

I think both would do very well over 2 4x8

 

[_eNVy_]

I vote DIY! I myself am in the process of building a citizen CLU048 1212 cob setup for my 5x5 tent. Check out timber grow lights and chat with Dan. Also look into growmou5 on YouTube. You'll end up with better lighting and saving money vs. buying something commercial. I spent roughly $900-1,000 on a (16) cob fixture that's highly customizable/upgradable/expandable

 

[Lola Grows]

I’ve been looking at DIY as well as a few companies for LED and the Gavita. Having a hard time making up my mind as to what to go with. I've got around 3k budget for lights. Trying to keep the grow under 2500W for 2 8X4, or 8X4 and 1 4x4, or 1 8X4.

Thoughts on Spectrum King?
Thoughts on Perfect Sun COB?
DIY?
HID?

My next led will be Cree leds !!