INFO PLEASE!! HPS vs LED

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Bigraider1

Member
hi every1 I need some info please, I've been growing indoors sence 94 BUT I've been on vacation the last 9 years, I've used HPS start 2 finish sence the early 2000s. My brother was just telling me that LEDs are the new thing and better than HPS, im having trouble believing it, he showed me a LED and it wasn't impressive. So let me ask you guys if I was 2 run a sog room with three 4x8's flood & drain would I be better off with six HPS 600's or some kind of LED?? Being older and stuck in my ways its hard 4 me to believe in LED's. Any and all info will help, goodlookn
 
Which LED/fixture did he show you? That would go a long way in determining if you should have been underwhelmed. The led market varies wildly based on diode used and quality of engineering.

My first question is going to be what is you current cost of electricity per kwh?

Then, what area and climate will you be growing in? How controlled?
 
Since you'd be running a SoG, an LED is great if you're looking for efficiency. HPS is still all around superior, but not by much for that application. LED will easily give you 20 inches deep of useable canopy. Just ensure you have enough headspace to keep distance from the lights and maintain leaf temps around 82 for proper nutrient absorption. Cool temps & LED don't mix well.

^The above assumes a current tech LED product of CoBs or Boards. Not cheap blurples or low quality box type LEDs.

There is also CMH. Which might be better than either for what you're doing.
 
Ok I just asked Lil bro what kind of led and i kind of 4got what he said, I just smoked i think he said dark star, my kw per hour is like 15 cent or so I think, and my climate will be fine im in nor CA not to hot never cold a scrubber and AC should keep everything good
 
Seedy character I get the 1st part of your post but the 2nd went over my head I know nothing about LEDs I've been gone 10 years, cob cmh??? I have no idea what that means, lol

Ok I just looked up cmh, ceramic medal halide I stopped using mh years ago because of the streach but the cmh looks different, whats the difference between cmh, mh, and hps
 
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Bigraider1 said:
Seedy character I get the 1st part of your post but the 2nd went over my head I know nothing about LEDs I've been gone 10 years, cob cmh??? I have no idea what that means, lol

Ok I just looked up cmh, ceramic medal halide I stopped using mh years ago because of the streach but the cmh looks different, whats the difference between cmh, mh, and hps
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CoB is Chip on Board. These are typically quarter sized clusters of high intensity diodes on a substrate. High efficiency and good color output. Can damage plants if put too close. Medium penetration and spread.
Quantum Boards are groups of individual diodes on substrate slabs. Low cost, good color output, and very efficient. These too can cause light stress if used too close at full intensity.
CMH is an improved metal halide design. Most all the benefits of MH & HPS with better efficiency. Arguably better color.

For the setup you're asking of, any of those will do you just fine without going back to HPS. CMH would probably be my suggestion since you're running start to finish, but a 4000k LED would work nearly as well. CMH would likely save you a few bucks on coverage as well. Unless you are lucky, there is also usually a learning curve with LED. A lot of plants need environmental & nutrient adjustments that are different from an HPS grow.

Best advice? Find some SoG grow reports in these forums comparable to your room size and read, read, read. If you're unsure it can be easy to let someone talk you into their choice & then find out you would of preferred something else. There are also advertising partners on this site that sell good lighting supplies. Maybe check their FAQs on their home sites for specifics on power usage/coverage/color.

Good Luck!
 
One other thing. You mentioned stretch. Best way to control that in veg is with as much 6500k T5 or T8 fluorescents 2-5 inches from the tops and as much as you can give them. Then switch to the big lights for flower.
 
Seedy your the best thank u for the info, I thought my brother was fos when he said LEDs are better than HPS but it looks like there are benefits and from all my searches it looks like they do work good, I don't think im going 2 try them but im going 2 look into cmf's, I like short veg time and short stocky plants so mh's kinda don't fit but if cmf's have both spectrums maybe that will work better, thanks again
 
All good options.

2x 630w CMH per 4x8 $600-1100

For DIY LED you can run 8x HLG QB 96 on 2 HLG-600H-54A per 4x8. Would cost about $1000 per 4x8 for quality LED.

For pre-assembled LED 2x HLG 600r per 4x8 or 2x Timber Redwood VS would be $1700

2x Bar style LEDs (Gavita 1700e, Timber Cypress you’re looking at around $2000-2600 per 4x8.
 
Hey, welcome back to the hobby. LED can keep up and can even be better than HPS/MH, just depends on what you buy. Good led's will cost multiple times what an HPS system will cost you. That said with LED you get reduced heat and hydro bills as well as no more replacement bulbs needed so over time it balances itself out. I have just purchased a true 600 watt LED system that should be good for me from seed to harvest. Just do your research and if you decide to go with LED make sure you buy from a reputable company. Good Luck
 
Nukakola Wow 600-1000 per 4x8 for cmh OUCH!! the LED prices are terrifying!!! My bad but that's way 2 high 4 me, I got a box of old lumatek dual 600s that should still work perfect all I need is new hortilux bulbs, those prices just settled it for me im sticking 2 what I know HPS start 2 finish

Doug thank u I've missed it I can't wait 2 play around
 
Bigraider1 said:
Nukakola Wow 600-1000 per 4x8 for cmh OUCH!! the LED prices are terrifying!!! My bad but that's way 2 high 4 me, I got a box of old lumatek dual 600s that should still work perfect all I need is new hortilux bulbs, those prices just settled it for me im sticking 2 what I know HPS start 2 finish

Doug thank u I've missed it I can't wait 2 play around
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HPS still grows good, if you got them then use them and slowly upgrade. Those Hortilux bulbs ain’t cheap though and replacing them every few runs adds up ask me how I know lol.
 
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