Oh and the ISIS uses 3 fans @ about 6w a piece for about 102 w used on LED and the magnum has the same fans but 6 of them for only 180 watts bringing the total LED watts to about 144. So translation you pay an additional $300 for only about 42 more LED watts.
It's not a link but hope this helps
Fans are 1.5-1.8 watts.
Not exactly what I was looking for but thanks anyway. ive found what I was looking for by now.
For $500 I would get a 180w GLH Spectra, or save up a little more and get two 240w blackstars (although they are not built to last as well, the light isn't as good per watt, and each only runs about 133w). It may be better for you to just get a single 240w and see how well that treats you then decide if you have more money to spend. I'm fairly certain the 180w Spectra could handle your entire 2.5x2.5 space on its own though, especially if you don't grow to the edges with leaves smooshing against the walls of the tent. But I imagine even 133w of Blackstar (thats what you really get with their '240w' unit) and your other one you would easily have enough light for a 2.5x2.5 SCROG or SOG.
Thanks for your time dude!! I wasn't aware of the reliability issue with the blackstars. that makes me want to lean a different way... I am intrigued by the spectra. i understand they are very intense, in your opinion, how far away should they be from the canopy?
Distance charts don't exist because height depends on lens angle and wattage of individual diodes. Manufacturers usually tell you what height to hang them at but that is usually higher than optimal so they can claim a better footprint. Cree is the best but it is also the most expensive....and not by a couple point....I mean like double the cost so most panels that claim to use cree only actually have a couple in them or only run the white ones as they are cheaper than specialty spectrums. The lights I'm running contain Bridgelux and Epistar and they seem to be working. Pop by my journal if you want to check them out.
I don't mean to imply Blackstar has longevity issues, I'm just saying they and about 99% of other LED companies haven't gone the extra mile that GLH has into making sure these things will last. And I've never seen anything better than a 3 year warranty and GLH gives you the guarantee for way more of that 50,000 hours than anyone else does with a 5 year warrant. They also have a cool return policy, but I have no idea about any other companies so there might be better ones for that. The only downside to going GLH is you may have to wait 2 weeks before the panel is shipped to you (don't worry about what the website says just shoot them an email).
Thanks, I had noticed the warranty and the honesty kind of sold me. I placed an order for one a couple hours ago. I didn't send an email though... I just bought through the website, does this mean I will have to wait even longer?
They ship from CA, my GLH ges here Thursday!
I don't know if there is an issue with buying from the site, I was just saying that because that is how I did it so I know it is issue free. I don't think you would get light bleaching at 8 inches from the 180w unless it was a pretty sensitive strain (I've had 3 kinds at 8 in flower and they were all fine), but at only 8 inches you might have issues with the plants growing slowly because they are pushing too much new growth without growing an appropriate amount of supporting fan leaves first (if you have to keep at 8in. try to give seedlings or small clones 1-2 weeks above ground and under CFL or something first.
