240w Blackstar Led or 400w HPS

[DrFever]

Where in the world are you that you haven't seen a 400w HPS before? The smallest I've seen is 35w, they come in a much wider variety of wattages than you think. And the reason LEDs have a lower lumen rating is because lumens measure light in the visible spectrum according to what we see (heavier emphasis on green and yellow). The further ends of the spectrum (red and blue) don't measure as high in terms of lumens but are utilized by plants more. The difference in spectrum output between HPS and LED is what accounts for the difference in lumen or lux readings from the lights.

fist off i have never grown under 5000 watts min i was given a few 400 watt set ups that look like comercial street light set ups and there MH the growth rate on them was like watching paint dry was so slow ) so if theres 400 hps then they must of come in last few years not sure but like i said Don;t quote me on that )
I use hordilux superBlue MH/Hps in one bulb i planted 3" clones into there final size pots and in 23 days under 5000 watts they were 43- 45 " tall ) heres a pic day 13 in flower there more like 50" tall under 8000 watts of Superblue and kicking Ass

 

[ink the world]

Over the last 6 months I used a Blackstar 240 watt LED and a 400 watt HPS in the flowering room of my small perpetual grow. They ran right next to each other, in the same room flowering plants grown from clones all coming from the same mother plants. So what Im saying here isnt my theory, hypothesis or uninformed opinion.

The 400 watt HPS won hands down in yield and flower density. The only area that the LED seems to overcome the HPS is in trichome production. The plants under the LED were consistently more frosted. Im not gonna say the LED wont flower, because I know firsthand that it can. It just isnt as strong as HID lighting. Anyone that claims that the 240 LED is equal to a 400 watt HPS is either flat out lying or hasnt done a real head to head comparison between the 2 lights.

That being said man, you really should consider spending a few extra buck and get a 600 watt HPS instead of the 400 watt. They produce way more light an do so more efficiently. Heres an example from HTG supply:

600 watt digital HPS = 95,000 lumens and costs $199
400 watt magnetic HPS = 55,000 lumens and costs $119

You'll pay more upfront but get much better results and have a much more energy efficient light going with a 600. Trust me after growing for a long time Ive never heard anyone say "I wish I had a smaller light."

 

[Legalize the Herb]

Thanks for the input everyone. This is a really important decision for me. The under stairs closet is around seventy inches tall. Around 4 ft wide and about 6 ft long. So im not that pushed for room. I like how the leds seem to produce frostier buds since im growing for quality over quantity. Im still looking for a good led at around 3 or 4 hundred dollars. So any links or coupons would be MUCH appreciated.

 

[KawiZZR]

fist off i have never grown under 5000 watts min i was given a few 400 watt set ups that look like comercial street light set ups and there MH the growth rate on them was like watching paint dry was so slow ) so if theres 400 hps then they must of come in last few years not sure but like i said Don;t quote me on that )
I use hordilux superBlue MH/Hps in one bulb i planted 3" clones into there final size pots and in 23 days under 5000 watts they were 43- 45 " tall ) heres a pic day 13 in flower there more like 50" tall under 8000 watts of Superblue and kicking Ass

I apologize for the way that sounded, I just reread my post and realized I probably sounded like a pretentious prick. I honestly was wondering where you are located as most electrical supply stores and hydro stores carry HPS lights in 400w and less. I never meant to imply that you don't know how to grow or anything like that. Btw your plants look really healthy and those nodes are pretty tight for such large vertical growth, I'm impressed.

 

[Legalize the Herb]

Do specific strains do better under led? Or maybe autoflower?

 

[Xsample]

Thanks for the input everyone. This is a really important decision for me. The under stairs closet is around seventy inches tall. Around 4 ft wide and about 6 ft long. So im not that pushed for room. I like how the leds seem to produce frostier buds since im growing for quality over quantity. Im still looking for a good led at around 3 or 4 hundred dollars. So any links or coupons would be MUCH appreciated.

I'm a noob with some experience and many contacts. I've always did small ops (current one is 4x8 plus 4x4 working area.

I feel sorry for you because you don't seem to get the hint about HID vs LED...

Up to this point, EVERYONE I know who actually tried LED have told me it is not worth the risk, time, money and the effort. If you were limited at a 2 x 3 hidden closet with kids around I'd say ok, but in your situation, I'd go with a switchable ballast HPS/MH.

If you go to your hardware store, you can buy 250 cfm 6" in-line duct fan for 40$... I have 2 x 1000 wats HPS running in my 4 x 12 sealed-up grow space and I gett all the heat out with 2 of these fans hooked to the top of my deflectors. Temp is always under 85f/25c

With one 600 hps, you can use only one fan and it should be enough. Switching from MH to HPS for Veg/Flower will give you not only quality, but some quantity to make up for the patience, investment and time. I calculated 2000 watts cost me 50-60$ per month in electricity... your looking at 20$ a month for a 600 watts.

BTW, air circualtion is crucial, even without heat issue... so you want to look into that anyways! I used to have a 1 x 600 watts setup with only a 80 cfm 4" inline duct fan (25$ at the HW store) . Not only it worked well, but I was also controlling odors with that fan by adding a rigged-up Bounce filter at the exhaust point. Except for the fact that it looked like I was doing laundry 24/7, it worked good!

I have been looking at LED technology for awhile now... it's improving all the time and I don't know all the latest stuff... but I'm just trying to prevent you from regretting your purchase. Some who was for the LEDs had a point earlier... If you are going to go LEDs... go for the best... The rest is, for a fact, not worth it!

 

[Dennis Rodman]

HPS.

More penetration and bigger buds.
If you're not going to use a carbon filter, you can get away with using an 8" duct booster fan to cool your light.
consider an 8" cooltube with duct booster, you can get that for like 150$.
Call a ballast and bulb another 200$.

Thats about 350 for the setup.

 

[Legalize the Herb]

I'm a noob with some experience and many contacts. I've always did small ops (current one is 4x8 plus 4x4 working area.

I feel sorry for you because you don't seem to get the hint about HID vs LED...

Up to this point, EVERYONE I know who actually tried LED have told me it is not worth the risk, time, money and the effort. If you were limited at a 2 x 3 hidden closet with kids around I'd say ok, but in your situation, I'd go with a switchable ballast HPS/MH.

If you go to your hardware store, you can buy 250 cfm 6" in-line duct fan for 40$... I have 2 x 1000 wats HPS running in my 4 x 12 sealed-up grow space and I gett all the heat out with 2 of these fans hooked to the top of my deflectors. Temp is always under 85f/25c

With one 600 hps, you can use only one fan and it should be enough. Switching from MH to HPS for Veg/Flower will give you not only quality, but some quantity to make up for the patience, investment and time. I calculated 2000 watts cost me 50-60$ per month in electricity... your looking at 20$ a month for a 600 watts.

BTW, air circualtion is crucial, even without heat issue... so you want to look into that anyways! I used to have a 1 x 600 watts setup with only a 80 cfm 4" inline duct fan (25$ at the HW store) . Not only it worked well, but I was also controlling odors with that fan by adding a rigged-up Bounce filter at the exhaust point. Except for the fact that it looked like I was doing laundry 24/7, it worked good!

I have been looking at LED technology for awhile now... it's improving all the time and I don't know all the latest stuff... but I'm just trying to prevent you from regretting your purchase. Some who was for the LEDs had a point earlier... If you are going to go LEDs... go for the best... The rest is, for a fact, not worth it!

Most helpful post by far. I have been putting all my time into researching led lights. So now that i read over everyones posts, iv realized that most are reccomending hid setups. What would be the best setup for me and which site would have what i need? Thanks

 

[DrFever]

I apologize for the way that sounded, I just reread my post and realized I probably sounded like a pretentious prick. I honestly was wondering where you are located as most electrical supply stores and hydro stores carry HPS lights in 400w and less. I never meant to imply that you don't know how to grow or anything like that. Btw your plants look really healthy and those nodes are pretty tight for such large vertical growth, I'm impressed.

i undersand thats why i didnt go off blowing off smoke when i go to hydro stores i am in an out ASAP dont even bother looking at stuff just what i need its all cool you know theres all uses for all types of lighting just LED wont cover my area and i be dam if im even goin to try to do it i have a very green thumb and HPS gives me well over1160 dry grams per watt so why even try to change this grow you see in pics will yield me like 14 pounds
for like 600.00 in cost of electricity

 

[DrFever]

people it all comes down to yield at lowest cost possible FFS you people got to realize that sur eLED grow in VEg obviously but many led growers will honestly admitt that adding hps in flowering is what they do why is that ????? why fck around buy a min 600 watter MH and Hps tune in your growing abilities before spending stupid amounts of money for SHIT
i can guarntee you all i will smoke any i mean any LED grow in the world with HPS watt per watt lets go 50,000 watts i am game you know just sick of this shit of LED lmao its punk ass period here look at this like 32 days plants will finish 6 to 7 feet tall fck LED punk ass closet shit i can guarntee u i will have 2litre sized buds on my girls

 

[Legalize the Herb]

Thats all fine and dandy dr fever. Its great that you can grow so much. But that setup matches absolutely nothing in the specs of my setup. I didn't start this thread to have it turned into a war on led vs hps. You probably should have posted that under advanced marijuana cultivation, because by the way you boast you seem to think your advanced.

 

[spex420]

blackstar 240 does have 3w leds is only 200$ the spectra however is 180w and is 500$ which is the better light blackstar! blackstar 240 is also the #1 selling led panel on the market today so... nuff said

Edit:the #2 best selling on the market is the blackstar 400 400w and still cheaper then that spectra they make good products and are known for their reliability and value