IF you are new to LED and want help choosing what to buy, POST HERE!

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haze182

Member
Hello everyone

I want to purchase a LED light and I would like to know what things I should check before...
My space is 80cm*50cm (1.6feet*2.6feet) and I got the Specification for 209W panel I'm considering buying.
you think it will be too strong for the place i have?
it's important to have several wave Length? ... how many is good enough?
thanks.

pic.jpg
 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
http://www.ebay.com/itm/700W-LED-Grow-Light-8-Band-3W-Veg-Flower-LEDs-Hydroponic-Pro-LED-Grow-Lamp-Panel-/280900917546

Anything wrong with one of these? Found someone selling the same one for 350. Looking at replacing my 400 watt hps.
Anything wrong? No .....would I use them?....., No:-P I don't recommend Chinese (alibaba) panels anymore due to longevity issues

Hello everyone

I want to purchase a LED light and I would like to know what things I should check before...
My space is 80cm*50cm (1.6feet*2.6feet) and I got the Specification for 209W panel I'm considering buying.
you think it will be too strong for the place i have?
it's important to have several wave Length? ... how many is good enough?
thanks.

View attachment 2775100
Buy two new Hans panels........will work great in that space for the $$, hard to beat IMO.
 
this is the situation; ok so in the middle of the first grow. Setup is: 3x3 grow tent, two 4' four bulb t8 lights, a makeshift 4 cfl bulb chandelier, three 12" round pots, miracle grow potting soil, and fox farm nuts. about 2 weeks into flowering, t8's have 6500k bulbs and 4 bulb chandelier is 2700k. lowest bulbs for the t8's i can find are 3000k. Thinking probably a small disappointing yield :(, any suggestions on how to salvage/maximize this grow?

Next grow i was considering some LED lights like the links below combined with a hydro system. question is how much light do is needed for a maximum yield for 4 mature plants within a 3x3 tent? which light to buy? pretty much on a $800ish budget...

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Hydro-Power-Watts-Flowering/dp/B0096IT9BS/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img

http://www.amazon.com/Lighthouse-Hydro-BlackStar-Flowering-500-watt/dp/B004E63710/ref=sr_1_25?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1376449507&sr=1-25&keywords=led+grow+light

http://www.amazon.com/Generic-10band-Spectrum-Vegetative-Flowering/dp/B00DPR1THI/ref=sr_1_5?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1376450589&sr=1-5&keywords=led+grow+light
 
Hey guys, I wanted to give my 2cents. I have been using the 600mx LED from SecondSunLab. Not trying to advertise but I am extremely happy with it. I got it because of the 15% off for posting grow journals but I dont know if they still offer it. Its 5800 PAR lumen with 5 watt and 90 watt chips. 600watts rated with 370watts actual draw. Here is a pic of my current grow, Im on day 10 :D

day 10.jpg
 

LEDmania

Active Member
Well, PAR is PAR, lumen is lumen, I have not seen any LED lights output 5800 PAR readings yet, lumen is almost nothing to the LED grow lihgts, say blue LEDs output 10-20 lumens per watt, and green LEDs output 500 lumens per watt...so far no one has engaged green spectrum as a main light source.
By the way, the secondsunlab grow light is a rebranded GEHL LED grow light from China.
http://www.gehl-led.com/products/Noah-4-167.html
 

kombucha20

Well-Known Member
With further research I think I narrowed my light selection down
I'm gonna be growing in a closet roughly 2feet*2.5feet*4.5feet
And I'm kinda torn between the 2 hands-panel and the sgs-160
The Hanes-panel is a little cheaper and it will be 2 panels compared to the 1 sgs-160
I'm planning on doing 6 plants hydro in one of those Rubbermaid kinda things and will have a Couple cfl's in there too, just looking for thoughts on these to lights, or if there's a better option for around the same price, I'm hoping to order in the next day or too,
Thanks
 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
this is the situation; ok so in the middle of the first grow. Setup is: 3x3 grow tent, two 4' four bulb t8 lights, a makeshift 4 cfl bulb chandelier, three 12" round pots, miracle grow potting soil, and fox farm nuts. about 2 weeks into flowering, t8's have 6500k bulbs and 4 bulb chandelier is 2700k. lowest bulbs for the t8's i can find are 3000k. Thinking probably a small disappointing yield :(, any suggestions on how to salvage/maximize this grow?

Next grow i was considering some LED lights like the links below combined with a hydro system. question is how much light do is needed for a maximum yield for 4 mature plants within a 3x3 tent? which light to buy? pretty much on a $800ish budget...

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Hydro-Power-Watts-Flowering/dp/B0096IT9BS/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img

http://www.amazon.com/Lighthouse-Hydro-BlackStar-Flowering-500-watt/dp/B004E63710/ref=sr_1_25?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1376449507&sr=1-25&keywords=led+grow+light

http://www.amazon.com/Generic-10band-Spectrum-Vegetative-Flowering/dp/B00DPR1THI/ref=sr_1_5?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1376450589&sr=1-5&keywords=led+grow+light
^^well with an $800ish budget and that space I would go with http://www.californialightworks.com/Products_SolarStorm.htm 400w solarflare, a little more money but the par/umol readings are very high. great build quality and uv-b bulb option to increase potency. get sunglasses:)

With further research I think I narrowed my light selection down
I'm gonna be growing in a closet roughly 2feet*2.5feet*4.5feet
And I'm kinda torn between the 2 hands-panel and the sgs-160
The Hanes-panel is a little cheaper and it will be 2 panels compared to the 1 sgs-160
I'm planning on doing 6 plants hydro in one of those Rubbermaid kinda things and will have a Couple cfl's in there too, just looking for thoughts on these to lights, or if there's a better option for around the same price, I'm hoping to order in the next day or too,
Thanks
around your price those 2 are very good options. 2 Hans will give more coverage area obviously, but area51 will give higher par/umol #'s over it's "core" ...it depends on your growing technique.
 

lospsi

Active Member
I am having a big trouble to decide what led suits me best.. I have already the 135 w blackstar and i did my first grow with 2 plants and not so pleasant results, i am thinking to purchase another blackstar or a 135 w ufo bloom booster from HTG(which one would you prefer?) and i would like to go with 3 plants this time,is it possible or do i need a bigger led?thnx
 

Eraserhead

Well-Known Member
I like the Hans panel, I've sent a few people to him when the SGS160 wasn't appropriate for their grow area.

Each Hans panel covers roughly 24"x24", and each SGS160 covers ideally 24"x36". 2 Hans panels covers 24"x48", but you need to keep your plants relatively short. With the SGS, you may lose 12"x24" coverage vs. 2 Hans, but you'll gain 18" of penetration.

So, if you have limited height to work with, get the Hans definitely. If you have the height to work with and plan to grow a little taller plants, the SGS is a good choice.

Oh, come October, the SGS is getting an upgrade. Cree XTE 4500k and Cree XPE2 Red. 175w at the plug. Getting lenses made for them right now. Too bad I can't use the same lenses I have now, the XTE and XPE2 are a little bigger, barely, but that tiny bit makes it not compatible.

Also have a smaller expandable light in the works, hopefully ready by the end of the year. Each light will cover exactly 12"x12", you can connect them lengthwise to make a 48"x6" panel (or longer if you wish), so each modular light hovers exactly over each 12"x12" area. Use 4x 48" over a 4x4 area, you have uniform 1000 Umol'/s over the entire area @ 12", using 560w total. These will use all white LEDs with Intematix phosphors.

^^well with an $800ish budget and that space I would go with http://www.californialightworks.com/Products_SolarStorm.htm 400w solarflare, a little more money but the par/umol readings are very high. great build quality and uv-b bulb option to increase potency. get sunglasses:)



around your price those 2 are very good options. 2 Hans will give more coverage area obviously, but area51 will give higher par/umol #'s over it's "core" ...it depends on your growing technique.
 

jcmjrt

Well-Known Member
I am having a big trouble to decide what led suits me best.. I have already the 135 w blackstar and i did my first grow with 2 plants and not so pleasant results, i am thinking to purchase another blackstar or a 135 w ufo bloom booster from HTG(which one would you prefer?) and i would like to go with 3 plants this time,is it possible or do i need a bigger led?thnx

Maybe I don't understand...you got a blackstar and didn't get good results and now you are thinking about buying another blackstar? Look at something that's quality. Yes, it'll cost more up front...but really what is more expensive in the long run? You haven't said anything about your growing style but read Eraserhead's comments above and pick one of the two panels - Hans or area51 and you'll be happier.
Also, if you haven't already read at least the first few pages of this sticky, then take a few minutes.
 

kombucha20

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info, I don't quite understand what you mean by gaining 18'' of penetration with the sgs-160
My grow box from the ground to the very top I think is around 5 feet, and my grow method will be a hydro system, it will be a shared root system if that makes any sence, I have a Rubbermaid container with 6 holes in the lid, I grew one grow before with it so I'm still pretty new with the whole thing

I Guess obviously I'm trying to get the best light to get the best yield for 6 plants in my grow box, both lights have pretty good reviews and hopfully I will own both at some point haha
 

Eraserhead

Well-Known Member
With the Han's panel, you get 24"x24" of coverage, and can grow 18" tall plants, though that can vary from strain to strain.

With the SGS, you get 24"x36" of coverage, and can grow 30-36" tall plants, which can vary from strain to strain.

Han's = 24"w x 24"d x 18"t = 6 cubic feet of growing area. @ 65w total draw, 10.88w per cubic foot.
SGS= 24"w x 36"d x 30"t = 15 cubic feet of growing area. @ 155w total draw, 10.33w per cubic foot.

They're about the same in the end, watt for watt.

Thanks for the info, I don't quite understand what you mean by gaining 18'' of penetration with the sgs-160
My grow box from the ground to the very top I think is around 5 feet, and my grow method will be a hydro system, it will be a shared root system if that makes any sence, I have a Rubbermaid container with 6 holes in the lid, I grew one grow before with it so I'm still pretty new with the whole thing

I Guess obviously I'm trying to get the best light to get the best yield for 6 plants in my grow box, both lights have pretty good reviews and hopfully I will own both at some point haha
 

lospsi

Active Member
Maybe I don't understand...you got a blackstar and didn't get good results and now you are thinking about buying another blackstar? Look at something that's quality. Yes, it'll cost more up front...but really what is more expensive in the long run? You haven't said anything about your growing style but read Eraserhead's comments above and pick one of the two panels - Hans or area51 and you'll be happier.
Also, if you haven't already read at least the first few pages of this sticky, then take a few minutes.
I didn't get good results cause i'm a noob and made terrible mistakes such as light leaks during flowering, got up in the defoliation thing (during flowering also),no perlite in the soil, so i don't think it was the blackstar,I think it did a hella of a job during veg, many tight nodes and no stretching at all, i lsted and made a beautiful bush,unfortunately i screwed up in flowering.. That's why i believe that with another ufo and improving my skills will have a descent yield,not sure about what kind of light though.
 

kombucha20

Well-Known Member
So would you think the sgs would be better suited in the 5 foot tall box -.5 of a foot for the light for 6 plants, or go with the bigger coverage area with the Hans-panel?

What if I had the Hans panel and some cfl's on the side too would I be able to grow taller plants then?
 

Eraserhead

Well-Known Member
How tall do you want to grow your plants?

If you have 60" to work with, subtract 12" for your growing container, 18" distance between the the plant tops and the SGS, 3" for the panel itself, another 3" for breathing room between the panel and tent top, that leaves you with 24" to grow a plant. Either light will work well with what you have to work with.

Honestly, you really wouldn't need CFLs with either choice, I think they'd be a waste of electricity in your situation.

So would you think the sgs would be better suited in the 5 foot tall box -.5 of a foot for the light for 6 plants, or go with the bigger coverage area with the Hans-panel?

What if I had the Hans panel and some cfl's on the side too would I be able to grow taller plants then?
 

puffenuff

Well-Known Member
Oh, come October, the SGS is getting an upgrade. Cree XTE 4500k and Cree XPE2 Red. 175w at the plug. Getting lenses made for them right now. Too bad I can't use the same lenses I have now, the XTE and XPE2 are a little bigger, barely, but that tiny bit makes it not compatible.

Also have a smaller expandable light in the works, hopefully ready by the end of the year. Each light will cover exactly Oi12"x12", you can connect them lengthwise to make a 48"x6" panel (or longer if you wish), so each modular light hovers exactly over each 12"x12" area. Use 4x 48" over a 4x4 area, you have uniform 1000 Umol'/s over the entire area @ 12", using 560w total. These will use all white LEDs with Intematix phosphors.
Yo, EH! Just wanted to say that the sgs is kicking some ass in my tent.

So what advantages will the sgs upgrade hold over the current model? And will it be possible to upgrade the current model with new leds and lenses? Or is it just a new panel?

The new expandable lights sound cool, any idea how much those will cost??
 

Eraserhead

Well-Known Member
Glad the light is working out for you.

The updated version advantages, there's a 13% increase in power draw, and a 35% increase in light intensity. Coverage will increase a little as well, as you'll need an extra few inches of height between it and plant tops.

The housing case will be identical (though I will be changing the color of it eventually, thinking of a brushed aluminum graphite finish), the circuit boards are identical. Upgrading from the 2013 SGS to the 2014 SGS will just be a matter of swapping out the circuit boards with the new LEDs, and swapping a 550mA driver for a 750mA driver (that part is optional). For those that want to upgrade, it'll be fairly inexpensive, compared to buying a whole new panel.

The expandable lights will be fairly costly for just 1 unit, but the prices will decrease as more are purchased. Probably will be about $125 shipped for 1 unit, just because of shipping. But for a set of 16 will be roughly $100 each shipped. These are all just estimations, if I can get the price down some, I will.

Yo, EH! Just wanted to say that the sgs is kicking some ass in my tent.

So what advantages will the sgs upgrade hold over the current model? And will it be possible to upgrade the current model with new leds and lenses? Or is it just a new panel?

The new expandable lights sound cool, any idea how much those will cost??
 

puffenuff

Well-Known Member
Sounds good to me! I'll probably jump on the upgrade parts when they are available. Please keep us posted.
 
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