churchhaze

Well-Known Member
sure they have, dont you read their ads?
Oh, I see now... Sarcasm! (over my head). I was wondering how you could possibly think even a 100% efficient 100W lamp could compete with as much dissipation of a 400W HPS. (you'd need a ~128% efficient lamp assuming 400W HPS is 32% efficiency.). I guess I should have figured you knew better.

Edit: I know I may be oversimplifying... but "shooting down", no IR, and clever use of mirrors ... it's literally just smoke and mirrors. It makes a difference, but please...
 
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pop22

Well-Known Member
Even cheap, Chinese LED growlights ( NOT those stupid bulb type ) are better than CFL. With CFL, you think your getting off cheap, but your not. Shitty efficiency, very short life span for growing ( you may not be avle to tell by looking at them, but they ARE getting weaker, in fact, tests have shown they can lose 10-15% of their output in the first 30 days! Replace $20-$40 worth od CFL every 3 months and.......where is the savings? But an LED then save to get a real light!




That product claims it's a replacement for a 400W HPS lamp while only drawing 140W. Even 140W of underdriven top bin cxb wouldn't be able to replace a 400W HPS. Bullshit claim!

If startup cost is your biggest issue (which it seems like it is), LED might not be the best choice for you. That being said, CFL is crap.
 

TigerSquad

Active Member
Even cheap, Chinese LED growlights ( NOT those stupid bulb type ) are better than CFL. With CFL, you think your getting off cheap, but your not. Shitty efficiency, very short life span for growing ( you may not be avle to tell by looking at them, but they ARE getting weaker, in fact, tests have shown they can lose 10-15% of their output in the first 30 days! Replace $20-$40 worth od CFL every 3 months and.......where is the savings? But an LED then save to get a real light!
I'm begging to see that. I have a few less added to the mid. A red blue spec spotlight from ace. 20$ works better for veg tho. And I have a 2 tube full spec Led from home depo. Now they both suck compared to others but I am getting some results to my set up. I have added 2 or 3 1600 lumn led sticks and plan to add more soon. As well as a few hi watt full spec less it's cree brand and anything up to 50$ is do able but cheaper is better but it does cost quility and I understand that but one day at a time right
 

pop22

Well-Known Member
With the price of the Citizen 1212 at $12 - $14, you could build a light with 2 to 4 chips On a bar type heatsink, run at 500 - 700ma and have a cheap LED veg light that won't lose ouput like cfl, etc. Hell you could build a 4 chip veg light for $100 or less!

I've used cfl, and T5, still do when I need a quick, temporary light. But eventually all will be replace by leds, which will last 10x longer!
 

CobKits

Well-Known Member
obligatory $5 A19 bump.throw away (actually recycle) those toxic low-efficiency CFLs before you break one and contaminate your house with mercury
 

TigerSquad

Active Member
obligatory $5 A19 bump.throw away (actually recycle) those toxic low-efficiency CFLs before you break one and contaminate your house with mercury
Well its not enought to do much damage unless you eat it lol. But yeah ive made a switch i relized that all the shit from the store costed me about the same as 1 125w full spec cfl. And a just added 600w MH fixture (making my buds happy) i plan on completely going to cobs. I def see the advantage but do they produce the same as their mh\hps equivalent? I want the lower heat so i can build them inside an enclosure right now all 4 of my plants are umder the mh fixture with the cfl down the center of the plants. (too hot for my grow box)
 

TigerSquad

Active Member
With the price of the Citizen 1212 at $12 - $14, you could build a light with 2 to 4 chips On a bar type heatsink, run at 500 - 700ma and have a cheap LED veg light that won't lose ouput like cfl, etc. Hell you could build a 4 chip veg light for $100 or less!

I've used cfl, and T5, still do when I need a quick, temporary light. But eventually all will be replace by leds, which will last 10x longer!
Ive made this discovery lol
 

glani

Member
I know I'm late, but if youre buying lights on a budget, avoid stores! eBay is hands down your best option. I'll list a few lights I got from eBay:
105 watt 6500k cfl = 5 pack for $30 and a 3 pack for $21.
600 watt metal halide kit = $80
4 ft 8-bulb T5 = $90
125 watt cfl 2100k bloombulb = $15
400 watt HPS = $70
HPS and MH bulbs 400 and 600 watt = $10
Replacement bulbs for T5 = $23 for all 8

eBay is a buyer's market. Stores are seller's markets. Just make sure the seller has a high score. And shop around. I get all my grow shit from eBay, minus seeds of course lol for that ive been going to Linda Seeds. Good luck.
 

glani

Member
Perhaps you should post some good info then. Your first post missed the mark.
Dude actually said he could only afford store bought lights. EBay lights are cheaper and better. Yep, info that leads you to better products for less money is generally considered good info ;)
 
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