critique of cheapo-discreeto LED start-up idea please!

pitchforksandtorches

pitchforksandtorches

Well-Known Member
Hokay, so i'm finally getting back in the game.... all avenues of where and how have been gone over and leave me making a disguised grow "in plain sight" and all that. I don't have the luxury of using HID and a cool tube and my size of growing area is pretty fixed - so this is what i have to deal with:

Max space is 1.07 m high, max width 1.07m, depth 1.07 max, though i may reduce this depth to about 0.8m. Obvs this is just for percy.

I was initially going to go CFL, as LED just confused me, but a bit of research later i'm changing my mind.


So, this is the idea, 3 or 4 plants, probs only about 8 inches soil depth, but square tubs that are plenty wide for root growth... reason for shallow soil is due to lack of overall height of growspace, hopefully mitigated by the width of the pots.

I'll scrog the bejayzus out of them. i'm, sure i need to keep them as low as poss and i'm happy that i can do this (done it before etc)

I'm on a tight budget for the first one and looking at light options.. and i need to know if my suggestion will cover a 1x1m footprint, where the lights will be max 20 cm from my babies.

So possible light options so far (tight budget, can go higher on 2nd grow, but very little wiggle room on the first):

A mars hydro 300 (i know it aint 300w too)- will this cover the area adequately? My reading seems to say no, also worries that it may burn at a short distance (10-20cm)

Or

Use 2 UFO 210w's staggered a little, ie: one each prob over 2 plants


yup, i'm loking at spending 60 quid on lights, so you can understand my scepticism, been looking at grow reports for MH300's and UFO's and it seems to be that halfway through folk seem to crap themselves and buy more lights. Not a good sign, but it's not conclusive either and i'm bored of reading threads that change light conditions several pages of reading later. Grrr.

I do have a couple of red 125 cfls available that i can use to boost light, but i'm a trying to do this with minimal outlay and power. Opinions would really help, but dont be going " you need hps bro", it's just aint an option right now :)

Will this be "sufficient" (i dont need great, i'll build up to it) or have i got my head up my arse?
 
pitchforksandtorches

pitchforksandtorches

Well-Known Member
ah, forgot to say, in Coir, dont worry about all the air, temps and ting, i'm good with that, just need opinions on the LEDs really.

My head is too full of other randomw stuff right now to learn how to build LEDs etc only to burn my lovely house down too ;)

Thanks
 
C

claypipe69

Well-Known Member
The new ufo`s have a good colour range now . this is what I found about specifications Only $52 AU Its 0nly 7'' inchs round.

More Efficient: 100% of the power input for LED grow lights is used for your plant chlorophyll production
More Energy efficient.Professional colour proportion-Perfect 9 bands spectrum(IR & UV included) for faster growth and maximum yield
Circuit protection- Other LEDs still work when one out(No Zener required)
Powerful Cooling System- Quality metal housing with appropriate vent design, built-in quiet fans, low heat
Powerful Hanging Kit-4 strong wires and hooks for easy & secure installation
Ideal for gardening enthusiast to produce high quality harvest
Technical Specification:
Power: 150W
Light Source: 50pcs * 3W Epileds LEDs
Light Spectrum: Red (630nm,660nm)/ Blue (430nm,460nm)/Yellow(590nm)/Orange(610nm)/White(6500K,12500K)/Infrared (730nm)/ Ultraviolet (430nm)
Beam Angle: 120 Degree
Voltage: AC 100~240V
Frequency: 50/60Hz
Electricity: 550mA
Plug Standard: AU
Working Temperature: -20~40 Degree Celsius
Housing Material: High Quality Aluminum and Iron
Len Material: Glass
Appearance: White Round Shape
Size: approx 175*60mm/7inch*2.3inch,165cm/65inch Cable
Lifespan: 50,000hours above
Certified by CE, ROHs

Yeah there`s a lot of people who think little of the china made stuff. there is also a lot of people swear by them.
Mars lights are said to be good, looking through the other threads they work well.

This light has the UV / IR Which some dearer lights dont,

for small spaces like yours give the China made a go
:weed::joint::bigjoint: Happy gardening:leaf::hump::leaf: heres a link its oz ebay should be on ebay uk
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150W-Epileds-UFO-50-LED-Grow-Light-Full-Spectrum-Lamp-Plants-Veg-Hydroponic-Fan/321937158812?rt=nc&_soffid=5018724408&_soffType=OrderSubTotalOffer&_trksid=p5731.m3795
 
pitchforksandtorches

pitchforksandtorches

Well-Known Member
Yup, they do seem to tick the right boxes when i look at the write-ups in the ebay ads etc, and i love the idea of added IR too.
There is a 216w version (72*3) of the UFO you linked and i reckon 2 of those is where i'm kinda leaning in preference to just one of the MH300 (comparable price for 2x216s/mh300), just as i reckon i can spread the light out more that way and maybe get the plants closer too due to lower individual wattage. I can add more light on 2nd grow and use the ufo's as sides/supplementals so the flexibility appeals.

Cheers for the reply, i think i'm going to suck it and see, then hopefully write some useful stuff :)
 
justsmokedope

justsmokedope

Well-Known Member
Look at growmau5 posts buy a small cxb3590 kit. Don't rush and buy some shit Chinese light with cheep LEDs for say 200 /300 spend the same cash on one of the cxb3590 kits just look at growmau5 vids
 
pitchforksandtorches

pitchforksandtorches

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the heads up, it's interesting but just not on the menu right now.

in the UK a 100w one of those will set me back about £220 by the looks of things, and there's no way I can grow in a 1m x 1m with that. So i'm buying more than one of them?

Like I said in the OP, this first grow is on the cheap.... i'm probs gonna get a couple of mars 300's for now, I can look at more expensive or involved set ups for the future, but spending cash I aint got? Not an option man :)
 
pitchforksandtorches

pitchforksandtorches

Well-Known Member
Yurps! I can forgive peeps not remembering what the OP says on a smoker's forum though :eyesmoke:

looks like I can afford 2 of the mars 300's, or 4 of the 216w UFO's now anyway, makes me feel a lot better about light coverage.

Just reading and watching as many grow reports as poss now to make a choice. Sadly I cant find anywhere I can buy them with cash over the counter yet but meh, only growing small scale so I don't expect any trouble as I aint worth the effort and t'internet will have to do.
 
verny

verny

Well-Known Member
pitchforksandtorches said:
Hokay, so i'm finally getting back in the game.... all avenues of where and how have been gone over and leave me making a disguised grow "in plain sight" and all that. I don't have the luxury of using HID and a cool tube and my size of growing area is pretty fixed - so this is what i have to deal with:

Max space is 1.07 m high, max width 1.07m, depth 1.07 max, though i may reduce this depth to about 0.8m. Obvs this is just for percy.

I was initially going to go CFL, as LED just confused me, but a bit of research later i'm changing my mind.


So, this is the idea, 3 or 4 plants, probs only about 8 inches soil depth, but square tubs that are plenty wide for root growth... reason for shallow soil is due to lack of overall height of growspace, hopefully mitigated by the width of the pots.

I'll scrog the bejayzus out of them. i'm, sure i need to keep them as low as poss and i'm happy that i can do this (done it before etc)

I'm on a tight budget for the first one and looking at light options.. and i need to know if my suggestion will cover a 1x1m footprint, where the lights will be max 20 cm from my babies.

So possible light options so far (tight budget, can go higher on 2nd grow, but very little wiggle room on the first):

A mars hydro 300 (i know it aint 300w too)- will this cover the area adequately? My reading seems to say no, also worries that it may burn at a short distance (10-20cm)

Or

Use 2 UFO 210w's staggered a little, ie: one each prob over 2 plants


yup, i'm loking at spending 60 quid on lights, so you can understand my scepticism, been looking at grow reports for MH300's and UFO's and it seems to be that halfway through folk seem to crap themselves and buy more lights. Not a good sign, but it's not conclusive either and i'm bored of reading threads that change light conditions several pages of reading later. Grrr.

I do have a couple of red 125 cfls available that i can use to boost light, but i'm a trying to do this with minimal outlay and power. Opinions would really help, but dont be going " you need hps bro", it's just aint an option right now :)

Will this be "sufficient" (i dont need great, i'll build up to it) or have i got my head up my arse?
Click to expand...
dude..i,m trying with this.cant vouch for it yet.but beats the lights i got from ikea.
http://www.lazada.com.ph/yika-500-led-grow-light-bulb-red-blue-flower-veg-planthydroponics-spectrum-lamp-3526210.html
 
C

claypipe69

Well-Known Member
I get ya I use a load&go visa card you can get em from the post office they are easy an nothing on your bank account :peace:
 
pitchforksandtorches

pitchforksandtorches

Well-Known Member
verny - thanks for the input, I think I just have to make a choice between the two options now

Claypipe - aye, i'm looking into all that now, there are a few pick-up type options in the uk for ebay etc.
 
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