Help with LED's

Olive Drab Green said:

Whether you spend 50 or 500 you burn 450w?

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No I meant 450 usd in power costs that would be burning money. However my calc has gone wrong because it was not adding the efficiency, now it was 1%. A better calc would have been 50% so that adds up another 4 months so it will take a year to get a more expensive self built cob system to pay itself off.Also it is dependent how big the grow room would be.

Maybe it is a different way of looking at things and prices. For me it makes sense, for you it does not. I respect that is how it is.
Happy growing! Cheers.

With a small grow on a small budget, just stick with hps. Cheap, effective, done.

If you're looking to build something yourself led may be worthwhile, but even then you will spend more than you would on a hps setup.

Boatguy said:

With a small grow on a small budget, just stick with hps. Cheap, effective, done.

If you're looking to build something yourself led may be worthwhile, but even then you will spend more than you would on a hps setup.

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Fuck no. Cheap? I get about the same PPFD as a 600w HPS using only 270w in a 4x2. HIDs will definitely rape your electric bill, especially when you have to factor in AC on top of the 400-1000w bulb you'll most likely be using. Initial cost isn't bad, but the use if it is just madness. At least it returns well, though, compared to Tryguy's LEDs.

HIDs are on their way out, not too, too long from now. Legal states are already starting to regulate their usage.

Tryguy said:

No I meant 450 usd in power costs that would be burning money. However my calc has gone wrong because it was not adding the efficiency, now it was 1%. A better calc would have been 50% so that adds up another 4 months so it will take a year to get a more expensive self built cob system to pay itself off.Also it is dependent how big the grow room would be.

Maybe it is a different way of looking at things and prices. For me it makes sense, for you it does not. I respect that is how it is.
Happy growing! Cheers.

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It'll take a year to pay $615 off for 3 lights total? Dude. You are just gushing nonsense now. C'mon. You clearly aren't very sure of what you are talking about. You would look more respectable and intelligent if you just admit that you have no clue, rather than stand by these half-incoherent assertions. You're pulling random numbers out of your fourth point of contact, and everything else you are saying makes even less sense than the numbers do.

i honestly think about it like this the more i haves the less i have to get gouged trying to find some when i run out. More bud now = less money spent finding bud= more money for lights. Also it shouldn't takes you a year to pay off 615 in lights if you get an extra 2 or 3 zips from the cobs that covers your light cost. just my 2 cents

Dopaw13 said:

i honestly think about it like this the more i haves the less i have to get gouged trying to find some when i run out. More bud now = less money spent finding bud= more money for lights. Also it shouldn't takes you a year to pay off 615 in lights if you get an extra 2 or 3 zips from the cobs that covers your light cost. just my 2 cents

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Exactly my point. This dude thinks this is viable:


while people who use COBs need to wear eye protection because according to him, they're essentially high powered lasers.

Didn't mean to start an argument, haha.

I appreciate all the advice, going to take a look and read up on this cob led you guys talked about.

My budget is pretty small, really want to keep it under $500. But my area I'm growing in is quite large. I was going to eventually build 2-3 grow tents (diy pvc/panda) in my basement. Each tent being 4'x8' or something. Having about 4 medium to large plants in each. Well... that's the end goal.

Hey Olive DG,

When you said I can spend a little more if I can afford the vipar, which site are you going to? Any of the "good" cob led companies on amazon? Searching gives me these random supposed "cob led" but it seems like this is what got me in trouble in the first place.... haha

Olive Drab Green said:

Exactly my point. This dude thinks this is viable:
View attachment 3831455

while people who use COBs need to wear eye protection because according to him, they're essentially high powered lasers.

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You are being belligerent and not answering the OP's questions. I did. On a limited budget their is no good choice of led.

Watt for watt, dollar for dollar, HID wins

Sorry, but watt for watt, COB's destroy HID.

Magius13 said:

Didn't mean to start an argument, haha.

I appreciate all the advice, going to take a look and read up on this cob led you guys talked about.

My budget is pretty small, really want to keep it under $500. But my area I'm growing in is quite large. I was going to eventually build 2-3 grow tents (diy pvc/panda) in my basement. Each tent being 4'x8' or something. Having about 4 medium to large plants in each. Well... that's the end goal.

Hey Olive DG,

When you said I can spend a little more if I can afford the vipar, which site are you going to? Any of the "good" cob led companies on amazon? Searching gives me these random supposed "cob led" but it seems like this is what got me in trouble in the first place.... haha

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https://www.tastyled.com/

I use 3 T1s in a 4x2, but that setup can cover up to a 4.5x4.5 without issue.

Boatguy said:

You are being belligerent and not answering the OP's questions. I did. On a limited budget their is no good choice of led.

Watt for watt, dollar for dollar, HID wins

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I am not being belligerent. I am just making sure OP knows that Tryguy's suggestion is not viable. Stop being a child. You can't whine about stupid shit like a kid if you're going to grow cannabis plants. Only grown-ups are allowed. So, grow up, suck it up, or shut up.

Also, COBs really do crush HIDs with less wattage.

Olive Drab Green said:

https://www.tastyled.com/

I use 3 T1s in a 4x2, but that setup can cover up to a 4.5x4.5 without issue.

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Dang, that is a little bit out of my price range. Do you know what cob led they use? I might have to go the DIY cob led route. I'm assuming tastyled is full spectrum, etc

Magius13 said:

Dang, that is a little bit out of my price range. Do you know what cob led they use? I might have to go the DIY cob led route. I'm assuming tastyled is full spectrum, etc

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Just call it a COB, for future reference (I don't mean that in any rude way.)

For the T1-V196 they use a Seventh Generation Bridgelux Vero29C, 3500k, 90 CRI, 36.8v(?), and the driver is a Meanwell LPF-90D-54 with a max amperage of 1670mA.

COBs are always full spectrum. Anything white peaks naturally in reds and blues and such. Anything with funky blurple colors uses bands. I think like, 6-11 band? Forget how that works.

Olive Drab Green said:

Just call it a COB, for future reference (I don't mean that in any rude way.)

For the T1-V196 they use a Seventh Generation Bridgelux Vero29C, 3500k, 90 CRI, 36.8v(?), and the driver is a Meanwell LPF-90D-54 with a max amperage of 1670mA.

COBs are always full spectrum. Anything white peaks naturally in reds and blues and such. Anything with funky blurple colors uses bands. I think like, 6-11 band? Forget how that works.

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No offense taken. I really really appreciate your help man, thanks! Gonna go look up those cobs/prices/diy guides now, haha.... lotta reading to do.

Magius13 said:

No offense taken. I really really appreciate your help man, thanks! Gonna go look up those cobs/prices/diy guides now, haha.... lotta reading to do.

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Look, you'll find guys that'll swear by hps & the same can be said for LED.
They'll never agree which is best.

Long story short, my advice is price around & take into consideration you've to pay to power the light.
Cob is probably your best bet all around to be honest.
I'm working on a new grow room & plan to kit it out with cob lights, putting away my hps.
I'd listen to @Olive Drab Green, he does know what he's talking about with theses cobs.

Cobs can be pretty expensive though, there's a guy on here can fill you in better on cobs that me, but you could build your own to suit your budget & add more by building more to it if need be? Not uncommon, you'll find DIY cob setups on YouTube, here, other sites, etc.
Why not have the best, yet spend less?
All growing starts with a good light, if you don't have that your only wasting your time & money.

Whatever you choose to do, all the best with it man.

Captain Keg said:

Look, you'll find guys that'll swear by hps & the same can be said for LED.
They'll never agree which is best.

Long story short, my advice is price around & take into consideration you've to pay to power the light.
Cob is probably your best bet all around to be honest.
I'm working on a new grow room & plan to kit it out with cob lights, putting away my hps.
I'd listen to @Olive Drab Green, he does know what he's talking about with theses cobs.

Cobs can be pretty expensive though, there's a guy on here can fill you in better on cobs that me, but you could build your own to suit your budget & add more by building more to it if need be? Not uncommon, you'll find DIY cob setups on YouTube, here, other sites, etc.
Why not have the best, yet spend less?
All growing starts with a good light, if you don't have that your only wasting your time & money.

Whatever you choose to do, all the best with it man.

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I appreciate the love. Thank you.

I mean if you are strapped for cash you could go DIY but then you have to have all the tools etc. So it kind of depends with an HID light it is cheaper but gets hotter the whole point of the COB led is that you are getting like 15 - 20% more actual useable photons and less heat coming off the lights which save you in ac bills getting a chiller for your rez etc. But its up to you go onto alibaba message jerry with your room sizes and how many cobs you are going to need he will get you an estimate if you need alot of light you will get a huge break ordering in bulk. like a CXB3590 is like 50 ish dollars depending where you go i asked about a small light just 2 cobs quoted me at 36 bucks a cob so with meanwell lpc60-1400 and heatsinks thermal pads all that came out to 180 bucks with the 40 dollars shipping thats for 100w go look at some Growmau5 vids on you tube his DIY playlist tells you about the different things you need to look for when buying a light.

No one on a budget should be looking at cree chips imo. just silly.

Shugglet said:

No one on a budget should be looking at cree chips imo. just silly.

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At this point, if you can source Vero29Cs in 90 CRI/3500k, I'm finding they are slightly more powerful (~100 more PPFD/~1000 extra lumens) than the 80 CRI/3500k CXB3590s, and I might be wrong, but I believe Veros are cheaper? If they are, even more reason to go that route. At least until or unless Cree comes out with a new chip.

Olive Drab Green said:

Also, here's a chart that depicts how every 100 units of PPFD correlates to photosynthesis, in case anyone's curious:

View attachment 3831291

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that chart is based on response to a monochromatic deep red LED. it may not be applicable to a broad spectrum light. seems even high end manufacturers can't agree on the best light. but this debate is entertaining. I was once young and thought I had all the answers but time and experience taught me differently. seems like starting with a couple of cheap LEDs like these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HFZ3PC2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=AW7UKM9ED6GM&coliid=I9YK0BXT2T3TG until you learn to grow and learn more about lighting may be a good option. 2 may be good for 4 small plants. the LED crowd is a small but very vocal minority.