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Billy bangalot

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AdmiralSurf said:
Yeah after spending countless hours scouring through multiple forums, I'm starting to fear I just paid double what I should have paid for my 3x3 tent. It seems like a whole bunch of people are killing it with the Mars II lights.

Other than warranty, I don't see why the A51 lights are double the price to cover the same footprint.

Mac vs PC?
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Hey dude, not a fanboy here, and I was basically in a similar mindset with the topled vs a51 lights. I don't have an A51, shit I don't even grow weed. So I have no dog in this fight. That said, here is why I think a51 is a superior light:

1. Topled does not name their diodes nor give you par/umol readings for their lights. I have always seen them as black dog clones. Some one just posted growers house umol readings for a black dog, not at all impressive.
A51 always gives you diodes, bins, and par readings. Pretty transparent

2. A51 uses top bin cree. Check out the spec sheet for the xte, it's fucking impressive. Again topled will not tell you shit

3. Topled has a sponsor thread on another stoner site. I am thinking this is where you have seen grow journals for them. I used to watch that thread closely, and at one point someone disssembled their light and found a bunch of metal shavings in it. They posted that there and it was deleted by topled within hours. So beware, that thread is prolly heavily edited to be favorable to topled.

4. A51 warranty is pretty sweet. U can upgrade their lights for like 2-300 bucks. To me, that is just unheard of. Return a topled light to china? Don't know, but sounds like a real PITA

5. This shit about topled using the a51 "spectrum". IMO (and I am not led master or anything). using a mostly white/some red is really only effective for a51 b/c of the insane efficiency of the cree diodes. Using shit diodes in ww, it's not going to be the same. IMO, you are better off using specific wavelengths if the diode efficiency is not there for white.

Anyway man, just throwing my .02 out there. Hopefully the a51 works out for ya.
 
AdmiralSurf

AdmiralSurf

Member
Billy bangalot said:
Hey dude, not a fanboy here, and I was basically in a similar mindset with the topled vs a51 lights. I don't have an A51, shit I don't even grow weed. So I have no dog in this fight. That said, here is why I think a51 is a superior light:

1. Topled does not name their diodes nor give you par/umol readings for their lights. I have always seen them as black dog clones. Some one just posted growers house umol readings for a black dog, not at all impressive.
A51 always gives you diodes, bins, and par readings. Pretty transparent

2. A51 uses top bin cree. Check out the spec sheet for the xte, it's fucking impressive. Again topled will not tell you shit
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If I had heard all that from EH, he might have had a lifetime customer. I'm sure the light will speak for itself. I actually believe it's going to be a spectacular panel, and I'm also glad to have gotten the top-tier in part quality.

Billy bangalot said:
3. Topled has a sponsor thread on another stoner site. I am thinking this is where you have seen grow journals for them. I used to watch that thread closely, and at one point someone disssembled their light and found a bunch of metal shavings in it. They posted that there and it was deleted by topled within hours. So beware, that thread is prolly heavily edited to be favorable to topled.
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Good to know. I'm a skeptic by nature and am still new to all these LED forums. Thus I had concerns that some forum-marketing might be going on. In fact, this is why I sought reassurance about my purchase in the first place.

Billy bangalot said:
4. A51 warranty is pretty sweet. U can upgrade their lights for like 2-300 bucks. To me, that is just unheard of. Return a topled light to china? Don't know, but sounds like a real PITA
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It was the primary factor in my purchase decision.

Billy bangalot said:
45. This shit about topled using the a51 "spectrum". IMO (and I am not led master or anything). using a mostly white/some red is really only effective for a51 b/c of the insane efficiency of the cree diodes. Using shit diodes in ww, it's not going to be the same. IMO, you are better off using specific wavelengths if the diode efficiency is not there for white.

Anyway man, just throwing my .02 out there. Hopefully the a51 works out for ya.
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Thank you for the info! This is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping to affirm. Again, just wish EH hadn't been such a freaking 'yeah-brah' about it. Looking forward to taking some superb photos for my upcoming journal using the white Crees.
 
Bad Karma

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
Wow, AdmiralSmurf, what happened?
I get the fact that you freaked out a little because you think that you over paid.
Trust me, and everyone else on here, you didn't.
The Mars II LED is a BlackDog knockoff, with no warranty (that I can see), from a generic website.
If that thing lasted more than 18 months, with out any major problems, I would be a-fucking-mazed!
Not to mention that the yield would be lacking due to the use of cheap, ineffective, diodes.
Like Eraserhead said though, it's you're money, spend it how you please.
You asked us for advice, we gave it, if you choose not to recognize it, that is your choice.
Good luck with whatever you do.

*EDIT* - Apparently we were posting at the same time Admiral, so I hadn't see your last post, when I was typing the above post. I'm glad to hear that your sticking with the XGS-190, you won't be sorry. Have a good grow, sir.
 
AdmiralSurf

AdmiralSurf

Member
Bad Karma said:
*EDIT* - Apparently we were posting at the same time Admiral, so I hadn't see your last post, when I was typing the above post. I'm glad to hear that your sticking with the XGS-190, you won't be sorry. Have a good grow, sir.
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Thanks BK. I apologize for making my entrance to these forums so dramatic. No hard feelings toward EH, as I am obviously busting his balls since he came into the discussion all hawty-twatty. I can see that the TopLED threads are clearly marketing campaigns. Wanted to make sure this one wasn't. I'll just try to think of EH like a Jesse James of LED lights, and myself as the guy who questioned his shiny new custom chopper.

EH,
I hope I didn't twist your nipple too much. I'm looking forward to the light, bruh. ;)
 
Spiko

Spiko

Member
hyroot said:
Tesla's have been recalled for the battery or charger starting fires on several cars. They are being investigated.
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All of those fires were caused by high impact collisions. They caught fire the same as most cars would in that situation. There was no recall.
 
Spiko

Spiko

Member
Billy bangalot said:
3. Topled has a sponsor thread on another stoner site. I am thinking this is where you have seen grow journals for them. I used to watch that thread closely, and at one point someone disssembled their light and found a bunch of metal shavings in it. They posted that there and it was deleted by topled within hours. So beware, that thread is prolly heavily edited to be favorable to topled.
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haha that was me. I was also banned from that forum for posting that. i took it to reddit.com\microgrowery where other users also reported metal shavings. I disputed my paypal charges and won.
 
AdmiralSurf

AdmiralSurf

Member
Spiko said:
haha that was me. I was also banned from that forum for posting that. i took it to reddit.com\microgrowery where other users also reported metal shavings. I disputed my paypal charges and won.
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All it took me was about 2 days of posting and a few days of scouring to determine that site is complete marketing BS. The site is lobbied heavily by PR staff and any journals using non-sponsored lights are promptly deleted. What a joke. I won't be returning there anymore.
 
AdmiralSurf

AdmiralSurf

Member
Javadog said:
Who?

There are often these requirements for sponsored sites.

The Shroomery, an excellent site, is the same.

JD
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Regardless of how excellent the site is, I'd rather steer clear of the paid-bias.

OK back to LEDs. Found a sweet article by the Mythbusters about Cree warm-whites being the best out there--> The Best LED Lightbulb is the Cree Warm White

I wonder how long before everyone just starts ditching the panels and starts throwing these LED bulbs into their CFL rigs?
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
AdmiralSurf said:
Regardless of how excellent the site is, I'd rather steer clear of the paid-bias.

OK back to LEDs. Found a sweet article by the Mythbusters about Cree warm-whites being the best out there--> The Best LED Lightbulb is the Cree Warm White

I wonder how long before everyone just starts ditching the panels and starts throwing these LED bulbs into their CFL rigs?
Click to expand...

https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/656542-flowering-cree-bulbs.html ,problem is that Cree stopped using xt-e warm white leds in these bulbs now to save costs:(
 
tallen

tallen

Well-Known Member
PSUAGRO. said:

problem is that Cree stopped using xt-e warm white leds in these bulbs now to save costs:(
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And you tell me this the day AFTER I go and buy a dozen for my veg & mommy tents? Oh well, I'm sure (hopefully) they still work good for my purposes.

Edit- If you don't think they're still good veg bulbs (I got both daylight and soft white) let me know now, they're still in the bag with the receipt.
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
tallen said:
And you tell me this the day AFTER I go and buy a dozen for my veg & mommy tents? Oh well, I'm sure (hopefully) they still work good for my purposes.

Edit- If you don't think they're still good veg bulbs (I got both daylight and soft white) let me know now, they're still in the bag with the receipt.
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Their fine for your purpose and the price you paid, no worries.......its just not what they used to be,I think their xb-d's now?bondsman and abiqua would know for sure as they have disassembled both models and are currently using them.
 
G

green.green

New Member
Billy bangalot said:
Hey dude, not a fanboy here, and I was basically in a similar mindset with the topled vs a51 lights. I don't have an A51, shit I don't even grow weed. So I have no dog in this fight. That said, here is why I think a51 is a superior light:

1. Topled does not name their diodes nor give you par/umol readings for their lights. I have always seen them as black dog clones. Some one just posted growers house umol readings for a black dog, not at all impressive.
A51 always gives you diodes, bins, and par readings. Pretty transparent

2. A51 uses top bin cree. Check out the spec sheet for the xte, it's fucking impressive. Again topled will not tell you shit

3. Topled has a sponsor thread on another stoner site. I am thinking this is where you have seen grow journals for them. I used to watch that thread closely, and at one point someone disssembled their light and found a bunch of metal shavings in it. They posted that there and it was deleted by topled within hours. So beware, that thread is prolly heavily edited to be favorable to topled.

4. A51 warranty is pretty sweet. U can upgrade their lights for like 2-300 bucks. To me, that is just unheard of. Return a topled light to china? Don't know, but sounds like a real PITA

5. This shit about topled using the a51 "spectrum". IMO (and I am not led master or anything). using a mostly white/some red is really only effective for a51 b/c of the insane efficiency of the cree diodes. Using shit diodes in ww, it's not going to be the same. IMO, you are better off using specific wavelengths if the diode efficiency is not there for white.

Anyway man, just throwing my .02 out there. Hopefully the a51 works out for ya.
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This is about as well said as I have seen on any forum. People still believe that a watt is a watt is a watt. How efficiently those watts are used is most of it. IMO the Mars II probably gets good results until it breaks but they aren't as efficient as their HID counterparts watt for watt let alone a well-made LED panel.
 
Spiko

Spiko

Member
green.green said:
they aren't as efficient as their HID counterparts watt for watt
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They run considerably cooler than HID and have eliminated the need to run a mini AC in my setup. That just about cuts my watts in half so I'm going to disagree with you on that front.
 
hyroot

hyroot

Well-Known Member
the cree globes run x-te and x-bd but its hit or miss on which you get.. chances are if you get them cheaper with utility rebates you will end up with x-bd but if they are full price they will be x-te... thats my theory anyway from what I have seen.

Philips makes a comprable A19 that's 10.5 watts using lumileds and they are cheaper than cree. You can get a 4 pasck of the philips ones for $35. They have a 5 or 6 year warranty. The philips ones have a higher cri too
 
B

Billy bangalot

Member
green.green said:
This is about as well said as I have seen on any forum. People still believe that a watt is a watt is a watt. How efficiently those watts are used is most of it. IMO the Mars II probably gets good results until it breaks but they aren't as efficient as their HID counterparts watt for watt let alone a well-made LED panel.
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Wow thanks! And I don't mean to bag on china/topled, I'm sure they work, for how long would be my concern. I also don't want to come across xenophobic either. Lots of quality shit comes out of china, but it's only as good as the quality control and r & d put into it.

Fwiw I run clw solar flares. My reason for going that route was 5 w diodes ( driven hard too) , easy returns, ok umol readings, and the owner gave an interview with growers house (I think) and he was super straight up- won me over just by answering some simple ?'s. they also use American diodes (ledengin or something) but the specs are woefully behind the newer cree diodes.

A51 is the only other company I have seen that is this transparent, and appears to have a superior product ( though some diyers here have done some damn fine work)
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
xb-E are the Soft white 2700k

I think they have a better heatsink than the ww 2700k's, that's how you can tell the difference.

btw haven't seen any of the ww bulbs in 2 months or so, they all have been SW or the DW or the new 1100lumen 13w versions, which I believe are the same diode as the SW's, just driven a little harder.
 
starcraftguy1988

starcraftguy1988

Well-Known Member
Anyone looking to buy 1 A51 Sgs 160 for a great price let me know. I bought 4 and don't need all of them, but my 90 days was over in september or october. They been through one grow, about 50 days of 12/12 with 0 veg time. so id say a total of 600 hours on a light thats rated for high output upwards of 60000-100000 hours.(Please correct me if Im wrong) Send me a Message if you are interested.
 
MystaIcky

MystaIcky

New Member
Hey Guys,
Wanting to set up a 2m x 1m x 1.5m(LxWxH) ( roughly 6.5ft x 3.2ft x 6ft) tent area or something close to it if i can DIY it,
Wanting to use LED's And besides "Which led should i go with", thought i would ask the following, as i read a few pages and still going so may as well ask in the mean time,
A) is there a decent OVERALL ratio of w:r:b colored LED's that can used for both flower and veg?, or am i better off having 2 set, 1 for ea stage and switch them out as i switch the light cycle?
B) from what i read its best for me to disperse multiple smaller power lights to cover the area then one massive one from what im reading?, just making sure i have understood this properly and not missed anything out?
C)if im trying to minimize power usage would i get best results with a few small certain color LED ufo's and with CFL's for helping with lighting under the canopy or with proper placement of led ufo's is it not needed?
D)would shrinking height of area and switching to a sog/indica dominant grow be preferred for this method?

I understand these may of been answered but im only page 8 into the thread of 168 trying to find the info, so i thought i would ask while reading, any imput would be amazing as im not new to indoors, but COMPLETELY new to led's and the concept of them all together so its a bit daunting.
thanks for your time guys and thanks for letting me join the community, keep up the good work.
Icky
 
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