LED - 1w Diodes vs 3w/5w Penetration Distance Above Canopy?

What's your view on LED's?

  • Love them! They are my favorite lighting to grow with!

  • They are okay, but I prefer other types such as HID/CFLs/etc

  • I hate them! I would never grow with them!

  • No opinion, open minded at this point

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420BongRips

420BongRips

Well-Known Member
I have been interested in this question I've been wondering for a while and I feel the need to post this and ask for opinions, but I have a 1000w LED light running with 200-1W diodes. (On a side note, I assume that means I'm really running around a true value of 200W). Even though there is no definite answer to what distance above the canopy the LED lights should be hung, but can I keep my 1w diode lights closer to the canopy for better penetration? I mean what I think is since 1w diodes are obviously not as powerful as the higher wattage, I might have to keep them closer than higher wattage diodes to achieve the same effects and results as higher wattage diodes? I want to move my 1w diodes LED as close to the plant as possible for best results without harming them.
 
treedvette

treedvette

Active Member
If you have a brand name or more info. It would be a lot easier to say. I'd recommend 50cm-1.5m. Start it low and back it off if you see burn. It will only take you one grow to figure it out.
 
420BongRips

420BongRips

Well-Known Member
treedvette said:
If you have a brand name or more info. It would be a lot easier to say. I'd recommend 50cm-1.5m. Start it low and back it off if you see burn. It will only take you one grow to figure it out.
Click to expand...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1000W-LED-Panel-Grow-Light-System-Full-Spectrum-For-Plant-Replace-HPS-Lamp-/152368981971?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=4asD5JqQiRF1vI8ONU1aRacZR4Q%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

It shows a recommendation of 36" but I'm doing pretty good here at 20". Now I've also had people say that these are 1w diodes x 200 giving me around 200 true watts. Now under the specs it shows 200x5w which would equal 1000 watts and at $95 it seems to good of a deal to be anything above 200 true watts (1w diodes would make 200w), other people have told me that it's probably running 1w diodes x 200. If you look my Apollo UFO grow light which is 45x3w, it is a little brighter than the 1000w LED light in comparison or so it seems (about the same anyway) and mind you this light was made in China by a company called Sunnineled. I've been wondering if the 5Wx200 spec is true or not, I assume not though as it doesn't seem as bright but I could be wrong.
 
420BongRips

420BongRips

Well-Known Member
On a side note, you can see my LEDs in action and get a glimpse of them on my new progress video I posted today, hope you like it, enjoy!

 
Moflow

Moflow

Well-Known Member
12" - 300mm
If you've got access to a Killawatt meter it'll give you an idea of wattage but it's a pretty weak light.
Ive seen a few people on this site who have removed the plastic dome of those lamps you use.
I think the Apollo is maybe 90 watts
 
420BongRips

420BongRips

Well-Known Member
Moflow said:
12" - 300mm
If you've got access to a Killawatt meter it'll give you an idea of wattage but it's a pretty weak light.
Ive seen a few people on this site who have removed the plastic dome of those lamps you use.
I think the Apollo is maybe 90 watts
Click to expand...
Are you serious? I never thought the cover of the smaller LED bulbs are removable, wow. I'll look into that and maybe try it today. I'm getting prepped up for a flush as I speak. As for the kilawatt meter, you mean the green thing outside the house? Should I turn everything off in the house except for the grow room then take readings?
 
Yodaweed

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
420BongRips said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1000W-LED-Panel-Grow-Light-System-Full-Spectrum-For-Plant-Replace-HPS-Lamp-/152368981971?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=4asD5JqQiRF1vI8ONU1aRacZR4Q%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

It shows a recommendation of 36" but I'm doing pretty good here at 20". Now I've also had people say that these are 1w diodes x 200 giving me around 200 true watts. Now under the specs it shows 200x5w which would equal 1000 watts and at $95 it seems to good of a deal to be anything above 200 true watts (1w diodes would make 200w), other people have told me that it's probably running 1w diodes x 200. If you look my Apollo UFO grow light which is 45x3w, it is a little brighter than the 1000w LED light in comparison or so it seems (about the same anyway) and mind you this light was made in China by a company called Sunnineled. I've been wondering if the 5Wx200 spec is true or not, I assume not though as it doesn't seem as bright but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
if you got 200 1 watt diodes it won't run at 200w, they would over heat , and nobody pushes their leds that hard, they probably pushed around 50-75% , so maybe 100-120watts of light, then you gotta figure your par based on the efficiency they are pushed out, so you might go 30-40 par watts IMO.
 
420BongRips

420BongRips

Well-Known Member
Yodaweed said:
if you got 200 1 watt diodes it won't run at 200w, they would over heat , and nobody pushes their leds that hard, they probably pushed around 50-75% , so maybe 100-120watts of light, then you gotta figure your par based on the efficiency they are pushed out, so you might go 30-40 par watts IMO.
Click to expand...
I'm kinda confused on how the par watts work. A light meter would remove the need for any exclamations as to how it works but that sucks to think that this light is running at only 100-120 watts as you said it probably is when this light was advertised as 200x5W diodes on the ebay link above. I been busy all yesterday and forgot about the killawatt meter, I'll go outside today and see if I have one (never noticed because I live in a huge duplex lol).
 
Yodaweed

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
420BongRips said:
I'm kinda confused on how the par watts work. A light meter would remove the need for any exclamations as to how it works but that sucks to think that this light is running at only 100-120 watts as you said it probably is when this light was advertised as 200x5W diodes on the ebay link above. I been busy all yesterday and forgot about the killawatt meter, I'll go outside today and see if I have one (never noticed because I live in a huge duplex lol).
Click to expand...
If they are 5w diodes they most likely run 2.5-3.5 watts each, so the light could be running about 600w, the only way to find out is to put it on a kill a watt meter and test it out. Good luck.
 
Kingrow1

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
420BongRips said:
Are you serious? I never thought the cover of the smaller LED bulbs are removable, wow. I'll look into that and maybe try it today. I'm getting prepped up for a flush as I speak. As for the kilawatt meter, you mean the green thing outside the house? Should I turn everything off in the house except for the grow room then take readings?
Click to expand...
If your light draws 120watts just find out what your electricity company charges per kilowatt, all standard info freely displayed on your bill or their website. With that you can work out how much the light costs to run for an hour. Saves turning everything off and checking your house meter.
 
420BongRips

420BongRips

Well-Known Member
Yodaweed said:
If they are 5w diodes they most likely run 2.5-3.5 watts each, so the light could be running about 600w, the only way to find out is to put it on a kill a watt meter and test it out. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Kingrow1 said:
If your light draws 120watts just find out what your electricity company charges per kilowatt, all standard info freely displayed on your bill or their website. With that you can work out how much the light costs to run for an hour. Saves turning everything off and checking your house meter.
Click to expand...
Thank you guys. My gut tells me that my 1000w light runs around 400 true watts even though they look like they give off the same brightness as the 45x3W 135w Apollo UFO, but I guess brightness doesn't mean or is a good tool for comparison when talking about LED lights.
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
420BongRips said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1000W-LED-Panel-Grow-Light-System-Full-Spectrum-For-Plant-Replace-HPS-Lamp-/152368981971?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=4asD5JqQiRF1vI8ONU1aRacZR4Q%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

It shows a recommendation of 36" but I'm doing pretty good here at 20". Now I've also had people say that these are 1w diodes x 200 giving me around 200 true watts. Now under the specs it shows 200x5w which would equal 1000 watts and at $95 it seems to good of a deal to be anything above 200 true watts (1w diodes would make 200w), other people have told me that it's probably running 1w diodes x 200. If you look my Apollo UFO grow light which is 45x3w, it is a little brighter than the 1000w LED light in comparison or so it seems (about the same anyway) and mind you this light was made in China by a company called Sunnineled. I've been wondering if the 5Wx200 spec is true or not, I assume not though as it doesn't seem as bright but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
good price but don't expect it to last too long. those cheap lights have a very poor cooling system and the diode operate at a high junction temperature that reduces their life expectancy
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
420BongRips said:
Thank you guys. My gut tells me that my 1000w light runs around 400 true watts even though they look like they give off the same brightness as the 45x3W 135w Apollo UFO, but I guess brightness doesn't mean or is a good tool for comparison when talking about LED lights.
Click to expand...
people see light a lot differently than plants do
 

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420BongRips

420BongRips

Well-Known Member
So I figured out exactly how much energy the entire room is actually pushing.
The video has the results. Just a heads up for you, It's unedited so there are a lot of long boring parts so fast forwarding may be necessary if you are impatient. KWH meter reads I am pushing 635 true watts in the grow area. The 1000w lamp I have is actually running at a true 240 watts, with 200 diodes on the panel. (Part 1 and Part 2 videos)

 
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