LED Users: Hopefully I can find some info in here! I'm planning on purchasing a 90w UFO for my veg phase only; plants will then be transferred under a 400W HPS. Thing is, I don't know which model and brand to purchase. I've had my eye on this model, does anybody know if it's worth it & if this "2010" model should really outperform others?
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2010-model-90w-HO-Cree-Lighthouse-Hydro-6-Band-USA_W0QQitemZ270507614875QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3efb82a29b
In all honesty, their information is extremely suspect. I would avoid this seller and wait until you find a well-made product at a good price. The eBay one you found is certainly not worth $230 (price+shipping).
Taken from the listing - "In our 2009 LED Growlight Showdown, our winner (Lighthouse Hydro) employed a unique LED. After our analysis, we concluded that the reason for the win was the use of a mixture of 625nm UV/Blue LED's rather than the traditional blue 660nm LED's used in all other LED systems tested. This is confirmed from the spectrum usage graphs above."
First, the fact alone that they are using UV LEDs means nothing. The cost of ONE UV-B LED (the UV spectrum that matters, from 280nm to 310nm), is around $800. So you can be assured that the UV LEDs they use do nothing for your grow. Second, if you read what I just quoted, they reference "the traditional blue 660nm LED's" -- See the problem here? 660nm is red, as are the 625nm "UV/Blue" LEDs they also reference. The whole listing talks about the importance of the spectrum, yet they can't get a simple thing like this correct?
Using IR LEDs helps nothing unless they are used correctly, which is not the case when they are on during the entire light cycle. "Tri-Band & Quad Band using Orange & Standard White LED's are worthless educate yourself" -- Completely false statement. THEY are the ones not doing their research. White LEDs are used to supplement the overall spectrum, and orange (612nm) LEDs are used to aid in carotenoid production.
They even contradict themselves in their own listing -- "On Usable Lumens output alone, a 90w LED does not match the 400 HID light system. In usable lumens alone the conversion is more like 90w LED = 310w HID (HPS/MH)." and later,
Lastly, they just have a ton of typos -- not the signature of a reputable seller or product. Sounds pretty fishy to me. If I were you, I wouldn't buy that one. There are so many fakes out there. The people selling those know that the majority of the buyers have no method of measuring (ie: spectrophotometer) the actual wavelength of the products they sell. Thus, many of them are simply lying about the spectra that are included. Don't get "shiny-toy-syndrome." Just because something says it's a great new 2010 model "proven" or "guaranteed" to perform, doesn't mean it actually does.
To everyone who is looking to eBay to buy LED grow lights, make 100% SURE you read through the ENTIRE listing. There are a lot of scam artists out there, but if you're careful, you can "
" them out. Read everything. Look for typos. Compare information. Above all, use common sense. If something looks too good to be true, it typically is.
