newworldicon
Well-Known Member
http://www.basementlighting.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=TDF
Quality my friend, quality LOL.
Led Users Unite!
- Thread starter project fuoro
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Quality my friend, quality LOL.
meharmon
Member
I can only say that the Blackstar LED has some obnoxiously loud fans, but only because they're cheap. I'm curious how the other panels sound. Fan noise is related to CFM naturally, but the bearing system and blade design can have a huge impact on their performance. A single ball bearing is louder, and higher RPMs are louder, whereas the same size fan (80mm in most cases) can employ sleeve, 2-ball, fluid-dynamic, etc. bearings, and run at lower RPM while still moving the same or similar CFM.
A computer with a modern graphics card can easily put out 55-60dB because of the noise of the video card, which puts out a ton of heat and is limited in size to 1 or 2 slots, so the cooling fan is almost always the loudest part. "Quiet" fans will be under 35dB.
A computer with a modern graphics card can easily put out 55-60dB because of the noise of the video card, which puts out a ton of heat and is limited in size to 1 or 2 slots, so the cooling fan is almost always the loudest part. "Quiet" fans will be under 35dB.
hoss12781
Well-Known Member
Friendly advice needed -
The set up - 1 430W air cooled HPS along with some 68w clfs as side lighting in one side of the closet (3 autos of my own breeding) VS 1 180w Pro Grow 7 Band LED from hydroponics warehouse, 1 90w quad band 2 diode ufo from LED wholesalers, and a 50w pure blue ufo (1w diodes) that is probably a pos from Ebay.
The goods - my own autoflower breed 3 on one side 3 on the other same medium/nutes. Based on my research the LED side should dominate, but time will tell. My question is how close should I keep these lights to my plants? Long time grower, first time LED user. I don't get paychecks from LED or HID companies, just want to conduct a fair unbiased experiment here - also want some super dank nuggets. Your thoughts and musings are welcome and will be taken into consideration.
Cheers,
-Hoss
The set up - 1 430W air cooled HPS along with some 68w clfs as side lighting in one side of the closet (3 autos of my own breeding) VS 1 180w Pro Grow 7 Band LED from hydroponics warehouse, 1 90w quad band 2 diode ufo from LED wholesalers, and a 50w pure blue ufo (1w diodes) that is probably a pos from Ebay.
The goods - my own autoflower breed 3 on one side 3 on the other same medium/nutes. Based on my research the LED side should dominate, but time will tell. My question is how close should I keep these lights to my plants? Long time grower, first time LED user. I don't get paychecks from LED or HID companies, just want to conduct a fair unbiased experiment here - also want some super dank nuggets. Your thoughts and musings are welcome and will be taken into consideration.
Cheers,
-Hoss
newworldicon
Well-Known Member
What size is the closet? I have their 550W and it is great so far.
hoss12781
Well-Known Member
The LED side is about 3.5 X 3.5. Same for the HID side. I'll have 3 plants on either side, one hps + CFL, the other LED + CFL. I'll use 150w of clf side lighting on both the LED and HID sides.
I just don't trust most people who run/fabricate these comparisions. I want to design an accurate (enough) experiment to juxstapose the difference between HID and LED. The Hydproponics Hut 180 claims equality with a 400w hid, but I figured I'd toss in an extra 90w quad band 2w diode bridgelux UFO and a 50w all blue of unknown origin just to square it out a bit. By most claims I've read the LED side should demolish the HPS side. I just want to make sure I'm giving everything a fair shake. How close do you keep your plants to the LED lights? Any possibility of burning the plants from keeping them too close to the LEDs?
550w would be nice but what I really want to test is the claims all these LED companies are making (ie 180w LED = 400w HID). I don't really care which comes out on top as long as I get nugs from both sides. I'm on a quest for knowledge, and to possible shut some people up.
I hope the LED side wins because it will definitely save me on electricity and solve a lot of heat issues. If the LED side comes out on top I'll definitely ditch my other air cooled 400w HPS set up and get a high powered LED to replace. I already sold one of my 400w hps set ups to fund this little experiment. I just didn't want to "bet the farm" so to speak on the LED claims.
BTW all plants are seedlings right now under straight CFLs. Still waiting on the shipping for the 90w and 180w units. As soon as they all get here (maybe a week or so) Its on like Donkey Kong. I'll post up a grow journal. All comments and criticism are welcome.
I just don't trust most people who run/fabricate these comparisions. I want to design an accurate (enough) experiment to juxstapose the difference between HID and LED. The Hydproponics Hut 180 claims equality with a 400w hid, but I figured I'd toss in an extra 90w quad band 2w diode bridgelux UFO and a 50w all blue of unknown origin just to square it out a bit. By most claims I've read the LED side should demolish the HPS side. I just want to make sure I'm giving everything a fair shake. How close do you keep your plants to the LED lights? Any possibility of burning the plants from keeping them too close to the LEDs?
550w would be nice but what I really want to test is the claims all these LED companies are making (ie 180w LED = 400w HID). I don't really care which comes out on top as long as I get nugs from both sides. I'm on a quest for knowledge, and to possible shut some people up.
I hope the LED side wins because it will definitely save me on electricity and solve a lot of heat issues. If the LED side comes out on top I'll definitely ditch my other air cooled 400w HPS set up and get a high powered LED to replace. I already sold one of my 400w hps set ups to fund this little experiment. I just didn't want to "bet the farm" so to speak on the LED claims.
BTW all plants are seedlings right now under straight CFLs. Still waiting on the shipping for the 90w and 180w units. As soon as they all get here (maybe a week or so) Its on like Donkey Kong. I'll post up a grow journal. All comments and criticism are welcome.
newworldicon
Well-Known Member
Well no disrespect but you have a big contradiction in there, if you want an unspoilt experiment you should have HPS stand alone vs. an LED stand alone...period!!
I know what a lot of companies say but I honestly think by falling for that you will be setting yourself up for failure, I think a much more balanced and equal experiment would be the 260W. It would also be a better fit to the 3.5x3.5.
EDIT: You bought already
hoss12781
Well-Known Member
Yeah I bought already. It is a stand alone. The closet is split and light from one side does not enter the other. Used to be used for mothers and clones before I started with the autos.
I figured what the hell I have the clfs so I might as well use them for side lighting on both sides provided each side receives the exact same wattage it should be relatively equal.
I've always given credit to my cfls for training the first and second bud producing branches on my autos to grow out not up - adds some nice nugs to the finsihed product IMO. Just didn't want to deviate from what has been a proven model for my grows but will consider your advice for the sake of this experiment. Again, from someone who's used LEDs in the past. What is the optimal distance from the top of the canopy? Thanks man.
I figured what the hell I have the clfs so I might as well use them for side lighting on both sides provided each side receives the exact same wattage it should be relatively equal.
I've always given credit to my cfls for training the first and second bud producing branches on my autos to grow out not up - adds some nice nugs to the finsihed product IMO. Just didn't want to deviate from what has been a proven model for my grows but will consider your advice for the sake of this experiment. Again, from someone who's used LEDs in the past. What is the optimal distance from the top of the canopy? Thanks man.
There is a possibility of burning your plants with LED, but not in the traditional HID way. LED's can overload the plants ability to photosynthesize with too much light energy, causing the leaf to thin, wilt and decay. This is rare, and difficult to do, but I successfully fried a few P. Diesel seedlings with a Purple Kessil at 12 inches away. The seedlings were working on their 3rd true leaf when I began to feed them the LED. I raised the light to 18 inches and they recovered. I had one G13/Skunk seedling in the batch that got fried; it took the Kessil like a champ with no negative effects.
The more common issue with LED's is bleaching of leaf and bud if they are too close. The first stage of what happened to my seedlings, but I didn't catch it fast enough. The how close question is hard to answer as it truly depends onthe panel’s power output and lens angle, as well as the strain you're growing and plant maturity. A safe bet would be to start at 24 inches away with your180W panel for Veg and don't lower it unless you see internode length greater than 1 inch. If your light is a little too close, but not close enough to burn/bleach, you will notice that top growth slows, and the plant will push significant lower branching, bush out and make monster fan leafs. When 12/12 time comes,you will be able to allow your tops to grow very close to your panels. Sun loving Salivas can damn near touch the panel glass whereas Indicas are a bit more sensitive to bleaching.
Prost,
Spacebuds
PS: photo 1 is P. Urkel under an ISIS FX1 and photo 2 is a Green Ribbon under a Magenta Kessil
Depends on what lenses are used and power but generally 8-20inches.
Just because there is no emitted heat doesn't mean photons can harm your plants.
Also look at the TRUE power usage rather than the marked numbers = theoretically max consumption.
*Look at the post before me*
puffenuff
Well-Known Member
Im getting ready to harvest my first led grown plant and after growing previously with a 400w hps and a 600w hps I can say I prefer the end results of led grown. Less hassles and better buds is what i've found are the benefits of led. My plans next are to sell my hps equipment and upgrade to more led lights. I have shut up all my led doubter friends with my efforts in this experiment.
newworldicon
Well-Known Member
By stand alone I meant omitting the cfl's that way you get a true delivery of performance from the LED/HPS..but as you wish. I keep my 550W about 18 inches away but still get overload as above post says by around 14 hours into 16/8 cycle. This obviously differs from light to light though. I still think the 260 would have been better but too late.
The ISIS FX1 is advertised as a 180W, but true power output is 120W which is not stated on their website. The Kessil's I use advertise at 36W, but the UL label on the back says 32W.
If you know the true power output and lense angles on your panel we can give you a better estimate of distance from canopy! There is no good rule for canopy distance becasue everybody's panel is different. Just be careful with the seedlings. When they start pushing lower branches they will usualy be mature enough to handle the lights much closer.
medicine21
Active Member
My FX-1 runs at 130W.
350w to be more exact.
I think there are cheaper and better panels to buy rather than SG. Most of the panels are made in same factory but have different configuration.
Did you use a wattage test meter to determine the actual draw of the panel? When I purchased mine in February, the sales rep I spoke with quoted the output at 120W. Correction to my last post, their website has been updated since I last looked at it and now states true power output as 120W. If they are underestimating output this is good thing.
But how would you react if you bought a 600w hps kit and it only used 300w?
medicine21
Active Member
Yep, it shows 130-131W on my meter. Maybe the fans take up 10W, so they state the draw that goes to the lights only?
surgedup
Active Member
Wow guys one of my OG-18's finished up under my blackstar setup and I have to tell you the resin production is like no other in a one gallon pot I probably yielded almost 2 ounces off another OG-18. I will post some pictures here that I took with my phone but to be honest it does not do them justice the buds look literally like they were sprayed with ice. Great strain from DNA I will definitely be growing more of there strains in the future. I grew the sleestack last grow and that was great suppose to be a great resin production plant.. to be honest the OG-18 is one of the best strains I have ever grown as far as yield smell and resin production !!! will post pictures soon .... definitely people who say the blackstars cannot flower or not powerful enough is bull its incredible what these little 240w units can do...