Led's/Just facts

So I have been reading for the passed 2 days on the "LED" threads here and have been thinking about using them. I do not want to start a war here so my questions are going to based on "I have decided" to use LEDs and I am looking for some guidance on which ones to use.
Say my budget is in the medium area, i cant spend crazy money on top of the line equipment but i want what i buy to work, and work well.
So my first question is what type and size LED would i need to replace a 1k HID set up?

I have also been reading up on a few comparisons on led vs hid and they seem to turn out well.. But the one thing i keep seeing the haters say is "well sure they work good in small areas but they dont work well in a larger, commercial like enviroment".
My next question kind of feeds off of the first one. What type and size led would i need to replace a 1k HID set up in a larger environment where the goal is to gain maximum yields?


Please only respond if you have experience with LED's, i have done plenty of reading around the forums and dont need others who have "just read" to drop their 2 cents off. I dont want that to come out the wrong way but i feel this subject takes real experience.
Thanks for looking and special thanks for the tips if you post back.

It will be expensive to get an LED system that grows as much as a 1000k HID. You could probably get away with as few as 600 actual watts going SCROG or LST. It will be better for yo to get 3-4 smaller watt LEDs, light movers could even be an option.

I only have a few days experience with my 395w (total draw) 2011 spectra (seen here http://www.420magazine.com/forums/journals-progress/132192-irish-boys-480w-720w-grow-led-hydro-land-clovers-49.html). But I have read a lot on them, and don't let anyone think you will get away with fewer than 600w of LED (a lot of companies tell lies such as their 300-400w LED as good as a 1000w HID (and on top of that their '300'w unit really only draws maybe 175w).

Thanks jdizzle, i was thinking the same thing possibly, a few smaller leds, rather than one large one for an open area as well for better coverage. What are your goals for the 395 spectra, and how many under it?

DRush said:

Thanks jdizzle, i was thinking the same thing possibly, a few smaller leds, rather than one large one for an open area as well for better coverage. What are your goals for the 395 spectra, and how many under it?

Click to expand...

Well I only went with the 395w 2011 Spectra because my grow tent is only 2.5ft x 2.5ft x 6ft so two 240w units in that space would be inadequate for each light a bit of a waste. So I decided to get a 395w which had a core saturation area of my whole tent with one light and an amount of power almost equal to 400w HPS so I know I'm going to get a better harvest and do it with a little less power.

If my tent had been 4x4 I definitely would have gone with two 240w 2011 units

i just installed both of my 240w blackstar leds from gotham hydro. If you check out lighthouse led on ebay he is the guy selling. Call Sean/Victor and they will give you a good deal. I got free shipping and money off (saved around 50 bucks just for calling). I am thinking about installing another1-2 so i can load up a HUGE sog system i want to try in all led instead of mixed led/cfl.