email468
Well-Known Member
i don't see LEDs as being more economical than anything currently.
but hey - you aren't using my money to buy them so use what you want.
Let's talk about LED's!
- Thread starter T.H.Cammo
- Start date
but hey - you aren't using my money to buy them so use what you want.
I wish I was only paying $.06 /K-watt-Hr. LOL! Anyone who is using a UFO light, and only yields 36 grams, should be dissapointed! I don't advocate using UFO's (@ $600. a pop). I advocate using DIY panals, built from kits. They are available at "about" $250. for 8 panals (approximately equal square foot coverage of the 400 watt HPS @ $150.). So, yes, they do cost more at first - about a hundred $'s more! How long does it take to save $100.?
But to compare that 36 gram yield is assuming that LED's are also used to flower - I don't advocate that either. Untill such time as LED's are developed to the point where they can flower, at least, as well as HID's - it only makes sense to veg with them. That's my whole point!!! Veg with LED's - flower with HPS! For any comparison to be equitable it could only compare the veg stage. Like I said before, I haven't even grown anything with LED's yet - but they seem to do a first-class job at vegging. Let's not expect too much from these little lights all at once. If they can save me money, in the long run, I'm all for it! Even if it is just in the veg stage.
asdfva
Well-Known Member
It cannot be argued that using an LED, within the
correct Wave Lengths, in a SOG for Veg only isn't
cheaper than ANY other option. The math works in
favor of the LED. Instead of damning the LED and
saying it won't work... Why not just sit back and
let someone willing to do the hard work, FOR FREE,
just do the hard work. If you have something to
add that will aid in this experiment... do it. But
all the massive negativity and HID conservatism
is a bit much. Reading this thread doesn't mean
you have to go out and buy the lights. Do a lot of
you guys/gals on here own stock in HID lighting?
Let the man do his work. If it doesn't work... fuck it.
If it does work... Jot it down and think about it later.
THCammo... I glad that you opened this thread, and
hope that you stick to the grow that you are planning.
Good looking out on the idea of experimenting and offering
first hand information, should you follow through. Thanks.
correct Wave Lengths, in a SOG for Veg only isn't
cheaper than ANY other option. The math works in
favor of the LED. Instead of damning the LED and
saying it won't work... Why not just sit back and
let someone willing to do the hard work, FOR FREE,
just do the hard work. If you have something to
add that will aid in this experiment... do it. But
all the massive negativity and HID conservatism
is a bit much. Reading this thread doesn't mean
you have to go out and buy the lights. Do a lot of
you guys/gals on here own stock in HID lighting?
Let the man do his work. If it doesn't work... fuck it.
If it does work... Jot it down and think about it later.
THCammo... I glad that you opened this thread, and
hope that you stick to the grow that you are planning.
Good looking out on the idea of experimenting and offering
first hand information, should you follow through. Thanks.
Thank you!!! Thank you, asdfva, from the bottom of my heart! I couldn't have said it better myself - and I'm really glad that somebody else (you) said it. My point for starting this thread was not to waste my time defending the concept of LED's against all the "non-believers", nor was it to argue with them or to convince them of anything. What I really want to do is just help more people to understand more about the benefits of LED's. I would rather answer some simple (dumb) questions from genuinely interested people about LED's than argue about them with negative people who have already decided against them. Let's try to keep a more "positive" attitude!
email468
Well-Known Member
I reviewed this thread and I don't see anyone saying it won't work or don't do it. In fact, all I see is me and a few others saying - it is a big investment to use during veg only - which i would point out is usually the least amount of real time under lights. And LEDs aren't done cooking yet.
I think we all agree LEDs are very exciting and will be the thing of the future. What I am concerned with is folks new to growing, misinterpreting this thread, and thinking they can invest in a UFO or two and expect the same or better results than HID. You can already see it happening with a few of the posts. And if you read other LED threads you can see it happening quite often. Though that is no reflection on you.
So to reiterate my three points:
1) They are currently NOT economically "better" than HID. The price of LEDs combined with the extra cost of HIDs since you still have to use HPS to flower (which is usually the longest time spent under the lights), makes them pricey.
2) They are not ready to replace HIDs (see above) since you still have to invest in HID ballast/bulbs for flowering.
3) In the future - they will probably blow HIDs away
How this is being a "non-believer" or negative I'm not sure. It seemed to me we were saying very nearly the same thing.
I do wish you good luck and I do appreciate your shelling out the bucks to do the experiment. I also appreciate your posting your findings.
I think we all agree LEDs are very exciting and will be the thing of the future. What I am concerned with is folks new to growing, misinterpreting this thread, and thinking they can invest in a UFO or two and expect the same or better results than HID. You can already see it happening with a few of the posts. And if you read other LED threads you can see it happening quite often. Though that is no reflection on you.
So to reiterate my three points:
1) They are currently NOT economically "better" than HID. The price of LEDs combined with the extra cost of HIDs since you still have to use HPS to flower (which is usually the longest time spent under the lights), makes them pricey.
2) They are not ready to replace HIDs (see above) since you still have to invest in HID ballast/bulbs for flowering.
3) In the future - they will probably blow HIDs away
How this is being a "non-believer" or negative I'm not sure. It seemed to me we were saying very nearly the same thing.
I do wish you good luck and I do appreciate your shelling out the bucks to do the experiment. I also appreciate your posting your findings.
I am still in the Veg stage, however IMHO an LED/T5 combo is definitely working much better than I expected and at a fraction of the cost of HpS or Halide. I dont know what you guys are talking about with the rediculous cost of LCD... I paid 50 bucks for my panel delivered off ebay. I simply added a $2.50 T5 fluorescent to complete the plant light spectrum and away they go. It works excellent ! I swear and when it comes to flowering, I will se for myself how it does, but if it is anything like the veg stage, I am completely psyched ! Total cost for my setup is 55 bucks ! Cheap as hell and VERY effective. So all you haters, just have an open mind because LED IS the wave of the future. Its benefits definitely outweigh any negatives. Why is it that everyone automatically assumes that the UFO (most expensive) LED is supposed to work better than a cheap panel? If the leds are the same wavelength of light and intensity than whats the difference? I know obviously that a UFO covers more square feet, but pound for pound panels are way cheaper. Anyways thats just my two cents. Thanx for listening!! 
email468
Well-Known Member
Other than calling everyone who disagrees a "hater" this is a great post. start a journal - we love pictures. We "assumed" UFOs cause that is what we were talking about.I am still in the Veg stage, however IMHO an LED/T5 combo is definitely working much better than I expected and at a fraction of the cost of HpS or Halide. I dont know what you guys are talking about with the rediculous cost of LCD... I paid 50 bucks for my panel delivered off ebay. I simply added a $2.50 T5 fluorescent to complete the plant light spectrum and away they go. It works excellent ! I swear and when it comes to flowering, I will se for myself how it does, but if it is anything like the veg stage, I am completely psyched ! Total cost for my setup is 55 bucks ! Cheap as hell and VERY effective. So all you haters, just have an open mind because LED IS the wave of the future. Its benefits definitely outweigh any negatives. Why is it that everyone automatically assumes that the UFO (most expensive) LED is supposed to work better than a cheap panel? If the leds are the same wavelength of light and intensity than whats the difference? I know obviously that a UFO covers more square feet, but pound for pound panels are way cheaper. Anyways thats just my two cents. Thanx for listening!!
But vegging with LEDs seems to work very well (i don't think anyone said they didn't) - tell us more about your system - how many plants? soil or hydro? etc... and pictures - we like to look!
I just bought a cheap digital camera today, and if that doesn't work then I can snap some pics with my webcam ! As I just mentioned to another member, I had a CATastrophy while away on a snowboarding trip. My effin cat got into my closet and ate/tore up 3 of my 4 babies ! Luckily I still have a good specimen and since have revamped my setup to prevent this type of thing EVER happening again. I use a mix of cactus/potting soil - keep pH at 6.5, 2 15w GE helical T5s , one 227 mixed Lcd panel and used a big carboard box from a bathroom vanity lined with dull side tinfoil. The temp is kept between 75-80 closer to 75 and is on a constant 24hr light cycle since germination (also soil). It is an indica strain cause its short and bushy with fat leaves but I can't be completely sure cause its from bagseed. How do I post pics? Thanx for your inquiry. This is all experimental and new to me as I usually guerilla garden. Later
Ok, let's see what happens! I just ordered six LED panel kits. That's supposed to be enough to cover a 4 sq.ft. SCROG and 2 Mother plants. For a grand total of $220., including shipping . That's a total of 1,632 indevidual LED's (good thing I'm "Hell-on-wheels" with a soldering iron. LOL) The company says it should take about an hour and a half to assemble each panel, yeah - right!
Anyway, in a week or so I'll let you all know how it goes together. Anybody want to see some pictures of my LED "factory"? I figure "If I can do it, anyone can do it!"
Anyway, in a week or so I'll let you all know how it goes together. Anybody want to see some pictures of my LED "factory"? I figure "If I can do it, anyone can do it!"
email468
Well-Known Member
Yes - i'd love to see an awesome LED grow - start a journal and publicize it best you can please.
GrowGreenGreen
Well-Known Member
"Yes," is the correct answer in 2009.