NEED HELP CHOOSING A LIGHT

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
Ahhh no. just NO.... You want ur pot u like ur pot... cool bro... I do to.... Im also very interested in photobiology.. and building things... Its fun for mee to put thought into how I can get X amount of photons to the plant the best possible way... I like the science and i like trying to implemenet that science... thats like saying " i dont know why when people do things.... some of them try and do it the right way... why are thy doing that?

Whatever you say. But yes, I just throw a light in and go. I don't overthink it because I really honestly hate growing pot. Its a major pain in the ass. I like the end result, but I try to go with genetics and lights that I know work, spend the least amount of money I can on my grow setup, and try to spend less than 10min in the tent on days I need to be in there. I don't top, SCROG, tear leaves off my plant, calculate PPFD, kilowatt hours or any of that other shit, and this comment is not to mock you or anything. You do as you please and what works for you. I'm not try to convince you or anybody else to do things my way. You do what works for you. I'm just engaging in friendly conversation and providing my view.....cool?
 

Johnny Lawrence

Well-Known Member
What amazes me is people growing pot worried about electric costs. Let's be real here for a second; You don't grow pot and worry about electric costs. You're trying to replicate the sun for fuck sake.
I've shaved $400 per month off of my electricity bill by switching to LED and CMH over the past several years. And now that I have everything really tuned in, I'm hitting better numbers than I was getting under HID. To be honest, I have a fairly good size setup and pay some of the highest electricity prices in the country. I don't mind saving 5 grand per year.

My last SE 600 was replaced about 6 months ago with a 315 mounted in an aluminum frame with 50 watt Citizens at each corner. This is in a 4x4. I've been seeing a consistent 20% increase in yield running 100 watts less. That's an extra QP every 2 months.
 

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
I've shaved $400 per month off of my electricity bill by switching to LED and CMH over the past several years. And now that I have everything really tuned in, I'm hitting better numbers than I was getting under HID. To be honest, I have a fairly good size setup and pay some of the highest electricity prices in the country. I don't mind saving 5 grand per year.

My last SE 600 was replaced about 6 months ago with a 315 mounted in an aluminum frame with 50 watt Citizens at each corner. This is in a 4x4. I've been seeing a consistent 20% increase in yield running 100 watts less. That's an extra QP every 2 months.

damn man I feel sorry for you. Your electric company is really fucking you. My 1k HPS cost per year estimate is $360. Is your electric company PG&E? If so it sounds like they are passing their fire lawsuits on to the customer. Lol

Edit: if I’m reading right your total watts are only 45 higher than mine is. If I don’t pull in a 20% increase will you tell me how to get there?
 

nc208

Well-Known Member
damn man I feel sorry for you. Your electric company is really fucking you. My 1k HPS cost per year estimate is $360. Is your electric company PG&E? If so it sounds like they are passing their fire lawsuits on to the customer. Lol

Edit: if I’m reading right your total watts are only 45 higher than mine is. If I don’t pull in a 20% increase will you tell me how to get there?
How is his electric company fucking him? Because he runs way more lights than you?
 

Johnny Lawrence

Well-Known Member
damn man I feel sorry for you. Your electric company is really fucking you. My 1k HPS cost per year estimate is $360. Is your electric company PG&E? If so it sounds like they are passing their fire lawsuits on to the customer. Lol

Edit: if I’m reading right your total watts are only 45 higher than mine is. If I don’t pull in a 20% increase will you tell me how to get there?
4 flowering rooms:

1) Went from an SE 600 to 450 watts of cobs

2) Went from a pair of SE 600s to about 1000 watts of SMDs and cobs. Also eliminated the exhaust fan that pulled air off the hoods for another 80ish watts savings.

3) Originally 4 SE 600s. Then an SE 1000 in the middle, with 315s in the four corners. It's now got a DE 600/750 with the 315s in the corners.

4) SE 600 to 315 with 50 watt cobs on each corner.



I also went from 600 watts of T5 in my veg tent to 500ish watts of SMDs.

FYI, the 20% increase was the room the 4th room I listed. The others perform about the same as before, only with less electricity and less heat. It gets hot af in Socal during summer and fall. An added bonus is that it's a tiny bit quieter in my work space with a couple less inline fans running.
 

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
Im needing help choosing the right grow light for my setup. I plan on using a 3x3 tent in my spare bedroom. Im wanting to maximize yield and bud quality. Need help choosing a light that can maximize the available space of a 3x3 for both veg and flowering. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.. not really wanting to spend more than 500$ unless its a must. Been looking at the sf-2000 and the ts2000 but thought there must be something better? Besides the sf2k only flowers 2x4 area so Plz help
have you considered a 400 watt MH/HPS OR a 315 watt CMH https://www.ebay.com/itm/Horticulture-400-Watt-MH-HPS-Grow-Light-System-Set-Kit-for-Plant-Growing/121574354910 or https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Grow-315W-CMH-CDM-120-240V-Grow-Light-Fixture-WING-KIT/112578970490. most commercial growers use HPS for flowering and MH or T5s for veg.
 

NukaKola

Well-Known Member
What amazes me is people growing pot worried about electric costs. Let's be real here for a second; You don't grow pot and worry about electric costs. You're trying to replicate the sun for fuck sake.
If your electricity costs were $0.50/KWH you might care about electricity costs too lol.
 

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
4 flowering rooms:

1) Went from an SE 600 to 450 watts of cobs

2) Went from a pair of SE 600s to about 1000 watts of SMDs and cobs. Also eliminated the exhaust fan that pulled air off the hoods for another 80ish watts savings.

3) Originally 4 SE 600s. Then an SE 1000 in the middle, with 315s in the four corners. It's now got a DE 600/750 with the 315s in the corners.

4) SE 600 to 315 with 50 watt cobs on each corner.



I also went from 600 watts of T5 in my veg tent to 500ish watts of SMDs.

FYI, the 20% increase was the room the 4th room I listed. The others perform about the same as before, only with less electricity and less heat. It gets hot af in Socal during summer and fall. An added bonus is that it's a tiny bit quieter in my work space with a couple less inline fans running.

hey thanks man. I appreciate that. I’m trying LED for the first time but results I’ve seen online have been a little depressing. I hope it goes well.
 

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
How is his electric company fucking him? Because he runs way more lights than you?

He is running 45 watts more than me. Said he was paying $400 a month with 600w which is 130 more than I have. When I ran 1k HPS it made my electric bill $30 more per month. Am I missing something?

EDIT: oh I see in his second post this is across 4 rooms. That was not in the first post. Yeah more lights, but all you need to do is take the cost of my 1k per-month multiply that by 4 and I’m still coming out to less cost. Again, unless I’m missing something.
 
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NukaKola

Well-Known Member
He is running 45 watts more than me. Said he was paying $400 a month with 600w which is 130 more than I have. When I ran 1k HPS it made my electric bill $30 more per month. Am I missing something?

EDIT: oh I see in his second post this is across 4 rooms. That was not in the first post. Yeah more lights, but all you need to do is take the cost of my 1k per-month multiply that by 4 and I’m still coming out to less cost. Again, unless I’m missing something.
Electricity costs vary depending on location. Some people might be lucky any only pay something like $0.12/KWH, and others are unlucky like myself and pay upwards of $0.50/KWH.
 

Johnny Lawrence

Well-Known Member
I said I was paying 400 less. Went from $1200 per month electric bill to $800. So I'm saving $4800 per year compared to when I was using all SE HID.

And yeah, electricity is expensive here.
 

cobshopgrow

Well-Known Member
i wouldnt spend 1000$ on a led fixture beeing such a fast moving tech.
but, i am willing to spend about doubble to what i need to pay for a mediocre HPS set with a electronic ballast.
so here we go, 200 for a 400W HPS with a lil better reflector and a electronic ballast.
400 for a DIY strip build.
i save about 25$ a month on electricity using the leds (my rates are high), 3 runs and theyre in and no need for a "bulb change" for quite some time.

needed temps a re a different story, atm i couldnt use HPS due to heat, LED is the only option,
while in winter i could need the HPS heat, its still cheper to heat by burning something then using electricity.
 

Datcoldboi

Well-Known Member
Guys, Ive gave it some thought and i think im going to end up goin with the HLG 300L. At checkout with taaxes and shipping and everything i can get it for about 404$. As for the Timber 4VS, at checkout it ends up being 556$. I know that the timber is probably better, but i dont know if its 150$ better. Im sure both of the lights will produce great buds. I also like the fact HLG is more of a reddish light better for flowering as with the timber its just white light..
 

NukaKola

Well-Known Member
Guys, Ive gave it some thought and i think im going to end up goin with the HLG 300L. At checkout with taaxes and shipping and everything i can get it for about 404$. As for the Timber 4VS, at checkout it ends up being 556$. I know that the timber is probably better, but i dont know if its 150$ better. Im sure both of the lights will produce great buds. I also like the fact HLG is more of a reddish light better for flowering as with the timber its just white light..
You're comparing a 270w (HLG 300) to a 425w (Timber 4VS). Also, 3000K-3500K will flower just fine without added reds.
 

NukaKola

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply man! I was just curious as I noticed you promoting them well. I am a little fan of Timber.
They are local to me and I plan on getting the Redwood soon with 3500K on the outside and 1750K in the middle.

The COBs seem to penetrate much better and yield higher since they act similarly to a single light source such as an HPS.
 
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