Need some advice, CFL to LED convert

I am ready to move from CFL to LED.

During flowering I run 10, 42 Watt CFL'S, that equals 420 Watts, (the irony is not lost on me I assure you ) that is currently for 2 plants. I would like to be able to grow 3, maybe 4 but not necessarily. I would be happy with 3.

How much LED power do I need, I have been searching around and have seen promise in the Pro Grow 180. Would that be enough to flower 3 plants that veg for a month?

Thanks all, any advice and suggestions are welcome.

I think that you might be well served with two Kessil H350s. You can get them at growers house (absolutely no connection) for $270 ea. I've got two deep magentas over two Purple Urkles (3 gallon containers) right now and there's plenty of light...I'd guess that maybe 4 plants could be well served. I'm planning on increasing the number of plants next time. I do use a couple of CFL sidelights but I'd guess that you could manage that....and I'm not sure that I NEED them but I have them and side lighting does help ensure adequate light to ALL of the plant whether it's right under some massive fan leaves or not. The two Kessils would be about 180 actual (not theoretical leds pushed to max current) watts. I can also say that these do seem to be very well engineered and built. The heat sink is really rather trick and reduced heat leads to increased light on frequency and longer life. Check it out.

jixan said:

I am ready to move from CFL to LED.

During flowering I run 10, 42 Watt CFL'S, that equals 420 Watts, (the irony is not lost on me I assure you ) that is currently for 2 plants. I would like to be able to grow 3, maybe 4 but not necessarily. I would be happy with 3.

How much LED power do I need, I have been searching around and have seen promise in the Pro Grow 180. Would that be enough to flower 3 plants that veg for a month?

Thanks all, any advice and suggestions are welcome.

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If you are only looking to veg your plants with the panel and plan to flower with cfls then that PG180 will do fine. It is in no way enough to both veg and flower your grow past maybe two or three plants but for what your asking it will be enough. (If possible I'd veg with the led and use both the led and cfls to flower. Unless you're perpetual and need the lights in two separate tents.)

I use my BS180 to veg my girls before tossing them under my hps to flower. And my BS180 isn't nearly as good as the PG180.

i would just get an HID for those prices

It depends what your looking for DOOMBREW420 there are many advantages to using leds and generally are more expensive than a equivalent hid system

DoomBrew420 said:

i would just get an HID for those prices

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Gee, is that what you would do? I thought we were trying to help the OP who didn't say anything about HIDs. Maybe he doesn't live in the past?

Campo Cultivator said:

It depends what your looking for DOOMBREW420 there are many advantages to using leds and generally are more expensive than a equivalent hid system

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not necessarily if you consider a cooltube, all the airflow required and upkeep costs

On the Pro-grow website, the PG180 says it is good for 2-3 plants. What is the space you have to grow in? 3 plants vegged for 1 month could get big! I have a 2 months vegged purple kush and it's taken up all my 2x2 cabinet.

I'm also in the process of research to go from CFL to LED. I'm torn between the PG180 (or 260), DS100 (from advanced led lights) and the Solarflare 200W ( california lightworks).

Hi there, I came accross this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09dTZn43ziY
The thread is here - https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/554037-336x-pro-new-led-user.html

I was so surprised at the difference in output of these two lights that I had to ask and Greenskrillex came back with this:

• out of 6 plants the SG is only supporting 2 it sucks so hard. the hydrogrow on the other hand has the biggest budds and has twice the plants to divide light.​
  
  
  
  

If I was had the cash I know what I would do with it!

Yomandude!!! said:

On the Pro-grow website, the PG180 says it is good for 2-3 plants. What is the space you have to grow in? 3 plants vegged for 1 month could get big! I have a 2 months vegged purple kush and it's taken up all my 2x2 cabinet.

I'm also in the process of research to go from CFL to LED. I'm torn between the PG180 (or 260), DS100 (from advanced led lights) and the Solarflare 200W ( california lightworks).

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FYI: The PG260 is $100 more for only 20 extra watts drawn. 5$ per watt extra. Terrible value.

Edit: That's compared to the PG180.

Amaximus said:

If you are only looking to veg your plants with the panel and plan to flower with cfls then that PG180 will do fine. It is in no way enough to both veg and flower your grow past maybe two or three plants but for what your asking it will be enough. (If possible I'd veg with the led and use both the led and cfls to flower. Unless you're perpetual and need the lights in two separate tents. I use my BS180 to veg my girls before tossing them under my hps to flower. And my BS180 isn't nearly as good as the PG180.

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Thank you for the advice on the BS vs. the PG. Good to know the PG performed well.

I would want to Veg and Flower under the same panel.

The way my CFL's are currently setup wouldn't allow for both to be used simultaneously.

Ideally, I would like to optimize the space for my actual light needs. I will never be growing more than 3-4 plants at a time, 4 honestly is getting possibly over ambitions. Three plants sufficiently fill my tent without things getting overly crowded.

Yomandude!!! said:

not necessarily if you consider a cooltube, all the airflow required and upkeep costs

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I want to avoid using a HID, I have a small 2'x3'x6' grow tent to work with inside a small closet. Temperatures in the winter and summer will always be a concern, wither it's hot or cold.

jixan said:

Thank you for the advice on the BS vs. the PG. Good to know the PG performed well.

I would want to Veg and Flower under the same panel.

The way my CFL's are currently setup wouldn't allow for both to be used simultaneously.

Ideally, I would like to optimize the space for my actual light needs. I will never be growing more than 3-4 plants at a time, 4 honestly is getting possibly over ambitions. Three plants sufficiently fill my tent without things getting overly crowded.

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Yeah, The website says 2-3 plants for the PG180 but, honestly, I think that is stretching it a bit. I'm sure it could do three, maybe four plants, depending on size and expectations, But two is probably the best of all worlds.

Unless you want variety (different genetics) it's not about how many plants you can grow under the light, 1 plant could fill your area nicely, or 4. What you are looking for is Watt per Sq/ft . A good rule of thumb with LEDs is 40 true watts per sq/ft, but me I like big hard buds and I would recommend more like 60watt per sq ft for super results. In your space you could grow 6 small plants but the PG-180 wont cut it. Dont cheap out on the light, you will not regret it, by replacing your 420 watts of CFL with 360watts of LEDs, you will get much better yield/quality than you were. It might not seems like a big energy saving but the extra buds will make it worth your while.

A pro grow 260 will fit the bill nicely. If you are not in the USA, I would find a local equivalent. It looks like there may be some support issues with them.
I have a 260 and a 180. They have worked flawlessly for about 8 months of 12/12 and the 260 covers a 2x3 fairly well.
Good luck!!

tenthirty said:

A pro grow 260 will fit the bill nicely. If you are not in the USA, I would find a local equivalent. It looks like there may be some support issues with them.
I have a 260 and a 180. They have worked flawlessly for about 8 months of 12/12 and the 260 covers a 2x3 fairly well.
Good luck!!

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Amaximus said:

FYI: The PG260 is $100 more for only 20 extra watts drawn. 5$ per watt extra. Terrible value.

Edit: That's compared to the PG180.

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Amaximus said:

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that's some good advice, always check how much your paying per watt, some models definitely haven't been priced properly in my opinion on a few sites!

I reckon a 180w LED would be enough for 3 plants easily though, i have seen a 180w led with 4 27w cfl's to maximise on the edges of the area and that got a great yield, thats on a thread from back in 2010, comparable to 400watt hps buds i've seen people grow i reckon, led's look a lot better geared for flowering these days check beefbisquits grow or dawg! good luck!

EDIT: quote didnt work? the one above me!

Search RIU for UN: Stradustsailor: cutting edge led so simple now that white has evolved to take its rightful place in mmj growing