Some panel questions

Hey guys, so I am looking for good value on a panel to cover like a 3x3 area. From what I have found, the ones that would be worth it are: Mars 700w-$220, Onyx Bloom 175w-$400, A51 Rw 150-$425, Advanced DS200-$600, Cali Lightworks Solar Flare 200-$475, Optic Vero 29-$499, or Cree CX 200-$499. Basically wondering if I should do 1 of these for the 3x3, or maybe get the A51 rw75 then add the 150 in a month or so? Or go cheap at first with the mars 700w then upgrade to the new A51? Orrr maybe the Optic led and the a51 75w? Right now I'm flowering with a 175w HPS and some led bulbs but not loving that setup, and with 4-6 clones and some young seeds that will be put into flower within the next month, I'm really wanting to upgrade soon. Also its worth mentioning that I plan to go up to a 5x5 space when I can get enough light, so that might affect my choice now? Sorry to ask so much, but there are just so many different LEDs out there, and I figured I would ask some people who have at least grown with some of these. Thanks!

What's your budget?

It's around $400, would like to stay a little under if I could, but if it's worth it I could spend a little more

LostInaMaze said:

It's around $400, would like to stay a little under if I could, but if it's worth it I could spend a little more

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That's not enough. (4) RW-75 would be beautiful and perfect.

I would skip the mars and go the vero29 route. You can build it to spec for your size tent and its the most efficient out of your choices above. I believe A51 is coming out with a new vero light soon as well.
The Onyx and rw are both great lights but you will still be wanting more in your size tent, especially if your upgrading to a 5x5. But you could grab either one and use the side lighting your using now too. I've seen Captain Morgan get impressive results with both of those lights, each in a 3x3 with side lighting.
My Onyx pulls 226w at the wall btw.

I'm thinking rw75 right now is like 225 plus the side lighting you have now should be able to cover about 6 sq feet and then a month from now you can see if the new a51 is out or some other companies is out...if the optic leds were a little cheaper I would say jump on it but that's a little far out of your price range...lol, too bad you can't wait to get a Apache Tech

I'd skip the led and go lec 315.

Jeeyah said:

That's not enough. (4) RW-75 would be beautiful and perfect.

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Wow, I would need 4 rw 75s to cover a 3x3? Don't know why, but I was thinking 2, or 1 of the rw 150 would cover it. I just know that if I get a big HPS I will regret in about 6 months when the cost to run it would have paid for a new light or 2

I don't push my solar flares past a 1.5x1.5 at 12inch canopy depth.
.02

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NapalmD said:

I would skip the mars and go the vero29 route. You can build it to spec for your size tent and its the most efficient out of your choices above. I believe A51 is coming out with a new vero light soon as well.
The Onyx and rw are both great lights but you will still be wanting more in your size tent, especially if your upgrading to a 5x5. But you could grab either one and use the side lighting your using now too. I've seen Captain Morgan get impressive results with both of those lights, each in a 3x3 with side lighting.
My Onyx pulls 226w at the wall btw.

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Thanks for the reply Napalm! So you are saying get a Vero or RW then run the hps and LEDs that I have now too? I have 2 100w crees and then 4 smaller bulbs. I want to get away from running the HPS, other than for males or whatever, but if I have to use it for a few more months with one of those I will. Would just need to rotate so that all my plants grow at the same rate?

LostInaMaze said:

Wow, I would need 4 rw 75s to cover a 3x3? Don't know why, but I was thinking 2, or 1 of the rw 150 would cover it. I just know that if I get a big HPS I will regret in about 6 months when the cost to run it would have paid for a new light or 2

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For a 3x3 you're looking at the 300-500w range depending on your goals. You can always start lower, say 150w and increase your coverage as time goes on.

puffenuff said:

For a 3x3 you're looking at the 300-500w range depending on your goals. You can always start lower, say 150w and increase your coverage as time goes on.

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puffenuff said:

For a 3x3 you're looking at the 300-500w range depending on your goals. You can always start lower, say 150w and increase your coverage as time goes on.

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Hmm ok thanks! It looks like I have no choice but to start lower like you said, and use all my side lighting I have now. I will be able to upgrade to close to 500w total mid summer I believe, so I really just need to make it until then

dbkick said:

I'd skip the led and go lec 315.

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Hmm, I started looking into this, and it seems to be the perfect mix between HPS and LED? No par tests that I have seen though, and so it's basically 50-60% more efficient than HPS so a 315w would outperform a 600w HPS in power draw, par, and heat?

8 uo

vitamin_green_inc said:

Hmm, I started looking into this, and it seems to be the perfect mix between HPS and LED? No par tests that I have seen though, and so it's basically 50-60% more efficient than HPS so a 315w would outperform a 600w HPS in power draw, par, and heat?

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ppf 1.95 umole/s per watt, just under DE, heat is not an issue.

led killer if you ask me. Just wait till they up the wattage (which I hear they're doing) to 600 watt single lamp lec.

LostInaMaze said:

Wow, I would need 4 rw 75s to cover a 3x3? Don't know why, but I was thinking 2, or 1 of the rw 150 would cover it. I just know that if I get a big HPS I will regret in about 6 months when the cost to run it would have paid for a new light or 2

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Crazy right? That was the first thing I learned when I got my RW's. The light doesn't really spread if you raise it up. It covers exactly what he says it covers. If you wait until the summer, new/better lights will be out, and prices will be better.....I think.

Unfortunately, in this business, time is money. I just got a letter from the electric company yesterday. 28% rate increase.