LEDs? A good idea for Veg/Clone/Mothers to SAVE $

[DankByNature]

I have been recently been thinkinIg of revamping my op, to make it more energy efficient. My question is, are LED good for vegging, clones, and mothers?

I am running a 600w cooltube for Flower.

For my veg cab I am using (6) - 4ft 48w flourescent tubes - total of 288watts - 24/7

For my clones/mothers cab I am using (3) - 14w CFLs

I was thinking of switching to a 120w triband LED grow light for the Veg cab. This is a savings of 168w, but what I want to know is, am I giving up growth in the process?

They claim that these are equivalent to 400w HPS, which i know is not true (haha)

I also was thinking of using (2) 14w Red/Blue LEDs for the clone/mother cab.

This would be a savings of nearly 200w 24/7, right?

Looking for some good advice, from fellow growers with experience, thanks.

 

[Ms.Harley]

Just go with T5s.

 

[Dislexus]

LEDs arent there yet but hopefully will be, check the products available in several years.

 

[Lord Doobie]

LED's would be a huge WASTE of money...

 

[Weezard]

Could look a li'l deeper.

Could look a li'l deeper.

LED's would be a huge WASTE of money...

Much as I like my LEDs, I have to agree, in part, with the last 3 posters.

That is.

Unless, you have a problem with heat.

Or, you pay more than $.40 per KWH for electric.

Or, you want to experiment with resin concentration and ripening.

Or, you just think they are a tool. (I know I do).

So, I like your idea.

But, have you calculated how long the tri-band will take to amortize it's cost with the 168W. savings?
Don't.
Cause there's a hitch.
I know that leds can out-grow the fluorescent tubes,

but the "whofos" type only have about half the footprint.

So, you would need 2 of them to out-do the 4' tubes.
That's 240W. so you would save about 1.2 KWH per day
or 36 KWH per month.
For me that would be about $19.50 per month.

2 "whofos" can be had for $300 inc. shipping.
Would take about 16 months to pay for themselves an my rates.
Then its $20, (saves a few watts on cooling as well), a month in my pocket for the next 5 years.
For me, it's well worth it.

Jus' plug in what you pay for 'lectric and do the math.
That will answer your question, yah?

Dunno how the tri-band does at blooming.
And we're about to see how our advertiser's lights perform.
So, I'd wait for Sleepy's results before buying any iffy crap, yah?

Jus' my coins inna fountain

Aloha,
Weezard

 

[DankByNature]

Thanks for the input, may go ahead and switch to a (4) bulb 4ft T5 setup for veg, which would be a little over 200w. This should save a little power.

I was sorta under the impression that LED is better than flourescents, at least for veg.

Guess not?

 

[redspaghetti]

Or, you pay more than $.40 per KWH for electric.

I might have to look into this as i am paying 16.16 per KWH.

Cheers,

Red.

 

[MagniKhan]

I sure most of you guy's know Rumpleforskin, he has a test grow going right now on LEDS.