help buying led

[cave]

i am looking to get an LED i do not want to spend a fortune and i want to use 200w or less i think i have narrowed it down to these 3
htg supply agromax 150w (actual 150)
htg supply led 7 (actual unknown)
blackstar 240w (actual 133/135 or so)


input from the expert is much appreciated
or if there are otheres i missed

 

[grow_right]

i have 2 diamond series 200w leds from advancedledlights.com.
i am very impressed with the quality and harvest. my cabinets are 24"x24".

 

[dddaver]

I just got a Blackstar and I'm just on my first grow with it. But I have read good things and can only say it vegs great right now. Also, all that hype about wattage was measured as DRAW not output, so it DRAWS 135 watts. Isn't efficiency a good thing? I'm really no expert, but that does seem logical to me.

 

[Highlighter]

The best light you have listed is the HTG Agromax, and I think you could do better for that $.
I have a ProGrow 260 and am very happy w/ it. $409. They list it @ 180w but it reads 200w on my Kill-a-Watt.

grow_right's suggestion is a good one too.

Another newer source are the E-Shine lights, direct from China.
Seems like a great bang for your buck.

Good luck!

 

[cave]

thanks i have thought about the eshine but i am reading alot that says to stay away from the china ones i have been looking at the diamond 200w and extreme flower 180w to send $600 but i just might have to. the blackstar is cheap that is the only reason i was looking at it but you get what you pay for i guess

 

[Don Dump]

my pro grow 180 works pretty good. I am happy with it

 

[Highlighter]

All these units are made in chinese factories, make no mistake!
E-Shine has long made aquarium lighting, and supposedly is the factory where the Diamond Series come from, as well as HGL til last yr.
That's a big leg-up from the chinese junk you find on E-Bay.

 

[ChrisGGG]

I think eshine and cidly are alright for the money. The new Blackstar Chrome from what I can see is just a rebranded Cidly Apollo. You can get an Apollo 6 which should pull ~200 for under $300 shipped to the US. They claim LEDs double in efficiency every 18 months so I find it hard to drop big money on something that is not modular/upgradeable. I've done a small DIY and plan on upgrading parts as needed.

 

[foaf]

it has been asked several times in the big thread, where to buy e-shine lights and where to get prices, but it has never really been answered. I emailed the "salespeople" on the site twice, and no reply. Do they sell retail on the "corporate" site(s)? Other sources?

 

[oneshot]

My current grow is being done by the 126x3w e.Shine light. They are not the typical china eBay light.

it has been asked several times in the big thread, where to buy e-shine lights and where to get prices, but it has never really been answered. I emailed the "salespeople" on the site twice, and no reply. Do they sell retail on the "corporate" site(s)? Other sources?

Check your PM

 

[rives]

I just got a Blackstar and I'm just on my first grow with it. But I have read good things and can only say it vegs great right now. Also, all that hype about wattage was measured as DRAW not output, so it DRAWS 135 watts. Isn't efficiency a good thing? I'm really no expert, but that does seem logical to me.

Not quite sure where you are going with this, but the best leds available are somewhere around 40% efficient, they are not 200% efficient.

 

[vta]

it has been asked several times in the big thread, where to buy e-shine lights and where to get prices, but it has never really been answered. I emailed the "salespeople" on the site twice, and no reply. Do they sell retail on the "corporate" site(s)? Other sources?

I've been checking out e-shine and some other units at this site... http://www.alibaba.com/

 

[dddaver]

Not quite sure where you are going with this, but the best leds available are somewhere around 40% efficient, they are not 200% efficient.

Dude? I was going no place (did you read the disclaimer?), I have absolutely no desire to argue or nothing. Numbers just floor me.

 

[rives]

Dude? I was going no place (did you read the disclaimer?), I have absolutely no desire to argue or nothing. Numbers just floor me.

I wasn't trying to start an argument, just trying to help clear the confusion. To me it sounded like you thought that the "draw" of the fixtures wasn't a good measure of their performance because "efficiency" somehow compensated. I was just pointing out that the net output is still far less than the input wattage, it doesn't go the other way because of efficiency.

 

[sneaky101]

What are you guys thoughts on the 357 magnum vs the diamond series 200watt from advanced lights? After seeing this thread I started thinking it was about time to look into this too. Have you compared these 2 cave?and thx for the info grow_right. That looks like a good one to compare vs the magnum. And in your opinion, would that 200watt be good for a 3' x 2' space? I know their website says it is.

 

[cave]

i think i may go with the progrow 180w seems to be not bad for the price and wattage. they claim its real usage is 160w and it is only $310. there is not much info on it but i have found some grows journals with it seem ok but i think they are posted by the manufacture. anyone have anything good/bad to say about the progrow specifically the 180w?

 

[Highlighter]

ProGrow's are hard to beat for $ per watt.

The one thing that bugged me upon receiving my ProGrow, was the carribener (sp ) clip it came w/ to hang it. They used a conventional one, instead of a rounded one, so the unit pitches to one side. I swapped it out. They say the devil's in the detail, and that irked me.
I would LOVE to buy american-made, I HATE that it's so hard to buy shoes made in the USA! I hate buying chinese goods, seems everything I buy is from china.
I'd LOVE to be able to buy a Lumigrow, but I feel the technology will evolve rather quickly, so if I buy another unit in the near future, I'm leaning towards an E-Shine.

Such a hypocrite!

 

[cave]

thanks highlighter
i also would like to would like a lumigrow they seem to be the best. but price and like you said the fact that the technology changes so fast is why i am going with the progrow plus it will be my first led grow. if i like the results then i might just shell out the cash for the Cadillac thanks for the info on the progrow, suck about the hanger. there is not much made in America anymore it is sad that big business is all about the might dollar and not the products

 

[cave]

if I buy another unit in the near future, I'm leaning towards an E-Shine.

Such a hypocrite!

lmao see what they are doing to us

 

[oneshot]

I think you will be happy with your purchase