What kind of LED shall I use?

[aukrosa]

Hi guys,
I am in 42th day of flowering, having 5 Shiva Skunk strains in 2x2ft tent. Right now I am having there a LED light which has 96pcs of 3W LED diod. It consumes 162W.
You can check the light out here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reflector-3...0477812?pt=US_Hydroponics&hash=item20ddd1f474

I also own 2 pcs of this light: http://www.ebay.com/itm/230863017043?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

This 300W light consumes 140W. Almost all of its diods are RED. Only few of them are blue. I think there are 12 blue or white and 88 red diods.

My question is, what would be better for finishing my growth.
The 1 300W LED light (power consumption 162W which is in the tent right now or 2 pcs of the 300W lights (power consumption 140W). The first light is more expensive and seems to be better light quality.
Would it be better if I put there the 2pcs of the lights with mainly red spectrum? Would the difference be big? My goal is to reach maximum yield. I seek for GPW. The plants are doing really good, they are very nice and healthy.
I know these are not the best LED lights, but I cannot afford better ones. They seem to work good.
How high should I hang the lights above the plants? I feel like the light is more intense, when hanging low. Now I hold the light about 8in above the plants and does not make any damage on the plants. The recommendet height above the plants is 1.5ft though ... Any help will be highly appreciated
Peace

 

[PetFlora]

Help is here

How many plants are you trying to flower?

What will be their combined footprint at maturity?

Even if onl one,

min 2 lights

8" seems right

I would angle each ~ 15% to get more penetration

and turn them either vertically or horizontally for max coverage, making sure the tops get some too

Like to read/see how that goes for you

 

[aukrosa]

Thanks for reply. I am trying to flower 5 plants in the area 2x2ft. I tried to FIM them, but I think I wasn't succesful, I probably missed FIMed them . It just shorted the main cola and gave more power to the other branches.
Ok, I will put there the 2 lights with the red spectrum instead of the first one.
Part of my question was if the RED light would be better. (there are RED:Blue diods like 9:1).
Won't the plants miss the blue, orange, white?
Is quality of the LED light very important? Will it work good as long as it gets enough light? 2 300W led lights with its power consumption of 280w is considered as way too much (manufacturer of the light suggest 200W (power consumption 100w)
light for such an area)
Thank you

 

[aukrosa]

What do you mean by "combined footprint at maturity"?
And what should I turn verticaly or horizontaly? The colas or the lights? You ment the lights, right? I just put the 2 lights in there. It is so much bright that it causes pain in my eyes when I just look into the tent from above the lights. I did angle them 15%.

 

[PetFlora]

The problem started with bad photosynthesis 'science', which IMO, was intentionally manipulated because white led tech had not matured.

MJ responds best when light consists of ~ 15% 400-470 + ~ 30-40% 470-550 + the rest, a mix of reds 625/630/ 650

If you saw the early pics in my thread the 2 ufos 3500/5000 (custom made by A 51- not chinese junk) are angled towards the center. The net effect is ~ 4500K. I can most likely flower with it too, but add a mix of 2700 + 3000K once buds set

As to positioning the panels horizontal or vertically it depends on how well they cover the plants

As to eye strain. BUY UV sunglasses ASAP

What is enough light? Can't use standard concepts. All watts are not the same- by a LONG shot!

Most chinese diodes are CRAP, so 300w China panel might not be as good as 100w from Cree, Bridgelux, Osram, Helios... and even within them they have bins (think quality levels)

Thanks for reply. I am trying to flower 5 plants in the area 2x2ft. I tried to FIM them, but I think I wasn't succesful, I probably missed FIMed them . It just shorted the main cola and gave more power to the other branches.
Ok, I will put there the 2 lights with the red spectrum instead of the first one.
Part of my question was if the RED light would be better. (there are RED:Blue diods like 9:1).
Won't the plants miss the blue, orange, white?
Is quality of the LED light very important? Will it work good as long as it gets enough light? 2 300W led lights with its power consumption of 280w is considered as way too much (manufacturer of the light suggest 200W (power consumption 100w)
light for such an area)
Thank you

 

[PetFlora]

As budding plants grow they get bigger, some a LOT bigger.

I have one now in a 2 x 4 tent that is beginning to overgrow my other plant. The smaller will likely be 2 x 2 at maturity, the larger 4 x 4 if I let her

What do you mean by "combined footprint at maturity"?
And what should I turn verticaly or horizontaly? The colas or the lights? You ment the lights, right? I just put the 2 lights in there. It is so much bright that it causes pain in my eyes when I just look into the tent from above the lights. I did angle them 15%.

 

[aukrosa]

The light I was using till today has Epistar LED diods in it.
The lights I hanged in today have Bridgelux LED diods in it.
I hope it is true, they state it in the eBay description.
It shouldn't be that bad, should be?
I have never considered the UV sunglasses. Is it enough to put on just a regular sunglasses with normal sun protection of 400UV?
Thank you for telling me. Oh I hope I haven't hurt my eyes by now ... I have been working with LEDs for a half a year ... what do you think?
Thank you

 

[aukrosa]

Actually I have one more LED light.
It is this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mars2-400w-...5156235?pt=US_Hydroponics&hash=item2a37d24f8b
LED power is 400W, actual power consumption is 180W.
When you look and the light it produces it seems to be too white/blue. The color of the light it produces seems to be better for vegging then for flowering. This was the reason why I didn't chose it for flowering my plants. Is the color of the light I see so important?
What light/option would perform the best for flowering my plants?
I really need you help.
(the reason I have 4 LED lights is that I bought them to resell them. I want to try them and choose the best one, which I may continue to resell. They will do their job for someone, maybe for someone who grows vegetable ...)

 

[PetFlora]

The light I was using till today has Epistar LED diods in it.
The lights I hanged in today have Bridgelux LED diods in it.
I hope it is true, they state it in the eBay description.
It shouldn't be that bad, should be?
I have never considered the UV sunglasses. Is it enough to put on just a regular sunglasses with normal sun protection of 400UV?
Thank you for telling me. Oh I hope I haven't hurt my eyes by now ... I have been working with LEDs for a half a year ... what do you think?
Thank you

You cannot rely on china light companies to tell the truth. They already have knockoff leds

You may have hurt your eyes, but there are vitamins. minerals, oils that will help them recover

You ask many questions that you can figure out on your own. Try search engines

 

[aukrosa]

I have spent hours and maybe days searching . I have read a lot about LED, but I couldn't find any comparisons of good quality expensive LEDs and cheap chinese LEDs. Also I haven't figured out what LED lights from those I own would be the best for last 2-3 weeks of flowering. The best quality one I have has very light color, it seems to be good vor vegging, but not for blooming. The cheapest light I have has almost only RED LED diods, so it looks like it would be the best for blooming, but you were telling me the quality is also important. I really don't know. People on YT have been reaching good results with the 400W light, the last one I showed you.

 

[PetFlora]

As I said several times another site has LOTS of quality LED info

As I have been contributing there for years as well as here, I know your answers are there

Using the analogy of give a man a fish... learn to fish

I have spent hours and maybe days searching . I have read a lot about LED, but I couldn't find any comparisons of good quality expensive LEDs and cheap chinese LEDs. Also I haven't figured out what LED lights from those I own would be the best for last 2-3 weeks of flowering. The best quality one I have has very light color, it seems to be good vor vegging, but not for blooming. The cheapest light I have has almost only RED LED diods, so it looks like it would be the best for blooming, but you were telling me the quality is also important. I really don't know. People on YT have been reaching good results with the 400W light, the last one I showed you.

 

[devilgoob]

SCROG or SOG?

SOG for spotlightlike-lights. (new tongue twister) Scrog for grid-like lights.