[Frank.O]

I´m choosing new lights for my grow, and I´m defo going with LEDs, even though lots of people dont like them, but the technology is changing very rapidly...
I mean just a few years back everyone thought its nonsense to use it for growing, cos of the low 1W chips that had really bad light penetration, but now most lights have a quality 3W chips and since 2013 even 5W LED chips... I really like to see some comparison between these two from somebody who knows what hes saying. Mabye even a recommendation of some products.

I really believe LEDs are the future of growing, since the electricity savings are about 2/3 from classic HID lamps which use most of the energy to produce light spectrums not even used for photosythesis and for heat which only causes problems in a grow room.

Oh yeah and one last thing... i found a website where people can buy anything really cheap straight from the manufacturers in China, https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?...+grow+light+5w the prices there are way lower then buying it from a middle man distributor. I´d pay about 300 dollars instead of about 1000. Lemme please know what do you think about all this, Thx a lot

[PetFlora]

First let's do a mind-wipe as it relates to old tech led issues, which plague the market and has become locked in to lessor thinking brains. LEDs have advanced even faster than computer RAM

Now, get diode wattage out of your mind, followed closely by penetration.

Newer < 1.0w diodes are quantum levels above 3w diodes of just a few years ago.

Buy only high CRI (color rendition index > 80, expensive ones are 100+) and high lumens/watt (many are 100+ lpw). Combined, these get you close to what defines what we really want- engines with high umols/m^

Penetration was compensated for by using tighter lens angles, but lenses have problems as they reduce the effective light, and known to discolor over time, causing more loss. Also, tighter lenses also mean moving the fixture farther from the canopy (Emerson Effect)

Low wattage diodes with no lenses can be placed much closer to the canopy, effectively increasing penetration.

Supplemental lighting can also be employed, but I have had vg bud development well below the theoretical limits without it, but do use supplemental lighting in the form of household A19 globes like Cree, Philips, Feit

These plants have been growing under ~ 115w, with 35w below canopy

As to Alibaba buyer beware. They lie. If you save say $200 on a panel over buying something like A 51, Apache Tech... but your light has issues, recourse has proven difficult. You are growing, you want fast turnaround

I have been using off the shelf 4 ft led tubes + A19 household globes, but I know what to buy. And now that tech and quality has improved you can now buy a damn fine light for ~ $200 more. Well worth it

[tebos]

Hello, there aren't really 1/3/5/10/50W LED's to begin with. LED's have a maximum current and the matching (forward) voltage, resulting in their wattage (A * V = W as you surely know). So it's basically a matter of the driver and not the LED what wattage they're running at.

LED's haven't gotten better because they are running at higher wattage's now, it's because they have gotten more efficient.
The problem with high(er) current is that LED's get less efficient the more current you give them. So if you're using so called 5W chips your missing out on efficiency and are probably better off using just good ol' HPS.

Just imho btw: Red/blue lights with supplemental white is the way to go if you want to tap the full potential out of LED lighting.

[Frank.O]

Thanks for the input, would you say the Bridgelux and Epistar 3W LEDs are one of the best on the market these days? Im considering buying https://growblu.com/120x3w-apollo-led-grow-light unless I find something better. The Apache Tech didnt really impress me, also I dont understand why are you using white diodes for growing plants that need mostly blue and red light?

[Dope time]

Hi Frank O.Thats what I've Started Using.For a Short time must say (house move Pending)
[a pause!]

1200w and 900w Mars2 5 Watt LED Chipsets
www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=271620&page=3

Also a friend here has been using a 3w 900w led for a few yrs.That Impressed by them he now has the 5w 900w from the beginning of this yr(?)
They have 8-9 light spectrums Sure.Look at the link Wonderfull to see they use a lot less power too re link

They are Powered less to aid longevity.Simple as T
And are the way FWD.RE Link!!
18% increase in Yield.Worth taking note of IMO well General Opinion soon No Doubt...

[PetFlora]

It's hard to deprogram someone who has been programmed, but the truth is out there

There are plenty of grows using only NW + WW leds, so why limit the spectrums your plants will see?

By providing full spectrum whites, your plants can utilize the spectrums they need when they need them. That is not possible with R/B only

<= 1watt diodes spread over a wider surface area trump high watt spot lights

Originally Posted by Frank.O

Thanks for the input, would you say the Bridgelux and Epistar 3W LEDs are one of the best on the market these days? Im considering buying https://growblu.com/120x3w-apollo-led-grow-light unless I find something better. The Apache Tech didnt really impress me, also I dont understand why are you using white diodes for growing plants that need mostly blue and red light?

[Dope time]

Admittedly at First i Missed the Awesome Light Power of The 600 HID's i had
But Of Course The Plants Needs are whats Important in this game...
Still Some People i feel dont want to lose the HPS..^? And will Defend until They see Reason..
How could NASA be Wrong! Springs to mind and yea ive noticed several clear Bulbs too.1 of the Spectrums Needed MUST BE.Lol, Sure the Manufactures Know what their Doing

OH,my mate is Also Going to run a 600w HPS to Aid Heat for these Up coming winter months
I run mine through the Night and at 3.30am This Morning they were at 70/71F,so Sure ill have to do the Same Soon

[tebos]

Originally Posted by PetFlora

There are plenty of grows using only NW + WW leds, so why limit the spectrums your plants will see?

Whites provide mostly green with a tad of blue, they don't provide an even amount of spectrum at every color that's why it makes sense to use R/B and a (very) small amount of white.

[PetFlora]

tebos

mj only needs ~ 15-20% blue during veg and < 10% during flower.

WW provides 90%+ of the PR (photosynthetic response) needed to grow excellent medicine

NW or WW provide all the blue and red a plant needs

The proof is out there

My grows prove it as do others on RIU

[Loollo]

Originally Posted by PetFlora

It's hard to deprogram someone who has been programmed, but the truth is out there

There are plenty of grows using only NW + WW leds, so why limit the spectrums your plants will see?

By providing full spectrum whites, your plants can utilize the spectrums they need when they need them. That is not possible with R/B only

<= 1watt diodes spread over a wider surface area trump high watt spot lights

For the veg R/B it's awesone, for the flowering i'll say you !
But i think to add some watt of WW.


after 19 days of R/B