new guy wth LED/tent ?

[onedog]

Hello. New guy here. Any LED folks here? Just ordered a G8-900w led light. Also gotta 5x5 tent coming. The 900 watter is rated to be sufficient lighting coverage for 25 sq ft. And the equivalent to 1400/1600 HPS. Seem reasonable? I want to determine if I should exchange the 5x5 for a 4x4 if that is a more effective grow space for the 900 watt LED.

thanks for any expertise here

[OMB]

There is an expert who will probably be along shortly...but here's some reading material until he gets here.

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-lighting/34819-led-grow-lights-input-please.html

[Weezard]

There is an expert who will probably be along shortly...but here's some reading material until he gets here.

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-lighting/34819-led-grow-lights-input-please.html


An expert!?
Excellent!
Can't hardly wait. :D

Aloha,
Weezard

[OMB]

An expert!?
Excellent!
Can't hardly wait. :D

Aloha,
Weezard

You know I was referring to you...:thumbsup:

[Weezard]

Oh the pressure! :)

Seriously guys, I'm no expert on anything.
Just another "guy on the internet".
I can offer personal experience, and a little science.

That's why I held off.
I've got to be honest about it.
And the OP is not going to like that.
Hope he can get a refund.

I personally, would not use G8 arrays.

Here are the specs on their "900 Watt" lamp.
Power Draw 540W.
That includes the fans.

Now, that is a lot of led light, but they spread it over 8 bands and that includes worthless IR, and UV.
They withheld information about the wavelengths and their ratios, but I'm guessing they include 720nm. that come on at the same time as the rest of the leds.
Useless when used like that!

An honest 900Watts just might be equivalent to a 1400 W. HPS.
If they used 2 or 4 bands, all in the most efficient frequencies.

Then they want you to purchase an all red, way overpriced UFO, from them in order to flower? WTF?

Sorry Onedog, but I calls 'em the way I sees 'em.

Aloha,
Weezard

[onedog]

Thanks Weezard thats what im lookin for. G8 gets really good reviews from what I've seen so im a little surprised at what you say. Seems to me I read that they were concentrated in the right wavelengths and only supplementing with some others for a good efficient balance. They claim IR is good for stem growth.
Looks like they're one of the top rated companies and crap...it's 2014 and i'm expecting the science to be dialed in (by top brands) and the BS eliminated.
But I'm not married to this thing yet. In fact they delivered the wrong unit and i can cancel before the swap (even then I got 90 days).
Got any suggestions for honest efficient one's. Goin a few extra bux is worth it in the long haul.
How bout the 5x5 25 sq ft thing?

thanks:)

[budbro28]

i use there lights in a 3x3 and my plants WERE looking great till i fucking ruined em....i got the "useless' g8 240 watt FULL SPECTRUM....i think its one of those different strokes for different folks....i heard the busy bee LEDs are not bad, but im a chump noob with no said experience. :twocents:
but id take Weez's advice his pictures and post are proof in its self he knows what hes talking about:thumbsup:

[Weezard]

Thanks Weezard thats what im lookin for. G8 gets really good reviews from what I've seen so im a little surprised at what you say.

If you really dig, you may find that they write most of those reviews.
Read through them again.
Watch the syntax closely.



Seems to me I read that they were concentrated in the right wavelengths and only supplementing with some others for a good efficient balance. They claim IR is good for stem growth.

Stem growth, yes.
But, What does that mean?
If you want long, skinny, plants, hit them with IR and some deep red.
Anything below 720nm. signals Cannabis seedlings that the need to stretch and out-grow the competition.
This they do at some expense.
Uses up a lot of the early energy.
Sucks the cotyledons dry.
They will never get very bushy after that.

G8 appears to be a sham.
Glad to hear that you are in a negotiation position
And I will be happily surprise if you get a no-hassle refund. :)

Looks like they're one of the top rated companies and crap...it's 2014 and i'm expecting the science to be dialed in (by top brands) and the BS eliminated.
But I'm not married to this thing yet. In fact they delivered the wrong unit and i can cancel before the swap (even then I got 90 days).
Got any suggestions for honest efficient one's. Goin a few extra bux is worth it in the long haul.
How bout the 5x5 25 sq ft thing?

"top rated companies"
"they delivered the wrong unit"

Cognitive dissonance, yah? :D


thanks:)

Actually a good light should cost considerably less.
Are you up to building your own?
It's easier than you might think.

If not, I'll root about in the latest offerings and see if I can spot an honest vendor for ya.
My lights are still working extremely well and I am vegging 14 plants of varying size in a 2' X 4' cabinet with ~100 watts.
So, I haven't been shopping for quite a while.

With a good 500W. array, you can grow the shit out of 25 sq feet!
1K of decent leds would be serious overkill for veg.

I don't ask much, of a vendor but lack of integrity and fudging of facts is a deal breaker.
I'll get back to ya when I find something.

This could take a while to do properly, I've got the flu and consequently, I have the "dumb." :)
Not even sure this makes sense.
I'll re-read later. :)

Aloha,
Weeze

[tlranger]

I'll get back to ya when I find something.

This could take a while to do properly, I've got the flu and consequently, I have the "dumb." :)

Weeze[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

Take care and get better, but please remember this, am sure others besides me are very interested.

Building your own is easy, have some where to point me to.

[Weezard]

Here's a start:

297803

A.
W.

[onedog]

thanks again Weez what you say is ringin more and more true. Just cancelled the G8 unit( im sure the correct model wasn't even shipped out yet so the wrong shipping was a blessing). I'll check out those suggested brands and their prices. I found one that looks pretty damn good: TruLite. This guy seems to have really dialed in only the needed wavelengths, 2reds 2blues 1 IR (claimed to increase chlorophyl and flower production). Cant tell ya the exact nm's. But i feel it to be a very efficient and honest product. He rates his units in actual draw too, not nominal.They're modular and can be daisy chained. Also he sourced out led's that are supposed to be more accurate than common suppliers resulting in more efficiency. BUT, I am a handy diy guy and can solder. Makin' my own panels sound very appealing. Always did but didnt know where to start. Sounds like I found the right place and guru. :hippy::):):)

no hurry...feel better

[onedog]

also...decided multiple small panels should provide better coverage than one large unit.

[Weezard]

Yikes!
This set off my bullshit detector:

"Accuracy. Plants experience their peak growth when given the proper wavelengths of light that correspond to photosynthetic pigments. If those wavelengths are off by more than 1%, a grower could end up with a 200g yield instead of a 400g yield."

Puhleeze!

Could be written by some dolt in marketing, so I'll go back and dig a little.

L8r
Wee

[d00g]

Ahh I love a good LED thread :) I am very interested in building my own LED panel. While I already have a pre-fab, store bought, I would love to add more lighting in my cabinet.

[onedog]

re the 5x5 tent... i've been told the sq footage of a tent should match the lights ability to fill that area. IOW, if one is trying to set up a smaller area of plants i.e. 2x2 or 3x3 within the 25 sq's using a light designed for the 2x2 or 3x3, even if properly placed above those plants, light is lost or wasted in filling the whole space.
true? LED's are more focused and directional than hid I believe...

[Weezard]

"light is lost or wasted in filling the whole space, true?"

Yes, and no. :)

Most led emitters have a "lambertian" pattern.
For practical purposes, call it 180°.
(Gas discharge lamps are app. 360°)

In a 4 X 4 room, with a 4 X 4 lamp, servicing the plants is a chore.
And the lamp footprint is calculated for open space.

In a 5 X 5 cabinet, with reflective walls, a 4 X 4 lamp is ideal for the plants, and the grower.
If you try to stuff a 5 X 5 room to the max. it becomes a serious chore as they get bigger anyway.
Just not enough elbow room, or coverage.

I think that "Solar Flare" lamp is lensed to 60°.
Have to go back and look again, but the point is 60° lensing would be tight for those dimensions.
90° would be mo' betta for that area.

Ideal, for me, would be 2. 4x4 arrays in a 5x10 space.
Alas, not an option here.
But, if you are defining your own space . . . :)

This:
297819297820

is how I tested for reflectivity and space usage within an enclosed space.

Start with a stable source and distance, then try different reflective surfaces.

(The reflectix won, followed closely by Titanium oxide white paint.)

Aloha,
Weeze

[Weezard]

Ahh I love a good LED thread :) I am very interested in building my own LED panel. While I already have a pre-fab, store bought, I would love to add more lighting in my cabinet.

It actually is quite simple.

Whipped this together in 2 or 3 hours:
297821
Then tested it for sheer power with a solar radiometer:


297823297822
Nominal 65W.
Actual, ~48W.

Then I had a cake pan lying around doing nothing:

297824297825
Those are 15W. emitters.
Named it Woof!
Nominal 75W. Actual 54W.
It's my main veg. light until they get tall and need more penetration.


For that, I used a cookie tray with 3w. emitters and mounted lenses:

297826

This can grow 5 footers and it's only 50 Watts.

I did these to peak efficacy because we pay north of $ .40 per KWh.
I can not afford to waste photons, yah?

Tell ya what, D00g.
Start a led build thread and I'll come kibbitz. :)

Aloha,
weeze

[catbuds]

Yeah d00g. Hook up with Weeze here. You certainly can't go wrong. Look at that craftmanship. Havent seen work that tight & precise since my dad died. I've wanted to try leds for a while now, just can't afford to make make the move. But when I can, Weeze, you'll be the one I'll be watching! :)

[tlranger]

Yea doog, Weez makes it look and sound so simple, almost too simple. Almost magic. Want to see you guys go start to finish.

I keep looking at that chart posted and scratching my head or was it my ass? Any way dumbfounded. Right from his start!!

[onedog]

This sounds like fun and looks pretty straight forward. Plants dont care about commercial brands or pretty housings--light is light. Custom designing for your personal needs sounds very cool.
to max out a 5x5 for ex. maybe spread out four square panels 'bout 150 actual watts each? or a couple @ 250W each? or??
5w diods? 3?
Those Lumigrow units look pretty cool with the variable adjustments for the blues and reds for veg to bloom shifting. A rheostat for the blues and one for the reds?
Lotta questions re lenses, heat sinks, etc. best sources

first what kinda panel then a parts list eh?

[onedog]

I've been emailing DormGrow (G8-led) since Friday for a cancellation and refund and my emails rebound with a 'failure to deliver' notice.
This is an example of a "best grow lights" review site [www.theweedblog.com] that now looks more and more obviously written by this apparent sham master as noted by Weezard. Wish i'd gathered a little more savvy about this business before pulling the trigger. If Dorm Grow does not make good real soon I'm going to plaster all the forums i can find with warnings about this guy. Dorm Grow was given (or he gave himself) AA+A ratings for design/price/customer service.
I do hope to be accepted for some tips on how to construct my own units

the best to y'all

[Weezard]

Check the address that you are sending to.
Might be a typo.

Just because they are clueless about leds, and ruthless and mendacious about marketing, doesn't mean they want to risk legal action.
It's possible that their mailbox is choked with complaints.
It was a 3 day weekend.
Give them 3 business days to respond.

If you suspect that they have your address on a bounce list.
It's easy to create a throw away gmail address and see if it bounces too.

If so, they have an 888 number listed, call 'em.
Or hit the "chat" button and ask what's up with the emails.

Best to do these things before "plastering" without solid proof of their intent to defraud.

That will cover your ass, legally speaking.
Then go kick their's, angrily speaking. :D

Aloha,
Wee

[nampra]

Red,green spectrum however you archive it;) and your timer, how you archive this up to you.