LED Grow Light Prices - What would be reasonable?

I know lots of people still aren't convinced on LED grow lights, despite some pretty good results from members here and elsewhere. It looks like the market price for the Procyon 100 is about $599 and the place to get those is [url removed].. Then there is the UFO, which market rate seems to be about $595 and those are mostly available from [url removed]

There are lots of 'knockoffs' of the UFO out there, and some jackass who put a dimmer switch on a squared off procyon... but those haven't brought the price down.. just added some availability while the market grows and demand is met.

Still, most people scoff at the pricing for LEDs. As a matter of percentage, though, LEDs have to only carry 1% or less of the total market. So all this leads to the real question. What price would start turning the market around and driving more people towards LEDs? Since UFO is kind of the base-currency of LED grow lights, lets use that as the widget.

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Originally Posted by GreenDestiny

I'm holding out until it's down to between 200-300.

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May be awhile for that :).. There are some 60W UFOs that are getting closer to that.

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For technology that's already 40 years old for just making light, it's not worth the insane prices right now (big thanks to capitalism)

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I don't totally disagree with you, but who do you think is making the big money right now? Just the LED manufacturers? Seems like they're trying to get their production up to snuff so they can bring their prices down and compete with conventional and CFL lighting. Is it the hydro shop owners? Are they making a killing on these?

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All relatively new technologies suffer from this cycle. For something that comes out that's better and more efficient, the price should reflect that too - easier to buy. Thanks to money greed and power, capitalism puts a hold on new technologies from achieving greatness overnight.... it's all about slowing progress so every drop of money can be squeezed out of old widespread technology.

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Well, so then someone might subvert the system by not taking the same size cut? There certainly is a lots of this going on in the world, few people break the mold and bite the bullet. But in this case, do you think that's all it is? Do you think if someone brought the price down substantially from $595, there would be a small windfall (maybe 1% of the market to 2 or 3%)?

Honestly, though, if it gives you 'value'.. and a recurring ROI (energy savings), it only makes sense that it costs a little more... unless it is a gross simplification (which these LED lights are not over conventional HID).

gtown

I totally agree SNS, and I actually had the pleasure of meeting Ryan at HGL last week.. as we have been selling his lights from the very first production round at [blatant sales pitch removed]. There isn't much margin in this at all right now, and we're trying to actually bring that margin down some across the board because we believe in the technology and all the power savings, etc..
[again] is also importing an updated UFO-type light with 90 Bridgelux 1W Red/Blue in 8:1 (default) configuration. It has an integrated ballast, is a little smaller than the HidHut UFO. We are offering this for sale on our website now for $450.
[url removed]
At a quantity of 8 we are offering those for $420.

That is rock bottom, a full $175 less than people are selling those clunkety ass UFOs for. Do you think this will help drive down the price in the market?

We're trying to keep our flow steady by shipping these UPS air freight, so even for large orders people shouldn't have to wait for long.

Ben

its not the price imo.....they need a better footprint.

I'm holding out until it's down to between 200-300.

For technology that's already 40 years old for just making light, it's not worth the insane prices right now (big thanks to capitalism)

All relatively new technologies suffer from this cycle. For something that comes out that's better and more efficient, the price should reflect that too - easier to buy. Thanks to money greed and power, capitalism puts a hold on new technologies from achieving greatness overnight.... it's all about slowing progress so every drop of money can be squeezed out of old widespread technology.

If I had an extra $500 to just throw around I'd definitely still consider getting some LED light.

One thing I really like about them is that after the expected lifetime of the LEDs they'll still shine pretty bright... I can't remember what the % drop is but it was better than HIDs. So their long life is definitely something I keep forgetting to consider for the price...

50k+ hours... that's over 5.7 years of continuous use! and since a lot of lights like the Procyon are aimed more at flowering, they'd be on only 12 hours a day... so would that mean it'd last about 10 years???

Ok so then I suppose $500 or so would be great for that kind of a deal, and by the time you need to replace it it'll be outdated lol.

Thanks for making me rethink it :)

Well pretty clear that the market hasn't brought the price down yet, but i think you hit on a good point about the value of the lamps.

If you have led that is giving you 5 times as long a lifespan and costing a fraction of the cost to operate compared to hps, it is worth the higher cost.site

I came across an interesting calculation of the cost of led versus hps at http://www.growrevolution.com/files/casestudy02.pdf

According to this chart, depending on the cost of electricity, with these lamps you are gonna save 38% to 47% just on the cost of powering the light not counting the additional savings from cooling. So I guess if you have to cooll too you will save well over 50% to run an led versus the same hps.

Probably better to just pay the cost and consider it an investment rather than waiting for the prices to come down to hps -- your still ahead if at the high prices of today.

Weedhound is right on the money.....the price is about right, I have been talking to ryan at HGL and the guys at homegrown lights....talk to the guys in the building LED thread, and they will tell you, you will still spend a few hundred bucks to build your own even...
back to WH statement....first of all, the UFO sucks...same preice as the procyon, with about 10-15% less power output...but the procyon will only cover a 3x3 area to be comparable to an HID...anymore and you lose efficiency....see my signatures if you need proof....LEDs will eventually take over the market...but thats still a few years out...when a single LEDengin 15w 660nm LED costs under $10, maybe prices will go down, and the lights will start being designed for a bigger grow area.....
bottom line. If you are growing in a confined space, the procyon is the shit...I dont even have intake or exhaust on my set up with the single procyon, just 2* heat difference....
whiskeytango

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