Originally Posted by macnasty
I'm glad you mentioned SOG, because that's exactly what I have in mind. And the CO2 as well. Running an HPS I have some significant heat issues, which disqualifies me from making good use of it, but with LED's I figure I can make up for some of the lack of light power by implementing CO2. And though I've never used it myself, I've heard it can increase yields by about 20%. If that number is realistic, that means I'll only have to provide 80% of the light I'm currently pumping with my HPS to get the same results. One step closer already, and the LED hasn't even turned on yet!]
Actually the co2 will allow you to get away with a whole lot more heat, keep the plant from shutting down respiration at high temps, where growth slows down as heat goes up. At 100F degrees it could add 100% more growth (something vs. nothing)
I'm happy to hear that the hybrid T5/LED puts the equivalent HID to shame. Another reason I want to switch to LED is that I can distribute the light much more evenly across the entire canopy than with a single light.
It should there really is no energy savings with it.
About your last point; thanks for clarifying for me from an authoritative source the truth that a procyon is not equivalent to a 400 W HID. To tell you the truth, I never believed that drum racketting anyway. My question is, is it reasonable to assume that 2 of these 90W lights would equal a single 400 W HID? If so, I am sold. Perhaps I'll throw in some T8's for good measure, or some T5's if I can find some.
Crabbyback, a proud Porcyon user confirms what I've seen. She also has it right about using a cheap source like fluorescents to fill out any mising light spectrum
In sum: the even light distribution, [potentially] lower energy consumption, and opportunity to utilize CO2 without the nuisance of running a continuous exhaust seems irrestable to a learning grower such as myself.
Probably the best part of the whole LED experience, low heat production and the ability to contain co2 better equals higher production.