Replace 400W HID for LED???

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Originally Posted by ugh

I'm not here to argue or have long drawn out debates. Just new to this and looking for a little insight... I've been looking to increase the amount of light in my room, but adding another light isn't an opition for me..
Also with being sort of a newb I'm wondering wether or not to change my bulb for better results. The one I am using came to me second hand and I've used it for two cycles. Or do you let them die out before changing?

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No harm no foul bud, it just hurts me to see people misinformed so I do my best to help out. :)

The bulbs should be replaced every 2 grows or so. With each use you lose lumen output from the bulb, so every 2 grows is good to change and get a new one in there to maximize your output. Some people will use HPS and MH, but I prefer to use the MH the entire grow. I am going to try MH for veg then HPS for flowering since they output that closest to the sun during certain times of the year.

MH will do good throughout the entire grow, but I guess that HPS would be beneficial more so in flowering.

I think you are about due for a bulb replacement. haha. Also, since you are a newb, check out the MH & HPS thread, it is stickied, alot of useful information that will maximize your light output to plants, i.e. distance from tops, etc.

My opinion, you are using just about the right size HPS for your grow area. Key is to make sure they are the proper distance away that way the plants suck up all the energy they need from that light.

I'm running cheap led's and they throw out more light than my plants can handle. penetration isn't great, but if you have 1k watts of led in the correct spectrum and a canopy managed in a way that promotes optimal light coverage, I would say this would spank a 1k hps.

yes, price.. would be nearly 3x or higher that of the hps unit, but its hard to say whether or not the life of the panel and higher efficiencies would make up the difference.

my 240watt panel got me several nice 6" colas off a few small plants in dirt on my first run..

for veg they are easily as good as florescents. with a much better efficiency.I have a hydro girl that is doubling in size every three days currently.

I use florecent in a greenhouse during veg and haven't had bad results with that. Then I switch them over to the grow lab for the final budding phase. I will be going out to get a new light this friday. I'm working with BCD for the next couple weeks and its being a diva about the light situation. So hopefully this trouble shoots a few problems. Thanks alot for the tips!

The proof is in my grow guys. There were no popcorn buds in my last 2 plants. I did over crowd the tent in the beginning but I got a huge yield from 2 plants.

I have 4 plants in there now under a 190w LED and 80W of CFL for heat. LED panels have come a long way. I got 5+ ounces of quality weed off 2 plants, dry. And they didnt even get a proper grow because I had to kill off 7 ! plants cos the tent was too cramped. I downgraded my tent you see. 2 plants began to win the fight for the light so after a while I realised that I would get better bud if the 2 big plants didnt hve to fight for the light. Anyway, in only 6 good weeks (6 cramped weeks) of flowering I got a respectable yield from just 2 plants. Im going for just 4 plants this time round. I expect to do very well this time.

Just be sure you don't buy your LED lights off eBay. 90+% are rubbish.

my first ever yeild i was getting 2 to 2.5 per plant with 6 plant. with a used 100w hps. are led less effecienct when your dealing with crowded space?

Yeh I'll second that. Used 600w hid for years. Fell for all the adverts for led grow lights. Spent nearly £300 on one an sold my hid. VERY disappointing results. Slow growth small plants, small buds. Sold it on eBay after one grow an bought another hid. Moral of the story, stick to what we all no works best.
Just as a side as well, google 'smart growlamps'. now this is one light I would prefer over my hid although a little on the expensive side at the moment I'm sure they will start coming down a bit soon. Induction lighting is looking to be the way of the future grower. No heat, half the running costs, and Very good results.