Quote Originally Posted by RackitMan
Not even close. If the science as presented was complete and accurate, and 80% of HPS light was wasted then LEDs would be outperforming HPS by a huge factor.

Not happening.

I am not challenging you guys as you seem to think, but there is definitely a piece of knowledge missing.
There is nothing missing, the math hasn't been expressed and there's still one important unit that hasn't been discussed.

Take a look at the light spectral chart - 80% is emitted in yellow/green, 20% in the blue/red.

Out of a 400W HPS, 320 watts of light are from yellow/green. 80 watts blue/red. This is why 90w UFO panels have the equivalent (even as stated on my panels) "Photosynthetic power" - only the honest panel makers refuse to say "Get the same yield as" because that is misleading.

The DIFFERENCE is that the HPS emits a higher photon flux density even for just those 80 watts of actual blue/red versus typical 1W led panels. Also, the angle of emission of LEDs directly determines the photon flux density - the wider the beam angle the less dense the flux of photons. You want the penetration power of a 400w HPS out of a panel of 1W diodes? Put the diodes down to a 30 degree beam to increase the photon flux and thus the penetration power.

But even watt-for-watt 400w LED in a tight panel will smash 400w HPS for yield. 400w 100% usable plant power versus 400w 20% usable plant power. Add in the fact they last longer and the entire thing is a long-term win situation.