Hey Perp, nice setup you have going there.

I'm 6 - 8 weeks from building my room and at this point I will likely shoot for the tail end of summer so I can avoid the heat issues and the vacation schedule. Since it's a new room and because I have the time and inclination to research (a lot), I too am considering LED. A 10% - 15% drop in yield is acceptable to me - if that's what it takes. No yield or anemic yields are not. I'm not growing to supplement my income but rather as a hobby, the occasional splif, and as a favor to a friend who has legitimate needs.

Here's my problem, it is very hard to find reliable grow logs demonstrating LEDs and of course there is the ever present trust issues given all the hype and obvious misinformation in so many forums elsewhere. (Note: I'm not taking a dig at anyone, so please no offense. I have no reason to doubt what I have seen here. My problem is that it is hard to find independent verification.) Add to that the kids who don't read and who think they can grow with a 15w LED together with a market flooded by cheap product in search of a quick buck and it is easy to see how discussion becomes so distorted. It doesn't help that some HID folks seem unable to engage in a rational discussion of this issue. It is worth noting that LED technology is changing by the hour. What you learned / observed 2 years ago does not carry the same weight today.

After a lot of reading and trolling through forums I am still not sure how to resolve my concerns. It is a good chunk of change to lay down. I have no problem it it works but would not be pleased if it didn't... That said, I have found the most useful and informed information in these forums. My read is that the technology is changing quite rapidly and that this will be the grow light of the future. I have no doubt about that. But is it there yet? I don't know. I want to believe - it would solve many issues with my setup - heat, venting, electric usage not to mention the unlikely but ever present fire hazard that the HID lamps represent. However, I may end up with an HPS if only because it is a proven product - know it will work.

So I'll be interested to follow your journey here. Perhaps I can add some info from time to time. Please do let me know which way you end up coming down on this and please share any independent research you come across, as will I.

Peace.