Anyone switch from 1000 watt hps to LED yet?

[futureboy]

Ok, so as you can all tell Iâ??m one of the new kids on the block. I will do my best to be as precise and informative as possible while not trying to step on anyoneâ??s toes. Banter back and forth is good but fighting and taking jabs at one another doesnâ??t do anyone any good. Ok, so enough of the peace and love shit, here is my opinion on Perpetr8râ??s question.
First, my hat is off to Stra8outta. Guyâ??s like this who take chances with new equipment and products are the reason for the awesome advances that have and will continue to take place in this industry.
There are a couple of problems with this discussion that should be addressed so that Perpetr8r can step back and come to his own conclusion on what he is trying to accomplish in his grow. First, in my opinion grams per watt is really only half the story in trying to compare LEDâ??s to HIDâ??s (HPS/MH). See at this point while LEDâ??s definitely have the spectral advantage energy wise they are lacking in the intensity department (getting much better though). Here are two examples to help prove my point. First of all I have a meter that measures Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) which is measured by micromoles of photons per square meter second. This meter fairly accurately approximates the radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers which are the most important wavelengths for plant growth. Itâ??s not quite a spectroradiometer but for this discussion it is plenty accurate, at least to make my point. Regardless of the size of the diodes and how many are grouped together the readings as you get further from the light rapidly drop off as compared with HID lighting systems (readings fall drastically every inch from the light). In addition, the cone of light coming of the LEDâ??s is almost non-existent. Meaning within a couple of inches of any side of the light fixture the readings are very bad in terms of adequate light for plant growth. Second, the evidence of this phenomenon is present if you read into this thread and the one that Khyberkitsune directs us to called Pinstripes 2nd try. Stra8outtaâ??s .7 grams per watt using LEDâ??s similar to traditional HIDâ??s (what about 1 -2 feet above the canopy stra8outta?) is a real testament to his horticultural skills. Great job man! Unfortunately it proves my point when you compare it to pinstripes 22 watts, 38 grams in 14 weeks (14 weeks? Not good on a 7-9 week variety) at 1.72 grams per watt with what sounds like by his own admission zero horticultural skills. In Pinstripes scenario the LEDâ??s are being used at their optimal distance from the plant and the plants are being kept mad small therefore he has tremendous success. In Stra8outtaâ??s case he is trying to cover many more plants that are much larger and therefore he has a tremendous light loss as the light travels down through the canopy (my bet is less than 20 micromoles of light reaching the bottom limbs of the plants). This loss is going to bring overall yields down as compared with HIDâ??s. These lights as described by the manufacture can be used up to 13 ft away from plants in a commercial greenhouse setting. I can assure you that hanging the lights this high in a commercial setting could be used for one thing and one thing only, photoperiod interruption, which is also done with 60 watt incandescent bulbs in commercial greenhouses. Only a minimal amount of light is necessary to trick the plants.
Ok, so there is some proof to my statement, but I still have not explained why g/w is only half the story. Assuming Perp that you are a RI patient or caregiver and you understand that you are legally allowed to have 12 plants in flower, using Pinstripes method you would yield a whopping 152 grams off of your 12 plants. Yea, I guess you would have only used 88 watts of power but you would have only legally have produced 5 and half ounces in 8-14 weeks. Ok, so now letâ??s look at Stra8outtaâ??s .7 g/w. Yea, this as I have said is really good, especially for LEDâ??s, but what could you or have you produced using the same setup (# of plants, nutrients, etc.) properly outfitted with HIDâ??s and cooling. My bet is at least 1 g/w if not more. That is a difference of 300 grams per 1000 watts. This is almost 11 ounces of herb. Since electric bills are paid in cash money and that is all we are essentially looking to save on unless of course it is all about being â??greenâ?� and lowering your carbon footprint, well then LEDâ??s really donâ??t make economic sense yet. The $200 and lets say for argument sake being somewhat outrageous $300 extra that the HIDâ??s and air cooling are costing to run over the LEDâ??s could be covered by 1 of those eleven ounces or getting crazy RI style 3 of those ounces a $100 a piece. This means you are still 8 ounces or a half pound richer by using HIDâ??s over LEDâ??s.
So Perp its up to you and what your goals are. Shit, if you donâ??t give a fuck about plant limits, LEDâ??s Pinstrip style may work for you. If the # of plants and so does the electric consumption because you not ligit than Stra8outtaâ??s style setup might be best. All I can say is you have to ask yourself, what is my situation?