LED vs. HPS

[THContent]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Weezard, I will be giving the LED's a try and see what kind of results I get compared to 600W under same conditions. Any advice on which ones to get?

[Weezard]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Weezard, I will be giving the LED's a try and see what kind of results I get compared to 600W under same conditions. Any advice on which ones to get?

The commercial led market sucks.

What a steaming load of marketing stank!
3 bands, 5, 8, closer shaves, betta eggs, FEH!
Greed and ignorance abound.

The best commercial unit seem to be the ones that Str8 is using.
But, that's not my personal experience, just observation mixed with some trust.
He used to grow under HPS.
Took some balls to change over, but it paid off.:thumbsup:

Wattage is not as important as using the most efficacious wavelengths for cannabis.

I have used 635nm. reds and 660nm. reds.
There was quite a difference.
More than enough to compensate for the lower electrical efficiency of the 660 emitters.

The blue frequencies seem less important wavelength-wise.
But ratio of blue to red is important.

Look-up "Calling out to Weezard for led advice" by Crunchypants.
Where-in, we build several very successful lights.
All of which are still in service.

While most folks were just looking to grow "as well as" HPS,
I reasoned, that once one exceed the amount of useful light that the plant can handle, the souce of the light is irrelevant.
My ambition was to outgrow sunlight, on a budget.

Wasted some energy trying to supply "missing wavelengths" that a plant just might pine for.
CFLs for white fill, far red in the "evening", UVb, all kine sing.
I was, as is my wont, overthinking it.
The girls were overjoyed with 2 wavelengths once the intensity crested 80k LUX.
I actually grew bigger plants under my dichroic "cake pan" lamp than I did under tropical sunlight!
Started with very similar clones.
In fairness, the LED girls were treated to extra CO2 .

You might like knowing that I started up with leds to prove that they did not work!

Could not be happier about being wrong in this case.
(Can not afford HPS power bill at our rates).
So, I'm a very happy LED camper.

They were not cheap to build, but the cost was amortised in less than a year!
So now, I'm set to save a fortune with them over the next 8 or 9 years.:jointsmile:

Pleased to meet you Mr. Content, I love talkin' to an open mind.

Aloha,
Weezard

[moody420]

I don't even know how any of these people can still honestly write a post about how LED's don't work!!! There are so many of us using ONLY LED and having great results!

To each their own, but please don't advise people that things aren't possible. We are all here to learn, and we all have our own experiences. Some of us alot more than others. Show some damn respect!

And to the enlightened basementwarrior.....you are right, LED will never be like HPS....LED's will never burn up your electicity and they will never catch your house on fire like HPS! I'm just saying, do a little research before opening your mouth like you have something worthwhile to say! :jointsmile:

[Weezard]

the problem is most people that have tried LED have fell into the "snake oil" sales of promising more than they can deliver....then there is the skill of the grower....i am glad we got some experts here to let me know that these LED's won't flower

@ Str8

Oh my goodness!
Holy f f f f f f f cow!
Wet lap! Wet lap!
I is droolin' like a hebivore in heat ovah heah.

I has gots to finagle a way to wrap a lung aroun' dat fine lady.:rastasmoke:
Good work!
I gives it :greenthumb::greenthumb::greenthumb::greenthumb:

Tried a "sacrificial limb" yet?

Da Weeze

@ Moody

Oh, yeah, fo' I fo'gets.
Looked at some of B. W.s udder posts.
He does not seem to be a 'tard, or a troll.
So, I'm guessin' dat was a joke, jus' to get us rollin'.
Worked a treat?

[irydyum]

Maybe he should stick to the CO threads then and leave the indoor growing to people who know what they are doing.

Putting a male in with females will make ur bud denser? Cmon now...

[moody420]

Da Weeze

@ Moody

Oh, yeah, fo' I fo'gets.
Looked at some of B. W.s udder posts.
He does not seem to be a 'tard, or a troll.
So, I'm guessin' dat was a joke, jus' to get us rollin'.
Worked a treat?

yeah, he got to me! What can I say....it's monday and I hadn't had my medicine yet! :jointsmile:

....all better now!

[bigsby]

are leds better then HPS and do you need differnt lights for each stage does anybody know i think im going to switch for power purpose but i need to know if you need differant lights and which types of leds anything would help and what siz LED will grow the same area as a 600w HPS thanks for any information

I think the only thing that has not been answered here is what wattage LED would you need to replace your 600w HID. There are others here who can answer that far better than I. By way of semi educated guess I'm gong to say 350 - 400w will get you there.

For me it was all about power, heat, and safety. I'm not growing for commercial purposes so the upfront investment isn't much of an issue. I can see if you want to fill a warehouse that it would be hard to stomach the initial investment regardless of the long run cost benefit. Actually, no, I take that back. Anyone doing that kind of setup should be willing to take the time to figure it out. The hassles of heat mitigation alone that LEDs sidestep should be enough to cause any large scale grower to take a second look. Coupled with with long term cost savings it's almost a no brainer. Now, I can also see why people who started on HIDs stick with them, though the seemingly testosterone-fueled mind lock that sets in when this discussion comes up is not so easy to understand...

Let us know where you end up and how it grows.

[THContent]

str8, gimme some specs and a source on where I can pick up a few panels of LED's. I will definitely give them a shot in comparison to my HPS setup. Also weigh the relevant costs of each vs. that of the output of the plants as far as yield.

[Weezard]

Maybe he should stick to the CO threads then and leave the indoor growing to people who know what they are doing.

Putting a male in with females will make ur bud denser? Cmon now...

Sure will make 'em heavier, yah!

Hmm, Fo'got dat one.
Does seem pretty fnordish now dat ya point it out.
Li'l too potentially harmful to be another jape.

I'm leanin' mo' towards, guy's a "jerk" alla time now.
Sorry, Moody, Go gettem.


Aloha,
St. Wingnut da mild.

[irydyum]

Fnordish indeed St. Wingnut.

As to what will replace a 600w HPS, there are so many variables that no one can give you a straight answer. That's the reason it hasn't been answered yet.

Many people growing with LED's now, not very many doing controlled side by sides to give you hard data about it. It's going to come down to what works best for the individual.

I'm sorry it can't be more cut and dry, believe me, I'm sure we all would love a concise definitive answer. People can only give you data from their grow, and you have to run with that and make a decision about it.

No one told any of us with LED's that they would replace anything. Most of us stumbled on them as a matter of curiosity first and foremost. We are in the virgin days my friend, I got my hands on some because I don't want to be bringing up the rear, I'm much happier to be the point man discovering new territory.

So, how much LED lighting can you afford is truly the question. If you can afford 600w, get 600. If you can only afford 90w UFO, get it and try it. No one will know better what you can do with them than you:thumbsup:

Give us another 5 years, maybe then we can have some solid data to work with.