Quote Originally Posted by RackitMan
Too much expense for a small hobbyist. If I ever take my designs or grows to the next level, I would certainly invest.
A $200 meter is too expensive compared to what, exactly? Especially one that will accurately measure light output and give you a number that matters for LEDs.

Also you should obtain a kill-a-watt meter for about $40. This will tell you exactly how much power each panel is drawing (that commercial 120w is likely only pulling 60-90w) and that will give you a better idea of what's going to perform better. I would wager the reason you're wagering on your panel matching or winning is because that 120w isn't really pulling what it claims and thus your unit is likely hurting your eyes just as much as the commercial one.
khyberkitsune Reviewed by khyberkitsune on . RM's Bicolor DIY LED lamp vs a Commerical unit I have two DIY LED lamps that I am experimenting with. An all white one posted in another thread and this bi-color update to my first DIY LED. Originally it was a 20 watt (2 * 10w) 465nm seedling & veg lamp and I just finished adding 24 watts (8 X 3 watts) of deep red 660nm and 24 watts (8 X 3 watts) of royal blue 445nm. It is impossible to compare the brightness by eye alone because of the differing spectrums, LED wattages and spacing, but I would wager my 68w passive cooled is easily Rating: 5