About those LED lights

[BigBlock]

lumens are the measure of light according to the human eye.. not the plant, so you can't go based on that..

More lumens = more light for the plant. Period. LEDs produce less light, and more heat, than any other source of light short of incandescent. They are WORTHLESS for growing compared to HID and fluorescents. You get more heat and less light. That is not how you grow good marijuana. Light penetration is worse than fluorescent.

And they cost way, WAY more than a really nice digital HID system...

[smoknjoe]

Do some research BigBlock.

LEDs have an extremely lightweight and compact design. This fact along with low heat emissions make LED's a very attractive light source. Also, they can be designed to emit the specific wavelengths required for photosynthesis (fluorescents and HIDs emit alot of wasted light).

BigBlock is right that LEDs are not cost efficient (yet), but there is a great deal of research and development in low cost production.

If you have problems with space and/or heat, and you have the money to drop, LED's might be for you.

[newactivist]

LED's do work if you have the right kind. NASA made them work no problem but they had pulsed LED's that are far more powerful than standard retail ones.

Another item to check out is the sulphur microwave lamp. They are expensive but put off massive PAR and no heat. You can find them at http://www.nurturelite.com/photoponics.htm. This is a lost technology that NASA developed but never took off commercially as it interfered with the 802.11 wireless networking standard. The bulb is rated for 10 yrs and the magnetron for 6-18 months with replacement about $50-60. As far as I know this is the only company still making them. They are expensive but if you want the absolute best...

Here's another link for LED's and sulphur lamps from NASA.
http://www.space.com/businesstechnol...ng_010926.html

[smoknjoe]

Big - where did you read that LEDs create more heat than HID for the same amount of lumens? I'm not sure thats correct.

I agree that HID or fluorescents are superior (right now) if you have the space for them. But you can't say they have no business in growing...

[BigBlock]

Do some research BigBlock.

I have done plenty of research and I know more about lighting and electrical than 99% of the people on this board.

LEDs have an extremely lightweight and compact design. This fact along with low heat emissions make LED's a very attractive light source.

You clearly need to do some more research. LEDs are not light when you add up the hundreds of them and the power supply you need for growing. Weight is irrelivant anyway, it's not like you carry your grow around with you. LEDs put out MORE heat than fluorescent or HID. It's a matter of efficiency. For a given wattage, lights put out a certain amount of heat and a certain amount of light. If a light gives off more lumens there is less heat. If a light gives off less lumens there is more heat. It's basic physics. LEDs put off less light for a given wattage than HID or fluorescents, thus, they give off more heat. The only type of lighting that gives off more heat than LEDs are incandescents, and we all know how worthless those are for growing.

If CFLs cost $100 each for 20 watt bulbs would you use them? Of course not. LEDs make even less sense than that. LEDs are gaining efficiency every year and one day they might be a viable option...for now they have a LONG way to go before they make any sense what so ever.

[Crispyfried]

Well folks I just purchased some LED bars from Solaroasis. These guys are making LED lights for NASA and have patented technology. Their technology is very new, and they claim that each light bar is equivalent to a 100 watt HID. They have two different light bars, one is $160 and the other, newer one is $200. This is expensive for the output, but my stealth space requires super low heat due to venting issues, and I've recently had extremely bad luck with fluorescent bulbs breaking on me. So since LEDs last longer than any other light, and are not very breakable at all, they are a great alternative for small grows. I'm still going to use CFLs somewhat, but not as much. And the energy consumption of each LED bar is only 6 watts! Go see the LED bars at www.solaroasis.com

[BigBlock]

This is expensive for the output, but my stealth space requires super low heat due to venting issues

Can you not read? LEDs create MORE heat than fluorescent or HID. That is a FACT.

[SmokinRandy420]

Bigblock man go to the site posted man....your "FACTS" mean shit....

www.solaroasis.com

[BigBlock]

Bigblock man go to the site posted man....your "FACTS" mean shit....

Oh yes, a board full of teenage pot heads knows alot more about LEDs than a highly educated lighting engineer.

Of course the place trying to sell you the highly overpriced bulbs is going to feed you all the bullshit they can so you dump your wallet in their hands. Most of what they tell you are lies and twisted half truths.

[smoknjoe]

BigBlock,

Are your heat considerations based on standard white LED's? If so, you're right. The number of white LED's needed to equal an HPS would generate more heat.

Were talkin red and blue LED's with state of the art technology. Read this article, its very interesting, and its from a neutral site with nothing to gain from LED sales.

http://www.space.com/businesstechnol...ng_010926.html

Let me know what ya think.

peace,

joe.