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HPS light superior vs current led tech?

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HPS light superior vs current led tech?

DIYDanny 884 Replies 152,795 Views
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DIYDanny

DIYDanny

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#1
Hi All
First time on forum. Or any forum😕
Anyway I took 6 cutting from my mother plant last night and put into a bubble Cloner I made from stuff laying around.
Question is I've they survive and grow a fair amount under the 9x 18w leds I've got what light would I flower them under in 2x1 meter space in 20l buckets thinking of 1 x 600w HPS but unsure If led tech has surpassed HPS ? I have to spend money so might as well buy best option for them obviously for the largest yield
Any help appreciated
 
#2
Instead of HPS, if I were you, I'd consider two CMH LEC 315s. Each one will cover 3x3' space. That would fit your space very well. (They make a 630.). I think separate fixtures would give you more flexibility and if one went out, you'd still have some light. (You can get remote-mount ballasts if heat is a problem. CMH isn't very hot even with the ballast in the tent.). Use the 4200 bulb for veg. After 12/12 stretch is complete, switch to the 3100. (Some people use 4200 all the way through. If you switch to soon, they'll stretch to much.).

I've grown a considerable amount using LED. I ended up feeling like they don't produce the same finished quality (crystals, terpenes). I think it has something to do with absence of UV. It's also a very confusing topic with so *much* flim flam out there (cheap LEDs sold for high-end prices). There are good brands. If you absolutely need heat reduction, lower energy use, then spending more for high-end LED could be worth it. But, not all expensive LED is high end. So... it can take time orienting yourself to the topic. The mid-grade brands aren't going to run cooler or more effciently than CMH (at 35w/sq ft. I guess the ballast adds 10% to that.). But, if you're considering HPS, I'd replace that idea with CMH.
 
#3
If you are talking efficiency, no. You can replace a 1000w hps with a 300w led.
So in that case you can get 3 led lights for less of a power cost and have 3 times the light.

Don't pay attention to the advertises power consumption of led lights. Most of them use an equivalency rating. Something that is 1000w in advertising only actually draws 200w.

From what I've seen, leds can grow some great stuff. 1/4 the price on your power bill, less heat, more par for the $.

What's not to like?
 
#4
az2000 said:
Instead of HPS, if I were you, I'd consider two CMH LEC 315s. Each one will cover 3x3' space. That would fit your space very well. (They make a 630.). I think separate fixtures would give you more flexibility and if one went out, you'd still have some light. (You can get remote-mount ballasts if heat is a problem. CMH isn't very hot even with the ballast in the tent.). Use the 4200 bulb for veg. After 12/12 stretch is complete, switch to the 3100. (Some people use 4200 all the way through. If you switch to soon, they'll stretch to much.).

I've grown a considerable amount using LED. I ended up feeling like they don't produce the same finished quality (crystals, terpenes). I think it has something to do with absence of UV. It's also a very confusing topic with so *much* flim flam out there (cheap LEDs sold for high-end prices). There are good brands. If you absolutely need heat reduction, lower energy use, then spending more for high-end LED could be worth it. But, not all expensive LED is high end. So... it can take time orienting yourself to the topic. The mid-grade brands aren't going to run cooler or more effciently than CMH (at 35w/sq ft. I guess the ballast adds 10% to that.). But, if you're considering HPS, I'd replace that idea with CMH.
Click to expand...

You can buy an led that has uv and ir in it.
From what I've seen so far, my led is doing just as good as the hps I used to run.
 
#5
Depends where you live I think. I'm in Canada, electricity is cheap and it's cold outside most of the year so for me HID is a no brainer. I use it for heat as well as light. And it grows top shelf pot.
If I were in the southern US in a place where it's always hot and electricity is expensive, LED would be much more attractive to me.
 
#6
BigCube said:
If you are talking efficiency, no. You can replace a 1000w hps with a 300w led.
So in that case you can get 3 led lights for less of a power cost and have 3 times the light.

Don't pay attention to the advertises power consumption of led lights. Most of them use an equivalency rating. Something that is 1000w in advertising only actually draws 200w.

From what I've seen, leds can grow some great stuff. 1/4 the price on your power bill, less heat, more par for the $.

What's not to like?
Click to expand...


Pretty big exaggerations as far as led efficiency stated here.
 
#7
I'm burnt on the subject. Led is not Led. Do your research there are plenty of articles and posts here about it. It's all about the application you need it for. HID costs in the long run led costs upfront. Both grow good cannabis. I'm talking quality led not the gimmiks listed on 90% of the websites. If your thinking of getting a cheap led stay with HID
 
#8
basically hps costs you more to maintain, more money. But it’s well known what they can do. There’s thousands of shit leds and plenty of good ones it’s basically finding what works for you. It’s all opinions. It’s like ram vs Ford 😂😂 or apple vs Android.
 
#9
DIYDanny said:
2x1 meter space
Click to expand...

I was just thinking. You could do a LEC 315 CMH on one side, and an LED on the other. That would let you get experience with LED without getting deep into it. You might eventually divide that space into veg/mother and flower rooms. Have a perpetual grow. If you were less thrilled with LED (or CMH), that could be your veg light. (It doesn't take a terrific light to veg cannabis.).

@Dirtbag made a good point. If you're in a cold climate, you might prefer MH and HPS over CMH. They'll (at least HPS) produce more heat, which could be desireable. MH/HPS is less expensive to get into than CMH.
 
#10
Kingjoshh said:
basically hps costs you more to maintain, more money. But it’s well known what they can do. There’s thousands of shit leds and plenty of good ones it’s basically finding what works for you. It’s all opinions. It’s like ram vs Ford 😂😂 or apple vs Android.
Click to expand...

Hey now that's not fair.. everyone knows damn well android is way better than apple lol. An I was an iPhone guy for years before seeing the light.

But yeah different strokes man.. HLG make good LED units from what I've seen, but they're pricey. My HID setup for 2 lights including e-ballasts, mogul sockets and cords, lamps and reflectors was less than $500 total out the door, and that is using eye hortilux lamps. Reflectors were second hand mind you, but still that's cheap to illuminate my 8x8 stadium setup. Running costs arent bad as again I have cheap hydro electricity.. I do replace bulbs every 6 months so I'm looking at about $350 per year in lamp costs, but that's still peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

And like you said. It's well known what they can do. They grow excellent pot. With LED you really need to do your homework and shell out big off the bat to grow the same quality as you can get with a brainless HID setup. But I do believe they have a place. It's just not BC lol.
 
#11
Dirtbag said:
Hey now that's not fair.. everyone knows damn well android is way better than apple lol. An I was an iPhone guy for years before seeing the light.

But yeah different strokes man.. HLG make good LED units from what I've seen, but they're pricey. My HID setup for 2 lights including e-ballasts, mogul sockets and cords, lamps and reflectors was less than $500 total out the door, and that is using eye hortilux lamps. Reflectors were second hand mind you, but still that's cheap to illuminate my 8x8 stadium setup. Running costs arent bad as again I have cheap hydro electricity.. I do replace bulbs every 6 months so I'm looking at about $350 per year in lamp costs, but that's still peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

And like you said. It's well known what they can do. They grow excellent pot. With LED you really need to do your homework and shell out big off the bat to grow the same quality as you can get with a brainless HID setup. But I do believe they have a place. It's just not BC lol.
Click to expand...


I like my I phone. You suck! ;-)
 
#16
Dirtbag said:
Lol I liked my iPhone too, until i got a samsung. Then I just kicked myself for not switching sooner.
Click to expand...
Both iPhone and Samsung are great phones. I just like my. I. Phone and iPad but I like led and it seems like hps does a good job too,.my led are dimmable with several settings and I paid 75.00 free shipping for a 300 watt. So I don’t think that is expensive. Seem to be working good so far, but u put all lights and and fans in tent and it gets hot , in the summer time...so
Happy growing 😉✨
 
#17
Dirtbag said:
Hey now that's not fair.. everyone knows damn well android is way better than apple lol. An I was an iPhone guy for years before seeing the light.

But yeah different strokes man.. HLG make good LED units from what I've seen, but they're pricey. My HID setup for 2 lights including e-ballasts, mogul sockets and cords, lamps and reflectors was less than $500 total out the door, and that is using eye hortilux lamps. Reflectors were second hand mind you, but still that's cheap to illuminate my 8x8 stadium setup. Running costs arent bad as again I have cheap hydro electricity.. I do replace bulbs every 6 months so I'm looking at about $350 per year in lamp costs, but that's still peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

And like you said. It's well known what they can do. They grow excellent pot. With LED you really need to do your homework and shell out big off the bat to grow the same quality as you can get with a brainless HID setup. But I do believe they have a place. It's just not BC lol.
Click to expand...
My XR is fantastic 😂😂😂 , you have to change it every 6 months! I was thinking once a year.
 
#18
MIMedGrower said:
Pretty big exaggerations as far as led efficiency stated here.
Click to expand...

Admittedly they are exaggerated numbers. But not by much. I have a 250w led light that is outperforming the 400w HPS I used before. The led cost me $120.

At almost half the power consumption, its outperforming the hps by leaps and bounds.
 
#19
Kingjoshh said:
My XR is fantastic 😂😂😂 , you have to change it every 6 months! I was thinking once a year.
Click to expand...

Not sure why everyone needs to turn this subject into a pissing match...

Yeah, you should replace hps lamps every 6 months. You can absolutely go longer with them with minimal loss of production or quality, but like I said, in the grand scheme of what we're doing here its peanuts really. I can grow a lot of pot between each $160 lamp swap.

And I'm not claiming it to be the most efficient technology, but for my setup where I use the heat given off and electricity is cheap, Its a solid option. Covering operating costs is manageable, But forking out thousands and thousands of dollars for lighting setting up a room is sometimes just not in the cards for everyone.
 
Last edited:
#20
Dirtbag said:
Not sure why everyone needs to turn this subject into a pissing match...

Yeah, you should replace hps lamps every 6 months. You can absolutely go longer with them with minimal loss of production or quality, but like I said, in the grand scheme of what we're doing here its peanuts really. I can grow a lot of pot between each $160 lamp swap.

And I'm not claiming it to be the most efficient technology, but for my setup where I use the heat given off and electricity is cheap, Its a solid option. Covering operating costs is manageable, But forking out thousands and thousands of dollars for lighting setting up a room is sometimes just not in the cards for everyone.
Click to expand...
Appreciate the tip on heat generation makes me think to go for HPS during our very cold winter here at the coast. How do led grows generate heat in colder climates?
 
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