What light would you pick?

916Fisherman · Jun 12, 2019

I’m debating on a used 900w Vipar Spectra or 2 of these Chinese boxes. I can get the 2 Chinese boxes cheaper than the used Vipar. It’s been 5+ years since I’ve grown indoor and I’m trying to stay away from Halides. My tent is in my garage and it gets hot in my city. I’m also a salt water reef guy so I have also made the switch from MH to LED and couldn’t be happier.

Plan is for 6 plants in 5-10 gallon pots.

916Fisherman · Jun 12, 2019

Any help would be appreciated

MIMedGrower · Jun 12, 2019

I have not tried led yet. Im still using hps and finally have a cmh 315 in the toolbox but i thought i would help bump your thread as i am learning as much as i can about led.

I will say you will get different suggestions than the lights you have shown. Strips and boards are mostly recomended for high par and high efficiency.

916Fisherman · Jun 12, 2019

MIMedGrower said:
I have not tried led yet. Im still using hps and finally have a cmh 315 in the toolbox but i thought i would help bump your thread as i am learning as much as i can about led.

I will say you will get different suggestions than the lights you have shown. Strips and boards are mostly recomended for high par and high efficiency.

Thanks. I’m sure there are far better options but I’m on a very limited budget right now.

MIMedGrower · Jun 12, 2019

916Fisherman said:
Thanks. I’m sure there are far better options but I’m on a very limited budget right now.

I still think led is way overpriced and the type of lamp you are showing wont be any improvement over hid.

Only way to beat heat without better efficiency is less watts.

Evil Monkey · Jun 12, 2019

Unless it’s just for a couple grows, I would avoid those cheap lights. Spend ur dollar wisely

Aqua Man · Jun 12, 2019

916Fisherman said:
Thanks. I’m sure there are far better options but I’m on a very limited budget right now.

Honestly your not going to get anything decent in terms of LED that will compare for less than what you pay for HID lighting. So if you don't have the money upfront save yourself the disappointment and just go HID.

916Fisherman · Jun 12, 2019

I Already have a 1000w HID set up but the amount of heat they throw off mixed with outside temps of 100+ makes for an extremely hot and humid tent. Garage is insulated but not temp controlled.

Was looking at LED for less heat and electricity savings.

Aqua Man · Jun 12, 2019

916Fisherman said:
I Already have a 1000w HID set up but the amount of heat they throw off mixed with outside temps of 100+ makes for an extremely hot and humid tent. Garage is insulated but not temp controlled.

Was looking at LED for less heat and electricity savings.

I hear ya. I run led and love it but I really think you will be disappointed in the results of those fixtures. I don't really care for the Chinese knock offs but there are some knockoff quantum boards that people report good results with. But I think to replace a 1000w hps or mh you would probably be looking at about $400ish with them give or take. I will pm you a place you can check them out.

Mr.jiujitsu · Jun 12, 2019

Yeah cause leds suck quantum boards. I pull 2gpw+ of straight fire. It’s the way to go don’t listen to anyone that says otherwise. I have builds on my posts if you want info

MIMedGrower · Jun 12, 2019

Mr.jiujitsu said:
Yeah cause leds suck quantum boards. I pull 2gpw+ of straight fire. It’s the way to go don’t listen to anyone that says otherwise. I have builds on my posts if you want info

View attachment 875107

No one said led’s suck.

And you wont get 2 gpw with the lights shown in the op.

Aqua Man · Jun 12, 2019

Mr.jiujitsu said:
Yeah cause leds suck quantum boards. I pull 2gpw+ of straight fire. It’s the way to go don’t listen to anyone that says otherwise. I have builds on my posts if you want info

View attachment 875107

Much agreed I run quantum boards also.

I just cant speak to the Chinese knock off ones but others seem to have good results with them.

What I'm trying to say is you won't get an led that will equal or surpass an HID in terms of growth, yield and quality for less than the price of an HID light.

Hands down quantum boards kick ass but you will pay more for LED and the OP doesn't have that in his budget as far as interpreted it

916Fisherman · Jun 12, 2019

Aqua Man said:
Much agreed I run quantum boards also.

I just cant speak to the Chinese knock off ones but others seem to have good results with them.

What I'm trying to say is you won't get an led that will equal or surpass an HID in terms of growth, yield and quality for less than the price of an HID light.

Hands down quantum boards kick ass but you will pay more for LED and the OP doesn't have that in his budget as far as interpreted it

I understood what you meant lol. I guess I’ll have to start comparing the cheap knock offs vs the expensive knock offs and see the difference. They’re all made in China anyway lol

Aqua Man · Jun 12, 2019

916Fisherman said:
I understood what you meant lol. I guess I’ll have to start comparing the cheap knock offs vs the expensive knock offs and see the difference. They’re all made in China anyway lol

But not made equally. Those Chinese knock off quantum boards use Samsung 561c diodes those are the ones that HLG used on their v1 boards.

The fixtures you listed are probably epistar garbage and poorly built.

BloodShot · Jun 12, 2019

916Fisherman said:
I’m debating on a used 900w Vipar Spectra or 2 of these Chinese boxes. I can get the 2 Chinese boxes cheaper than the used Vipar. It’s been 5+ years since I’ve grown indoor and I’m trying to stay away from Halides. My tent is in my garage and it gets hot in my city. I’m also a salt water reef guy so I have also made the switch from MH to LED and couldn’t be happier.

Plan is for 6 plants in 5-10 gallon pots.

I have grown with cheap Chinese epistar led's for several years and have had some satisfactory results but have blown whole rows and separate diodes from every cheap panel I purchased in a short amount of time and good luck getting any service for them, I didn't.
Recently made the switch to quantum boards and ordered from a place called Atreum Lighting because I saw a person by the handle Buzzer777 put the link up and it was exactly what I felt I needed . "THIS PLACE IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND GREAT ADVICE " and has served me for years in my quest for knowledge!
Put it together and saved some dollars over other sellers for the same tech.
I am thrilled with the purchase and it only took 4 business days to arrive at my door from China. Threw together a frame quickly from scraps and mounted the heat sinks with panels to it. I have the driver outside of the tent with the exhaust blowing on it to keep it cooler.
If you could manage to get even one board, you could build upon it by purchasing a larger driver.

Mr.Juice · Jun 12, 2019

I had just posted like two min ago on another thread about LED. Of the cheapie ones, a 1200W light is only putting out about ~109 actual watts. So if you’d want to replace a conventional 400W bulb, you would need 4

Don’t know how to link post
Posted more in thread
My New MH/HPS set-up WON'T FLOWER?!!

Aqua Man · Jun 12, 2019

Yeah @Buzzer777 could probably steer you in the right direction. Let's see if we can't tag him enough to get him in here lol. @Buzzer777

Buzzer777 · Jun 13, 2019

Aqua Man said:
Yeah @Buzzer777 could probably steer you in the right direction. Let's see if we can't tag him enough to get him in here lol. @Buzzer777

LMAO....You have awakened me!

Budget?

916Fisherman · Jun 13, 2019

Buzzer777 said:
LMAO....You have awakened me!

Budget?

None really lol. It looks like I’ll be sticking with HID for now or maybe T5. I’m trying to use all my existing equipment and figured since new bulbs are gonna cost $100+ I might as well consider LED at the same price as new bulbs. It doesn’t appear the horticultural side of LED is as advanced as the aquarium side with respect to “budget” fixtures lol.

Buzzer777 · Jun 13, 2019

916Fisherman said:
None really lol. It looks like I’ll be sticking with HID for now or maybe T5. I’m trying to use all my existing equipment and figured since new bulbs are gonna cost $100+ I might as well consider LED at the same price as new bulbs. It doesn’t appear the horticultural side of LED is as advanced as the aquarium side with respect to “budget” fixtures lol.

The SMD Sammy based lights are NOT really budget..just more watts for the $$.
When you are ready..look around here and then ask away..happy growing. I still have ONE burple left..the other lights are all smd based. The Burple is a high end Unit Farm with Crees that I got free for testing..That is good but old tech and I still love it.

What light would you pick?

What light would you pick?

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What light would you pick?

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