Why do people choose LED over HID?

rolex1994 · Feb 2, 2026

I been doing allot of research on lights. Why is LED so popular? With HID systems like CMH , MH/HPS. The initial cost set up is like $100 brand new on Amazon, $50-$60 used on ebay and there is lots of $20 and up deals on FB market place.
Not to mention the maintenance if something goes wrong with an HID system , fixing it is as simple as replacing a $25 bulb, or $30 ballast..versus having to throw away an LED system. Or pay a professional to tear into a complex configuration and solder

I can understand LED for a commerical operation, big, massive cause saving an extra 20% on larger operations will add up to serious money.. but small operations 20% is virtually an extra few dollars a month..

So why do people choose LED? Not to mention hasn't it been proven that HID lights increase harvest yields by 25%-30% then LED

grayoldnproud · Feb 2, 2026

Energy cost. Would be my guess.

rolex1994 · Feb 2, 2026

grayoldnproud said:
Energy cost. Would be my guess.

Like I said in the post. For small growers with 1 or a handful of lights a 20-25% increase would be only a few dollars..

grayoldnproud · Feb 2, 2026

rolex1994 said:
Like I said in the post. For small growers with 1 or a handful of lights a 20-25% increase would be only a few dollars..

First, that cost depends on your rate. But on a yearly basis even a single light can more than add up. I would bet that most are looking at two things.
1. Initial cost
2. Running cost
It's all about the Benjamins. Including yield/kwH. Dr. Bruce even has an article on this exact thing, LED costs and efficiency.

My $.05

rolex1994 · Feb 2, 2026

grayoldnproud said:
First, that cost depends on your rate. But on a yearly basis even a single light can more than add up. I would bet that most are looking at two things.
1. Initial cost
2. Running cost
It's all about the Benjamins. Including yield/kwH. Dr. Bruce even has an article on this exact thing, LED costs and efficiency.

My $.05

Its just strange why people go out and buy a $500 and up light when a $100 HID is just as powerful or more powerful( depends on which style you go with) then the $500 light... let's pretend the LED saves you $10 a month on ur bill .. it would take you allmost 4 years to recoop the initial investment.. plus your sacrificing 25%-30% of your yield.. vs going with the HID

grayoldnproud · Feb 2, 2026

rolex1994 said:
Its just strange why people go out and buy a $500 and up light when a $100 HID is just as powerful or more powerful( depends on which style you go with) then the $500 light... let's pretend the LED saves you $10 a month on ur bill .. it would take you allmost 4 years to recoop the initial investment.. plus your sacrificing 25%-30% of your yield.. vs going with the HID

I don't think it's necessary to blow $500 on a light to get adequate, consumer, yields. If you have a commercial operation the ROI is the sole driver and then that's a different calculation. But most here aren't commercial, note I said most, and the cost benefit isn't the same with just a good ole bou/girl getting weed without having to run to the dispensary. I think it's @JIMKSI64 who just copped some really inexpensive leds, and he grows some nice shit. But I don't recall if I am right on who or what so take that with a grain of salt.

With that said, many here, I've seen, do both or even HPS as well. So there are some other factors too...heat and initial cost if you already have the set up...why buy more shit if you don't need more shit.

Again, just my $.05

rolex1994 · Feb 2, 2026

FB market place is a goldmine for HID systems everyone is selling them cause of LED. You can get a system for $20..

But like I said brand new full system on Amazon is about $100. For a 315w cmh set.. or $100-$130 for 1000w that is dimmable for mh/hps systems..

Bulbs which is recommended to swab every 12 months for hps and mh. , and every 18 months for cmh can be bought for about $25-$35

Phyto · Feb 2, 2026

rolex1994 said:
FB market place is a goldmine for HID systems everyone is selling them cause of LED. You can get a system for $20..

But like I said brand new full system on Amazon is about $100. For a 315w cmh set.. or $100-$130 for 1000w that is dimmable for mh/hps systems..

Bulbs which is recommended to swab every 12 months for hps and mh. , and every 18 months for cmh can be bought for about $25-$35

With LED's you don't have the problems with heat, and if there is a problem, you can remote the driver, the added cost of an A/C unit, plus the power to run it more than justifies LED's. Plus I'm on year 8 with my LED's, and I haven't had any maintenance costs. In Ca. were' paying an average of 34 cents/KWH, only Hawaii is more expensive. Also, I don't have to worry about catching my hair on fire if I get too close to the light (LOL).

Hossgrows · Feb 2, 2026

rolex1994 said:
Its just strange why people go out and buy a $500 and up light when a $100 HID is just as powerful or more powerful( depends on which style you go with) then the $500 light... let's pretend the LED saves you $10 a month on ur bill .. it would take you allmost 4 years to recoop the initial investment.. plus your sacrificing 25%-30% of your yield.. vs going with the HID

I could say the same about growing indoors over outdoors. The outdoor grows will be substantially bigger in both aspects. And cheaper, too

It's a personal choice, is all. Guided by economics, and state regulations.
.

grayoldnproud · Feb 2, 2026

Hossgrows said:
Guided by economics, and state regulations.
.

And what you can get away with , risk v. reward. Good @Oldchucky taught me last year, ya want reward? take a risk get em in the sun. Or something like that. Anywho.

Coconutz · Feb 2, 2026

For growers in cooler climates just wanting to grow some personal there's no need to but led, hid is like a plug and play solution it gives light and heat for 250/400/600w and it rocks, plants absolutely love hid

led fixtures cost much more to buy then you still need to add a heater so any perceived electricity savings evaporate...ask me how I know?

That said led with + heater set up you're going to yeild a good bit more bud, it's worth it if yeild is your aim.

MrBeach · Feb 2, 2026

It's hot where I'm at. High 70s(F) today at the beginning of February. I do not want a light that produces excessive heat. Another reason is availability. I have two 100w board-type LEDs that I got on Amazon for under $70 each. They work perfect for the 2x4 veg area in my greenhouse.

amneziaHaze · Feb 3, 2026

rolex1994 said:
I been doing allot of research on lights. Why is LED so popular? With HID systems like CMH , MH/HPS. The initial cost set up is like $100 brand new on Amazon, $50-$60 used on ebay and there is lots of $20 and up deals on FB market place.
Not to mention the maintenance if something goes wrong with an HID system , fixing it is as simple as replacing a $25 bulb, or $30 ballast..versus having to throw away an LED system. Or pay a professional to tear into a complex configuration and solder

I can understand LED for a commerical operation, big, massive cause saving an extra 20% on larger operations will add up to serious money.. but small operations 20% is virtually an extra few dollars a month..

So why do people choose LED? Not to mention hasn't it been proven that HID lights increase harvest yields by 25%-30% then LED

You pay 100watt for both one gives you more light

600W LED:
PAR Output: 1200 μmol/s
Usable Light Efficiency: Approximately 90% for effective growth.

600W HPS:
PAR Output: 1080 μmol/s
Usable Light Efficiency: Approximately 60-70%.

Wattage Yield per Watt Total Yield Estimate
LED 600W 1 to 1.5 g 600 to 900 grams
HPS 600W 0.75 to 1.2 g 450 to 720 grams

rolex1994 · Feb 3, 2026

amneziaHaze said:
You pay 100watt for both one gives you around 50% more flower...

That's true to a degree. 200 watts is 200watts.. however HID requires a ballast to run basically a mini transformer so that alone pulls wattage to... so if you had a 400w hps light it would really pull about 430w-445w. Cause of the ballast

rolex1994 · Feb 3, 2026

That's the point im trying to make though.. HID and this electricity bill, is really only valid for bugging time growers commerical growers, some one who has 40 or 50 lights going.. then LED is clearly justified.... but basic growers, small growers. Maybe 7 or 8 lights, ur electricity bill is gonna raise a few dollars compared to LED.. and yes. Your right you get more dense buds and bigger yields with HID..

amneziaHaze · Feb 3, 2026

rolex1994 said:
That's true to a degree. 200 watts is 200watts.. however HID requires a ballast to run basically a mini transformer so that alone pulls wattage to... so if you had a 400w hps light it would really pull about 430w-445w. Cause of the ballast

You cant say that 200watt green is same as 200watt blue or red.watt is not watt since most of the hps watt is deep red thats not photosynteticly usuable much

rolex1994 · Feb 3, 2026

Isn't that measures in kliens or a K variable.. like. A 400w MH is like 6000k. While 400w HPS is like 2000k... wattage is still wattage. Voltage divided resistance. Ohms law

rolex1994 · Feb 3, 2026

amneziaHaze said:
You cant say that 200watt green is same as 200watt blue or red.watt is not watt since most of the hps watt is deep red thats not photosynteticly usuable much

I think the spectrum is getting into a whole new topic.. we are talking about wattage.

amneziaHaze · Feb 3, 2026

rolex1994 said:
I think the spectrum is getting into a whole new topic.. we are talking about wattage.

Spectrum is really important in growing. Thats the main reason hps is inferior to led.
Planta have a range that they will use for growing and a range that they will not and hps produces a lot of the other one.
Well she uses it but it sends a signal your inside a shadow just stretch for now until it stops

And watts is not watts well at least in growing.if you spend 50watts to produce heat and others use same to produce light...

rolex1994 · Feb 3, 2026

rolex1994 said:
I think the spectrum is getting into a whole new topic.. we are talking about wattage.

I think the closer you are to 10,000k that's the blue spectrum. While the lower you are that's the red spectrum... I think that depends on how the light is made the working parts inside the bulb.. that has nothing to do with wattage..... blue is for veg while red is for flower..... MH is veg and HPS is flower.. but a 600w digital ballast will run both HPS and MH bulbs rated at 600 watts

Why do people choose LED over HID?

Why do people choose LED over HID?

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