Why do people choose LED over HID?

[Smokey_LaFleur]

For me its the reduced heat output in a 4x4 tent.

 

[Phyto]

Your not getting the energy cost factors. Lets look at a 1000W HID system. With the efficiency of LED's being 30-50% higher, meaning I get more coverage for less watts. So, on the low side a 700 watt LED is equivalent to a 1000W HID, that means I'm saving 300 watts/hr for the same coverage, which means roughly every 3 hours I save a dollar @34 cents a killowatt hour, assuming I run 15/9 thats a $1.50 savings a day, times 120 days roughly to complete a grow, that's $180 a grow cycle, not a couple bucks a month.

 

[grayoldnproud]

Your not getting the energy cost factors. Lets look at a 1000W HID system. With the efficiency of LED's being 30-50% higher, meaning I get more coverage for less watts. So, on the low side a 700 watt LED is equivalent to a 1000W HID, that means I'm saving 300 watts/hr for the same coverage, which means roughly every 3 hours I save a dollar @34 cents a killowatt hour, assuming I run 15/9 thats a $1.50 savings a day, times 120 days roughly to complete a grow, that's $180 a grow cycle, not a couple bucks a month.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

I'd think comparisons would need common and useful measurements, like energy cost per amount of photosynthetically active radiation or daily light integral.

 

[amneziaHaze]

Your not getting the energy cost factors. Lets look at a 1000W HID system. With the efficiency of LED's being 30-50% higher, meaning I get more coverage for less watts. So, on the low side a 700 watt LED is equivalent to a 1000W HID, that means I'm saving 300 watts/hr for the same coverage, which means roughly every 3 hours I save a dollar @34 cents a killowatt hour, assuming I run 15/9 thats a $1.50 savings a day, times 120 days roughly to complete a grow, that's $180 a grow cycle, not a couple bucks a month.

I forgot about this with higher wattage your hid is blasting the middle like crazy while led has lots of tiny bars that spread light equaly.
Imagine my last grow with hid i had 30 days veg and plants hit the top of the tent anyways leds burned the few cm of the tops with hids i would have a fire for sure

 

[Jjohnson]

I personally run both mh and LEDs during veg and hps with LEDs during flower. LEDs absolutely cut down the electric bill because they use less power but they also run cooler so there’s no need for as much ac. The plates do well with one or the other but they seem to really love having both lights. Each seems to provide something that the other doesn’t. As others have stated yes the LEDs are more expensive initial cost but I don’t have to replace them because they are degrading. Mh and hps I only run for a couple grows because they start to lose potency if you will. When it comes to flowering keeping the temps down so you don’t offgas your potency and flavor because of excessive leaf surface temps is worth it. I’ve also found ducting an inline fan blowing across your hps ballast helps keep temps down and make bulbs last a little longer. With that said, that’s my set up and it works for me someone in a warmer climate may have to run more ac with the hps. Someone in a colder climate might have to run a heater. Mine maintains 78-80 during the day and drops to 65-70 at night. Once in a while my heater kicks in for 10-20 minutes in the morning to maintain 65 but it’s a pretty small heater. I also have a grow room that is very well insulated.

 

[Jjohnson]

LEDs have come a long way since first introduced to the market and a lot of them are adjustable to the spectrum you want. There is also a difference in the quality of lights you get. If you buy cheap LEDs you get cheap LEDs and vice versa. With that said I don’t disagree with you mh and hps do seem to supply something LEDs don’t but LEDs also seem to supply something mh and hps Donta’s well. My buddy swears by hps to get bigger buds but they don’t seem to have the potency or flavor that they get growing under LEDs in my opinion. Running both seems to be working well for me. Keeps heat and costs down and I get bigger and more flavorful buds. Win win.

 

[MrBeach]

I personally run both mh and LEDs during veg and hps with LEDs during flower. LEDs absolutely cut down the electric bill because they use less power but they also run cooler so there’s no need for as much ac. The plates do well with one or the other but they seem to really love having both lights. Each seems to provide something that the other doesn’t. As others have stated yes the LEDs are more expensive initial cost but I don’t have to replace them because they are degrading. Mh and hps I only run for a couple grows because they start to lose potency if you will. When it comes to flowering keeping the temps down so you don’t offgas your potency and flavor because of excessive leaf surface temps is worth it. I’ve also found ducting an inline fan blowing across your hps ballast helps keep temps down and make bulbs last a little longer. With that said, that’s my set up and it works for me someone in a warmer climate may have to run more ac with the hps. Someone in a colder climate might have to run a heater. Mine maintains 78-80 during the day and drops to 65-70 at night. Once in a while my heater kicks in for 10-20 minutes in the morning to maintain 65 but it’s a pretty small heater. I also have a grow room that is very well insulated.

I love this; there are as many different ways to grow as there are growers.

 

[MrBeach]

We are only limited by our imaginations. Someday there will be a new lighting technology, and we will adapt to that. These discussions about which is best will be ongoing, lol. There is no "right" way to grow. We all have different spaces, environments, budgets, etc. that influence our choices.

 

[grayoldnproud]

Someday there will be a new lighting technology, and we will adapt to that.

And then, hopefully there will always be

 

[Phyto]

I dont think hps is inferior to led.. I think its grow weed easy . Com. Did several test grows watt for watt on mh/hps vs LED. Where they would grow like 4 plants for each system each time MH and HPS. Comes out about 4 or 5 ounces more at dry harvest weight..

The newer LED’s outperform HPS on a watt for watt basis. HPS averages about .4 to .5 gram/watt, LED about 1.0 to 1.5 grams/watt. That pretty much tells the story. HPS still has a place in growing, if you’re in a cold environment, but for most small scale growers LED’s are the higher yielding choice.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Performance isn't the only thing that matters. LEDs are much more flexible in design. That's important for small tent growers.

 

[zack991]

There has been a lot of advancements in LEDS and layout to make better designs and layouts. Leds, they last longer and have some neat layouts for dimmable for good PPFD

 

[Coconutz]

When I used hid I like it I averaged 1gpw

I wasn't ever unhappy using HID though it'd be my 2nd choice it still rocks considering it cost fifty quid ±.

 

[amneziaHaze]

When I used hid I like it I averaged 1gpw
View attachment 2598401
I wasn't ever unhappy using HID though it'd be my 2nd choice it still rocks considering it cost fifty quid ±.

Yea but after a single grow that same hid gives noticably less light and each grow is worse and worse.then you think 10 years 10 lamps 500$ led would survive all that time.
And what i love especially about leds is if you undervoltage it it gives more light if you compare watts.b3cause leds perform better when not pushed to the limit.and we all grow at low % until the flower at least

 

[Coconutz]

I replaced the bulb with each run at £15 it was worth it to me, my reckoning was it only had to yeild 1.5g extra to pay itself anymore was gravy

I know led gives out more light and it's a better spread etc but for the money involved it should be better.

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Jfc I'm a led fan I've 2 of these and a 3rd 720w but i think it's unfair to write off HID it's a plug and play solution for peanuts they're perfect for anyone wanting to grow weed on a tight budget especially if they're in a cooler climate.