LED or Fluoro

[Tychan]

Hi all,

I have been doing a little research in order to grow my own avoiding getting wripped off by college kids and going dry, like i am now! I've just moved country so lost my suppliers after 18 yrs of smoking.

My wife is limiting my spending so i thought LED was the answer, no ballast or cooling fans needed so easily hidden and easy to set up.

Yeah ok i'm getting to the point, i've been looking at LED panels on e-bay but the wattage seems really low, compared to Fluoro.

Blue light wave length: 465
Red light wave length: 650
LED QTY: Red: 72pcs Blue: 40pcs Total =72+40=112pcs
Working Voltage: 240V
Power: 45W

What do you think, i only want a small set up in order to grow my personal use? Should i go for it? Or just by the below Fluoro lights which come with reflector etc no ballast required either.

100W ENERGY SAVING LAMP - 6400K
100W ENERGY SAVING LAMP - 2700K

Any replies would be good, Thanks Ty

[Ghostgrower]

What size space we talking about here?

I think if you are really restrained by cost then the CFL's would still be your best bet. I've been seriously considering a panel of LED's for a cloning table but once you get to something that will grow a whole plant from beginning to end costs go way up. LED's have been used on a few grows on this site from beginning to end but I'm guessing the cost wasn't all that low to set it all up.

[buzb8lvr]

I would say CFLs would probably be better at this point. LEDs are an emerging viable way to grow but still hasn't been perfected just yet.

[AugustWest]

Originally Posted by buzb8lvr

I would say CFLs would probably be better at this point. LEDs are an emerging viable way to grow but still hasn't been perfected just yet.

yeah what he said.

[DaGanjaMonster]

Actually the most efficient/cost effective lights are the HIDs, they give off more lumens per wattage. Metal Halide (great for vegging), High Pressure Sodium (great for flowering), and Mercury Vapor.

LEDs are also very efficient, but I can only base that on what I have read, never tried using them they seem to expensive to me...

Just cough up the dough for the HPS, its worth it and you can use it from start to finish...

[Ghostgrower]

Hid's will be alot hotter than CFL's once you pass 250w or so. If heat is going to be an issue and you dont have adequate venting then stick with the CFL's. If you can get good venting setup then consider as appropriate size HID

[DaGanjaMonster]

Originally Posted by Ghostgrower

Hid's will be alot hotter than CFL's once you pass 250w or so. If heat is going to be an issue and you dont have adequate venting then stick with the CFL's. If you can get good venting setup then consider as appropriate size HID

This is true for sure, HIDs do get hot and venting is very important with these... although venting will be important with the CFLs as well, temps might be a little easier to maintain but honestly for all of the work you will be doing, yield from CFLs is just not worth it IMO...

But hey do what you gut instinct tell ya, thats what I always recommend.. If you are feelin' the CFLs, then do it up man you'll still have loads of fun growing no matter what you do.

Peace

[Tychan]

Thanks to everyone for the replies, such a great response!

Sorry i didnt reply last night i had made the three hour round trip to pick up some buds! It was worth it!

I'm still completely undecided but i think i will go with the Fluoro. I can get either of the set up's mentioned for under AUD 150 so there's no price issue really. But i think i will go with the tried and tested way for now as i can't afford to buy another light strait away. i can afford to experiment with new technology when i finish my studies at the end of the year and get a job! (I'm only 36).

I'm looking to keep this set up as low profile as i can so HID lights ballasts and big fans don't really suit me although the thougfht of an even bigger plant appeals!

I be using this sight more often and will attache pictures of whatever i go with.

Oh Yeah and the size grow area is just a large cabinet or single wardrobe, not in my house.

Thanks,
Tychan

[DaGanjaMonster]

You can still get 150W High Pressure Sodiums for a cabinet. Get a bathroom exhaust fan hooked up in there to get the heat out, no big fans needed (still need a ballast though)

If you do go ahead with the CFLs, I've used the 200W Full Spectrum CFL from Sun Blaster before, it is an awesome light man and it can be used for flowering.

I do get better yields with my HPS but I still use the CFL for veggin, its an excellent light!