Which Led For Me?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Oulde Tymer, May 3, 2014.

  1. Need some advice. I'm starting my first grow:
    Organic
    Smart Pot
    Secret Jardin 2x2x5 grow tent
    Indica dominant seed
    I'm going to start slow with the small tent and grow one plant at a time. My question is which LED would be better in this situation - Mars II 80x5w or Reflector 96x3w? The higher wattage would naturally seem better, but the Reflector can switch between veg and bloom modes. I'm also a little concerned that 400 watts might be too much if the plant gets taller. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
    OT

     
  2. No answers, I guess. Sara recommended the Mars II panel. Maybe I'll revisit my CFL idea.
    Thanks anyway. 
     
     
  3. Dude, you should check out these new lights by a company called Intelligent Gro. I've run the Mars II and the reflector series and their ok, but I have to say these new lights are kicking some butt!
     
    to answer your question though, between the 2 I would suggest the mars II since it fits the square design of your grow. But, the Mars II does not have a flower/veg switch, so with the Mars II you are running full power all the time which is more $ in electricity when unneeded in early veg. I have run both and I tend to like the Mars II slightly better, but they both work for a cheaper panel. But definitely check out those other ones, there awesome! and controllable!
     
  4. Thanks a lot, Icemud. Since I posted my question I found your video on the Mars II and Reflector lights that you have. Good info. I'll go check out the Intelligent Gro lights before I make my decision.
     
  5. For the slightly extra price, the Intelligent gro lights are much better. They run virtually silent unlike the Top LED which sound like mini vacuum cleaners. They also have lenses on the LED chips, the Top LED do not. This helps for a better light blend and stronger penetration than the Top LED lights. Plus you get the custom controller in which you can change the spectrum depending on your needs, or even dim the panel for when you are cloning or early veg to save power, none of this is possible on the Top LED lights.
     
  6. Check out the Dormgrow stuff, I'm using a 240w in a 2' x 3' and am happy so far
     
    Grow420guide on youtube uses a 900w with awesome results
     
    I can also give you a discount code that will save you a little if you go that route.
     
  7. Advanced led XML 350  my grow is linked in my signature. I have two of them one over a mother and another over an auto. 
     
  8. Check out the Area 51 lights, I just ordered myself the RW-75 - very excited! Been hearing really good things about it, plus there are perks (easy to upgrade as new LEDs come out, great warranty)
     
  9. I understand not wanting to buy a cheap light, but even the Area 51 XGS-190 only used 190 actual watts and is 495$, or you could get a mars 2 1200 from topledgrowlight.com with 520-600 actual watts for less.
    I mean, is there any way somewhere could fuck up so bad you'd prefer a unit with 3x less output. I'm not selling Mars 2 or anything I just don't fully understand the LED scene.
     
  10. #10 Atmo, Jul 25, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 25, 2014
    It was $245 for the RW-75 vs the $275 for the Mars II 400w I was looking at. I talked to a bunch of people and ultimately decided to go with the Area 51. I know it's actual power draw is like 100W less, but smarter people than I in the subject thought the RW-75 would be a better choice for my box.. plus the great warranty and upgradability of it is nice. There were a couple other reasons as well that were against the Mars II. 
     
    This was the problem, though, when I was (and still am) looking into LEDs.. there is a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of it turns to some kind of argument half the time.. it's very hard to get unbiased info, at least from what I've seen... I am still learning about LEDs, but I'm pretty excited to try this light out, will be my first LED grow.. most likely will add supplemental lights as well and see how it goes.
     
    Upgrading from a 150w HPS and 2x 125w CFLs.. so I may see if those CFLs also fit in there.
     
    Who knows, maybe I made a terrible choice, I still can't say for sure, but I'm still excited :p
     
  11. never a terrible choice you started using LEDs its a blast. I was ragging on some LED lights when i realized i started off with a cheap led; saw potential and have been chasing the best performance i can get. with out that first step i would still be wondering if i should buy an led light or not. how long till you have a grow up under your new light?
     
    Yeah the misinformation is amazing. record and share your data so we can all have a better idea of the truth. knowledge is power. 
     
  12.  
    Will do! The grow won't start for about a month.. well the mother won't start for a month, then I will take clones and send them into the LED box. I've heard really great things about the Area 51 lights so I am pretty excited! I will most likely do a grow journal as well and document everything
     
  13. Awesome fun thing is now that you have one; on your next grow just before you go into flower order one from another company. you can compare and if the new light doesnt stand up you can send it back. only way i have found to know for sure. that first light is like you first car mine was a piece of crap but the day i got it; it was the greatest day ever! lol Shaka Bra
     
  14.  
    That's another reason I hear Area 51 is a good choice, if you purchase a light you get pretty big discounts on future upgrades as better LEDs are released, along with a good warranty. I think with the A51 RW-75 I will probably also put in some Cree bulbs as supplemental lighting. Possibly CFLs instead but we shall see.
     
    My box is pretty small (2' x 1.5' x 6') and the flowering chamber is about 4' tall, so the RW-75 was a perfect fit, and I think with additional lights in there my babies will explode! I originally was going to do perpetual SoG but now I am leaning toward a perpetual scrog, 2 scrog screens/plants per flowering chamber. So about every month I could take a clone, veg it under the screen, then move it into the flowering chamber - I would have to get the timing just right but I think I could manage it. Plus the even canopy will work really well with the LEDs.
    Very excited!
     
  15. does anybody make a small supplemental 660 light? I love Cree personally my favorite light company I would find some form of supplemental 660nm light especially for the first two weeks of flower it increases flower sites. 
     
    sorry Oulde Timer didnt mean to hog your thread  :smoke:
     
  16. Hmm I'm not sure what bulbs are used but Home Depot has a whole section of Cree bulbs that you can just screw into bulb sockets. I know a bunch of people on here use them, even small grows some use those alone. I still need to do some research on the available lights, I haven't really looked into them too deeply, but let me know if you find any!
     
  17. just found my next light I am so stoked man. Advanced led XTE it has the Cree XTE white like the Area 51 plus the Cree XTE blue and the 660 osram. dude my veg light has the XTE blue chip in it. it is so awesome it makes sativas act like indicas.  just got an email on it today wish i would have had that a few days ago. it has the same dials as my xml dude this is going to be a bang up light. check it out tell me what you think. http://www.advancedledlights.com/led-grow-lights/xte-series-led-grow-lights/ 
     
  18. I think I've heard they were good, I believe that was on the list of ones I was looking at as well, but I think it was too big for my space
     
  19. this one's brand new not even fully released yet I don't have any experience with it yet looks real cool though all Cree and Osram. it looks like an old old Diamond Series has a few more features.
     
  20.  
    I'm currently comparing the Mars 2 900 or 1200 next to a DormGro 240.  My area is a 3ft by 4ft with an 8 foot ceiling and I'll be using a 2ft x 2ft flood tray.  How's the heat on the DormGo?   I also really like the SolarFlares but they are really expensive.  
     

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