So I am a first time grower here. I have been deciding which lights would be best for my grow situation (shed with limited ventilation & electrical outlets) and I thought I should look into LED to not worry about dealing with the heat that I would expect from an HPS. I found this online and was wondering if this would be the correct type of LED light that I could use to grow with? I am expecting to grow about 4 plants, trying to do an LST method of growing while they are in 5 gallon bins. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NXL3OEW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NXL3OEW&linkCode=as2&tag=christieheavy-20&linkId=KEMKTYNP32LD665K
3w diodes not the best choice. can find a Mars for around the same price http://www.amazon.com/MarsHydro-Bright-Powerful-Sp... or get 2 Apollo LEDs http://www.apollohorticulture.com/LEDpanel.html
Ok awesome, thanks for the reply. Do you know know the area coverage of the Mars LED Light? Just in case I wanted to increase my grow operation to more than four plants
I would go with one of the new SolarSpecs or a Platinum LED.. they're going to be more expensive than a mars, but the quality of the product will be light years ahead, and grow better buds. I myself have a Platinum, but am looking into getting a SolarSpec to accommodate it.
If this is your first grow. I'd start off with 1 or 2 plants and use some use some Cree led bulbs from home depot first. Don't buy an led on your first grow. I mean spend a lot of dough to find out that it was the wrong choice. I would say make you own light like I do but this is your first grow. You didn't even state what size grow area you are going to be using, so I can't even tell you what you'd need.
Most definitely. Don't waste your money on that thing because it's just going to let you down. They are made in China with the absolute cheapest of components and probably child slave labor if the truth was known. LOL If you want an LED light, save up until you can afford one of decent quality. They don't give them away for free, but when you see a $400 price difference between a known Class A brand and this one, that right there ought to tell you something. A lot of the people use the Mars II Hydro LED's on one of these forums that I follow. I think maybe they might be a mid grade light but I run hps totally and don't plan on changing that anytime soon. The plants love the hps lights. I hope to add in some LED's by the end of the year just for the extra spectrum coverage, but not going to buy any until I can get some good ones. This is just an opinion and we all have them and they all differ. So don't base your decision on what I have to say. I'm sure there are others with much more knowledge of them than I. LOL Good luck. TWW
The argument for which LED light grows best is very complicated. I would disagree with arguing 3w vs 5w diodes but I do agree that these 2 choices would be better than your previous one. EDIT: I had recommended another mars light for half the price, but after posting I did a little more research. "Our Mars II Series LED grow lights use Epistar 5w-single chips, manufactured Taiwan. All chips are the highest quality top grade A. These new 5-watt chips are brighter than any of our previous chips. This increase in wattage lets it run a little bit hotter but Not to worry as each light has a protected diode, which means if one LED goes out, the rest will continue working! With the new Mars II series there are no worries about losing a whole panel because of one bad chip! So order with confidence!" That's why the old model Mars lights are dirt cheap right now. They used to use grade A-D lights and piece together systems basically. Now the new, quality-controlled lights are out and nobody wants the old ones more prone to burnout! I think the Mars 700w he recommended would be a good fit for a shed (lights up 3x3). Mars lights are reputable and proven. Apollo is another well-known brand. They are mid-grade lights that should do well for a home grower. Unless you're a connoisseur or something, you won't need the $800 advanced platinum lights
I smashed a Mars II 900w panel and it's on youtube and I'm blocked from the Mars family thread because of it. I bought 2 1600's, 1 1200, 1 900 which I smashed and 2 300watts to have terrible customer service for repair. I can't wait until the new Cree lights they are gonna sell. It's gonna be nothing but problems
I wouldn't go with PlatinumLED half my panel went out while in veg 1 week ago 3 weeks after installation and company still hasnt responded to my emails or calls 2x P600's they told me to wait....i am still waiting
Well just make one like I did here's some pics 4x4 tent 372 watts from the wall and can be turned up to 826 with both panels and only 4 plants View attachment 1840917 4x8 744 watts from the wall and can be turned up to 1756 with all 4 panels and only 8 plants View attachment 1841747 Cree CXB3590 2015 technology Meanwell Drivers for efficiency. I forgot to mention I'm not using any AC and my room stays 84f right now and we are in summer.
Sorry for being so vague about my original post. I have a shed that is probably 10 feet by 8 feet. I wont use the whole thing for growing, but I thought I could make a little PVC grow tent inside taking up 5 feet by 4 feet. I still need to run electrical into it, but maybe just two plugs. I think LED is the way to go since I wont need to plug in a ballast or another fan to keep the lights cool.
I would rec buying something with Osram SSL80s , Cree XPG/XTE , Cree CXA/CXB ,Bridgelux Vero29 componets and Meanwell Drivers.Cheap in the LED world means under performance. If ya cant? I rec staying with HPS or whatever u been usin.
I'm not so sure about this... I have seen quite a lot of posts from Mars users lately with failed chips, drivers, and other issues. I have a buddy who almost burned his house down with a failed 1200. The panels are affordable, and I have used them and they work, but there are much better panels on the market, with quality chips.
Loved the video man! I would have saved the case though for one of your DIY LES panels I saw the listings of the Cree chips they are using, most are bottom BIN and they are most likely only using Cree chips to sell because of the name, without people actually realizing that the chips are bottom bin.
I am having very good results from the Advanced LED XTE panels I am using. For a pre-made panel, they are definitely one of the better options out right now. They use Cree XTE and XPE chips as well as Osram SSL chips. Just based on lumen maintenance alone they will last 2x as long as any panel using epistar chips...
Plus they are overpriced and you have to use a remote to turn the damn thing on. I don't need my light too tell me my temperature and humidity lol. It as has a built in timer as well hahahaha
Right, the only way that could have added a benefit if it was connected via wifi and with a mobile app. Then I could actually see it being useful for when you are away and want to monitor the grow.... I can't wait until I can get enough money to start making prototypes of my ideas....