People always referring to the same pages on how LEDs perform less than HPS can read the following: Data was taken from a peer-reviewed publication named Artificial Lighting in Agriculture (2018).
That's very generic information. It doesn't describe how tests were performed, what lights were used or lots of other factors. Lots of junk leds out there
First, we went almost a decade being told that Blurples at half the true wattage were equivalent to HID systems. Never was true. And yet Blurple mfrs continue this facade. Second, yes, new LED technology (qbs and cobs) are now FINALLY coming close to that level but still at a price. Third, if you are running 600w of LEDs you are still generating heat. Certainly at less of a rate than HID...but for some growers like myself I am adding heat to my room 9 months a year WITH HID so I would be adding MORE heat with LEDs. Fourth, we have seen alot lately that shows peer-reviewed...means pretty much nothing. Fifth, I missed in your article where it actually describes the LED it is comparing to. Can you enlighten? Lastly, I chose this thread hoping you were showing your own results. When I do switch I am going to be a super control group as I have plateaued at about 20 zips in my room under 600w MH/HPS using pretty much the same method and strains for going on 5 years. It was going to happen this year but I was gifted a 1000w HPS from the guy who got me started...so at least for my winter grow...that is what I am currently flying. Are the current LEDs superior to HID systems? Certainly. 5 years ago when I bought my, still working, Quantum 600W digital ballast it cost me around $120 for ballast, reflector, and first bulb. At the time I calculated that it would take around 10x that in the then current LED tech to equal the production. I recently heard TBone lauding a $1 per watt price on qB LEDS...so the price is down but startup costs are still quite a bit higher than HID. That said...getting 39 (article says 96% dry weight increase) instead of 20 out of the same room is exciting to think about. Thanks for the article...I downloaded the whole thing and will read.
@Bravedave 4 - yea. just saying its a step up from getting data from a merchandiser. 5 - Valoya NS1 6 - still expensive. It costs a lot to get LEDs up and running! V2 96s might be ~$100, but add in the drivers, the wiring and the time. its like I originally stated though, there's not much LED vs HPS data and this helps others see where its at.
If you visit Or_Gro’s thread with his Timber LEDs (same as HLG 288 boards) you’ll see he just pulled 3.5-4lbs from about 750 watts of qbs in a 4x4. He ran the best of everything though, far red, co2, UV, etc. I’ve been over a gram per watt with first two harvests under qbs, and I’m not even trying. One of these days I’ll quit experimenting and go for a yield run to see what they can do but don’t think I’ll beat what he’s done
Thanks...read the rest and was led to read more. Does seem that there always is some prejudice in HPS vs. LED comparisons. Regardless...good stuff. Wondered why I had never heard of Valoya. The NS1 refers to the spectrum and even in the total pdf I did not discover what they were actually using. Going to the Valoya site I see they recommend 4 of their 4ft "canna" bars for a 4x4...at about L740 or $940US...each. So $3700 to light my little room. Yikes.
If you are ready to make the switch, 4 qb96elite v2’s and two Meanwell HLG-480H-54a drivers will kill it in a 4x4. About $650 total cost there. You would run them dimmed to around 750-800 watts, And there’s room on the drivers to add two more lights in parallel and split amps for a reduced wattage of about 165 watts each in case you expand. They’re just so versatile.
They caught my eye in the past. Not quite ready. As mentioned got a free 1000W HPS that I just fired up. Going to do the next 2 grows with it...with thoughts of having LEDs running for next summer's grow. (This summer was a bit brutal) I pack things in pretty tight right now so the hope is the qbs will add density.
My tent is my my basement that sits at like 68-72 all the time. The 96’s and driver warm my tent to 75-78 it’s perfect. But I got lucky and was able to do this in the basement. Ive tried the garage the attic but by far the basement has been the most controlled environment I’ve had. Can’t believe the difference it makes. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Good info. You should tell all the commercial growers this info. Not sure why the choose DE lamps over LEDs. I remember when LEDs first hit the grow scene, they produced graphs and tests showing a 50 watt LED could replace 1000 watt hid. I want one of them lights.