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HLG 650r or Optic LED 650s?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by JMcGD, Feb 17, 2021.

  1. #1 JMcGD, Feb 17, 2021
  2. #2 JMcGD, Feb 17, 2021
    • Winner Winner x 1
  3. #3 918AutoGrower, Feb 17, 2021
    I would choose Optic LED’s product over HLG.

    Not that you won’t get good results with HLG, because you will. I’m a huge HLG fan and have used their lights for years. I have used many manufacturers’ lights over the years.

    Comparing Optic LED’s product(s) to HLG’s product(s) really isn’t comparing apples to apples, IMO. They both have spectacular products, but Optic LED has much different tech available with their lights, such as custom spectral controls.


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  4. #4 DrGreenberg, Feb 17, 2021
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  5. #5 JMcGD, Feb 17, 2021
    Yeah, that’s what keeps me coming back around to the Optic LED 650s. I like the sound of the adjustable spectrum. They just came out last fall and it hard to find many testimonials, but if it does what they say it should be a beast of a lighting system. I need to put a couple of them over a 4x8 bed. I have a few different HLG units too, and I like them just fine, that 650r light sounds sweet too, but no spectral controls.
     
  6. #6 JMcGD, Feb 17, 2021
  7. #7 918AutoGrower, Feb 17, 2021
    Yeah the tech is fairly new, but I’m already seeing other companies incorporate that similar tech into their lighting systems. It’s is where the industry is going. Just watch.

    The reason is because UV’s and deep reds or far reds are needed by the plant, but not during all stages. You need to be able to turn those off individually or you risk getting some wonky results.

    I saw one company make some boards that had (other than the standard 3500k mixed spectrum diodes) UVA, deep red, and far red. There was only one dimmer for the entire board. I don’t think that’s a great idea.


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  8. #8 JMcGD, Feb 17, 2021
    I agree 100%.
    It does seem like the obvious path for the rest to follow. I hear you about the uV and far red needing specific timing to be advantageous. I’m interested in flower initiator bulbs as well and it seems this one has that covered nicely. I assume that with the controller they offer I will be able to have the far red hit them shortly before and after lights on ?
     
  9. #9 DrGreenberg, Feb 17, 2021
    Yeah was gonna try optic once and the shipping was frightful.

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  10. #10 JMcGD, Feb 18, 2021
    I can only imagine... so many great lighting companies out there, it makes sense to choose one from your own neck of the woods:thumbsup:
     
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  11. #11 JMcGD, Feb 18, 2021
    Sooo...
    It looks like the Optic LED 650s may not be UL or ETL listed? Can this be right? I’ll have to look deeper...
     
  12. #12 JMcGD, Oct 25, 2021
    So...
    I have been running two of the 650s for a few runs now. Seems like a great purchase so far except...
    I had the power go off twice now during the lights ‘off ‘ cycle. When it came back on the lights came on too, even though the master controller had the timer set to be off.
    customer service says I need to have back up power to the whole grow to avoid this. This doesn’t seem right. Anyone else seeing this?
     
  13. #13 JMcGD, Nov 1, 2021
    Ok.... twice now the power has gone off twice now and when it is restored the lights come on automatically. This has happened during the dark cycle both time now. Guess what’s next?
    Nanners... lots of nanners.
    It sounds like this is a problem that has screwed at least a few growers. Optics customer service says I need to back up the whole facility to make the problem go away. ( good to know if you are running a tent , right lol) I asked about an APC power supply to the master controller. “ Nope, that won’t do it”.
    Well, guess what? It does work and has saved their customers from heeding their piss poor advice and sinking $$$ into a backup generator.
    I guess overall I like the light and it’s adjustable spectrums, but I’m not impressed with the company as a whole.
     
  14. #14 JMcGD, Dec 11, 2021
    Yeah… Optic LED can go fuck themselves. I’ve tried to get some sort of resolution for the issues mentioned above and got absolutely nowhere. They claim they have never heard of this before. I guess they don’t have a search engine…
    It’s a bummer, they are nice lights, just poorly engineered by a company whose marketing skills exceeds their customer service.
    I guess I’m looking elsewhere to upgrade to LEDs in my facility after all. :thumbsdown:
    I knew I should have stuck with HLG…
     
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  15. #15 Cl8tonBigsby, Jan 6, 2022
    What did you end up doing? I run 6 HLG 320 Watt QB's and 1 HLG 600 RSPEC and im honestly not satisfied with them. I have lowish ceilings so I have them mounted all the way up and they still burn the hell out of my plants.

    Im looking to get bar style LED's and was pretty much decided on the LUXX 645 pro but then they went and sold out to monsanto for 200mil. Then I discovered the Optic LED's but have seen multiple posts complaining about customer service so now im not sure what to go with.
     
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  16. #16 JMcGD, Jan 6, 2022
    Yeah….
    Well…
    I’m not one to generally bash another company, unless they earned it:thumbsdown:
    But there is now way in hell I can consciously recommend Optic LED.
    If you read the posts above you know why.
    I was ready to move forward with their company for the expansion of my cultivation facility upgrading from HID to LED ( 75 lights and counting) but as I mentioned before…. They can go fuck themselves.
    Horrible customer service on shitty Chinese crap from a pack of young shysters.
    Look at Fose, Bios, or Fluence LED instead. And bring your wallet lol!
    Good move on the MNSTO boycott too! ​
     
  17. #17 Hybridway, Jan 16, 2022
    Check out Amare on Instagram with the orange avatar Amaretechnologies until we get the new site up. There's nothing that can touch them at the current time. Beating ChilLed in a sbs on Insta as we speak. Look under FloraFarm.

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    • Like Like x 1
  18. #18 FranJan, Jan 17, 2022
    Yeah Optic isn't a brand someone who needs 75+ lights should go to. Wouldn't invest in Fluence atm since they were just sold by Osram and will probably not be using Osram diodes in the future, (Signify owns Philips lighting).
    Signify to Acquire Fluence for $272 million

    For the amount of lights you are talking about you should be able to get a bidding war going amongst some of the lighting companies, especially the big boys that have grow light divisions. You should at least get some free lunches from these fuckers :). You should talk to:

    (Volt Lighting) - https://www.voltlighting.com/led-grow-lights (Great deals on their models atm and UL Listed). I own a VL-1 btw.
    (GrowSpectra) - https://growspectra.com/collections/vr-series-commercial-led-growlight-growspectra (UL Pending and multiple spectrum choices).
    (SpecGrade) - Verta (5yr driver warranty/7 year LED warranty).
    (Iluminar) - https://www.iluminarlighting.com/led-fixtures (I'm demoing a iLogic8 with IR and UV, I think the company is a bit on the greedy side but they make a hell of a product).
    (NextLight) - LED Grow Lights (Have a damn fine reputation amongst owners.)
    (GrowRay) - https://www.growray.com/products# (Company that's been around for a bit but a lot of folks don't know them. Geared toward commercial growers.)

    And if your legal, (and really wanna throw the $$$ around :)) you can talk to several other companies like:
    (Agrify) - https://www.agrify.com/led-grow-lights/
    or
    (Valoya) - Medical Plants
    or
    (ThriveAgritech) - https://www.thriveagritech.com/products/

    [​IMG]
     
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  19. #19 JMcGD, Jan 17, 2022
    Awesome, thanks for the information. I’ll look into these companies and see what they have to offer. Upgrades coming soon, I just wish my local co op electrical company would help me with rebates. I need to lean on them a bit…
     

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