My new SolarStorm LED just arrived yesterday. Plugged in, tested and gawked at for about an hour, then I moved on.

I've been growing for about a year and just revamped my built-out-attic-turned-grow-room last fall. Just finishing up drying/curing on my first grow-up w/ the new equipment I setup only a few months ago. Time flies when you are indeed having fun.

I have a GL120 tent w/ 600w MH/HPS, XXXL hood and a new Lumatek that I use for mostly flowering. I also have a CloneLAB w/ several T5 fixtures for vegging but it sucks. If you are not hardcore cloning w/ domes the thing is impossible to keep any humidity in.

I'm using AN's newest formulae (PH/PPM perfect) of Sensi Grow, Connoisseur & add bundles up to pro. I'll be planting several each of various dwarf autos using 2-3 gal smartpots and Sunshine #4. Unless you are old-school organic, you are missing the easy train if you are not using the same combination of nutes, pots & soil. Expensive, yes but worth every penny, IMO. Stepping off my soapbox now.

This GFP w/ MWW was the perfect opportunity for me to expand and add another tent. With the exception of occasionally starting seedlings in the lab, each large tent will now serve it's own full cycle purposes. I'm after a true head-to-head grow-up where the only delta are the lights...well, and a lot less ducting.

800w LED vs. 660w (super lumens) MH/HPS full cycle grow competition. The results should speak for themselves. Stay tuned!

Ender

And now a word from our sponsor...

"Are you tired of pulling your expensive-ass AC-air out of your grow space to cool one stupid little bulb? Before you consider moving to the North Pole to setup an igloo grow, have you considered joining the 21st century? At California Lightworks, we are not 150 years old. Seriously, Thom Edison is dead. Look it up."

That might actually be a decent comparison grow. The SolarStorm is advertised as a 800w light but it really uses about 600w (a little less in veg mode and a little more in flower/boost modes) the fact that the SS uses 5w diodes means the penetration potential will be close to the HID too. I'll keep an eye out for updates.

I'm not big on the auto strains but if you're using the same plants in each tent it'll still be interesting.

Welcome to the forums!

Welcome to the show, Im pulling up a chair. Nice PSA too by the way. h

Excited to see it. I pull 690w on my killawatt with it in flower with uvbs on.

Powerwiz wrote:Excited to see it. I pull 690w on my killawatt with it in flower with uvbs on.

Good info!

SisterMaryElephant wrote:That might actually be a decent comparison grow. The SolarStorm is advertised as a 800w light but it really uses about 600w (a little less in veg mode and a little more in flower/boost modes) the fact that the SS uses 5w diodes means the penetration potential will be close to the HID too. I'll keep an eye out for updates.

I'm not big on the auto strains but if you're using the same plants in each tent it'll still be interesting.

Welcome to the forums!

What do you mean by "The SolarStorm is advertised as a 800w light but it really uses about 600w " ? Does the whole led light panel ( include the driver) cost 600 watt only ?

nathalie wrote:

SisterMaryElephant wrote:That might actually be a decent comparison grow. The SolarStorm is advertised as a 800w light but it really uses about 600w (a little less in veg mode and a little more in flower/boost modes) the fact that the SS uses 5w diodes means the penetration potential will be close to the HID too. I'll keep an eye out for updates.

I'm not big on the auto strains but if you're using the same plants in each tent it'll still be interesting.

Welcome to the forums!

What do you mean by "The SolarStorm is advertised as a 800w light but it really uses about 600w " ? Does the whole led light panel ( include the driver) cost 600 watt only ?

LEDs run less then rated power. If you read the literature that they provide... 450 watts in Veg, 620 watts in Bloom, 650 watts Bloom with UVB. I got 690 on my Killawatt but I don't know if thats the most accurate device.

Any LED on the market uses less. My Blackstar 240w uses about 130-140 watts. Very few actually tell you what it pulls so kudos to California Lightworks for being honest. Usually how everyone knows is they test it themselves after they buy it.

It's advertised as an 800w light because it has 160 5w LED diodes but they are not all on at the same time and there is a certain amount of inefficiency, etc.

As PW accurately said, virtually all LED lights use less than the advertised output. Decent light companies, like CLW, are upfront about how much they actually use.