Hi, I'm new to growing and I definitely wanna go with LED but I'm a little overwhelmed by the number of companies that claim to have the biggest yielding lights on the market etc. I'm willing to spend 500 or up to 600 if necessary but i need to be sure i choose the best light that meets my space and budget needs. My current grow space is 3x3.5 and will hold 5 plants. The light I'm leaning toward at the moment is the BloomBoss Fusion 400 but would really appreciate an experienced opinion or 2. Thanks
I'd avoid that light. It's one of a dozen cheap chinese lights that are exactly the same but sold under different names. 3w diodes are outdated. Horribly inefficient and more dishonest claims of how much space it will cover.
You might look at better LED lights or try HID lighting if you want to cover that area...
SME
Disclaimer: I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
Thanks, I appreciate your input. Not interested in going the HID route though, they're good part of the reason I didn't start growing long before now. I have nothing against them but all the ducting n cooling n plant overheating, high electric bills, fire worries. Etc. Were just too much maintance for my liking. That's why I find LED attractive, just less potential problems to worry about. That said I'll definitely heed your advice and find a better LED. Thanks
400w of HID, for example, costs exactly the same as 400w worth of LED, it's a myth that lower powered LED lights will yield as much or cover as much area as higher powered HID lights. There is, perhaps, a little more heat but you'll still have to deal with heat from LED so, to me, it's a wash. If anyone starts a fire with HID, they did something very stupid. LED is a lot more expensive than HID, if you buy decent LED lights.
Disclaimer: I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
Point taken. And absolutely, LEDs are very very overpriced, and its an ugly market indeed. That's precisely why I'm having such a problem finding out what would work well for me. Its impossible to tell which statements are true and which are propaganda.. That said, I know there are good LEDs on the market that rival HID im just trying to find out which ones I should look into.. Can you recommend a reliable American brand?
There are no current LED lights that can keep up with an equal powered HID.
California Lightworks and BlackDog (I think) LED lights are made in America. There might be more but they'd be relatively unknown.
Disclaimer: I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
Thanks for the company names, I'll look into them. I'd prolly have to order online though I know none of the hydro stores in my area carry them. Just the aforementioned Chinese import, UFO, and this one
Last edited by SisterMaryElephant on Sat Nov 02, 2013 11:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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CLW has a substantial discount (like 50%) via their Growers Feedback Program and you can get the details and apply for the program online.
To get top-shelf results you're probably looking at getting a light that's over 500w actual draw, like the SolarStorm800...if you want to use the whole 3x3.5 space.
Disclaimer: I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
Good luck and if you have more questions later, feel free to ask...
Disclaimer: I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.