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What brands of LED lights are good?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 1:54 pm
by jamesman
“I’m looking to buy a new grow light and am considering an LED one, I’ve heard good things about Dirt Genius grow lights but obviously want to do some research before I buy. Has anyone here used one before?”

Re: What brands of LED lights are good?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 2:53 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
Welcome to the forums!

Nobody here has used one because they are new and unknown which raises red flags. I did a little research and I couldn't find any reputable reviews so I'm not sure where (if) you heard good things and I'm not sure why your post is in quotes. I did find that they just applied for a trademark in Oct of last year by a SoCal firm. They're probably made in china and imported and distributed mainly through an online e-tailer that isn't grow/garden specific.

Frankly, I'm not impressed by anything about them.

Hope that helps...


SME

Re: What brands of LED lights are good?

PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:19 pm
by jamesman
Thanks for your help, what lights do you recommend/use? I’m considering giving Dirt Genius a try because their prices are really good and I’m experimenting as it is with LED growing, so I might as well give it a shot.

Re: What brands of LED lights are good?

PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:06 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
I have no idea what to suggest since I have no idea what you're growing, in how big of a space or how you plan on doing it. I don't usually recommend specific LED lights because I don't own nor use LED yet but I do have one on the way. Since I've been here so long I've had to research many LED lighting companies and products, we have more CLW reviews/journals here than others but they're not the only light out there of course. There are a few well built, highly rated, lights out there but DG doesn't seem to be one of them.

You can buy whatever you want, of course, it's your money but sometimes you get what you pay for and I'd hate to see you get bad results from a weak and poorly made light that may cause you to form a bad opinion of LED in general. I wish DG was more honest and gave more info about their lights but, as you said, at least they're cheap...especially if you get an employee discount. ;)

They have 3 models on amazon: 200w, 240w and 280w, and none of them give the actual draw wattage. They claim the 200w has 62 3w diodes which is only 186w and that's LED watts not actual draw. That light might actually be less than 100w. They say that both the 240w and 280w models have 82 3w diodes (Really?) which would be 246 LED watts and could be closer to 120w actual draw but, again, they don't give actual draw specs so what are they hiding and who are they trying to fool?


YMMV...

Re: What brands of LED lights are good?

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:33 pm
by jamesman
Thanks for your information, they do offer a 3 year warranty, so they must be good. I'll buy a couple and keep you posted on the results, I'm growing some tomatoes and cannabis for medicinal use and will let you know how these plants react to this type of light.

Re: What brands of LED lights are good?

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:49 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
Most LED lights seem to come with a 3 year warranty these days but that doesn't mean the lights are good, just that they'll replace them if they die....and if they're still in business. Ginsu knives have a lifetime warranty but that doesn't make them good either. ;)

Since the lights are deceptively over-rated be sure that you don't try to use small lights in too big of a space.

People here have grown both with LED so you should get some results; feel free to start a tomato journal here (and a cannabis journal in the "Grow Journal" section) once you get the grows going...

Re: What brands of LED lights are good?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 8:41 pm
by Aquaponitic
Wait a minute I think Ginsu knives are great!!
I have been researching leds for awhile now and the claims some companies make (and in some cases downright lies) are driving me crazy. I am leaning towards CLW because then seem to be honest and they are close to me. I don't want to making warranty claims, if something goes wrong, to a company in China. I will pay a little more for honesty. Right now I have aquaponics system set up --150 gallon fish tank and grow bed. My heaters should be in this weekend and in a week or so I will get fish. Can't wait to get the leds and start growing veggies. This setup will be for the fry and breeders and mostly salads and maybe some basil. Will probably get a 400watt Solarstorm. Not too worried about electric we are getting solar panels in three months.