LED Grow Light Forum

No, we don't have the like/dislike/karma/stuff here...

The 5w diodes that CLW uses (the higher quality kind) are supposed to be 50-80k hours. Again, I don't think any real grower would pick an extra year or two of light-life over better a quality/density/quantity yield. The efficiency debate is purely academic, the real world is a different animal. It's absolutely true that smaller diodes are more efficient but nobody in the real world cares that much. It's also true that a 600w HPS is more efficient than a 1000w HPS but most growers will pick the larger light for many reasons. A few dollars extra for electricity in w vs w comparisons is nothing compared to the gains.

Yeah I know that CLW uses Ledengin diodes driven around 4.2watts(?) and they are good quality no doubt. I just don't like this trend we are seeing with led grow lights, now it's all about these SMD's (50-80-100w) modules being used which will fail prematurely(too much wattage on a tiny area) and will negate the cost benefits entirely. I do believe in leds replacing HID in the future, but not with these "budzilla" or Hydrogrow's new sol panels==lol at their pricing for rebranded led flood light modules.

I'm not sure where CLW gets their diodes but in an interview that I read George stated that they last 50-80k hours. I don't know that the "trend" is SMD/arrays but people will try anything. LED may very well be the future...unless something better comes along.

So has anything better come along??.......didn't you say that you may be testing a sulfur plasma light in the future?

I want an all white/red630 NM/deep red 660NM (4/2/1) panel from the CLW guys.......how about it George??

I don't know if anything better has come along yet and I haven't been able to test any plasma lighting yet. I'm not saying that plasma is the next better thing either but it's worth testing. I'm not quite sold on induction either but I would test it. If somebody sent me one.

CLW does make a "bloom booster" version in their SolarFlare line (check their website for specs) but it's not the exact configuration that you want. I don't think that CLW builds custom lights but if you really wanted to know you should email/call CLW and talk to their sales dept.

Long time SME..............what's shaking ?

Don't tell me that you STILL haven't tried leds yet!? ....................cree cxa cobs are reaching almost 50% efficiency when driven soft. The bridgelux vero line is also very nice====== need basic DIY skills for these diode packages, but beats everything pre-built on the market ATM; Top-bin cob panels are coming soon though IMO, the #'s are just too good. They are truly a viable alternative to HID now.


I definitely bet you've given CMH a run since they've gone digi

Your in the bizzzz, so have you seen commercial institutions widely converting to pricey DE hps like in EU?

be safe and happy growing

I have one but I'm still rehabbing my back after lumbar fusion surgery. I'm not growing anything indoors right now and I have a neighbor help with my outside gardening.

Nope, I haven't bothered with CMH or double ended HPS yet either...

The DE debate is still out so there won't be much conversion. Like other tech, those that invest "claim" improvements but I speculate that it's placebo or wishful thinking sometimes. I've seen articles that say that DE is good and some that say it's hype. Same with CMH and LED.

SisterMaryElephant wrote:I have one but I'm still rehabbing my back after lumbar fusion surgery. I'm not growing anything indoors right now and I have a neighbor help with my outside gardening.

Nope, I haven't bothered with CMH or double ended HPS yet either...

The DE debate is still out so there won't be much conversion. Like other tech, those that invest "claim" improvements but I speculate that it's placebo or wishful thinking sometimes. I've seen articles that say that DE is good and some that say it's hype. Same with CMH and LED.

Just finished a cycle. 2 closets,one HPS, one LED 400.
2 bucket ebb and flow system. each closet lost one of the plants. (HPS had a male. LED had 2 clone failures and it was time to move on with remaining plant.
HPS 6 O in da jars (G13)
LED 8 O in da jar (Pineapple express)

K mart nutrients
1 pump
1 exhaust fan
1 circulating fan
2 timers
2 5 gallon pickle barrels
1 16 gallon reservoir
I hose with t split

cheap & effective

If you're going to do comparison grows, you really should use the same genetics, from clone when possible, to keep things more accurate. What size HPS was that?

SisterMaryElephant wrote:If you're going to do comparison grows, you really should use the same genetics, from clone when possible, to keep things more accurate. What size HPS was that?

400 watt

You have to go with what you have.....I recently found a better clone master but to tell you the truth I LOVE variety. My point was "get going" It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to be latest and greatest. It doesn't have to be expensive.

Longest journey and all that. If you don't start......