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Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 4:00 pm
by bigbud
Hi all, I plan to use a LED light for a small garden of 4 plants, 4 sq ft. I have been researching the internet trying to find real information about what the best LED Grow light will be. It sounds like the Hydrogrow Penetration series will be the best? I have no experience with these and where I live I have no access to a shop that sells them.

I guess my question is what is the best possible light I can get for this?

Hydrogrow, ProSource, or some other brand?

I appreciate all feedback and advice, and want to learn from those with experience.

Thanks

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:04 pm
by SavageBelief
I've been using a single prosource 90w for my 4x4. While it was good for veg in that size, flowering is another matter. I plan on getting a second one in time for my next set.

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:23 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
Assuming that you're using all of your 4x4 space, 90w in 16 sq feet is only 5.6w per sq foot. Even 180w in 16 sq feet is only 11.25w per sq foot. According to many people you should be shooting for 40 or more watts per sq foot (if using LED) and the 90w LED doesn't really output 90watts. You really need to make sure that you have enough light if you want to grow quality medicine.

For 4 sq feet (2x2) I wouldn't use less than a 180w light and I'm not even sure that would be enough.


Hope that helps...

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:50 am
by bigbud
Thanks. I like either prosource jumbo 180 W or the 126 Hydro grows, probably 2 of them. Can anyone recommend one of these brands over another? I want to get the best that I can. I hear the 3W ones can penetrate further, meaning I can grow taller plants?

Thanks

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:57 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
I couldn't say but the prosource light only uses 1w diodes. Personally, I wouldn't use 1w diodes even for a mini-SOG. The Hydrogrow light does use 3w diodes in their "pro" series. 2 (you could start with one to test) would probably give better end results. ;) There are growers in these forums using GrowStealth, Advanced and California Lightworks LED lights. As long as you have enough light you should be OK with 3w lights based on your specs.


Good luck...

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:40 pm
by bigbud
Thanks for all the replies. I think I am leaning towards either Hydro Grow, Prosource, or Pro Grow LED's. Does anyone have any experience with these? I found a few bits of info about the Hydro grow and they may rip people off, but a good bit about how they are the best? Hard to say without independent testing. I am thinking maybe I should just go HPS?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:26 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
There are pros and cons with both LED and HPS, especially in a small area like 2x2. You'll want to weigh startup costs, running costs and expansion costs for when you're ready for a larger grow.

Good luck!

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 4:26 am
by SisterMaryElephant
Actually, that's not entirely true. Lens angle and "size' can make a difference and while "lumens" isn't the right measurement for LED the amount of "output" matters too. It's also been proven that plants use more than just red and blue but nobody knows exactly what the "perfect" ratio is.

I think it's pretty obvious what kind of plants he's growing. I know you're just trying to sell your lights but if you've read the older threads you'll see that won't go over well here. Your signature-spam website with the fake reviews and incomplete specs makes it pretty obvious regarding the quality and origin of the lights too. You're lucky I'm not a moderator. :D

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:01 am
by EnviroliteRon
Just a few words on beam angles : My testing has shown that a narrow beam angle is very important ~ 60 degree gives great penetratation but not so much coverage ~ but did get excellant results. Many Grow Light LED suppliers are starting to use 60 and 90 ~ some years ago it was 120. I found 90 OK but 120 did not get the penetration. I am now building (DIY) a new lamp with a combo of 60 and 90 angles ( using 3w LEDs) ~ will keep all informed ~ ER

Re: Best LED Grow Light

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:30 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
Unfortunately, lens angle and diode wattage choices have both positive and negative implications. If the lens angle is too tight, your very expensive light only covers a tiny area, too wide and you don't get enough w/sqf. Mixing lens angles sounds good but the wider angled diodes are still going to be weak around the edges. When you mix lens angles, the uneven light doesn't all go into a pool to be distributed, evenly, around the plants except where there is overlap of course. Same with HID, a 600w + 400w HPS does NOT equal a single 1000w HPS.

Higher power diodes may make up for some of the weakness but 5w diodes are slightly less efficient and generate more heat. I'd rather deal with the heat, easily, and have more penetration available, personally.

Expense is another factor to consider...