Are LEDs worth it?

nvhak49

nvhak49

Well-Known Member
I'm a new grower i have one plant 3 weeks into veg. growing in a bubbleponic system and using CFLs I'm really interested in the LED grow light cuz of low heat and low electric cost I only have 4' of height and 42" wide grow room that's under the stairs closet and will grow 2-3 plants at the most. What's a good LED panel that will do good for what I have for veg. and flowering and that will give me a decent yield ? Are LEDs better for growing than CFLs? I can't use a HID or anything like that cuz lack of room and I want it to be stealthy and don't want to spend the electric bills for those.
 
Yodaweed

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
LEDs are a lot better than CFL's because CFLs do not penetrate the plant enough. LEDs also offer a wider spectrum.
 
nvhak49

nvhak49

Well-Known Member
Ya I was just reading that too. What's a good panel for 1-3 plants that's not super expensive?
 
Gaius

Gaius

Active Member
And if he went with the Veros it'd be way cheaper. Only thing is the efficiency penalty for the Veros might end up costing more overall if you count the electricity usage over a few grows
 
Yodaweed

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
There's a ton of LED panels out there that are inexpensive and will work to flower your plant, do some research and pick the one you think will fit your style the best!
 
smokey the cat

smokey the cat

Well-Known Member
hyroot said:
i think it would cost more. I've priced it out using cree's. Its $360 just in cree led's alone to match watt for watt with A51
Click to expand...
Ok - let me see if I've got this. All data from http://a51led.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=181

72 x Cree XT-E 3750K - with lenses on them
Panel total draw 190W in max flower mode

3V led.
Ignoring driver losses ;) LEDs driven at = 879.6mA
I think from memory that running the XTE so soft makes them a very efficient chip - they made a nice choice there. But we know there is less than 200W.

Cobs make this sort of wattage much cheaper and much more simple to together. That $360 for XTE you spoke of would get you 20 (twenty!) Vero 18. That'd be 1320W if you had a death wish and ran them at max (a little inefficient, but holy shit is that a big light to imagine lol) .

$18 gets a single LED - up to 66W each at max current. And efficiency is pretty good - Vero 18 pulls around 127-129 lm/w at nominal, versus 114-148 lm/w for XTE.


Driving COBs is ever so slightly more expensive than driving strings of individual LED - but the emitter is so damn cheap it's worth it.
 
midgetaus

midgetaus

Member
smokey the cat said:
Ok - let me see if I've got this. All data from http://a51led.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=181

72 x Cree XT-E 3750K - with lenses on them
Panel total draw 190W in max flower mode

3V led.
Ignoring driver losses ;) LEDs driven at = 879.6mA
I think from memory that running the XTE so soft makes them a very efficient chip - they made a nice choice there. But we know there is less than 200W.

Cobs make this sort of wattage much cheaper and much more simple to together. That $360 for XTE you spoke of would get you 20 (twenty!) Vero 18. That'd be 1320W if you had a death wish and ran them at max (a little inefficient, but holy shit is that a big light to imagine lol) .

$18 gets a single LED - up to 66W each at max current. And efficiency is pretty good - Vero 18 pulls around 127-129 lm/w at nominal, versus 114-148 lm/w for XTE.


Driving COBs is ever so slightly more expensive than driving strings of individual LED - but the emitter is so damn cheap it's worth it.
Click to expand...
Just need to learn to solder and which wire goes where now!!!!
 
GreenSanta

GreenSanta

Well-Known Member
nvhak49 said:
I'm a new grower i have one plant 3 weeks into veg. growing in a bubbleponic system and using CFLs I'm really interested in the LED grow light cuz of low heat and low electric cost I only have 4' of height and 42" wide grow room that's under the stairs closet and will grow 2-3 plants at the most. What's a good LED panel that will do good for what I have for veg. and flowering and that will give me a decent yield ? Are LEDs better for growing than CFLs? I can't use a HID or anything like that cuz lack of room and I want it to be stealthy and don't want to spend the electric bills for those.
Click to expand...
Dont think that because you grow with LEDs you won't need venting ... you can still make your grow area stealthy but anyway, I am letting you know that you will need to vent your small grow space. Fresh air 24-7 = more buds, healthier plants.
 
nvhak49

nvhak49

Well-Known Member
Yodaweed said:
There's a ton of LED panels out there that are inexpensive and will work to flower your plant, do some research and pick the one you think will fit your style the best!
Click to expand...
No ya I been doing some reading, I've read a bunch of pros and cons on them. I don't think I'll make my own I like doin stuff myself but I don't like working with electric stuff haha I just don't like it. But I'll do some more reading and more reading on it. Thanks for all the posts on this!
 
nvhak49

nvhak49

Well-Known Member
Ya I have venting in my grow room I have a fan and I'm sure once it starts flowering I'll have to get a carbon filter or something I'll enjoy the smell but I don't think my neighbors would like it much haha.
 
PetFlora

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
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