thomasforrest
Member
I'm looking to do a personal organic soil scrog in a while, but what size led is best for a single plant, a UFO? I'll veg out a 3x3 grow tent.
What led?
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churchhaze
Well-Known Member
DIY COBs. Look around for the people here growing with cxa3070 and vero29, vero10, vero18, etc. They're easy to implement, relatively cheap compared to pre-made models, and consistently have amazing results.
thomasforrest
Member
I'm not very mechanically inclined, do you know of any in depth guides, with prices and where to buy everything at, and tools needed?
What's your budget? Area51 RW-150 and perhaps some supplemental lighting from some Cree A19 60w equiv. (9.5w actual) bulbs at Home Depot.
If your budget can't handle that, I'd say a TopLED Mars 700 for $290. It uses less efficient LEDs (you have to use more watts per sq. ft.), but if you have to go cheap they at least have a public support forum on 420mag. If (when) something goes wrong at least you'll have some community visibility. That's better than dealing with an eBay seller who might choose to ignore you. I think they're the best value within the cheap import category.
If your budget can't handle that, I'd say a TopLED Mars 700 for $290. It uses less efficient LEDs (you have to use more watts per sq. ft.), but if you have to go cheap they at least have a public support forum on 420mag. If (when) something goes wrong at least you'll have some community visibility. That's better than dealing with an eBay seller who might choose to ignore you. I think they're the best value within the cheap import category.
thomasforrest
Member
If i buy a LED light itll be one with a warranty, I'm doing a single LED plant to see how it goes, and if well I want to get a led that 1000w hps equal. But for the single light no more then $150. I just want a decent 4oz plant
captainmorgan
Well-Known Member
So you want a quality LED that will cover a 3x3 for $150?
You mentioned a 3x3 tent. The TopLED light I mentioned is suited to that space. If you're using less than that space for one plant, you could get by with TopLED's UFO for $72 and supplement with Cree 60w equiv lights from Home Depot ($8 each).
It will be hard to find a light for $150 that covers 3x3 space. What I described above would do 2x2. Basically, you want at least 30w sq. ft. of inexpensive Chinese import light. (35w would be better.). If you invest in more efficient LEDs (Area 51, Cree bulbs from Home Depot) you need 20w sq. ft, maybe 25w.
Some of this has to do with how tall the plants are too. If you scrog or grow shorter autoflowers, you don't need to be in the upper ranges of those categories of lights.
churchhaze
Well-Known Member
I hate to be saying this in the LED section, but for 150 dollars , a 400W hps lamp with cheap batwing reflector would be perfect for a 3x3 grow area.
sorry guys, but HPS is probably the best for this guy right now if he doesn't have more than 150 dollars budget!
Also, 1 plant imo is too few for a 3x3 area. It will take a really long veg time to fill a 3x3 canopy with only 1 plant.
sorry guys, but HPS is probably the best for this guy right now if he doesn't have more than 150 dollars budget!
Also, 1 plant imo is too few for a 3x3 area. It will take a really long veg time to fill a 3x3 canopy with only 1 plant.
thomasforrest
Member
how would a 300w light do? ill send the links to them.
A warranty is only as good as the company that issues it. There are many reports of the relatively anonymous ebay/dhgate/alibaba sellers not honoring warranties, or making it so time-consuming that it's better to discard the inexpensive light.
That's why, to me, TopLED/LG/MarsHydro would be my choice if I were considering cheap, inefficient import lights. At least they have a support forum. And, you can always find a dozen or more people using their lights at any forum. You rarely find people growing with JoyHydro and other obscure brands. (They're all essentially the same light. It's the reliability of the reseller that's key.).
hyroot
Well-Known Member
for $150 your best bet is cmh . better option than hps.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WCOR9W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Pro-E..._sbs_hi_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1A5BFKY1JSBRACM8XM64
http://www.amazon.com/Adjust-Wing-9...id=1411152380&sr=1-10&keywords=wing+reflector
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WCOR9W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Pro-E..._sbs_hi_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1A5BFKY1JSBRACM8XM64
http://www.amazon.com/Adjust-Wing-9...id=1411152380&sr=1-10&keywords=wing+reflector
bicit
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't wast the money on them. I'm with hyroot on this one, for that price range and foot print a CMH would be best option. Cheap LED's aren't worth investing in. A 860w all start HID($80)with a magnetic ballast($40-75) and a wing reflector($50-75) would be within your budget.
Though 1000w for a 3x3 is a bit much. 300-600 watts of HID is about optimal for that space.
thomasforrest
Member
I live in florida heat is a huge deal. I want a small personal grow and I want 300-600 watts in LED. A larger grow justifies a 1000w and a 5,000 btu air conditioner.
hyroot
Well-Known Member
cmh put out very little heat. a 330w cmh puts out the same heat as 250w hps. For 300 watts of true quality led will cost you almost 10 times more than your budget. the area 51 155 watt led panels sell for around $500
bicit
Well-Known Member
Then you'll need to increase your budget to be quite frank. Good LED's cost good money, good preassembled units are even more expensive. Cheap china lights CAN work however there is a good possibility you'll end up with a space heater or fire hazard instead.
For a 3x3 the bulb that hyroot linked too would outperform any led panel in that price range. LED's are still a bit of a rich mans game.
For a 3x3 the bulb that hyroot linked too would outperform any led panel in that price range. LED's are still a bit of a rich mans game.
Pass it Around
Well-Known Member
Save up your quarters
Yodaweed
Well-Known Member
^^this guy is right , at this price point DO NOT waste your money on a junk LED then you will get a bad taste for LEDs.
thomasforrest
Member
Can anyone send me links to good 300w-600w led lights.
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