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[az2000]

I'm assuming cheap generic encapsulated leds for 90% of the rebrand market, possibly "5w" multichip for higher profit margins........

That's the reasonable assumption. Companies like Kind (Lush, HydroGrowLED, Blackdog, GrowBlu) aren't bashful about promoting vague stuff like "proprietary blend-a-matic spetrum" to justify their high prices. If the diodes they use were anything to brag about, you can bet they'd hype that.

Hard to believe they're suddenly humble when it concerns the diodes they use, their efficiency, etc.

I don't care what anyone uses. I'm sure Kind (et. al.) grow well. But, for prices approaching $3 per watt, I'd like to know what I'm getting (and have a lifetime warranty, planned upgrades when technology evolves, etc.). If I were going for mystery stuff, MarsHydro or Vipar(ebay) at $1 per watt looks better to me.

 

[nomofatum]

Build your own. Then you will know exactly whats in it and you will pay a fraction of the price, otherwise get a HID + supplemental florescent, that is my recommendation. And if you get LED, also get UVB CFLs, 3-5w per sqft of 10% UVB CFL or Florescent. Unless someone can find a buyable UVB LED somewhere. (these would also be part of the HID supplemental florescent)

 

[PSUAGRO.]

They are Epistars. I wish they would just announce it so we could end the silly pretending we don't know what's in there arguments. We could easily determine the chip source and type by a good closeup of the front and back of one chip.

3w nockoffs look like 1w epistars, almost. I haven't seen a fake that matches the 3w epistars. I have 100 of the fake ones, not using, but almost as bright by my eye. I haven't used 5w ones yet, but I'm sure I can find something that shows the difference.

Also the fake 3w ones are lighter and the weight varies more from chip to chip.

are you sure?............did you get a good look at some close ups?

That's the reasonable assumption. Companies like Kind (Lush, HydroGrowLED, Blackdog, GrowBlu) aren't bashful about promoting vague stuff like "proprietary blend-a-matic spetrum" to justify their high prices. If the diodes they use were anything to brag about, you can bet they'd hype that.

Hard to believe they're suddenly humble when it concerns the diodes they use, their efficiency, etc.

I don't care what anyone uses. I'm sure Kind (et. al.) grow well. But, for prices approaching $3 per watt, I'd like to know what I'm getting (and have a lifetime warranty, planned upgrades when technology evolves, etc.). If I were going for mystery stuff, MarsHydro or Vipar(ebay) at $1 per watt looks better to me.

Agreed............why wouldn't they just say 100% epistar chips? would be a above mid-tier pre-built led LER with that red leaning spec.

 

[nomofatum]

are you sure?............did you get a good look at some close ups?



Agreed............why wouldn't they just say 100% epistar chips? would be a above mid-tier pre-built led LER with that red leaning spec.

I don't think they want to announce they are using the 4th or 5th best leds. I'm going off memory, but yes someone had the reflector off and had a front shot, the 3w ones appeared to be a match to my real 3w epistars.

The Kind l450 will do well, but not $600-800 well.

 

[PSUAGRO.]

I don't think they want to announce they are using the 4th or 5th best leds. I'm going off memory, but yes someone had the reflector off and had a front shot, the 3w ones appeared to be a match to my real 3w epistars.

The Kind l450 will do well, but not $600-800 well.

They should lower the price to reflect that, problem solved......lol............call the fixtures mids instead of kind (buds)...cough....I mean fixtures

 

[mc130p]

They should lower the price to reflect that, problem solved......lol............call the fixtures mids instead of kind (buds)...cough....I mean fixtures

lawl

 

[Funkynugz315]

I found a led light panel I had gotten years back and was wondering if i should put it in with my 400 watt hps. It's a bout a foot by a foot with 14w about a150 tiny red and blue lights. Should I toss it in there for supplemental lighting or save the electricity

 

[nomofatum]

I found a led light panel I had gotten years back and was wondering if i should put it in with my 400 watt hps. It's a bout a foot by a foot with 14w about a150 tiny red and blue lights. Should I toss it in there for supplemental lighting or save the electricity

I don't think that will be enough to notice in either your bill or results. Probably no better than adding a CFL though.

 

[Funkynugz315]

Yea the hell with it then, when I start to go perpetual and get clones maybe I'll stick it by them

 

[nomofatum]

They should lower the price to reflect that, problem solved......lol............call the fixtures mids instead of kind (buds)...cough....I mean fixtures

All the led fixtures are a joke at their current prices. Epistars are most economical up front and end up being the best decision for DIY fixtures in many cases. At $1.90 for a 30w (really 20w) COB in either warm or cool white, they are very attractive. I try to encourage DIY LED and encourage people to run from overpriced LED fixtures, especially with some of the HIDs being more efficient and drastically cheaper.

 

[JimmyIndica]

DAY 28

 

[alesh]

Does someone know which actual chips does Apollo/Cidly/all these clones use?

@nomofatum Would you be able to identify a chip if post a photo of it?

 

[nomofatum]

Does someone know which actual chips does Apollo/Cidly/all these clones use?

@nomofatum Would you be able to identify a chip if post a photo of it?

I can likely tell you if it's a real Epistar 1w or 3w, but not sure on 5w or random other chips.

 

[JimmyIndica]

Question? The blues in the KIND seem to be keepin em from stretchin! Another problem with KIND spectrum! NEEDS more reds at full power!I am thinkin about turnin the blues down to 60 percent? but I don't wanna sacrifice the power! HEY KIND LED! MORE REDS LESS BLUES!

 

[mickey oneil]

Question? The blues in the KIND seem to be keepin em from stretchin! Another problem with KIND spectrum! NEEDS more reds at full power!I am thinkin about turnin the blues down to 60 percent? but I don't wanna sacrifice the power! HEY KIND LED! MORE REDS LESS BLUES!

Just asking cause I don't know... Can you supplement reds with 2700 CFls in conjunction with led?? Would it help?

 

[az2000]

Just asking cause I don't know... Can you supplement reds with 2700 CFls in conjunction with led?? Would it help?

If you're using an LED fixture, there's presumably a reason you went with LED. In that case, you probably don't want CFL. Cree LED "lightbulbs" are sold at Home Depot. 10 year warranty, *much* less heat, more lumens per watt.

If someone were on a budget, only looking for short-term goals (say to harvest and use the proceeds to buy better stuff), or need the heat in a cold climate, CFLs make sense. But, the LED lightbulbs are a better choice for less energy use, lower heat, longer-term use.

 

[nomofatum]

If you're using an LED fixture, there's presumably a reason you went with LED. In that case, you probably don't want CFL. Cree LED "lightbulbs" are sold at Home Depot. 10 year warranty, *much* less heat, more lumens per watt.

If someone were on a budget, only looking for short-term goals (say to harvest and use the proceeds to buy better stuff), or need the heat in a cold climate, CFLs make sense. But, the LED lightbulbs are a better choice for less energy use, lower heat, longer-term use.

70lm/w for CFL
85lm/w for Cree LED bulb

Both are pretty shitty on the efficiency scale.

 

[mickey oneil]

Well I decided to keep the L450 (I know, call me crazy but MBFERTS.com ended up giving me a really good deal @ $450 which I know many of you still see that as too expensive). Doesn't seem too bad for 270w. I have the light 36" above my seedlings, one of which popped on Tuesday (trans Siberian auto) and hijack auto that I germed this week and planted today (is this height about right?). Does the popped trans look okay?

5 gallon pots with FFOF. Will follow most member's advice and not give nutes for 3 wks or so. Any other advice (besides the obvious "you should have gone with a different unit...)?

 

[mickey oneil]

Well I decided to keep the L450 (I know, call me crazy but MBFERTS.com ended up giving me a really good deal @ $450 which I know many of you still see that as too expensive). Doesn't seem too bad for 270w. I have the light 36" above my seedlings, one of which popped on Tuesday (trans Siberian auto) and hijack auto that I germed this week and planted today (is this height about right?). Does the popped trans look okay?

5 gallon pots with FFOF. Will follow most member's advice and not give nutes for 3 wks or so. Any other advice (besides the obvious "you should have gone with a different unit...)?

My stupid iPhone is not letting me upload pics right now. But will later

 

[solksagen]

Heya,

I was wondering if these could be any good for growing, after all they're from Shenzen, China: http://www.okled.com/
(technical info: http://www.okled.com/upload/files/HiCloud-beat-the-traditional-LED-High-Bay-Light.pdf )
Using Mean Well HBG drivers and Nichia 120° SMD chips (standard 5000K chips probably http://html.alldatasheet.com/html-pdf/585163/NICHIA/NF2W757DR-V1/221/1/NF2W757DR-V1.html ), these so called HiCloud lights are sold as Clytze lights to private indivuals by a sister company. I was offered a 200W 3000K (luminus flux 22000 lumen) dimmable fixture for about $240. Screenshot: http://oi57.tinypic.com/dzv9mt.jpg