First Timer Need Help

[lilgpack1]

So I posted earlier in a different forum about my potential grow tent set up of 4x2x4 (HxDxW)

I am looking to do LED for stealth reasons and not enough vent for HID grows. I came across Platinum LED and was offered a discount for 2 of their P150 lights because they are open box. I have also looked at Dorm Grows G8LEDs 240 lights.

Someone commented suggesting I look at area 51 lights. After some research I was very impressed with them. I also liked their warranty and that they are located here in the states.

THEN somebody said to go post in the LED forum to prevent this costly mistake. I'm not sure what exactly he is referring to but i figured i would post here anyways and get more opinions. Any advice helps!

Recap: Looking at buying 2 x Platinum LED P150 (discounted) or 2 x G8LED 240 or potentially 2 x Area 51 RW-150 lights

Thoughts?

 

[AquariusPanta]

So I posted earlier in a different forum about my potential grow tent set up of 4x2x4 (HxDxW)

I am looking to do LED for stealth reasons and not enough vent for HID grows. I came across Platinum LED and was offered a discount for 2 of their P150 lights because they are open box. I have also looked at Dorm Grows G8LEDs 240 lights.

Someone commented suggesting I look at area 51 lights. After some research I was very impressed with them. I also liked their warranty and that they are located here in the states.

THEN somebody said to go post in the LED forum to prevent this costly mistake. I'm not sure what exactly he is referring to but i figured i would post here anyways and get more opinions. Any advice helps!

Recap: Looking at buying 2 x Platinum LED P150 (discounted) or 2 x G8LED 240 or potentially 2 x Area 51 RW-150 lights

Thoughts?

The LED/COB fixture market is ready for some new contenders, although the word around here is that you can't go wrong with Area 51 fixtures.

 

[captainmorgan]

With the 3 options you listed,area 51 is the best bang for buck. You could use 3 RW-75's and get nice results at 29 watts a sq/ft or 2 RW-150's to max your space at over 38 watts a sq/ft. DIY COBs could save you some money if your up to it.

Are you vegging and flowering in the same space?

 

[lilgpack1]

I am all for DIY granted that it will produce similar results. What should I look at?

And yes unfortunately I am restricted on space for now (hopefully that will change) so Veg/Flower/Drying will all be done in this tent

 

[captainmorgan]

I am all for DIY granted that it will produce similar results. What should I look at?

And yes unfortunately I am restricted on space for now (hopefully that will change) so Veg/Flower/Drying will all be done in this tent

With a all in one space the RW's might be your best bet for flower and veg. With DIY COBs you would either need to make some flower COBs and some veg COBs or make a compromise by using something like 4000k COBs for both.

 

[AquariusPanta]

@stardustsailor uses 3000K Vero COBS throughout both vegetating and flowering phases, so anything between 3000K and 4000K would bring great results when growing 'juana.

DIY fixtures can produce similar and even better results in comparison to what's available in the market now. This is mainly due to the fact that we, as a community, have less restrictions and regulations to go by when building our fixtures, where as existing companies (and companies yet to emerge onto the scene) have to not only test the newer technology themselves but also revamp old designs or even create new ones in order for buyers to bite.

BridgeLUX Vero and Cree CXA-B COBS are the best available as of now and can be bought from many different vendors.

 

[churchhaze]

I am all for DIY granted that it will produce similar results. What should I look at?

And yes unfortunately I am restricted on space for now (hopefully that will change) so Veg/Flower/Drying will all be done in this tent

With DIY, you will be able to make the highest efficiency lamp currently available because it allows you to choose the top flux bins of the best LEDs, and underdrive them. The lower current you run an led, the more efficient it is at turning electric power into light power, but then you need more leds to get the same total output light power. This means balancing between startup cost and efficiency, and that the more you spend, the more you marginally improve efficiency.

The reason I said to come here is because in the section you posted , you would have likely been given very misleading information.

 

[churchhaze]

Take a look at this thread to get an idea of what the efficiency is for various cobs at different operating currents.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/cob-efficiency-spreadsheets.865238/

 

[captainmorgan]

The spectral graph differs from one manufacturer to the next. EH said that he thinks the Vero 4000k is similar to the CXA 3000k in it's distribution.

 

[lilgpack1]

Take a look at this thread to get an idea of what the efficiency is for various cobs at different operating currents.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/cob-efficiency-spreadsheets.865238/

Thank you for pointing me to the LED section of the forum. Should have thought of that initially lol

But seriously this new information is so much more helpful

 

[captainmorgan]

@stardustsailor uses 3000K Vero COBS throughout both vegetating and flowering phases, so anything between 3000K and 4000K would bring great results when growing 'juana.

SDS's fixture had adjustable output which made that more usable for both veg and flower.

 

[AquariusPanta]

SDS's fixture had adjustable output which made that more usable for both veg and flower.

Oh? You mean it was dimmable right?

 

[captainmorgan]

Like I said it's a compromise,4000k will veg fine but you may get more stretch than you like in veg with some strains and that might be a problem with limited height,you'll sacrifice a little yield in flower too. It just depends on your priorities.

 

[lilgpack1]

I'm so stuck between HID and LED..... LED seems to be more reasonable on being able to keep my closet grow cool, but HID will give the better results at a cheaper price. At leasts thats what I have gathered so far.

I worry first about practicality of my growing situation. I will be venting out the closet into the room the closet is in. I can run a fan in that room and will likely have AC on all summer since is hot as hell in the summer here...

thoughts?

 

[captainmorgan]

If heat is going to be a issue then LED is better,as long your using a efficient one. The other problem you may have with HID in that space is you'll need like 400 watts or more and then evenly distributing it in that space. If you got 4 RW-75's you could run 3 during the summer and add the forth in winter. Or go even higher efficient COBs.

 

[lilgpack1]

If heat is going to be a issue then LED is better,as long your using a efficient one. The other problem you may have with HID in that space is you'll need like 400 watts or more and then evenly distributing it in that space. If you got 4 RW-75's you could run 3 during the summer and add the forth in winter. Or go even higher efficient COBs.

do you think that 3 RW-75 would be better or that 2 RW-150 would be?

3 RW-75s would be 200 dollars cheaper but at that point of investment I wouldnt want to short myself over 200 dollars

 

[coolbreez1]

I have not noticed any significant issues with stretching using my 4000k Vero 29s for vegging. My plants seem bushier and more compact then what I see under other peoples MH, or whatever it is they are using... It might just have to do with light intensity though.

 

[captainmorgan]

do you think that 3 RW-75 would be better or that 2 RW-150 would be?

3 RW-75s would be 200 dollars cheaper but at that point of investment I wouldnt want to short myself over 200 dollars

3 RW-75's would be the minimum I would use and 2 RW-150's would be the max,or 4 RW-75's. With 4 RW-75's you can remove one if your running too hot in the summer,just more flexible. Or go COBs and drive them soft for very high efficiency,that setup will cost more because you will need more COBs when you drive them soft and you would need to go Cree CXA or CXB to go like 50% efficient.

 

[orangesabc123]

Like I said it's a compromise,4000k will veg fine but you may get more stretch than you like in veg with some strains and that might be a problem with limited height,you'll sacrifice a little yield in flower too. It just depends on your priorities.

How do color temps affect the plant?

Blue = Makes plants more stout
red = Bud development
White 2700k = ?
White 3000k = ?
White 4000k = ?
White 5000k = ?

 

[coolbreez1]

5000k-2700k goes from blue to red. However, not every 5000k spectrum light is going to have the same distribution of blue and red, the 5000k is just an over all representation of the blue and red.

The LEDs that people are using to build DIY lights on this forum, mainly the Cree and Bridgelux all come with graphs of the spectral output that show what the LEDs will output, the spectral distribution.