I think you're reading too much into my figures. I provide them as a reference point because they are the only real life figures I have personally but it's probably not a good metric because I don't consider myself a good grower.
Once the spectrum is in the ballpark is IS all about photons, so a much more accurate way of judging two lamps is by radiometric efficiency, or barring that, lumens from one white source to another. I've been looking around and can't find radiometric data on any 315w CMH bulbs, though I have seen lumen figures of 110 and 120 LPW. If someone can find higher numbers please correct me. Some radiometric data would be even better. Going by what I've discovered so far CXBs are much more efficient and therefore will produce more GPW than CMH, it's just a matter of having the same grower do a side by side.
CXB3590 3500K CD bin, 160 LPW at 2.1 amps, 170 LPW and 1.75 amps, 180 LPW at 1.4 amps.
2.1 amps for a CXB is slightly under-driven, but at 50% efficiency it's still a game winner. I've done the long term cost analysis in another thread between 600 watt DE and the Tasty equivalent, and the cost of ownership is cheaper with LED even at $5 per par watt. The 2.1 amp versions of my lamps are $4.60 per par watt. Even cheaper than that is DIY.
Ok i mean Cob seem to be the go to light as in efficiency but not necessarily in yield i mean Rahz said it 230 watts @ 1.4 GPW only equates to 332 grams where people using 315 CMH are pulling some big numbers 1.5 and up meaning 315 CMH is comparing to almost 600 watt Hid or in the same ball park
I am not here to change your views but LED burple lighting haha and cobs are 2 different things shit i know growers pulling 2 pounds from 432 watts of T5 Ho's .. 6 plants
Not just the light that brings out quality its mostly strain depended light quality may bring out some terp profiles but in reality nothing beats the sun so searching for a full spectrum light source add on to any grow room is a must to up anyone's game
I am presonally up in the air with suplimental lighting and contemplating adding either CMH in a section and making a Diy Cob unit and seeing which will in fact be better ,
cobs will pay for it self after a couple runs but initial cost is expensive 550 bucks for 230 watts ??? to make 322 grams ??? in my books is not good gains off the bat
Where for 420 bucks i can make 2.5 pounds - 3 pounds With a DE nanolux and still have money in my pocket
so it all comes into what you are looking for
for me 43 bucks a month to run 1215 watt nano is nothing 140 bucks to make 3 pounds of weed of electrical having penetration power and heat in my books is same dam thing
so yeah study what best options you have i always wanted to run 432 watts of T5's with 1200 watt HID DE unit might just do that make a a diy 400 watt Cob and test T5 , Cob an CMH same strain same room environment