Marijuana Bloom with 504W LED

[LEDGirl]

Actually, in the long run LEDs will outperform HID lighting, but it will not today. Reason being PAR(Photosynthetic Active Radiation) of LEDs is very configurable giving 100% usable spectrum and when LEDs are released that do over 150 lumens per watt for their respective wavelengths -HID lighting should not be able to hold a candle to it. 8,000-12,000 usable lumens is a bit of a stretch but her point remains valid a large part of HID Lighting potential energy is lost in heat and tapers off as it reflects.

When it comes to lighting for growing there are a couple key components that matter. Power of the light and spectrum. Obviously the more power the more the light is able to reach the plant. We commonly refer to this as lumens, however that is a poor choice. We should use PPFD as a measurement which stands for Photosynthetic Photon Flux density which in its most basic definition refers to the density of photosynthetically USABLE photons of light for the plant or how much light can the plant use to grow. The other key ingredient in lighting for growing is PAR which stands for Photosynthetically Active Radiation this deals with the wavelengths of light at which the plants WILL USE for growing. You know blue lights work well for vegging and red lights work well for flowering well this breaks down into several wavelengths.... I believe it is 420nm 440nm and 460nm for blue lights and we commonly refer to a mixed spectrum of it with a temperature of 6500 kelvin. For Red lights I think it was 600nm-660nm .... this all breaks down even further for CBN's, CBD's and thc usable spectrums.

Like I have stated earlier it is not ready to use on a competitive playing field w/ HID lighting today yet it will still grow buds, but I digress.

I love how a few of you are so confident that LED absolutely will not compete today, even though you have little to no experience with LED whatsoever. Kinda hard for a skeptic to make such claims... Instead of sounding like an ignorant jerk (not pointed at your potlike), and making accusations, try watching to see what they do under this LED. After my grow, if you feel the results aren't up to par, then GREAT, but WAIT TILL HARVEST before you start making such blatant accusations. This is a grow journal to show the efficacy of a certain type of LED, since there are a LOT of different models. Watch what this one does, as it doesn't really matter which LED you've seen growing before, it wasn't this light.

 

[LEDGirl]

So what happens when LED's lose their life or burn out? Do you just switch them to another purpose (side lighting, mothers) since it doesn't look like the LED's themselves are replaceable?

LED's are replaceable, it just takes someone who knows how to solder them etc... So let's say 8 years from now, 1 or 2 LED's burn out, the panel is still usable. In 8 years (if used for 12 on 12 off), the light will still have about 80% of it's initial brightness. It's still a functional light, that can be used for all stages of growth. When you feel that it's time to change though, it's time to buy a new panel. By then, panels should be WAY cheaper, with higher lumen per watt ratings as well.

1. I'm trying, and failing, to remember a time that a manufacturer has had someone like Rosenthal independently testing their LED equipment.

2. LED's technology has really changed in the last few year. 5 years ago the idea of a LED backlit notebook wasn't even considered because of the poor color levels.

Even if it never makes sense for large commercial grows, a lighting technology that produces less heat and uses less power than a 400w-1000w HID, with comparable results, will be a huge boon to home/personal grows.

Most manufacturers don't have the confidence to have someone like Ed Rosenthal test their product. Quite honestly, most of them don't even have enough confidence in their own products, to do their own grow tests and post them online to show the efficacy of their light. When you make a commitment like this test, you have to be certain that your product will come out on top, or you just wasted a lot of money, to prove yourself in a negative fashion, which will reduce overall business. Did I forget to mention that there are grow tests going up on other forums soon, where these lights will be the underdog against ProSource, Sunlight Hydro, and Wellthink LED'S? We purposefully challenged their units with less power (on average 30% less) to prove a point regarding these lights.

Anyhow, like you said. Even if LED's never replace commercial lighting (although they already are), they will make for a great in-home gardening light, which is what most all of us do.

 

[LEDGirl]

But why not just use CFLs

Because the growth rate I have with LED is WAY, WAY faster than anything I've ever done under CFL. I know there's a person on here trying to convince you all that LED's = CFL, but um, the ones I'm using beat HID, so he can keep on saying what he wants to, he's just ignoring the facts/photos...

 

[NewGrowth]

Do you have any pictures of finished bud grown under LED's? I've always see great veg pics and some fluffy young bud pics but I have yet to see anything of real quality taken from LED's. Thanks for the thread, I'll definitely be going back and reading through it more throughly.

 

[LEDGirl]

Do you have any pictures of finished bud grown under LED's? I've always see great veg pics and some fluffy young bud pics but I have yet to see anything of real quality taken from LED's. Thanks for the thread, I'll definitely be going back and reading through it more throughly.

We'll have my friend's garden finishing up in a few weeks, so that we can show you fresh pictures of bud under LED. I could produce any picture to show to you, but this way you'll at least know what plant it came from, and have watched it through it's progress. Anyhow, it's only 3 weeks away, so keep watching! I may go take some more pictures of her girls tonight

 

[NewGrowth]

Will do thanks

 

[DontDoDrugs]

i think light is the new type of energy humans will learn to control and manipulate, i have no doubt that LED lighting has become so advanced that it competes with higher watts of HID lighting.. one day humans are going to be able to control light in their hand that is as bright as the sun.. maybe lol.

 

[potlike]

I love how a few of you are so confident that LED absolutely will not compete today, even though you have little to no experience with LED whatsoever. Kinda hard for a skeptic to make such claims... Instead of sounding like an ignorant jerk (not pointed at your potlike), and making accusations, try watching to see what they do under this LED. After my grow, if you feel the results aren't up to par, then GREAT, but WAIT TILL HARVEST before you start making such blatant accusations. This is a grow journal to show the efficacy of a certain type of LED, since there are a LOT of different models. Watch what this one does, as it doesn't really matter which LED you've seen growing before, it wasn't this light.

I've worked with LEDs for a few years..... so I do have experience with them just not in a growing setting. I'm just saying they aren't on level w/ HID watt for watt and that's fact backed up by the specs of the LED lights themself. So it is a reasonable claim.

If you didn't notice I did say it will be the future of growing for the advantages you have already stated and I have actually stated the scientific reasons why.

-potlike

 

[TechnoMage]

So what would you say is the usable lumens for a 1000w HID? You say only 8,000-10,000 is a stretch, what about 25,000? That's still only 25 usable lumens/watt. Where are LED's now?

Actually, in the long run LEDs will outperform HID lighting, but it will not today. Reason being PAR(Photosynthetic Active Radiation) of LEDs is very configurable giving 100% usable spectrum and when LEDs are released that do over 150 lumens per watt for their respective wavelengths -HID lighting should not be able to hold a candle to it. 8,000-12,000 usable lumens is a bit of a stretch but her point remains valid a large part of HID Lighting potential energy is lost in heat and tapers off as it reflects.

 

[potlike]

So what would you say is the usable lumens for a 1000w HID? You say only 8,000-10,000 is a stretch, what about 25,000? That's still only 25 usable lumens/watt. Where are LED's now?

Let's just say it's a hell of a stretch and that the terminology used really isn't appropriate it should be ppfd and par and 1000w is another bad example because it is less efficient than 600w. But.... take a look at the picture to get an idea.


-potlike

 

[LEDGirl]

I've worked with LEDs for a few years..... so I do have experience with them just not in a growing setting. I'm just saying they aren't on level w/ HID watt for watt and that's fact backed up by the specs of the LED lights themself. So it is a reasonable claim.

I know most LED's (minus the white ones) don't produce the same lumen per watt as a HID. In that aspect, you're right, they don't compete with HID, but when you look at the available light for plant growth, they can, when used properly.

Anyhow, I know you're a supporter of LED's for the future, and I didn't mean to offend/upset you if I did. I don't have any issues with you Potlike, I just didn't like the comment someone else made, and I ended up using your quote to respond.

 

[LEDGirl]

So what would you say is the usable lumens for a 1000w HID? You say only 8,000-10,000 is a stretch, what about 25,000? That's still only 25 usable lumens/watt. Where are LED's now?

I said 8,000-12,000 lumens of usable light from a 1000W Metal Halide that has a total output of 80,000 lumens.

A 1000W HPS from the same company, emits 145,000 lumens (though mostly in the yellow spectrum, which does little for plants). If we did the same 10-15% rating on the HPS, it comes out to 14,500 - 21,750 lumens of usable light, equaling 14.5 - 21.75 lumens per watt.

Blue LED's go anywhere from 10lm/w to 40lm/w depending on the NM. Red LED's are anywhere from 30lm/w to 80lm/w. White LED's range from 100lm/w to 170lm/w. It really depends on the color you use, but each color (red, blue) is going to have an equal or higher lumen per watt value of usable light, for your plants, vs a HID.

 

[irishboy]

i just wish i could see some pics of finish buds from ur leds.
i know ill see then for myself when i do this test for you, but would like to see some pics of ur buds already.
their just something i dont understand but i wont say it to keep peace. good luck on ur new grow light thats alot of leds

 

[DillWeed]

I'm waiting to see if LED lighting can do what my HPS does for me:

This plant (and the other 19 in the same tent under two 1000 watt HPS lights) still has 2+ weeks left before harvest too. Can LED lighting do that?

 

[LEDGirl]

What strain is the plant? Strain has a lot to do with cola size, and length. To me, it looks like you're growing almost single-cola plants. I don't personally use that method, I create bushes with multiple tops... So I'm sure that if all I wanted was more-or-less a single cola'd plant, that the LED's I'm using could do exactly what you're doing, but with way less watts. As I don't use that method (and don't know anyone personally who does), I can't show you those results. What I can show is yield per plant, but that won't happen till harvest. With growing, size is great, but not if you don't have quantity. I'd rather have 10 buds off of 1 plant at 1/2oz + each, rather than a single, 2oz cola. Your sig says 2lbs off of 2, 1000W HPS (1lbs per 1000W), yet my friend will produce more than a pound with her 504W (now 630W) LED...

 

[communistcannabis]

just curios what does one of you LED lights go for? cheaper than HID lighting? not power use just price on actually hardware.

keep it up, very interested iin LED as i have serious heat issues, barley managed by ac and mega fans

 

[DillWeed]

What strain is the plant? Strain has a lot to do with cola size, and length. To me, it looks like you're growing almost single-cola plants. I don't personally use that method, I create bushes with multiple tops... So I'm sure that if all I wanted was more-or-less a single cola'd plant, that the LED's I'm using could do exactly what you're doing, but with way less watts. As I don't use that method (and don't know anyone personally who does), I can't show you those results. What I can show is yield per plant, but that won't happen till harvest. With growing, size is great, but not if you don't have quantity. I'd rather have 10 buds off of 1 plant at 1/2oz + each, rather than a single, 2oz cola. Your sig says 2lbs off of 2, 1000W HPS (1lbs per 1000W), yet my friend will produce more than a pound with her 504W (now 630W) LED...

That specific plant is a strain I bred myself called White Bang (White Widow x Big Bang) and two pounds was merely my goal of the grow, as in the amount I aimed for before I even started. I wouldn't be surprised if I am much closer to three pounds at this point as I have 20 plants in my tent. And let me tell you, when I squeeze the top of this cola it is like squeezing a baseball bat. I wouldn't be surprised if there were 3-4 ounces just on that one cola. I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks.

 

["SICC"]

Hell yea man all about them Miller High Lifes haha

 

[LEDGirl]

That specific plant is a strain I bred myself called White Bang (White Widow x Big Bang) and two pounds was merely my goal of the grow, as in the amount I aimed for before I even started. I wouldn't be surprised if I am much closer to three pounds at this point as I have 20 plants in my tent. And let me tell you, when I squeeze the top of this cola it is like squeezing a baseball bat. I wouldn't be surprised if there were 3-4 ounces just on that one cola. I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks.

I'm anxious to see what it weighs. You've got really nice buds there, and good job on the breed. Guess we'll have to see the final weigh-ins though before we can make any accurate comparisons on yield.

 

[c5rftw]

that is sick.. nice grow