dunit
Active Member
When I ran trees in buckets I had lots and trimming it took hours....and hours....and hours.....
Led Users Unite!
- Thread starter project fuoro
- Start date
660nm420
Active Member
I WILL make leds work for me. I NEED to find a way to use LESS watts and am only interested in LEDs and I am on a quest to find the BEST LED systems I intend to use the simplicity of Leds to set up two opposing 12/12 chambers where I simply move the lights from one chamber to the other to use my lights while the flowering ladies are resting. This will effectively give me a 24 hour flower cycle and make the extra cash worthwhile even if it's half the yield for a third of the cost. If the proper procedures and adjustments can be made a well thought out led grow with dual opposite 12/12 chambers with light movers between the two could still be worth the price even if there's less yield at a third of the cost. So this grow is for my own personal R and D for a larger medical system. I'm ready to throw all I got at the wall and see what sticks. If I even see somewhat decent results on the first I will allocate further funds to any future grows. Solar power is unfeasible without figuring these systems out to maximize their capabilities
Current light budget $1000. + additional $2000 in next 2-6 months. In the mean time
Outside of my $1000 budget
I have
(1) 126w penetrator $400 used
(2) 15w PAR 35 blue $85 with shipping and handling from LED wholesalers
(1) Kessil PURPLE H150 $240
I'm open to suggestions on how to allocate my additional $1000. I've considered spending the remaining on
1. the Haight Solid State PPF1600 with the remaining 100-150 to throw at supplemental low watt side panels.
2. Or I could use it for 4 more kessils. 1 blue H150 1 purp H150 (2) magenta H150s.
3. Or throw it at four Blackstar 240 panels.
4. Or lastly other options exist.
Space 3' x 4.5' x H 6- 7' Sun hut tent listed as a 2 x 4.
Currently have 11 ladies, 5 sour d and 6 cotton candy kush with 10 jack flash rooting on the way. The debate is pretty much closed that LEDS work for veg so currently I have CFLs aiding the LEDS in the veg while I decide on my flower set up and all i'm interested in is the power of these LEDs to flower so I will pull out all the CFLS when I have sufficient LED flowerpower!!
I will split the tent into two stories with a clear acrylic sheet. The top will be a slightly larger space. I will place whatever I end up spending my $1000 (either The Kessils and or Haight Solid State) on the top chamber and the 126w penetrator and possibly 1 + of the kessils on the bottom chamber with the hope that some of the light will find it's way to the slightly smaller chamber on the bottom. Either way, I will also be putting whatever LEDS it takes on the bottom level. My EVENTUAL goal is this. 1 Veg chamber(acheived)! 2 flower chambers on opposite 12 hour cycles that I can move my Leds back and forth for a full 24 hour flower cycle with the same lights. The only way this can be done with HID setups is to have lights for both chambers since the lights are so impractical to move. This will help me justify the increased purchase price as my current LEDS are WAY more mobile.
I will be using foxfarms soil.
Currently I have my ladies veg bathing in (2) 68w full spectrum spiral CFLS, (1) 126W penetrator. (2) 23w blue CFLS, (1) Kessil H150 purple and (2) blue 15w PAR 35 side lighting to prevent stretching. I will have photos once I'm ready to flower.
Current light budget $1000. + additional $2000 in next 2-6 months. In the mean time
Outside of my $1000 budget
I have
(1) 126w penetrator $400 used
(2) 15w PAR 35 blue $85 with shipping and handling from LED wholesalers
(1) Kessil PURPLE H150 $240
I'm open to suggestions on how to allocate my additional $1000. I've considered spending the remaining on
1. the Haight Solid State PPF1600 with the remaining 100-150 to throw at supplemental low watt side panels.
2. Or I could use it for 4 more kessils. 1 blue H150 1 purp H150 (2) magenta H150s.
3. Or throw it at four Blackstar 240 panels.
4. Or lastly other options exist.
Space 3' x 4.5' x H 6- 7' Sun hut tent listed as a 2 x 4.
Currently have 11 ladies, 5 sour d and 6 cotton candy kush with 10 jack flash rooting on the way. The debate is pretty much closed that LEDS work for veg so currently I have CFLs aiding the LEDS in the veg while I decide on my flower set up and all i'm interested in is the power of these LEDs to flower so I will pull out all the CFLS when I have sufficient LED flowerpower!!
I will split the tent into two stories with a clear acrylic sheet. The top will be a slightly larger space. I will place whatever I end up spending my $1000 (either The Kessils and or Haight Solid State) on the top chamber and the 126w penetrator and possibly 1 + of the kessils on the bottom chamber with the hope that some of the light will find it's way to the slightly smaller chamber on the bottom. Either way, I will also be putting whatever LEDS it takes on the bottom level. My EVENTUAL goal is this. 1 Veg chamber(acheived)! 2 flower chambers on opposite 12 hour cycles that I can move my Leds back and forth for a full 24 hour flower cycle with the same lights. The only way this can be done with HID setups is to have lights for both chambers since the lights are so impractical to move. This will help me justify the increased purchase price as my current LEDS are WAY more mobile.
I will be using foxfarms soil.
Currently I have my ladies veg bathing in (2) 68w full spectrum spiral CFLS, (1) 126W penetrator. (2) 23w blue CFLS, (1) Kessil H150 purple and (2) blue 15w PAR 35 side lighting to prevent stretching. I will have photos once I'm ready to flower.
660nm420
Active Member
I have one and am getting 3 and a blackstar or 4 more already! I have a 126w penetrator panel. Would I be better with a Blackstar and 3 more for now if my current budget is $1000? Kessils are $240 locally for me. I ask you because you seem to love your Blackstar and Kessil. Do you go all Kessil now if you could pick up say 10?
surgedup
Active Member
Shit if I had that money I would use only kessil and blackstar panels kessil are suppose to be amazing in tight confined space which it seems you are doing. If I were you I would buy a couple kessils and call it a day since your in that tight of a space or some blackstars and 1 or 2 kessils will get the job done if not overkill! I bet that penetrator is kicking some ass already!
bajafox
Well-Known Member
I've been looking to replace my CFL veg tent with LED's and the more research I've been doing the more I'm considering making the full switch. Great thread, lots of reading to do and just sub'd to Irishboys grow journal, he has some impressive results. I love the dense nuggets my 600w hps puts out but I'm constantly dealing with heating issues and of course, a $200 electric bill. Unfortunately I do not have the funds up front (yet) but I'm hoping to within the next 3 months or so.
dunit
Active Member
When you have foliage this thick you're gonna get some popcorn no matter what. Light can only get through so much leaf
I ran 1000's for many years and I trimmed a lot of popcorn. Gonna let them just rock anyway and the amount of popcorn should be pretty minimal.
1000w replacements? I don't smoke rock....lol I think they could take a run at 600's maybe but its the last couple weeks that will tell so I shouldn't open my mouth too early
surgedup
Active Member
Good luck man I just made the change myself from 600w hps and cant wait to see my new electric bill ! its costly but I had the same problems with heat now its not even a issue if anything trying to keep the room warm enough!!! I definitely plan on buying a couple more blackstars or a couple kessils in the future if not next couple weeks !!! good luck bud
surgedup
Active Member
LOL I cracked up on the "I don't smoke rock" part lol that was a good one lol although I have never grown with a 1000w only 600w I could only imagine the light bill running a couple 1000 watters jesus and the heat !!! probably didnt even need a heater in your house lol!! just the venting off those babies would be enough to heat a house probably lol. Jesus man I would be terrified to run that many watts in my house from the heat alone worrying about burning your house down ,electric bill, cops .......... crazy. Hopefully leds are gonna change all of that so people can be at peace now!
When you have foliage this thick you're gonna get some popcorn no matter what. Light can only get through so much leaf
Gonna let them just rock anyway and the amount of popcorn should be pretty minimal.
1000w replacements? I don't smoke rock....lol I think they could take a run at 600's maybe but its the last couple weeks that will tell so I shouldn't open my mouth too early
bajafox
Well-Known Member
Thanks man, from the looks of things it looks like it's gonna cost me around $1000 - $1200 to get enough LED lighting to replace my 600w hps. A couple of months ago I was looking at LEDs for supplemental lighting but now I think I want to do a full swap. My goal is to get it done before the summer and run a full cycle during the summer, if the results are the same or better than my HPS set up I'll definitely keep it and put my HPS equipment on craigslist.
I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about LED's
surgedup
Active Member
To be honest man depending on your grow area or if your using a tent depending on the size and how many plants your growing it shouldnt cost you that much to replace your 600w hps or at least get within pretty good reach of what your 600w can do .... just ask some of the guys on here they will tell you...
Thanks man, from the looks of things it looks like it's gonna cost me around $1000 - $1200 to get enough LED lighting to replace my 600w hps. A couple of months ago I was looking at LEDs for supplemental lighting but now I think I want to do a full swap. My goal is to get it done before the summer and run a full cycle during the summer, if the results are the same or better than my HPS set up I'll definitely keep it and put my HPS equipment on craigslist.
I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about LED's
dunit
Active Member
6 light show with 1000's will heat your house in a Canadian winter
well almost, at least during the light cylce. Heat off 6x1000's is about 22,000BTU and my furnace is rated for 75,000 BTU.....but my furnace doesn't run constantly. Nat gas is way cheaper than electricity for heating so it's not the most cost effective way to heat your home....but it sure is the funnest.
bajafox
Well-Known Member
I'm using 600w hps in a 4' x 4' DR120 and was looking into adding one or two LED panels for supplemental. I was even looking at adding a 400w MH. The only problem with that is I would have to run my AC in the summer and that's something I really want to avoid. So now I'm looking to replace my 600w hps set up with enough LED's to replace closer to a 1000w HPS set up. From the looks of things it looks like I will need to run a minimum of 360w LED?
dunit
Active Member
I'm in a small sealed room with no A/C running a propane CO2 burner and temps aren't an issue at all. Certainly is a big change from the HID days. I actually think the reason so many people have had bad experiences with LED's is because they don't maintain adequate temps and with LED's putting out so little heat it's no wonder. I used to run my HID rooms at 77F but under the lights was 85F. Plants metabolism is directly proportional to temp, low temp, slow growth, low yield. I actually think that part of the yield increase with CO2 is because people generally run their rooms warmer with CO2.......but I've been known to smoke drugs
surgedup
Active Member
Yeah thats not to big... I was thinking you were growing in area that wasnt confined. To be honest my 240w blackstar should be here tomorrow and that is suppose to be good for a area of about 3x2 from what I have seen they penetrate pretty well. You could probably get by on 2 or 3 of those or maybe just a 600w unit from them or maybe a couple kessils.. The guys on here would know alot more about those than I do but yeah.
bajafox
Well-Known Member
Those little Kessils look like they're no joke but I haven't seen or read too much about them on here. Up until today I was only looking at LEDs for vegging but now I am highly considering the full switch. As much as I love the results with my 600w hps it won't be practical trying to run it during the summer. I will be paying an AC bill on top of the already monthly $200 bill just to try and keep the temps manageable. I already went though that during the end of last summer when we had a heat wave and I definitely do not want to go through it again.
I'll have to check out Blackstar, I've read nothing but good things about them so far
EDIT:
Just saw the website
http://www.gothamhydroponics.com/grow-lights/gotham-hydro-led-grow-lights/blackstar-240w-led-grow-light-3w-cree.html
I'm thinking I'm going to purchase one and dim my digital ballast down to 400w hps while running this Blackstar 240w simultaneously, then maybe add one or two along the way before summer
I'll have to check out Blackstar, I've read nothing but good things about them so far
EDIT:
Just saw the website
http://www.gothamhydroponics.com/grow-lights/gotham-hydro-led-grow-lights/blackstar-240w-led-grow-light-3w-cree.html
I'm thinking I'm going to purchase one and dim my digital ballast down to 400w hps while running this Blackstar 240w simultaneously, then maybe add one or two along the way before summer
dunit
Active Member
I would double that estimate. Mind you that depends if you are talking about the Max Rating of the panel or the consumption. Most manufacturers refer to the Wattage of their panel in reference to the maximum wattage the LED's are collectively rated for but in reality most LED's are driven at 50% power because they lose efficiency rapidly once you get above that. For example Stealth Grows 602 actually draws 350W (it's on their website) My 357 (119x3w led's) draws 180W.
If you are referring to Max rating double your estimate if you are referring to actual draw I'd say you're on the money.
Irishboy is currently running Spectra 300's over a 4x4 area but those are actual draw of 360 watts each so he's at 720 watts of actual draw of LED
No wonder he gets monster budz
surgedup
Active Member
Yeah man tell me about it I was running a 600w hps in my little 3x4 area !!!! venting with just a fan taped to the hood cooler and some ducting going to the roof with barely any A/C luckily I didnt burn my place down a couple times the fan turned off for some reason a couple times. Yeah my bill went through the roof well over 200$ I have kids also so thats even more $$$. Yeah man definitely liking my setup I have now temps are great! haven't got my first bill yet but im pretty sure its gonna be low ....
660nm420
Active Member
Yeah the penetrator sure is, but my goal is two replicated chambers on opposite 12/12 cycles, both with upper and lower chambers seperated by a clear acrylic, so lights on top pour and combine with lights on the bottom to maximize an 82" height!! And here's the thing with these lights, so far they all seem easy enough to move between to oppositely timed 12/12 flower chambers. That means once the right combo is found I'll have 2 rooms on a rotating 24 hour cycle with just the one set of lights. This is why i'm ready to make the switch because if they are easy enough to move between two flower cycles the $ is so worth it in savings. I'm just trying not to shock or stretch my these ladies so height imput is most helpful. I have the companies recomendations. My only goal for 2011 is have to find the best way to replace (4) 1000w hps with LEDS and this is my little test area. I can already see that part of my test is ease of expansion.
bajafox
Well-Known Member
No you're completely right, after looking more and more at the Gotham website I am realizing I will need closer to Irishboys 720w set up than the 360w I had originally estimated. I think I might add a Blackstar 240 and dim my ballast depending on the weather until I can add a Blackstar 600 to finish the full replacement. I am by no means trying to get anywhere near Irishboys numbers, he seems to be on a whole 'nother level using LEDs. My only goal is to reduce my monthly maintenance and retain my dense buds, if I can do better then that's a bonusI would double that estimate. Mind you that depends if you are talking about the Max Rating of the panel or the consumption. Most manufacturers refer to the Wattage of their panel in reference to the maximum wattage the LED's are collectively rated for but in reality most LED's are driven at 50% power because they lose efficiency rapidly once you get above that. For example Stealth Grows 602 actually draws 350W (it's on their website) My 357 (119x3w led's) draws 180W.
If you are referring to Max rating double your estimate if you are referring to actual draw I'd say you're on the money.
Irishboy is currently running Spectra 300's over a 4x4 area but those are actual draw of 360 watts each so he's at 720 watts of actual draw of LED
No wonder he gets monster budz
I grow for myself, my wife and a few friends so high yield is not my priority, only quality That's great man, congrats. I'm hoping to be in the same boat in a few months, I moved from a warm area of the city to an even warmer area so I know what I am going to be dealing with here in a few months, I was close on getting an all new ventilation system, CO2 system plus AC just to get by this summer but it seems like a pain in the ass. I'm hoping the switch to LED will be a permanent one and not just for the summer
surgedup
Active Member
And I know I keep saying blackstar alot lol thats only because of what I have seen mind you and whats in them. The price range is good for me not everyone im sure is always gonna go with blackstars defintely do your research with different companies and go with what you think is best for yourself. Although hands down man those kessils look like they can whoop some ass if your in a tight confined spot and you can buy a bunch of those!
No you're completely right, after looking more and more at the Gotham website I am realizing I will need closer to Irishboys 720w set up than the 360w I had originally estimated. I think I might add a Blackstar 240 and dim my ballast depending on the weather until I can add a Blackstar 600 to finish the full replacement. I am by no means trying to get anywhere near Irishboys numbers, he seems to be on a whole 'nother level using LEDs. My only goal is to reduce my monthly maintenance and retain my dense buds, if I can do better then that's a bonus
That's great man, congrats. I'm hoping to be in the same boat in a few months, I moved from a warm area of the city to an even warmer area so I know what I am going to be dealing with here in a few months, I was close on getting an all new ventilation system, CO2 system plus AC just to get by this summer but it seems like a pain in the ass. I'm hoping the switch to LED will be a permanent one and not just for the summer