Led Users Unite!

J

jdizzle22

Well-Known Member
BlackMesa said:
Hey all, After much researching I've decided to go LED. It seems for my situation the small thermal footprint that doesn't require heavy cooling is a big plus. Also it seems that LED light is even more efficient then people realize based on most people don't subtract the watts the LED cooling fans produce from their W/G ratio. With that in mind it seems the tech will and already can advance in more efficient ways to cool single and multiple lights. I look at it like I look at cooling a CPU and can see someone perhaps water cooling multiple lights from a single low watt pump. Yeah.... I'm a modder if you haven't guessed and I just may do a little opensource R&D!

Anyway I have decided on the Blackstar line based on the smaller start up investment compared to other high cost panels. A good friend of mine who owns a local shop considers LED a waste of time but that attitude is based on his research from 2 years ago and a whole lot has changed, so I have a point to prove to him and I believe there are a decent chunk of people who don't want to manage heat, bulbs or fires. Not to mention quality... it seems LED bring the sticky to a new level. This should be fun. =)
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Blackstars are good, but realize they only use about 58% as many watts as their units names imply. The number they give is the max wattage of the diodes x the number of diodes ex: 240 = 80x3w diodes even though really the whole unit with the fans only runs on 140w. That said, they are still the cheapest worthwhile 3w diode panels I know of, they were my 2nd choice.
 
BlackMesa

BlackMesa

Active Member
Blackstars are good, but realize they only use about 58% as many watts as their units names imply. The number they give is the max wattage of the diodes x the number of diodes ex: 240 = 80x3w diodes even though really the whole unit with the fans only runs on 140w. That said, they are still the cheapest worthwhile 3w diode panels I know of, they were my 2nd choice.
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Fully aware, I did my homework. I'm interested in them primarily because they are affordable in the sense that I can use multiple units to cover a larger footprint. I keep seeing a reoccurring trend with LED grows that using multiple lower wattage units in confined spaces will produce larger yields then a equal or even slightly larger wattage single LED. Optics are still struggling to progress with evenly spreading LED light.
 
Bad Karma

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
wyteberrywidow said:
Has anyone tried the htg 120 watt led model or am I better off getting a blackstar 240 to replace my 400hps?
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Neither one of those LED lights will replace your 400W HPS.
The HTG is okay for vegging, but not very useful for flowering, and is probably pulling well under 120W in reality.
The Blackstar is a better quality of LED light for flowering, but the 240W model only pulls around 135W.
So it would be woefully underpowered for what you're trying to use it for.
I would recommend going with Blackstar, but with their 500W (true draw is around 300W) or 600W (true draw is around 400W) models.
Good luck.
 
Bad Karma

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
wyteberrywidow said:
And where is a good placE to get these lights and what about the pro series 180 from hydro hut
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Let me ask you wyteberry, how big of an area are you trying to illuminate and will you be flowering with this light?
Knowing the answer to those will help us to recommend the best model LED light for you.
 
surgedup

surgedup

Active Member
Whoever said that blackstars don't flower is just a flat out lie I pulled almost 10 ounces with 2 240w watts and one 300w chinese panel! Some of the most stickiest bud I have ever grown and I use to grow with HPS! that was only with 6-7 plants all in one gallon containers.... one of the plants beleive it or not yielded 2 ounces dry in a one gallon container ! its not just about lighting but the plants genetics play a huge part in the process and nutrients! these two blackstars I would throw up against a 600w hps anyday call me flat out crazy if you want but its true ! looking into either getting some kessils or more of these blackstars.....
 
surgedup

surgedup

Active Member
Also that grow was done with no C02 at all ... I am currently starting up 4 more girls I went with the th seeds burmese kush a dinafem critical+ and two g13 midnight kush's. They are in veg right now there growing great definitely these plants are a pleasure to grow the smell and growth are amazing.. I grow in promix hp with some advanced nutrients GMB with molasses ...
 
wyteberrywidow

wyteberrywidow

Global
Bad Karma said:
Let me ask you wyteberry, how big of an area are you trying to illuminate and will you be flowering with this light?
Knowing the answer to those will help us to recommend the best model LED light for you.
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I have a 4x4 closet and I will be running 4-6 plants yes I want to flower with it
 
J

jdizzle22

Well-Known Member
surgedup said:
Whoever said that blackstars don't flower is just a flat out lie I pulled almost 10 ounces with 2 240w watts and one 300w chinese panel! Some of the most stickiest bud I have ever grown and I use to grow with HPS! that was only with 6-7 plants all in one gallon containers.... one of the plants beleive it or not yielded 2 ounces dry in a one gallon container ! its not just about lighting but the plants genetics play a huge part in the process and nutrients! these two blackstars I would throw up against a 600w hps anyday call me flat out crazy if you want but its true ! looking into either getting some kessils or more of these blackstars.....
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280 total watts of 3w diodes and fans vs a 600w HPS? That is almost half as many watts, I believe LED can do that. I'm not sure if Blackstar could based on some of their design specifications, but it sure sounds like you did pretty damn good! I still always recommend them as my 2nd choice (or as best choice for 3w diode watts per upfront $)
 
Bad Karma

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
wyteberrywidow said:
I have a 4x4 closet and I will be running 4-6 plants yes I want to flower with it
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Unfortunately covering a 4x4 area with LED light isn't going to be cheap.
I know you had been inquiring about some inexpensive models, but these ones will get the job done for sure.

And the nominees are...
- The Spectra LED 500 (aka GrowHydroLED) draws a full 500W and will definetly flower well for you, but it carries a high price tag of $1,299.
- The Pro-Grow 550 (aka HydroponicsHut) draws somewhere around 400W and should also flower well for you at a price of $829.

I'd go with the Spectra 500 if you have the extra money, but if you don't the Pro-Grow will still get the job done.
 
wyteberrywidow

wyteberrywidow

Global
Thanks fOr that reply. I wasn't Planning on filling the whole space up I want to run four plants under it to flower so I was figuring I buy one light and just get another one down the line.Honestly speaking I don't have 800 to cough up just yet but I fan do 400 At moat for right now
 
Gary Busey

Gary Busey

New Member
Blackstar has a 900 watt model (a little over 600 actual watts) for $924

http://www.amazon.com/Lighthouse-Hydro-BlackStar-Light-Flowering/dp/B0051HOECC

I haven't seen anyone use one yet, just the 240s and 500s.

Bad Karma said:
Unfortunately covering a 4x4 area with LED light isn't going to be cheap.
I know you had been inquiring about some inexpensive models, but these ones will get the job done for sure.

And the nominees are...
- The Spectra LED 500 (aka GrowHydroLED) draws a full 500W and will definetly flower well for you, but it carries a high price tag of $1,299.
- The Pro-Grow 550 (aka HydroponicsHut) draws somewhere around 400W and should also flower well for you at a price of $829.

I'd go with the Spectra 500 if you have the extra money, but if you don't the Pro-Grow will still get the job done.
Click to expand...
 
Bad Karma

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
wyteberrywidow said:
Thanks fOr that reply. I wasn't Planning on filling the whole space up I want to run four plants under it to flower so I was figuring I buy one light and just get another one down the line.Honestly speaking I don't have 800 to cough up just yet but I fan do 400 At moat for right now
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In that case you could pick up a Blackstar 500W for around $525-$550 (shipped), then grab the second one later on down the road.
Other then that, your best bet is to save your money till you can grab one of the high end models.
Good luck.
 
M

medicine21

Active Member
Bad Karma said:
Unfortunately covering a 4x4 area with LED light isn't going to be cheap.
I know you had been inquiring about some inexpensive models, but these ones will get the job done for sure.

And the nominees are...
- The Spectra LED 500 (aka GrowHydroLED) draws a full 500W and will definetly flower well for you, but it carries a high price tag of $1,299.
- The Pro-Grow 550 (aka HydroponicsHut) draws somewhere around 400W and should also flower well for you at a price of $829.

I'd go with the Spectra 500 if you have the extra money, but if you don't the Pro-Grow will still get the job done.
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I think you would do MUCH better by getting several lesser power lights than 1 500water. My choice for a 4x4 would be 4x180W Spectras. If you can't afford it, go for the 4x100W UFO Spectras. This will give you the best overall coverage, interlacing and spectrum mixing from multiple lights and you can adjust the heights according to your canopy. I would go for this 4 light setup over the 2x290W Spectras because a single 290W covers a 3x3, so two of them side by side will not perfectly cover a 4x4 - a 1x4 area will not receive optimal light. Or if you want to save some more cash go with the 4x240 Blackstars to cover the 4x4.
 
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