LEDs to go with
- Thread starter Dividedsky
- Start date
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
1/3 of the price? Come on now.... Our markup is not that high. It's less than 25%.
The A51's are not rebranded lights, so in order to get the same lights, you'd have to 1st get the LED diodes from Heliopto, that is the biggest difference that separates the A51's from places that use cheap Epiled, Epled, "Epistars", or "Bridgelux" LEDs. Not saying Heliopto are the best LEDs, but they blow the doors off of no name low/non-binned Cidly-esque LEDs, as well as any "Epistar" real or fake.
If you want cheap lights and think Cidly is as good, just buy one of those. Cidly lights will grow a plant, but with the LEDs being driven at 700mA, they are not running at full efficiency nor will they last as long as they could. 700mA is the max rating for the LEDs they use, and driving LEDs to the max is not a good idea, but what the hell do I know?
And, I get "worked up" when people say things that are not true that have to do with me. I work hard at what I do, and spend a lot of money on research and development. I take offence when some guy just states all these things as fact when it is nothing more than a misinformed lie, regardless if that lie originated from the filthy mouths of some Cidly employee, or you. If someone says something about me or something that is mine and it is not true, I will defend it, and I will prove it.
The A51's are not rebranded lights, so in order to get the same lights, you'd have to 1st get the LED diodes from Heliopto, that is the biggest difference that separates the A51's from places that use cheap Epiled, Epled, "Epistars", or "Bridgelux" LEDs. Not saying Heliopto are the best LEDs, but they blow the doors off of no name low/non-binned Cidly-esque LEDs, as well as any "Epistar" real or fake.
If you want cheap lights and think Cidly is as good, just buy one of those. Cidly lights will grow a plant, but with the LEDs being driven at 700mA, they are not running at full efficiency nor will they last as long as they could. 700mA is the max rating for the LEDs they use, and driving LEDs to the max is not a good idea, but what the hell do I know?
And, I get "worked up" when people say things that are not true that have to do with me. I work hard at what I do, and spend a lot of money on research and development. I take offence when some guy just states all these things as fact when it is nothing more than a misinformed lie, regardless if that lie originated from the filthy mouths of some Cidly employee, or you. If someone says something about me or something that is mine and it is not true, I will defend it, and I will prove it.
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
Next time I'm in China, I might drop by Cidly and crush some skulls. I'm tired of these fucks spamming my email, and now claiming to make my lights?
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
That's how I know where they are/aren't from.
I usually don't even mention my lights here, other than when someone asks a question specifically, or when I have to correct misinformation.
I usually don't even mention my lights here, other than when someone asks a question specifically, or when I have to correct misinformation.
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
The cases and heatsinks come from a metal shop in Shenzhen. They can be found anywhere easily for people that know how to look for that kind of stuff.
The circuit boards I have had built at a few different places, but all were in Taiwan. Glocom is one place that I went to first, but moved on to another place eventually.
Drivers are also from Taiwan, those are custom made for Area 51. The drivers do not have any special part in them that can't be obtained by people that know how and where to buy the components.
The LEDs come from Heliopto, they are in Taiwan also.
And for assembly, I have contracted an assembly factory to assemble and ship my products. They assemble many things from spark plugs to outboard motors for boats. They are not even a LED factory, they just happen to assemble LED lamps for a couple places.
There's more than one way to get an LED lamp built, it's not all limited to Eshine and Cidly or Bluesea.... If you have money, and they have the proper equipment and know-how to do some simple assembly, they'll build whatever you want, it's just a matter of finding and trusting the right place to do it, and Cidly did not meet my standards, not even a little.
So, long story short, if someone wants an A51 light, there is only 1 place to get it. Of course you can get lamps that look similar with similar (or more) wattage, and even with the "same spectrum", but looks and watts do not guarantee a good harvest, and spectrum is only part of what gets good results.
The circuit boards I have had built at a few different places, but all were in Taiwan. Glocom is one place that I went to first, but moved on to another place eventually.
Drivers are also from Taiwan, those are custom made for Area 51. The drivers do not have any special part in them that can't be obtained by people that know how and where to buy the components.
The LEDs come from Heliopto, they are in Taiwan also.
And for assembly, I have contracted an assembly factory to assemble and ship my products. They assemble many things from spark plugs to outboard motors for boats. They are not even a LED factory, they just happen to assemble LED lamps for a couple places.
There's more than one way to get an LED lamp built, it's not all limited to Eshine and Cidly or Bluesea.... If you have money, and they have the proper equipment and know-how to do some simple assembly, they'll build whatever you want, it's just a matter of finding and trusting the right place to do it, and Cidly did not meet my standards, not even a little.
So, long story short, if someone wants an A51 light, there is only 1 place to get it. Of course you can get lamps that look similar with similar (or more) wattage, and even with the "same spectrum", but looks and watts do not guarantee a good harvest, and spectrum is only part of what gets good results.
Beefbisquit
Well-Known Member
Can't wait for the new lights, EH!!!
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
I'll have pics in about 10 days.
Swiftowl11
Active Member
I like to go off PAR readings when looking for unknowingly good results.
Well If your like me, I decide with my wallet in mind. Yes people can afford those very expensive, but who wants to pay that much, not me. Well I did before because I was a sucker for this LED technology. But, after trying out different manufacturers, I went from Spectra to blackstar, to hydrogrowled, then I discovered, CHINESE LEDS knockoff blackstar, hydrogrow, 5w led light.
I discovered why am I wasting my money on these lights that cost 3-4 dollars a watt when I can get .90c -$1.25 a watt. Now my hydrogrowled that was 900 dollars for 210 true watts, I get the same exact chinese knockoff hydrogrow for 210 dollars shipped. Thats 1 dollar a watt. Now my same wallet gets the luxury of getting me 840 watts of power which covers a 4x4 tent way better then 1 plus 60 dollars to put in my gas tank. Just saying....
Anyway, I had great luck growing with blackstar, hydrogrow, and knockoff equivalents. If I was to start over I would go for a chinese light, or blackstar if you want to deal with usa. China gives warrantys also, probably takes forever, havent had to use it yet.
Right now, I use 4 hydrogrow 210w true draw knockoff with my own spectrum and they grow great. Just ordered up some more blackstar knockoffs with my own spectrum. Thats 8 240w blackstars knockoffs (true draw 140-150) for $1050 shipped thats 1050 watts of led, will cover my 4x4 tent perfect. Im able to yield more with knockoff blackstar cause you can get them so much closer without damage, like T5s almost. But, lens led is a must if you want to grow tall ass plants, so you can get that bottom bud weight.
Eraserhead
Well-Known Member
With the knowledge I have about LEDs now, if I were just a customer shopping for a decent amount of LEDs, the first thing I would invest in is a PAR meter, and a Kill-a-Watt meter. Both cost under $400 together.
The 2 together, you can compare the Umol'/s to coverage to watts consumed at different heights above the plants, and get the most out of whatever kind of light you decide to purchase.
Ultimately, I'd want the most PAR + most coverage, per watt consumed, per dollar spent, in a reasonable spectrum. Couldn't care less about a watt, as long as there aren't too many of them.
Cheap Chinese LEDs have their place in the market, as well as good LEDs, CFL's, and HID's- both cheap and expensive. As long as the customer is happy with what they buy is what's important.
The 2 together, you can compare the Umol'/s to coverage to watts consumed at different heights above the plants, and get the most out of whatever kind of light you decide to purchase.
Ultimately, I'd want the most PAR + most coverage, per watt consumed, per dollar spent, in a reasonable spectrum. Couldn't care less about a watt, as long as there aren't too many of them.
Cheap Chinese LEDs have their place in the market, as well as good LEDs, CFL's, and HID's- both cheap and expensive. As long as the customer is happy with what they buy is what's important.
Dividedsky
Well-Known Member
Beef, which area 51 panel do you have? My friend and I have been looking into them.
Dividedsky
Well-Known Member
Nevermind just saw your other post, the 240 I take it...
im with you, chinese all the way, magplus2 $1400 chinese knockoff $500, i mean is it really a knockoff.. i don't think so... i think all these companies are trying to make some money or there money back.. your not paying for a better product...
newworldicon
Well-Known Member
Well I paid $1450 for 3x AF-135's, that's $483 per 250W unit which equates to $1.93. How is this expensive? And I can achieve a gram per watt with them without too much hassle. Been doing that for 6-7 months now...Area 51 is great value for money.