Hempstar 3 Stage LED Grow

dunit said:

If I was trying to cover an 8 x 10 area I would expect to use about 4000 watts of HID or 2000 watts of LED or mix and match using those ratios. If you need heat then using some HID is a good way to go as at least the power is not wasted like it would be with a space heater.

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Haha... Ya I guess I read a little too much into the replacement claims of replacing 1k HID's...

I was thinking 6 wuld do the job swell, maybe put on a short range light mover for a small bit of penetration and light angle change. Maybe movement of about 1-2ft in total.

I want to grow in rows basically. 3 rows each 3ft wide by apx. 8ft. long consisting of 4 aero boxes. There is a similar setup using 6 x 1k HID's but I think 6k watts might be a bit overkill as total square footage is only 72'sq.(72x50). The link is https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/407968-jock-horror-3-week-perpetual.html The guy's got a sick setup, but had problems with humidity and saw bad ass bud rot. Although I think I can quite improve on the simplicity and the controls of his setup. LED= Less heat, lower humidity and also added mold and rot control from UV spectrum?

With basic calculations I figure I need 3600w of HID, and depending on which company of LED's maybe I need 1 or maybe listening to sketics i need 30... lol... I want fast run's though from start to dried in 12weeks(god willing).

Simple matter of fact is need to know and figure my calculations on whether 3'x4' is not a stretch for higher power LED's(357 mag?)

I was also debating the facts of ISIS's FX3>>> it says it can cover 100'sq, but I really doubt claims of that... Maybe 2 ISISFX3'??? Same shit as Magnum's just bigger eh? or would I still need to take 3?

Just picking my brain n urs before I pick through my wallet.

Tricky B.

Fredtrick Blunt said:

Haha... Ya I guess I read a little too much into the replacement claims of replacing 1k HID's...

I was thinking 6 wuld do the job swell, maybe put on a short range light mover for a small bit of penetration and light angle change. Maybe movement of about 1-2ft in total.

I want to grow in rows basically. 3 rows each 3ft wide by apx. 8ft. long consisting of 4 aero boxes. LED= Less heat, lower humidity and also added mold and rot control from UV spectrum?

Simple matter of fact is need to know and figure my calculations on whether 3'x4' is not a stretch for higher power LED's(357 mag?)

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If I were you, I would cover each 3x8 row either with 3 Magnums (180W each) for a total of 9X180W =1620W OR 3 GLH Spectras each at 290W (ignore the outdated web site info) for a total of 2610W drawn. My preference would be the latter, not only because you get more power with the Spectras but also because they are $50 cheaper each for a savings of $450. The Mag lights are being proven right now here by dunit to work, and the Spectras have a few succesful grow journals behind them as well. Either way I would not go for less lights than that for your area.

medicine21 said:

If I were you, I would cover each 3x8 row either with 3 Magnums (180W each) for a total of 9X180W =1620W OR 3 GLH Spectras each at 290W (ignore the outdated web site info) for a total of 2610W drawn. My preference would be the latter, not only because you get more power with the Spectras but also because they are $50 cheaper each for a savings of $450. The Mag lights are being proven right now here by dunit to work, and the Spectras have a few succesful grow journals behind them as well. Either way I would not go for less lights than that for your area.

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Running 3 lights over a 3x8 area would certainly give lots of interlacing/cross-lighting and I bet would yeild some impressive results. LedBudGuy swears that the cross lighting is the key and he's the only one putting up big numbers so far so I'm inclined to think he's onto something.

The Spectra 280W is supposed to represent about a 10% increase over their old model (240W) and the old models actual draw was 1.25 amps which represents 137 watts actual draw vs the 240 claimed so I still bet that the Spectra 280W will only draw about 1.5 amps putting the actual power draw at about 180watts so pretty much on par with the Mag. They are definately one of the good lights, I just think that GrowPerfect has had better yields so far which was why I went with the Mag but each to his own.

I'm quite sure that the new Spectra 280W actually DRAWS 290W, based on recent tests. Check Irishboy thread over at 420. The numbers you are calculating are using not only the old lights but also the OLD marketing approach of GLH. Meaning, full of BS and confusion like most LED manufacturer web sites. The good news is that Mike from GLH seems committed to breaking the norm and stating only ACTUAL DRAWS and facts about his lights. We shall see once his updated web site goes up in a couple of weeks.

Bottom line is that the Spectra 280W draws 290W and the 450W draws 500W. Check user "supergravy" grow journal on 420 where he hooks up the Spectra 240W and BlackStar 240W to a Kill-a-Watt meter. He gets 245W from the Spectra and 133W from the BlackStar.

medicine21 said:

I'm quite sure that the new Spectra 280W actually DRAWS 290W, based on recent tests. Check Irishboy thread over at 420. The numbers you are calculating are using not only the old lights but also the OLD marketing approach of GLH. Meaning, full of BS and confusion like most LED manufacturer web sites. The good news is that Mike from GLH seems committed to breaking the norm and stating only ACTUAL DRAWS and facts about his lights. We shall see once his updated web site goes up in a couple of weeks.

Bottom line is that the Spectra 280W draws 290W and the 450W draws 500W. Check user "supergravy" grow journal on 420 where he hooks up the Spectra 240W and BlackStar 240W to a Kill-a-Watt meter. He gets 245W from the Spectra and 133W from the BlackStar.

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That is an awesome journal, thanks for that. Will be subbed on that one. Been waiting to see real results from a Blackstar and the fact that Spectra number will be confirmed again is an added bonus. I am stunned that the Blackstar is drawing just over half the power of the Spectra but putting out 86% of the light. All the engineering on LED's points towards not overdriving them as they lose efficiency and based on those numbers I can't help but feel that Spectra is running theirs a little high on the amps scale which would explain the higher wattage draw and lower proportional light output. 45% more power and producing 14% more light. Maybe this years models will be a bit more efficient as that is last years model. I know that Mike from GLH never claimed to be an engineer but is a grower and constantly evolving his product. One of the things I liked about GrowPerfect was that they are obviously growers and can answer real growing questions too. Definately some good similarities.

Looking at the colors looks like Blackstar and Spectra certainly are hitting different spectrums so certainly hope to see a clear winner one way or another on that one.

Now I just need to run a Spectra against Magnum against Stealth Grow and have all the answers. If someone just wants to send me some free LED's I'll get right on it

dunit said:

I am stunned that the Blackstar is drawing just over half the power of the Spectra but putting out 86% of the light. All the engineering on LED's points towards not overdriving them as they lose efficiency and based on those numbers I can't help but feel that Spectra is running theirs a little high on the amps scale which would explain the higher wattage draw and lower proportional light output. 45% more power and producing 14% more light.
Now I just need to run a Spectra against Magnum against Stealth Grow and have all the answers. If someone just wants to send me some free LED's I'll get right on it

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Yeah, would love to see 2 Mags go up against 2 Spectra 290Ws each in a 4x4'! Can't help you with the free lights though, brother.

Hmm, regarding this light intensity data, it seems we need to add another metric to evaluate various LED lights. I guess it would be Efficiency = light output/W drawn. How do we get these numbers?

medicine21 said:

Where did you find these numbers about light output?

Yeah, would love to see 2 Mags go up against 2 Spectra 290Ws each in a 4x4'! Can't help you with the free lights though, brother.

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That was from that link to the grow journal on 420. The guy running the side by side put a light meter on both panels. I actually think the Spectra will cover a bigger area than the Blackstar and that he should have the cabinet filled to demonstrate that so I feel it's not all that fair for Spectra but at least will show plant for plant performance.

Quite honestly I'm not so interested in running Spectra against Magnum as I think they are both great panels and wouldn't like to see either company lose business. I'd really like to run either or both against a lot of the shit lights out there and put those rip off artists out of business, but then again I think we should overthrow the government

Yeah, I found it after looking through the thread again. Still curious whether it matters as much for LEDs or not.

Hehe. Well I don't see it that way exactly. Side by side comparisons of the best lights would tell us which one is better and the "loser" has got to improve their product or drop their price. So, I'll take the consumer stance on this and encourage exposure of market/product leaders who will get my money.

So mean while back on the ranch we are in day 52 of flower. The ladies are bouncing back nicely although I feel they aren't as thick as they should have been without this lockout issue....but maybe I'm just greedy

Anyone have the link for the Spectra website?

BloodHoundsRule said:

Anyone have the link for the Spectra website?

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growledhydro.com

Gilfman said:

growledhydro.com

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Thank you Gilfman.

Dunit; you've done a fantastic journal. I feel as a fellow canadian i can trust you. I've been growing for a few years and depending on strain but with 400 hps's i avg 0.5gpw. I hear everyone bullshit on these forums talking about 2lbs per 400 and i know its lies or maybe because they only run 1 or 2 lights. I grow GC and OG Kush and my plants avg 3ft tall but in a 12x12 room could 12 magnums produce 2400 grams? i would throw my ballasts in the fuckin garbage. And are those guys selling the mags willing to deal if i were to buy multiple lights and i would put up pics for sure. I'm gonna have to wait a week and see what you finish with to make my decision. Just antsy for totals.. I love the Oilers but Go Flames

oh and can you throw in a beer bottle or something in your pics to show scale? PS if you have a chance to get GC (green crack) clones do it up 45days and is top notch. But PK is totally solid. i also have a buddy who kicks ass with Diesel (original)

dalamar999 said:

Dunit; you've done a fantastic journal. I feel as a fellow canadian i can trust you. I've been growing for a few years and depending on strain but with 400 hps's i avg 0.5gpw. I hear everyone bullshit on these forums talking about 2lbs per 400 and i know its lies or maybe because they only run 1 or 2 lights. I grow GC and OG Kush and my plants avg 3ft tall but in a 12x12 room could 12 magnums produce 2400 grams? i would throw my ballasts in the fuckin garbage. And are those guys selling the mags willing to deal if i were to buy multiple lights and i would put up pics for sure. I'm gonna have to wait a week and see what you finish with to make my decision. Just antsy for totals.. I love the Oilers but Go Flames

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I am going to get two for a 4x4 room. Those guys are willing to deduct $50 per unit for 6 or more and $100 per unit for 10 or more. Nice journal Dunit, it is the reason why i have decided to go with the Mags.

dalamar999 said:

oh and can you throw in a beer bottle or something in your pics to show scale? PS if you have a chance to get GC (green crack) clones do it up 45days and is top notch. But PK is totally solid. i also have a buddy who kicks ass with Diesel (original)

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How bout a 26 of JD? I don't drink beer Seriously though I'll try to throw something in for a pic. Heard good things about GC but trying to get my hands on Super Lemon Haze. Great some and awesome producer from what I hear.

dalamar999 said:

Dunit; you've done a fantastic journal. I feel as a fellow canadian i can trust you. I've been growing for a few years and depending on strain but with 400 hps's i avg 0.5gpw. I hear everyone bullshit on these forums talking about 2lbs per 400 and i know its lies or maybe because they only run 1 or 2 lights. I grow GC and OG Kush and my plants avg 3ft tall but in a 12x12 room could 12 magnums produce 2400 grams? i would throw my ballasts in the fuckin garbage. And are those guys selling the mags willing to deal if i were to buy multiple lights and i would put up pics for sure. I'm gonna have to wait a week and see what you finish with to make my decision. Just antsy for totals.. I love the Oilers but Go Flames

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200 grams a panel I think is very doeable even without co2. I really figured I was on track to hit a pound before the nute lockout and I think I will still come close so the potential is definately there. The plants are no where near as bushy as would be ideal to make best use of the area. I'd like to think I could get 300-325 grams a panel once I get things dialed in.

i really appreciate your advice.. Such a huge investment..Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for HPS. I'm sure there's tons of people following this thread good luck and cant wait for your totals...take care and all the best

dalamar999 said:

i really appreciate your advice.. Such a huge investment..Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for HPS. I'm sure there's tons of people following this thread good luck and cant wait for your totals...take care and all the best

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Well there's certainly a few people watching but I'm far from the big kid on the LED block. This is my first one and there's a few guys who've been doing LED for a while. Search LedBudGuy and Irishboy as they have completed ones. There are lots of others but those are the two I follow. I just started watching one over on 420 magazine forums who's just started a Blackstar vs Spectra side by side that should be interesting.

The key with LED's is to realize that they have strengths and weaknesses and to work off their strengths. Really feel that LedBudGuy has been the one to nail it best so far and at 1.7 gram per watt he's killin it. I'm hoping to break a gram a watt on this one and with what I've learned try for 1.5 on the next one.

I was wondering too, do you think a large part of success with LED is related to using LED in veg for shorter node distances? So would you get less using HID veg and LED bud? I realize its more cost efficient to use LED for veg because of 18/6 but 75% of my hydro is used for flower.
Thanks for the thread ideas, i liked that those others guys kinda seemed like they were doubting the LED possibilities in the beginning but almost proved themselves wrong with good success. It looks almost easy to get close to 1g/watt. I use organics too so excess nutes should never be an issue. ledbudguy loves his ISIS but if the magnum 357 is a relative and the newest model it should be maybe the better choice. But 2 small ISIS for veg might be the way to go. Again big buds and salivations!