LED vs CFL

haze, son

Active Member
I'm working with a 2x3 cab, and was wondering what would be the better investment; Rigging the cab with CFL's, or going out and purchasing a UFO LED lamp (the 90w will fit easily).

My exact dimensions for inside the cab are 19"x36", and after a quick inspection on ebay, I found a UFO LED that is roughly around 10" in diameter, pretty much a perfect fit for my cab. The light I saw had an 8:1 ratio of red specturm as opposed to blue spectrum. Would the 90w be sufficient enough light for this space?

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-90W-LED-UFO-Plant-Hydroponic-Lamp-Grow-Light-8-1_W0QQitemZ200382032773QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea7b32b85&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Obviously, the LED would do much, much better during the flowering stage, but for 180$ I just want some other peoples' sound advice before I just spring for it and find out its crap. I have never once used LED's, and my friend is saying that its one of the best grow lamps to use, besides the obvious HID.

Looking around at other people's LED grows, the ones I see are multiple-LED setups, so just gauging the effectiveness of one LED lamp is pretty difficult.

And yes, I do realize the effectiveness of the HID, but I lack right now the tools or equipment that I'd need for a DIY cooltube that would definitely be required for such a small space. The heat would be an issue, and the power bill right now that I have to deal with is also an issue.

Whatsup RIU? Your thoughts? bongsmilie
 

jonboy30

Well-Known Member
the cool thing with LED's is that you can bring the light right on top of your canopy without risk of heat burn, since there isn't any heat emitted. But, I'd go with the 50/50 dual spectrum to provide ideal spectrums...JIMO...
 

haze, son

Active Member
the cool thing with LED's is that you can bring the light right on top of your canopy without risk of heat burn, since there isn't any heat emitted. But, I'd go with the 50/50 dual spectrum to provide ideal spectrums...JIMO...
Found the triband one from HTGSupply. It actually looks pretty dank, and it should work perfect for the needs that I have. I'll post up some pictures once I get it, and show how effective it is inside the space I'm using. Thanks a lot, man.

LED TRIBAND UFO GROW LIGHT 90 watt 400 600 w HPS MH 90w - eBay (item 390087478777 end time Sep-27-09 10:36:13 PDT)
 

project fuoro

Well-Known Member
Found the triband one from HTGSupply. It actually looks pretty dank, and it should work perfect for the needs that I have. I'll post up some pictures once I get it, and show how effective it is inside the space I'm using. Thanks a lot, man.

LED TRIBAND UFO GROW LIGHT 90 watt 400 600 w HPS MH 90w - eBay (item 390087478777 end time Sep-27-09 10:36:13 PDT)
Im not a salesman, and I just got mine today, but Irishboy has been having good luck with his 90W, look into this site..

http://www.prosourceworldwide.com/ They offer the 90 day trial, which is wicked, and their light so far looks solid.

I will get you a link to Irish's thread, which is currently in a ruckus, but...there you can see some stuff.

I just don't wanna see ya get screwed bro...

-pf-
 

project fuoro

Well-Known Member
Run through those dimensions with us again? 2x3 is your footprint? We talking feet, here?

Thats a 6 square foot area. With a what, 50W/sq ft being good? Thats 300 Watts of power needed to get you results.

Lets hear some more details about your area. And you don't have to go HID if you don't want to. Or cfl, or led. You see what works for others, see what they say, and go with what you truly feel is best.

Anywho, Hope we can all help ya!
 

WatchMeGrow

Active Member
Go get the damn CFL's... I got a cabinet all cfl's. I veg under 8 100 WATT 5600K(DAYTIME) CFLS OUT OF WAL-MART...I FLOWER UNDER 6 100 WATT REGULAR CFLS AND A 75 WATT HPS FROM HOME DEPOT THAT I TOOK APART $20 DOLLAR BULB. THE CFL'S ARE ACTUALLY 23WATTS BUT EMIT ABOUT THAT MUCH LIGHT (VERY BRIGHT). GRAB YA SHADES! IM SAYING IN THE VEG STAGE I GET 5-6 HEADS W/ NO TRIM/FEM. YOU CAN GET THE PLANT A INCH AWAY FROM LIGHTS. THATS WHAT MAKES THE LOWER AND INNER NODES SHOOT OUT. AFTER FLOWERING I GET LIKE 2-3 OZ A PLANT. I LIKE TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE WHEN I'M BROKE. MY TOTAL COST $250 BUCKS ON PARTS, LIGHT MOUNTING PLATES, BULBS, EXTENSION CORDS, AND 2-WAY BULB CONNECTORS. I HAVE ANOTHER SETUP BUT I STILL USE THIS HOME RIG! HOME DEPOT HAS 12PACKS OF CFLS COMPACT FOR $22 BUCKS. GROWS GREAT BUD! NOT SAYING DONT UPGRADE BUT IF YOU WANNA GET STARTED THATS HOW!
 
Top