Review of reviews???

Gquebed said:
It seems the RUI LED thread is the place to go for information on LED. Everybody says so....

.... just wondering what the DIYers think of the equipment reviewed below?

http://ledgrowlightguide.com/bml-spydr-1200-led-grow-light-review

And

http://ledgrowlightguide.com/heliospectra-e60-led-grow-light-review
Click to expand...

Never heard of them. I just know any LED prebuilt, there specs aren't really 100%. That's why most DIY here use CREE or VERO. Several grows have been done using cree or vero, so there's proof that they grow good buds. Before I bought my first Cree setup, i was like you, should I buy these pre-built led lighting setup??? But was told by everyone else not too. Look at the MARS led light......... or the purple UFO led lights. Yes, they can grow weed, but not very dense and all.... I liked the video of REALSTYLES, smashing his MARS.

Actually, the first prebuillt LED, that I would only get is the A51. However, like PSEAGRO said above.. It's more efficient and cheaper to DIY. Back then, A51 would of cost me 2600 to get to me... now its 3000... With $3000... I COULD BUILD A STAR SHIP!

A51 = 600W

CREE SETUP WITH 3K CASH - 20-30 CXB3590 using HLG-5+ 185-C700 and heatsinks.
Each chip will then cover about sq/ft each. 1000w - 1500w setup, and I cannot imagine, how dense and nice these buds will be.
 
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BecauseIgotHigh said:
Never heard of them. I just know any LED prebuilt, there specs aren't really 100%. That's why most DIY here use CREE or VERO. Several grows have been done using cree or vero, so there's proof that they grow good buds. Before I bought my first Cree setup, i was like you, should I buy these pre-built led lighting setup??? But was told by everyone else not too. Look at the MARS led light......... or the purple UFO led lights. Yes, they can grow weed, but not very dense and all.... I liked the video of REALSTYLES, smashing his MARS.
Click to expand...

Actually the bml spyder will be close to its published specs. I'm guessing the same for the heliospectra, but don't know.

Neitther of these are the cheap Chinese led lights which use the watt ratings for the leds instead of the actual watts that they are being driven at for specs.
 
I would not think twice about going the DIY route, except that i am completely ignorant of electronics, aside from the very very basic necessities that keep my garden from burning my house down.....lol.... also, while i can build a pretty solid space i am not confident that my hands have the fine motor skills required for soldering and etc.... those skills are tuned with practice practice practice... i have profound respect for you guys that are able. Some of the creations i have seen in the forum are truly art.

And so.... i shop instead... and pay the price....lol

I did have a go with a couple solar storm 440s and i learned that growing with LED is also a different thing altogether. My results were were not great, but promising enough to figure that if i drop the large o good quality lights then i know the grow results i want will come if when i tune in to led growing fundamentals....
 
C'mon @alesh break them down for the OP.
Gquebed said:
I would not think twice about going the DIY route, except that i am completely ignorant of electronics, aside from the very very basic necessities that keep my garden from burning my house down.....lol.... also, while i can build a pretty solid space i am not confident that my hands have the fine motor skills required for soldering and etc.... those skills are tuned with practice practice practice... i have profound respect for you guys that are able. Some of the creations i have seen in the forum are truly art.

And so.... i shop instead... and pay the price....lol

I did have a go with a couple solar storm 440s and i learned that growing with LED is also a different thing altogether. My results were were not great, but promising enough to figure that if i drop the large o good quality lights then i know the grow results i want will come if when i tune in to led growing fundamentals....
Click to expand...
No soldering necessary. It's really easy to make a DIY COB setup unless you need that polished look or want bleeding edge performance. My DIY's are always ghetto because I tend to break them down to upgrade or tweak but they still turn out some fine smoke. Those 2 lights you mentioned are more for commercial spaces where you need to know costs as close as possible or want to do real science. For the average grower they're borderline overkill, especially the Helio, and if it's about $$$ go DIY. And if it's not about $$$ good for you!
 
FranJan said:
C'mon @alesh break them down for the OP.

No soldering necessary. It's really easy to make a DIY COB setup unless you need that polished look or want bleeding edge performance. My DIY's are always ghetto because I tend to break them down to upgrade or tweak but they still turn out some fine smoke. Those 2 lights you mentioned are more for commercial spaces where you need to know costs as close as possible or want to do real science. For the average grower they're borderline overkill, especially the Helio, and if it's about $$$ go DIY. And if it's not about $$$ good for you!
Click to expand...

No soldering? I just assumed...wires = solder...lol

Id be tempted to give diy a go, but.... it all seems so intimidating... all the lingo and specs and so on...

I mean even if a parts list and a step by step set of of instructions were given to me.... yikes.... lol

I read the threads here and its like you all are speaking Swahili or something...lol
 
FranJan said:
C'mon @alesh break them down for the OP.
Click to expand...
BML claims 1.7µmol/J typical for the 665W fixture. I've got no reason not to believe that. That's quite good value and I'm sure it has a very even distribution pattern. Vero29 based lights run at around 2.1A should have similar efficiency and DIY fixtures with underdriven CXA/Bs can surpass this value, depending on the bin and the driving current - top bin CXB3590 at <25W could be reaching 3+ µmol/J, that is 75+% more photons with the same energy dissipated.

As of Heliospectra, I can't really say because I haven't been able to find any data I could work with. Perhaps I missed a datasheet?
 
I run 8 Vero 29's, DIY variable power which makes it nice. It really isn't that bad to build. 800w max running at ~500w now. The cree are more efficient, at least when under driven. A 40x46 inch area will give you 800 plus grams of bud in that area. In soil.
 
alesh said:
BML claims 1.7µmol/J typical for the 665W fixture. I've got no reason not to believe that. That's quite good value and I'm sure it has a very even distribution pattern. Vero29 based lights run at around 2.1A should have similar efficiency and DIY fixtures with underdriven CXA/Bs can surpass this value, depending on the bin and the driving current - top bin CXB3590 at <25W could be reaching 3+ µmol/J, that is 75+% more photons with the same energy dissipated.

As of Heliospectra, I can't really say because I haven't been able to find any data I could work with. Perhaps I missed a datasheet?
Click to expand...

Heliospectra is supposed to be 1.7 umol/j as well. Me personally the form factor of bml spyder is superior to most lights period.
 
puffenuff said:
Do you have any links to this news? First I've heard about a new BML so I'm curious to know more details about the new fixture
Click to expand...
They won't give me any info yet.
I'm assuming it's a more refined Osram SSL80 ceramic LED version.... Or maybe they added in Cree cobs but not likely. *Or maybe they added the killer advanced led epileds that make over 18000lumens per watt.....everything after *is complete BS
 
BM9AGS said:
They won't give me any info yet.
I'm assuming it's a more refined Osram SSL80 ceramic LED version.... Or maybe they added in Cree cobs but not likely. *Or maybe they added the killer advanced led epileds that make over 18000lumens per watt.....everything after *is complete BS
Click to expand...

Gotcha. My buddy just got a couple of the 1200s so I'm sure he'll be interested to know there's a new one coming out in a few weeks.
 
and that's why they're not telling people about it. Gotta sell off the current stock. Business.
 
Gquebed said:
No soldering? I just assumed...wires = solder...lol

Id be tempted to give diy a go, but.... it all seems so intimidating... all the lingo and specs and so on...

I mean even if a parts list and a step by step set of of instructions were given to me.... yikes.... lol

I read the threads here and its like you all are speaking Swahili or something...lol
Click to expand...

Really easy stuff. We could offer you on what to buy, so you don't need to read to much.
First decide on what leds you like to use, Vero or Cree. I haven't read much on about VERO.

Basic 200w build
4 x CXA3590 3000k-3500k
1x 4 COB holders
1x HLG-185-C700A/B (A has a internal dimmer, where as B, you got to wire up with a 100k pot.
600V 18AWG solid wire
18AWG primary wire ( If you decide to extend your AC plug)
Thermal paste
Heatsink
Heatshrink
Male & female spade connectors
Connectors
10A fuses
Aluminum 90degree angle sticks to mount your heat sinks on.

My first build. 200W CXA3590 5000K @ c700a. 50w per chip.

IMG_0547.JPG

Second build. 400W CXB3590 300K @ C700A. 50w per chip, but two drivers this time.

IMG_0659.JPG

It's all about your area and the spacing of the chips.

If ever I decide to build another one, I just contact Jerry from Kingbright. He sells the drivers, chips, led holders & lens. If you're from the states, purchase your wiring at elecdirect.com.
Also buy heatshrinks and some spade connectors. And again, if you're from the states, you are in luck because you have heatsinkusa.com. Purchase the heatsinks there, someone from here can help you on the size.
 
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