The LED grow light extravaganza has a long way to go before it can compete with commercial production lights. Many argue that the difference in HID lighting is in the bulb (and wattage of course.).. but all of the commercial grows I've come across ( I am NOT a seller/distributor myself, though I am drawn to any situation involving cannabis) have used multiple 600 watt industrial (construciton sites, hardware stores, storm lighting, etc.) fixtures... of course that requires minimal electrical knowledge (which I do not posess); which bring me to my point. - Obviously there is MUCH potential in LED grow lighting, or else DNA Genetics, Reserva Privada (same company) would know better than to experiment with them... but they are, check em out, they're even making seed runs with them. Which is okay because so far I have never heard a negative word about DNA & I happen to love the strains I've gotten from them in the past (Lemon Skunk ((champion strain)), R.K.S. ("Really Killer Skunk.") I'm a bit of a talker so let me try and get my opinion out before I get trolled- LED lighting is very promising and is actually very useful at present times (only if you have millions of dollars to spend on them) but the price is coming from the research and trial/error of different spectrum combinations... once the 'new car smell' wears off of them then they will become affordable to the common man, just like video game systems- when xBox 360 first came out they were upwards of 500 dollars- faaar too much for the regular workin' man to be able to afford, but as any avid gamer knows, "wait a few months and it will be cheaper.." once the prices have gone down, that man then goes home proudly toting a brand new xBox knowing he paid only 1/2 the price that the 1st-chance consumers paid. I guess what I'm saying is that "good things come to those who wait", once the trend dies down and the color spectrum have been all but perfected then I believe the LED's will be a top-notch choice for grow lighting (assuming the rumors of their efficiency for growing are true.) Hopefully it's not just hype (which I don't think it is) because they could become more intense (from a plants perspective) than HID lighting (??), cheaper to run than a CFL or Fluoro (as if they aren't cheap enough) and the heat a LED puts off is absolutely minimal. I have not hav=d the chance to run one myself, as the current models are waay too expensive for the regular guy (if he plans to buy one that would do any good.) I would advise anyone to steer clear of the cheapies on eBay, it's hard to pass up a good deal but the 'good' LED lights are just too dang expensive at the current time. I'm sure 5-10 years down the road LED's will be the way of the future. ..My 2pennies.
BTW- I have a great tutorial of how to build (DIY) a custom LED panel, using any spectrum, any watt bulbs, etc. as you choose. If anybody is interested then write me, message me, whatever just get in touch and I'll post it for you or send it your way. Making a DIY panel seems far cheaper than buying a panel (you don't want any unless you want to spend at least 5-600 dollars.) This gives you many options and if you know much about plants & light color spectrum you could come out with a panel far better than the ones offered on the net and in grow shops.
Love you RIU!!