Off the shelf retail store screw-in LED and CFL bulb comparisons

[MdNewgrower]

Not using CFLs, only SIL bulbs, and am probably just feeding my desire for a new light.

I gather that any of these LED panels has more intensity than the SIL can muster, (based solely on efficiency of the drivers and LEDs used), as the the recommended distance is 3-4 times what I do with SILs.

I could be wrong, and wouldn't be the first time...lol

 

[piramidon]

Question for the brain trust.

Right now, I have a mix of 2700k and 5000k 14w(average)bulbs totaling approximately 154 watts. I ALWAYS get airy, fluffy, relatively short buds. Every. Single. Time.

Starting to feel like i am missing out on something. ...

Have you considered trying other strain(s)?
And if so do you have the same problem with all of them?
While using CFL (past) I use to have the same pb until I've changed the strain(s) used under that light until I stumbled over some really productive ones. I couldn't believe the huge rock hard buds cfl gave.
At the time I still used a 400W hps which I ditched right after the forementioned...
Being microgrower I have a 60/40 cm (just a bit over 2sqft) with only 73W of SIL where my only struggles are maintaining humidity and keep pumping CalMag.

Micro 57/36/115 - 73W SIL - Peyote Critical/Pineapple Chunk

Hai ma nene ma ca nu e asa greu sa cresti sub sil-uri. E chiar super usor si o varianta buna pt incepatori, in lipsa de alta lumina mai buna sau de un buget ori spatiu mai mare.. O sa vezi tu ca pana imbatranesti, inveti sa nu mai uiti de calmag. :D Acusi revenind la ele mai serios.. nu te...

www.icmag.com

Please ignore the big (5L) final pots, the actual size being 1L for each plant since I've repotted them in the 4th week of flower... It's the size and structure of buds that impressed me.

 

[MdNewgrower]

Didn't want to type this all out again.

 

[Ca++]

Not using CFLs, only SIL bulbs, and am probably just feeding my desire for a new light.

I gather that any of these LED panels has more intensity than the SIL can muster, (based solely on efficiency of the drivers and LEDs used), as the the recommended distance is 3-4 times what I do with SILs.

I could be wrong, and wouldn't be the first time...lol

Perhaps not 'any' as the current EU efficiency classes, expect about 210 lumens per watt to be in group A. This is 1500 lumen lamps (the old 100w) running on about 8w. This is LM301 like efficiency, and cheap lights are not usually that good. It's a solid midrange performance, and even expensive lights might be no better.

Financially, the makers of 1500 lumen 'A' rated lamps, are asking a lot of money, to ensure there less efficient lamps still sell. So the fact these lamps can be technically decent, may not make them decent value still. People are still buying them 14w versions. Which cost next to nothing to manufacture.

 

[PCBuds]

This is 1500 lumen lamps (the old 100w) running on about 8w.
cheap lights are not usually that good.

My lamps are pretty good.

 

[piramidon]

Didn't want to type this all out again.

I grew Northern Lights - up to three phenos from two different breeders - and got great buds under cfl, so...
It's you! You got all you need for a good grow, just change the grower.
Joke aside just don't give up, persist until you get desired results, keep tweaking them nutes, water and especially goldilocks (light/plant distance) and I'm pretty sure one day the veil will fall off your eyes.
I'm growing with sil from years now and still struggle with those above, but I know for sure I don't need expensive lights, cheap sil has all the luminous radiation plant needs and more. That's why we use CalMag.

 

[Ca++]

My lamps are pretty good.

View attachment 19104208

Oh nice. Built in 5w heaters. Bonus