LED Growers Unite, Who makes the BEST LED and how long has it lasted ? Cast Your Vote!!!

[Rocket Soul]

Besides the commercial options above, also of recent interest was home tent grows
View attachment 19067432
started putting together a mock up plan with quantum boards
this is very similar to the plug and play off the shelf HLG offerings ?

About this item​

• 2pcs/ pair 120W Samsung LM281b+ PCB Panel with 3000K+5000K+660nm+UV+IR
• Input Voltage Range: 38~48V DC
• Input Current: 900~2500mA, 2700mA Max.
• White: LM281B+ 3000K(176pcs) and 5000K (72pcs) ,Red: Epistar 660nm 32pcs , UV: 4pcs, IR: 4pcs
• Recommend Power Driver for 120W Grow light PCB board -
• Meanwell HLG-120H-48 or XLG-150-H-AB

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/MEAN-WELL/HLG-120H-48?qs=3IPTn0w%2F0t%2FyohDxZu79Rw%3D%3D

$57.65 DRIVER PRICE EACH

Technical Details​

Brand	‎KQO
Color	‎White
Material	‎Aluminum
Style	‎Modern
Light fixture form	‎Island
Room Type	‎储藏室
Indoor/Outdoor Usage	‎Indoor
Power Source	‎Corded Electric
Control Method	‎Remote
Light Source Type	‎LED
Number of Light Sources	‎32
Voltage	‎48 Volts
Light Color	‎warm white, cool white, red
Included Components	‎Light kit inlcuded
Embellishment	‎Crystal
Lighting Method	‎LED
Item Weight	‎28.35 Grams
Number of Items	‎2
Wattage	‎120 watts
Controller Type	‎Remote Control
Unit Count	‎1 Count
Brightness	‎12000 Lux
Mounting Type	‎Ceiling Mount
Fixture Type	‎Non Removable
Assembly Required	‎No
Manufacturer	‎KQO
UPC	‎745672909434
Model Name	‎grow light
Part Number	‎KQO-QB1200DM-PCB
Item Weight	‎1 ounces
Package Dimensions	‎12.48 x 7.72 x 1.93 inches
Item model number	‎KQO-QB1200DM-PCB
Plug Format	‎A- US style
Batteries Included?	‎No
Batteries Required?	‎No
Wattage	‎120 Watts

View attachment 19067433
ALL KINDS OF OPTIONS WITH FEW USER CONNECTIONS NECESSARY
GREAT DEAL OF MARKUP FROM AMAZON...

Yes its very similar but rather low speced. For drivers look into Arrow electronics, they have some good deals on 48V drivers right now.
@jonesfam7715 is a very helpful guy who usually keeps track of these deals, maybe he could throw up the links here aswell?

 

[acespicoli]

Yes its very similar but rather low speced. For drivers look into Arrow electronics, they have some good deals on 48V drivers right now.
@jonesfam7715 is a very helpful guy who usually keeps track of these deals, maybe he could throw up the links here aswell?

Sweet will look forward to his arrival, one of the things that make DIY more approachable
is the low price and a retailer putting together a ready to assemble kit or at least a partlist and tutorial.
Thanks for sharing and tagging

 

[acespicoli]

These are on sale for $20.18USD each at my toy store, Home Depot

From the Manufacturer​

• Warranty
• Installation Guide
• Specification
• Return Policy

Dimensions​

Product Height (in)	3.6	Product Length (in)	48
Product Width (in)	16.4

Details​

Color/Finish	White	Color/Finish Family	White
Compatible Bulb Type	LED	Damp/Wet Rating	Dry Rated (Indoor)
Dimmable Capability	Non Dimmable	Features	No Additional Features
Fixture Shape	Linear	Included	No Additional Items Included
Light Bulb Base Code	T5	Light Bulb Type Included	LED
Location Use	Garage, Office, Warehouse	Material	Aluminum
Max. Bulb Wattage (W)	0 W	Number of Bulbs Required	0
Package Quantity	1	Power Source	Hardwired
Product Length (ft)	4 ft	Product Weight (lb.)	20 lb
Product Width (ft)	1.37 ft	Recommended Light Bulb Shape Code	LED
Recommended Mounting Height (ft.)	12 ft	Returnable	90-Day
Voltage (V)	120-277 V	direct wire ballast bypass

Warranty / Certifications​

Certifications and Listings	cULus Listed	Manufacturer Warranty	5 years

Each plant will require an absolute minimum of 2,500 lumens. A standard 400W HID lamp will usually emit 45,000 lumens. This should be enough to comfortably grow up to 12 cannabis plants in a 1m2 area – with enough lumens to cause strong growth.

3300lm *6=
19800 x 3 =
59400 lumens
48"x48" m2

These bulbs are a little weak, looking for a stronger watt like 48watt

Compare a 48" LED flouro replacement bulb to these light sticks im getting bulbs for 4-15 $usd ea
Theres certainy some HO high output horticultural types to be found
waiting on my tunable switch on bulb ones now

 

[airplane]

can some recommend a good dimmer - have a few boards from Budget LED'S but their dimmers suck had free replacement that "gave-out" also. running QB's Thanks

 

[acespicoli]

can some recommend a good dimmer - have a few boards from Budget LED'S but their dimmers suck had free replacement that "gave-out" also. running QB's Thanks

Cased Potentiometer with Knob

.

rapidled.com

Features​

Easy to use potentiometer comes with 6" bare wires in an enclosed case and has a knob already attached
This dimmer is compatible with the HLG-C series drivers ("B" type only)
Comes with 6 month warranty

I run meanwell drivers, mine are the dim able type maybe someone else can offer more


Most of the time you want a 0-10v like this below

About this item​

• 0-10V Dimmer is only need to be connected the 0-10V / 1-10V Dimmable LED Driver or Dimmable electronic ballast .
• Dimmer adjustment range: 0-100% ; it also has switch ON-OFF ;Accurate scale can effectively prevent reverse connection and make it more convenient to use.
• Easy to wiring : Brown line connecting "+",Blue line connecting "-";Compatible with various 0/1-10V dimming signal drivers ;DO NOT connect it with AC power directly.
• Dimmer size : 36*23*36MM(including knob height); Wire length:35CM ;Brown line is "+",Blue line is "-".
• 0-10V Dimmer is small and practical, it can be used with downlight, track light, wall washer light, plant light, etc. Place the driver away from direct heat sources and in well-aired spaces .If the driver is built-in ,sufficient ventilation must be ensured.
• 

2Pack DC0/1-10V Knob LED Dimmer Mini Controller Rotary Switch PWM Dimming Off for 0-10V / 1-10V Dimmable LED Drivers Electronic Ballasts Controling Interior Light Grow Lamp​

Brand: DD BEST DD222
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 108 ratings



$17.99$17.99 $9.00 per Count($9.00$9.00 / Count)

Operation Mode	ON-ON-OFF
Current Rating	40 Milliamps
Operating Voltage	10 Volts
Contact Type	Normally Closed
Connector Type	Clamp
Brand	DD BEST DD222
Terminal	Solder
Item dimensions L x W x H	1.26 inches
Circuit Type	1-way
Mounting Type	安装表面

https://www.mouser.com/c/passive-components/potentiometers-trimmers-rheostats/potentiometers/?utm_id=180829456&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzuebg-DHiAMVcEpHAR1U5RI5EAAYASAAEgLTDfD_BwE

Check each driver for compatibility, advise against guessing. Look up the spec sheet
Post each driver model # etc if you want more detailed support

Best Vibes >>>

 

[acespicoli]

by D Hawley · 2018 · Cited by 57 — Subcanopy lighting had a local stimulatory effect on Δ9-THC and select terpenes in bud tissue harvested from the lower canopy (Table 2). In the ...

Improving Cannabis Bud Quality and Yield with Subcanopy ...​

ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net › publication › 32925774...




Aug 29, 2024 — It stands to reason that tailoring light quality to the specific needs of cannabis may increase bud quality, consistency, and yield.

Phenoseasonal subcanopy light dynamics and the effects ...​

National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC5638307




by JE Hudson · 2017 · Cited by 8 — The purpose of this work was to quantify the variation of subcanopy spatiotemporal light dynamics over the course of a year and to link it to ...

Previous Next

The concept of intracanopy lighting is not new. Historically cultivators would drop lamps without reflectors or air-cooled tubes in between ros or beastly plants to increase yield. It was usually too hot, you would burn leaves and destroy the close proximity flower to see gains a few feet away. It usually didn’t pan out.
Now with tried and true intracanopy lighting developed for CEA we can get lights closer due to less heat, prevent bleaching thanks to spectrum control, and get light to places that get dark in the late stages of growth. Intracanopy can also benefit transition plants and prevent stretch, increase production of mother plants, and accelerate the hardening-off period for veg plants.
Sounds pretty good right…so let’s dive into some of the pros and cons of intracanopy lighting for cannabis cultivation.

Schools of thought:​

There are two distinct schools of thought when it comes to inter-canopy lighting applications.

1. Add intracanopy and reduce top lighting to allow the plant to most efficiently utilize photonic energy. This will help reduce “B size popcorn buds” and increase the ratio of “A buds”.
2. Keep top lighting high (1,000 PPFD) and add inter-canopy lighting to increase yield and optimize phenotypic expression

Grow Light Design​

We have come a long way:​

We have come a long way from closet grows and crappy lights to commercial facilitates with advanced technology. One of the keys to cannabis tech is that you know how to use it to reduce risk and increase financial performance. If not, it’s just a toy.

Source:​

Trellising​

Trellising is an effective technique for providing light to all bud sites while also providing structure to your plants and creating a more even canopy.

Source​

growlightdesign​

Few case studies, a few different approaches, and several reasons to consider.​

1. More light = increased yield. Let’s say you grow single-tier with 6-foot tall plants. How much would additional light reduce your “B-rated popcorn buds”? How much would this impact top-line revenue?
2. Increased Yield: Intracanopy lighting helps to penetrate deeper into the canopy, reaching lower branches and bud sites that may not receive sufficient light from traditional top lighting alone. This can lead to increased bud development and overall yield.
3. Improved Flowering and Bud Quality: By ensuring that light reaches all parts of the plant, intracanopy lighting can contribute to more uniform flowering and improved bud quality. This is especially important for cannabis cultivation where consistent quality and cannabinoid content are desired.
4. Enhanced Terpene and Cannabinoid Production: Adequate light throughout the canopy can positively impact the production of terpenes and cannabinoids in cannabis plants. Terpenes are responsible for the plant’s aroma, and cannabinoids are chemical compounds with various therapeutic effects.
5. Better Light Distribution: Intercanopy lighting helps to address shading issues within the canopy, ensuring that all parts of the plant receive a more even distribution of light. This can prevent lower leaves and buds from being shaded and not receiving enough light.
6. Reduced Plant Stress: Providing sufficient light throughout the canopy can reduce stress on the plants. Stress can result from uneven light distribution, and addressing this through intracanopy lighting may lead to healthier, more robust plants.
7. Optimized Canopy Structure: Intercanopy lighting can encourage a more open and balanced canopy structure. This can make it easier for growers to manage plants, improve air circulation, and reduce the risk of pests and diseases.
8. Energy Efficiency: While intracanopy lighting involves additional lighting, it can be designed to complement top lighting systems, potentially optimizing energy use and improving overall energy efficiency.
9. Customizable Light Spectrum: Intracanopy lighting systems can be customized to provide specific light spectrums that cater to the different stages of plant growth. This level of control allows growers to tailor lighting conditions to the specific needs of cannabis plants.

But what about the downside?​

1. Increased Energy Costs: Adding intracanopy lighting involves additional energy consumption. Growers need to assess the increased operational costs and balance them against the potential benefits in terms of yield and quality.
2. Heat Generation: Intercanopy lighting can contribute to an increase in heat within the cultivation space. Managing temperatures is crucial for cannabis cultivation, and the additional heat generated by intracanopy lights may necessitate adjustments to the overall climate control system.
3. Space and Infrastructure Requirements: Installing intracanopy lighting may require adjustments to the grow room or greenhouse infrastructure. This can include the installation of additional fixtures, hanging systems, and wiring. It may also affect the spatial arrangement of plants.
4. Complexity in System Design: Integrating intracanopy lighting effectively requires careful planning and design. Optimizing light distribution throughout the canopy can be complex, and improper implementation may not deliver the desired results.
5. Risk of Light Stress: While light is essential for plant growth, excessive light intensity can lead to light stress. It’s crucial to monitor and manage light levels carefully to avoid negative impacts on the plants, such as leaf bleaching or other signs of stress.
6. Uniformity Challenges: Achieving uniform light distribution throughout the canopy can be challenging. Shading and uneven light intensity may still occur, particularly in large or densely populated cultivation spaces.
7. Dependency on Strain and Growth Stage: The effectiveness of intracanopy lighting can vary based on the cannabis strain and the specific growth stage. Some strains or growth stages may benefit more from intracanopy lighting than others.
8. Maintenance and Monitoring: Intercanopy lighting systems require regular maintenance to ensure consistent performance. Additionally, ongoing monitoring is essential to identify and address any issues promptly.
9. Cost of Implementation: Installing intracanopy lighting systems can involve a significant upfront cost, including the purchase of additional fixtures, controls, and infrastructure modifications. Growers need to weigh these costs against the potential benefits.
10. Learning Curve for Growers: Implementing intracanopy lighting effectively requires a good understanding of light distribution, plant physiology, and the specific needs of cannabis plants. Growers may need to invest time and effort in learning and fine-tuning the system.
11. Variable leaf temps. VPD becomes hard to pinpoint.

Labor Concerns, Installation and Maintenance:​

The initial installation of intracanopy lighting systems may require additional labor, especially if there are modifications needed to the existing infrastructure. Ongoing maintenance of these systems, including bulb replacements, checking electrical components, and ensuring proper functioning, may also contribute to labor requirements.

• Monitoring and Adjustment: Intercanopy lighting systems often require careful monitoring to ensure optimal performance. This may involve adjusting light levels, fine-tuning the spectrum, and troubleshooting any issues that arise. Growers and cultivation staff may need to spend more time on these tasks compared to traditional cultivation methods.
• Training and Skill Development: Implementing intracanopy lighting effectively requires knowledge and skills in lighting technology, plant physiology, and cultivation practices. Training staff members or hiring individuals with expertise in these areas may be necessary, impacting the labor requirements for the cultivation team.
• Harvesting and Pruning Practices: Improved light distribution within the canopy due to intracanopy lighting may influence harvesting and pruning practices. Labor requirements for these tasks could be affected as plants may have a more open canopy, making harvesting and pruning more efficient or requiring adjustments to traditional methods.
• Data Monitoring and Analysis: Some intracanopy lighting systems come with advanced controls and sensors that provide data on light intensity, spectrum, and other environmental factors. The analysis of this data may require additional labor to make informed decisions and adjustments to optimize plant growth.
• Pest and Disease Management: Changes in canopy structure and light distribution may impact pest and disease dynamics. Growers may need to adjust their pest management strategies, and increased vigilance may be necessary to monitor and address potential issues, potentially affecting labor requirements.
• Propagation and Transplanting: The improved canopy structure resulting from intracanopy lighting may influence propagation and transplanting practices. Labor requirements for these activities could be impacted, depending on how the cultivation team adapts to the changes in plant growth and spacing.
• Harvest Timing and Management: Intercanopy lighting can influence the timing of flowering and harvest. Labor requirements for managing the harvest schedule, including coordinating harvesting teams, drying, and processing, may be affected.

Source​

Initial Setup Costs:​

• Lighting System: Include the costs of purchasing and installing intracanopy lighting fixtures, control systems, and any necessary infrastructure modifications.
• Labor: Factor in the labor costs associated with the installation of the intracanopy lighting system.
• Electrical Upgrades: If the current electrical system needs upgrades to accommodate the new lighting, include those costs.

Operating Costs:​

• Energy Consumption: Estimate the additional energy costs associated with running the intracanopy lighting system. Consider electricity rates, hours of operation, and the energy efficiency of the lighting technology.
• Maintenance: Account for ongoing maintenance costs, including bulb replacements, repairs, and any required adjustments.

Benefits:​

• Increased Yield: Estimate the potential increase in yield attributed to improved light distribution within the canopy. This could be based on existing research, industry benchmarks, or your own cultivation experience.
• Crop Quality Improvement: Consider the impact of intracanopy lighting on the quality of the cannabis buds, including cannabinoid and terpene content. Higher quality products may command better prices in the market.
• Extended Growing Season: If intracanopy lighting allows for an extended growing season, factor in the additional harvests and revenue.

Operational Efficiency:​

• Labor Efficiency: Assess whether intracanopy lighting improves labor efficiency in tasks such as harvesting, pruning, and monitoring. Reduced labor time may result in cost savings.
• Space Utilization: Evaluate whether intracanopy lighting allows for better space utilization, potentially increasing the overall efficiency of your cultivation operation.

Environmental Impact:​

• Resource Efficiency: Consider the impact of intracanopy lighting on resource efficiency, such as water and nutrient use.
• Sustainability Benefits: If the intracanopy lighting system is designed for energy efficiency, it may contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly operation.

Risk and Contingencies:​

• Contingency Planning: Consider potential risks and uncertainties. Having contingency plans in place can mitigate unforeseen challenges.

ROI and Payback Period:​

• Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate the expected ROI by comparing the additional revenue generated (benefits) to the total costs.
• Payback Period: Determine how long it will take for the benefits to offset the initial investment and when you can expect a positive return.

Conclusion:​

the exploration of intracanopy lighting solutions in cannabis cultivation unveils a dynamic landscape of possibilities and challenges. The resurfacing of this cultivation strategy, bolstered by advancements in LED technology, beckons growers to reconsider the once-dismissed idea of strategically placing lights within the canopy. The potential benefits, ranging from increased yield and improved quality to optimized canopy structures, offer a tantalizing prospect for cultivators seeking to elevate their operations.
However, the journey toward harnessing the full potential of intracanopy lighting is not without hurdles. From the increased energy costs and heat generation to the intricacies of system design and the ever-present risk of light stress, growers must navigate a complex terrain. The dependency on strains and growth stages, coupled with the learning curve for effective implementation, adds layers of consideration for those contemplating the integration of intracanopy lighting.
As with any innovation in cultivation practices, the key lies in a thorough and balanced assessment. Growers must meticulously weigh the potential benefits against the incurred costs, both upfront and operational. The decision to adopt intracanopy lighting should be informed by a deep understanding of the specific needs of the cannabis plants, coupled with a commitment to ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and potential adjustments.
In essence, intracanopy lighting stands as a testament to the evolving nature of cannabis cultivation practices, where technological advancements empower growers to revisit and refine age-old strategies. The future holds promise for those who dare to venture into this realm, armed with a nuanced understanding of the pros and cons, and a commitment to cultivating not just plants, but a sustainable and efficient future for cannabis production.

Additional resources​

1. Cannabis business times
2. Intercanopy Lighting Produces 20% Yield Surge and 27% Larger Buds

Intracanopy lighting: Sticking it where the sun don't shine! - Grow Glide

The concept of intracanopy lighting is not new. Historically cultivators would drop lamps without reflectors or air-cooled tubes in between ros or beastly plants to increase yield. It was usually too hot, you would burn leaves and destroy the close proximity flower to see gains

www.growglide.com

THIS REMINDS ME OF THE GROWS HEATH ROBINSON USED TO DO
FOR INDOOR GRAM/WATT YIELDS NO ONE BELIEVED

 

[I Care]

THIS IS THE LAST DAY FOR THIS!

This is part of the reason I went with the light I chose. when I was looking to buy a light to replace my 5x5/1000watt grow space with something more sensible. Capital investment was a big thing for me. I dumped all my old gear for cheap and wanted to build a smaller set up for the same cost as I let go of my old large set up. I cast my vote on with a viparspectra XS2500 pro which I purchase for 152.99 at the time. Best bang for my buck and there’s was independent testing done by coco for cannabis on viparspectre‘s smaller xs1500 fixture. Driver has plenty of wire to keep the heat out of the grow space! Which is a big plus for someone like me who has no climate control.
This is an even sweeter deal than I got mine. If you don’t have one get ya one. TODAY!!

 

[ReprobateMind]

I have a HLG 350 R Diablo and my plants always look like shit about half way into the grow. I never had that problem with HID. I've been reading and supposedly LED needs higher temps and more cal mag to fix that?

Also, are Sun System LEC 315 and 630 lights discontinued? I can't find them anywhere.

 

[acespicoli]

I have a HLG 350 R Diablo and my plants always look like shit about half way into the grow. I never had that problem with HID. I've been reading and supposedly LED needs higher temps and more cal mag to fix that?

Also, are Sun System LEC 315 and 630 lights discontinued? I can't find them anywhere.

Been wanting to pick up a 630 or 945 CMH maybe a DE
Theres some ballasts out there on clearance for like 30$ sockets and wire 6$
reflectors for like 49$ the big air cooled ones ... yeah its a steal

they have em here on close out a hella lot cheaper than they used to be
Thanks to LEDs ?
https://www.growgeneration.com/products/grow-lights/cmh-lec.html

CMH vs LED Grow Lights

CMH vs LED grow lights, what's the difference? Here's a guide to help you decide which grow lighting system will work best for your grow room.

blog.growgeneration.com

for mid end flower just think its hard to beat for the price

Consider CMH Grow Lights If…​

• You need to maximize your gram per watt production
• You don’t have a long-term plan (LEDs have a better long-term ROI, but cost more up-front)
• You need beneficial UV spectrum light
• You are growing strains that require greater canopy penetration

Could not have said it better...higher energy use yeah but how many weeks and hours a day you running it
?

Figure 4. Approximate range of efficacy for various common light sources, as of January 2013. The black boxes show the efficacy of bare conventional lamps or LED packages, which can vary based on construction, materials, wattage, or other factors. The shaded regions show luminaire efficacy, which considers the entire system, including driver, thermal, and optical losses. Of the light source technologies listed, only LED is expected to make substantial increases in efficacy in the near future.

Figure 2. Actual and projected increases in the efficacy of color-mixed (CM) and phosphor-coated (PC) LED packages. CM-LED packages are predicted to have a higher maximum efficacy in the future, and the difference between warm white (CCT 2580 K to 3710 K, CRI 80–90) and cool white (CCT 4746 K to 7040 K, CRI 70–80) is expected to diminish. Source: DOE 2012 Multi-Year Program Plan

https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/led_energy_efficiency.pdf

 

[acespicoli]

UVB VS NO UVB Side by Side

This will be a well controlled experiment to test the difference between plants grown with UVB supplementation, and plants grown without. The genetics are a strain called "psycho berry", they are all clones taken from the same mother. They are running in NFT, in a 3x1.5m space, each side of the...

www.icmag.com

• #13

 

[kro-magnon]

The idea to use water to dissipate heat of a LED light might sound like a good idea but I would never mix willingly water and electricity, that's a recipe for disaster. The water will one day escape and spill on the electric circuit, with enough time and not enough maintenance it gas to happen one day or another. What a strange design, have you seen some of those light in person?

 

[ReprobateMind]

Been wanting to pick up a 630 or 945 CMH maybe a DE
Theres some ballasts out there on clearance for like 30$ sockets and wire 6$
reflectors for like 49$ the big air cooled ones ... yeah its a steal



View attachment 19067688
they have em here on close out a hella lot cheaper than they used to be
Thanks to LEDs ?
https://www.growgeneration.com/products/grow-lights/cmh-lec.html

CMH vs LED Grow Lights

CMH vs LED grow lights, what's the difference? Here's a guide to help you decide which grow lighting system will work best for your grow room.

blog.growgeneration.com

for mid end flower just think its hard to beat for the price

Consider CMH Grow Lights If…​

• You need to maximize your gram per watt production
• You don’t have a long-term plan (LEDs have a better long-term ROI, but cost more up-front)
• You need beneficial UV spectrum light
• You are growing strains that require greater canopy penetration

Could not have said it better...higher energy use yeah but how many weeks and hours a day you running it
?

View attachment 19067690
Figure 4. Approximate range of efficacy for various common light sources, as of January 2013. The black boxes show the efficacy of bare conventional lamps or LED packages, which can vary based on construction, materials, wattage, or other factors. The shaded regions show luminaire efficacy, which considers the entire system, including driver, thermal, and optical losses. Of the light source technologies listed, only LED is expected to make substantial increases in efficacy in the near future.

View attachment 19067689
Figure 2. Actual and projected increases in the efficacy of color-mixed (CM) and phosphor-coated (PC) LED packages. CM-LED packages are predicted to have a higher maximum efficacy in the future, and the difference between warm white (CCT 2580 K to 3710 K, CRI 80–90) and cool white (CCT 4746 K to 7040 K, CRI 70–80) is expected to diminish. Source: DOE 2012 Multi-Year Program Plan

https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/led_energy_efficiency.pdf

I just called the store and they're out of stock of all the LEC lights.

 

[acespicoli]

Ok buy seperate ballast, bulb, hood
an option for you? Free to DM me if youd like

 

[acespicoli]

Ceramic Metal Halide CMH 315W Lamp Comparison Test Data & Review​

• Jul 21, 2016 (dated but HID latest greatest ?)
  Download the Zoomable PDF HERE: CMH_COMPARISON1.pdf
  
  Check Out Prism Lighting Science Instagram for Growing Pictures
  
  Hey everyone Nate with Growers House here and we just wrapped up our test on 315 watt Ceramic Metal Halide Lamps. Were trying to tease out which lamp available in the market is the best for growing plants. I scoured the market and got my hands on every single 315 watts ceramic metal halide lamp I could, with the intended use of growing plants of course.
  
  We ended up with 10 bulbs and from those ten bulbs we put them through a battery of tests trying to keep all variables constant except for one. Our aim was to record the spectrum of these bulbs and get as much data as possible - data we can then pass on to you. Data to help you to make a decision on which lamp is going to be best for your grow, whether its the best output, the right spectrum or just the best value. That decision is totally yours, we just want to provide you with all the information that you can use to make an educated decision. But first, a lot of people don't know about ceramic metal halide lighting, what it is or where it came from. First, just looking at this lamp you can see it's pretty small and has a different kind of socket than the usual Mogul style socket and requires a specially designed 315 Ceramic Metal Halide Reflector and or an CMH Bulb Adapter and enabled to be able to use them.
  
  I want to first and foremost lets clarify one point - CMH is NOT a Metal Halide Lamp. Most people think Metal Halide Lamp, "I know what that is.. ok this lamp is made for veg."
  
  No, that's not true. Lets take a look at a Metal Halide Lamp. A CMH lamp has a different emitter than a normal metal halide lamp, which is built of Quartz. Inside a CMH there is a ceramic component. So the difference is this - A ceramic tube is able to withstand much higher temperatures. Many manufacturers are saying the higher arc tube temperatures happening inside the lamp allow for more color stability, better lumen per watt ratios and effectively an all around better bulb in comparison to the HPS metal halide. We're talking about how many photons of light you're getting to your plant in the usable spectrum per watt of input, which is really the way you want to measure efficiency for your lamps.
  
  CMH lamps burn just like a normal Metal Halide Lamp. There are salts inside of the arc tube that heat up to a high temperature and that give off a certain spectrum. But, since the salts inside a CMH are able to heat up to much a high temperature they're actually turned into what resembles plasma. Plasma burning at this higher temperature has the effect of providing a spectrum that is much wider and better than traditional HPS or metal halide lamps.
  
  So that's why these ceramic metal halide lamps are so popular these days because people are looking for the little edge in getting every efficiency of their garden possible and to be honest, Ceramic Metal Halide is kind of the new wave of the future in terms of getting there. So let's jump into some of these results that we have I want to show them to you because we got a little data crazy, doing some different spectral analysis some bar graphs and of course some light layout measurements and we also came up with essentially our own graph of what we think the best value is for your garden in terms of overall output and price.
  
  
  
  
  
  Starting off looking at the spectrums of these two different lights, really there are two categories of ceramic metal halide lights. Approximately 3,000 Kelvin and approximately 4,000 Kelvin, with the 3000 Kelvin you can see that most of the intensity of the light is focused around about 600 nanometer range, that's where its strongest and you see that like really Orangish almost Yellowish Hue you see along with HPS light, so that's why it looks a little bit Orange to your eye and you also see when you get up more towards the IR there's a pretty big spike there just north of you know close to north of 800 nanometers and then it drops off and there's not too much past 900 nanometers.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now if we look at the 4000 kelvin spectrum you'll notice that it actually looks a little bit more full that's because the spectrum is a little bit more broad but when you compare these two, what you can't really see is that the 3k is more intense, but the 4k has a little more of a broad spectrum. So that broad spectrum you see is a little bit closer to like the I would say its peak is closer to around that 500 range and that's why you see the light a little bit more as like a white light or even what people call blue light which more resembles even like your metal halide and usually out of the 4200 Kelvin lights you will see a little bit more going into the UV range although when we did some testing we did see that UV is were actually pretty high and some other 3k lights as well.
  
  
  
  
  
  For this test our measurement of UV is relative- by measuring the intensity of the light between 250 and 400 nanometers and that range is primarily going to be focusing on the UVA and UVB these lights give off. The light that did best in terms of UV was the Ushio 3000 Kelvin CMH Lamp which was a little bit surprising and then the next up was the Nanolux MaxPar 4200 kelvin CMH Lamp. So working your way down you'll see that the difference between the lowest bulb and the highest bulb isn't significantly great I mean these are relatively low numbers if you're thinking of par so I wouldn't say that these lights are a very strong UV performer but they do provide some UV indeed but the range between six and eight point six for light of this size actually you know 315 watts is actually really not that bad, but if you’re looking for max UV I'd say go with that Ushio.
  
  
  
  
  
  We made our PAR footprints to show how this light performed in a Sun System 315 Watt LEC Fixture on 120 Volt so keep in mind the inside of that fixture has some pebbled aluminum in it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Our footprints which show a center readings for five sizes. 1x1, 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5 and the par readings at each one of those points. Keep in mind the pebbled aluminum aluminum can kind of shoot light in different directions it can scatter it a little bit. So really when you're looking at this don't take the Center reading as gospel, really the most important thing is to take as many measurements as possible and in this case when we take the measurements of each one of those parameters and add them all up and gives you a much more well-rounded story of how well this lights producing in the whole I mean when you're testing lights on a very very scientific level like with the best instrument instrumentation available using an integrated sphere and you're measuring basically every single, I mean we're talking multiple thousands points you're measuring with here we're doing you no more than 30 so you can see if you're looking at the center I mean the highest reading that we all have any light here was the Phillips 3100 Kelvin CMH Agro Lamp and it was pretty consistently the best across most of the readings. Taking that into account you know take a look at this noting which fixture it's in so that's the kind of spread you're going to get but of course when we do our testing we try to hold every variable constant except for one and that's what we’re testing for which in this case would be the bulb. So we used the same balance same height same reflector in the same ten you know everything was held to a standard where we feel like it was getting a to the point where pretty scientific.
  
  
  
  
  
  Our part charts graphs includes the sum of the perimeters of each one of the 1x1, 2x2, 3x3 and 4x4 but the one that I want everyone to pay attention to most is the sum of all par for the 5x5 print because that's the one that takes the largest sample size of measurements into account. From the results of the 5x5 you can see that the Philips MasterColor 3100 Kelvin CMH Lamp was looks like by far probably the best overall CMH bulb available. It had the highest reading of all the measurements for PAR and when you look at the 4200 Kelvin version of the Philips CDM Elite 315W bulb did the best as well you know I mean going into this if I had to have a hypothesis I would say that Philips Elite 315W Brand would be my guess for the best bulb. Probably because Philips is company that designed and developed the 315 CMH lamp originally, perfected what kind of ballast to use with it, how it would work properly and their compatibility of the two both in Hertz and the wave type of the ballast so I would say kind of no surprise there.
  
  Although it is a little bit surprising that Philips Ceramic MH Lamps did approximately eight percent more than the next best bulb which would be the SunPulse CMH 3200 kelvin bulb. The differential between the Philips CDM Elite 315W bulb @ 4200K and the next best 4200 k lamp looks like the Nanolux Max Par 4200K CMH Lamp is just under five percent.
  
  We hope you can take these readings use them to make an informed decision on purchasing the best 315W light for your purposes you know 315 watt ballast and are relatively similar so which one you go with won't probably have a huge differential but it looks like these bulbs you can tease out that there are some differences so use the one that other was the most you be or the most intensity or the best spectrum with this information and if you have any questions for us please give us a call or send us an email and other than that, this is Nate from Growers House. Happy growing.
  
  Download the Zoomable COMPARISON PDF

CMH_COMPARISON1.pdf

drive.google.com

To all you LED purist apologies for posting this, in advance.
To all of you who voted for HPS in the previous thread you came in 2nd on led vs hps popularity
While LED is super efficient and plenty of power for seedlings and veg the top flower units are still not where most of us would like to see them on the price point for flowering.

While not recommended - removal of the outer glass uv blocker tube on some bulbs is possible

To that end
I have decided to relay this article, a 630 CMH may serve you well in flower while using LEDs for your veg unless your in a small sq area the single 315 may not be powerful enough. If thats the case you could always connect another 315 to vent, use the single for veg and the double for flower
there are also the top end LEC/CMH in the 900watt range as a option


Your decision on a purchase will likely be guided by your needs
Think the spreadsheet and poll were great infomatics for purchase decisions
To everyone who participated thus far a very heartfelt thank you and gratitude to you
This would not have been possible without your support,
think we should let the poll guide the best LED purchase choice?

Maybe that is part three of the grow light series ?
A vote on the best LED given this threads data ?
Currently HLG 9 SF 8

 

[acespicoli]

To Date the most popular pick by customer rating is ??? maybe you already guessed it SF
Disregarded the sponsored result and favored customer input. Amazon cust favorite is SF
These three would be great for low operational cost and cannabis/garden vegetative growth.

For flowering your likely looking to the 600 watt and above LED fixtures
there is the option of adding panels and daisy chaining as you can afford to expand

About this item​

• Cutting-Edge LED Chips for Unrivaled Performance：Introducing the Samsung LM301H EVO LEDs. Boasting an impressive efficiency rating of 3.14 µmol/J PPE per diode , these LEDs outshine even the renowned LM301B, LM301H, and Bridgelux 3030 chips in terms of sheer effectiveness, no fan, completely silent. EVO LEDs redefine plant growth enhancement. With superior light quality and an increased light output per LED, they harness a more potent blue spectrum.
• 5-Year Warranty: Our LED Plant Lights are often copied but will never have our quality or commitment, we provide 5 years of after-service at a local maintenance center(US/CA/UK/EU/AU). Make sure you purchase authentic Spider Farmer grow lights, really can give you high-quality grow lights – at a price that is affordable. For any questions, feel free to e-mail us, and we will help you resolve them.
• Ideal For All Growth Stages: Excellent full spectrum- white, blue, red and IR (3000K, 5000K, 660nm and IR 760nm, IR is dimmer than other red diodes.You can wear glasses to see it ). 3000K providing more reddish light and the 5000K providing more blueish. The 660nm red and IR light is especially useful during bloom, where it speeds up flowering time and boost yields. Uniformly across the surface and deep into the roots and bottom of canopy for consistent, highest quality flowers.
• New Diode Layout & Dimming Design: 2024 New Version SF1000 100W growing lights, the diodes arrangement gathered at the edge makes the PPFD more uniform, absorb light better, produce higher yields. The dimming knob be adjusted the light intensity at liberty. Multi-light Connection with unified dimming especially beneficial for large area of indoor growing and commercial planting.
• Well Made & Solid Construction: No Fan Noise Free. High Efficient, reliable Spider Farmer Brand Driver have great dissipate heat. Aluminum heat sink is thick and sturdy, protective covers for cables; User-Friendly Packaging. Quality components mean the light lasts longer, SF Light takes good cares of you with more considerate design, you can easily save money without purchasing lights frequently.

Would love to have 6-9 SF 1000 or 3 SF 2000 for flowering @ 12" height
ppfd ft sq veg300-900flower cannabis Just 2-4 panels would provide a modest harvest

Product Dimensions	10.5"L x 11.8"W x 2.3"H

For a budget conscious pick hard to beat,
Excellent diode choice
Hope thats helpful

 

[acespicoli]

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1538/8585/files/HLG_100_4000K.pdf?v=1597767440

Notice that these are the quantum and v2 boards ?

VEG ONLY LIGHT ​

HLG 100 V2 uses our custom designed high efficiency white light Quantum Boards®. This fixture produces 16,000+ Lumens with just 95 Watts of power. Equivalent to 220W T5 or 300W CFL output or 200W metal halide.

Download the HLG 100 V2 MANUAL
View efficiency lab report here

Top Features​

• High efficiency LEDs
• White Light Full Spectrum for better results
• Reliable passive-cooled design
• Better canopy light penetration with diffused light
• Mean Well Power Supply included with NEMA 1-15p plug

Specifications​

Power	95 Watts
AC Voltage Range	90 VAC to 264 VAC
AC Current	0.9A @120V
LED	192 LEDs
Veg Footprint	3' x 3'
Recommended mounting height above canopy	12" x 18"
System Efficiency	174.46* Lm/W
System PPF Efficacy	2.43* μmol/joule
Total output	224.51* PPF
Dimensions	12.75" x 11" x 2.5"
Product Weight	3 lbs

Extension​

Extension cords are not recommended as they can break the connector on the board. Philmore HUALAND1 HUALAND2 More More2

​

FLOWERING LIGHT ​

HLG 100 Rspec® uses high efficiency white light Quantum Boards® made by Samsung using the latest LM301H full spectrum and LM351H Deep Red LED's to help with flowering. This fixture produces 220 PPF, 14,000+ Lumens with just 95 Watts of power. Equivalent to 220W T5 or 300W CFL output or 200W metal halide.

Download HLG 100 R SPEC MANUAL View efficiency lab report here

Top Features​

• White Light Full Spectrum for better results
• Reliable passive-cooled design
• Better canopy light penetration with diffused light
• Mean Well Power Supply included with NEMA 1-15p plug

Specifications​

Power	95 Watts
AC Voltage Range	90 VAC to 264 VAC
AC Current	0.9A @120V
LED	176 LM301H + 4 LM351H V2 Samsung LED's
Flowering Footprint	2' x 2'
Veg Footprint	3' x 3'
System PPF Efficacy	2.41* μmol/joule
Total output	220 PPF
Dimensions	12.75" x 11" x 2.5"
Product Weight	3 lbs

 

[acespicoli]

LAST TWO POSTS GOOD ENTRY LEVEL LIGHTS,
EXPANDABLE TO COMMERCIAL VERTICAL FARMING ? (BY ADDING EXTRA UNITS)
4 units to a m2 ?
or would 6 be better?
maybe 9 is too much ?