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

[repuk]

SILs vs HPS

SILs vs HPS

Note the different leaf development on plants under the SILs front left) vs plants under the HPS (front right, bigger, broader fingered leaves). Of course it could also be the strain, but seeing this consistently… My guess is SILs provide light/energy that is more efficiently taken, with less heat also, hence the smaller leaves.

Grower perspective

Sorry for the beaten up appearance, had just trained them.

 

[Terpene]

I tend to think the color of the light plays a part. You can see how yellow the HPS is compared to your LED setup. I’ll be interested in how your final flowers and smoke compare.

 

[Samuel Caldwell]

I haven't posted over here in awhile but my lights are still working great. Thanks again to all who have contributed over here. I've got a full tent of seedlings ATM.

front row - 4 purple haze bagseed
center left - 2 tiny Ace Tikal fems
back row - 3 white cookies bagseed, 1 booberry kush from dankfrank

View image in gallery​

 

[AgentPothead]

Guys, excuse my laziness for not digging through all 200 pages, but has anybody tested the LED t5 replacement lights?

 

[Terpene]

Guys, excuse my laziness for not digging through all 200 pages, but has anybody tested the LED t5 replacement lights?

I believe someone did a while back. They're about as effective watt per watt at the standard T5 (similar penetration, similar light, just less juice use).

 

[AgentPothead]

I believe someone did a while back. They're about as effective watt per watt at the standard T5 (similar penetration, similar light, just less juice use).

Alright cool thank you. So depending on cost and lifetime, they might be worth it. Might have a use for these old t5 hoods.

 

[repuk]

Alright cool thank you. So depending on cost and lifetime, they might be worth it. Might have a use for these old t5 hoods.

I stared today at my first commercial 2xPLL 110W hood (previous were all hacked together). To me it's so clear that plants thrive specially in veg under SILs that thought on retrofitting some E14 cleats between the space in the PLLs so that I can use as much 9W bulbs as possible…

By adding some switches shouldn't be difficult to switch between one (only PLLs) or the two (PLLs + SILs), e.g. clones rooting/full veg setting.

 

[AgentPothead]

I stared today at my first commercial 2xPLL 110W hood (previous were all hacked together). To me it's so clear that plants thrive specially in veg under SILs that thought on retrofitting some E14 cleats between the space in the PLLs so that I can use as much 9W bulbs as possible…

By adding some switches shouldn't be difficult to switch between one or the two, e.g. clones/full veg setting.

Nice good luck with the new hood. I just have a few old ones that I wouldn't mind putting to use if the energy costs aren't a lot. This thread is awesome I have to go back through it completely, so much information.

 

[chronosync]

I haven't posted over here in awhile but my lights are still working great. Thanks again to all who have contributed over here. I've got a full tent of seedlings ATM.

front row - 4 purple haze bagseed
center left - 2 tiny Ace Tikal fems
back row - 3 white cookies bagseed, 1 booberry kush from dankfrank

Nice line-up!

 

[Samuel Caldwell]

Thanks. As noted, the purple haze and white cookies are bagseed we got from a friend so no way to guarantee that's what they are. Hermie seeds? Some loose pollen from a random male or males? Dunno. I guess we'll find out.

I remember that the purple haze was pretty good smoke and we found lots of seeds, I've still got a dozen or more. The white cookies was a while ago and I don't remember anything about it. These were the only 3 seeds we found.

The bbk seeds were a gift from dankfrank many years ago. This is the only one that germinated. I bought the Ace seeds a year or so ago and this is my 2nd run with Tikal. I had to chop the first round early so I'm looking forward to giving her a proper run this time.

 

[repuk]

Samuel, lovely genetics there! Have you by chance cobbed a hazey pheno? Curious what happens with the incensey scent when cobbed malawi-style.

Today I took plants out for general cleaning, inspection and re-propping lights, etc.

The following two cuts come from same Krystalica mom (#3). Both in 3.2L pots in coco, no topping nor LST'ing, pruning or anything, nothing but natural growth. Both are in the same tent and same feeding, but each under different lightning.

The one Under the SIL hood:

Sorry for the so-so looks, I didn't notice it was sitting on runoff latest 5 days

I propped the pot today to prevent it from happening again.

In any case, the thing worth noting is the "airy" leaf ratio (hasn't lost a single leaf btw)

Now the one Under the COB:

Looks much darker green, but also leafier ratio.

Budding was about the same on both, will inspect more closely next time.

 

[Samuel Caldwell]

Samuel, lovely genetics there! Have you by chance cobbed a hazey pheno? Curious what happens with the incensey scent when cobbed malawi-style.

No cobs yet. It's on the radar but I need to build up my supply a bit before I start experimenting and comparing.

Nice Krystalicas! I've grown Satori a few times and enjoyed it.

 

[Cannablessed]

Wait till mom sees this!

Wait till mom sees this!

Brand spanking new member here, but I’ve read this thread from the front to back. First off AMAZING job guys and gals! Beautiful plants with what seams to be great yields! I had a friend tell me a few months ago that “LED won’t supply enough light” and other things like “better results from CFLs, LEDs are a waste of time”. Man did I get a kick out of showing him this.
Anyway on to my question, is anyone testing 3way led bulbs? Saw a Great value brand bulb sporting a 22w claim of actual use and a crazy high lumen output. I believe it was 2110lm in a 2700k spectrum. Just a thought that these three way bulbs could potentially be used during each phase of growth, increasing intensity and useable light along the way.....dunno. Maybe someone here already covered it’s such a long thread but a great treasure trove of knowledge, just wanted to add my 2 cents.

 

[repuk]

Tried GU10 LED bulbs anyone?

Tried GU10 LED bulbs anyone?

Welcome, Cannablessed!

Anyway on to my question, is anyone testing 3way led bulbs? Saw a Great value brand bulb sporting a 22w claim of actual use and a crazy high lumen output. I believe it was 2110lm in a 2700k spectrum. Just a thought that these three way bulbs could potentially be used during each phase of growth, increasing intensity and useable light along the way..

Issue I see with three way bulbs is cost... they also seem to require not too common 3way sockets (E26D); usually the moment you move from the "commodity" SILs/sockets (the ones most sold) costs aren't that great and you quickly run into diminishing returns.

Bear in mind that the secret for SILs success is using bulbs that sport LED chips of a given power; imagine two SILs, let's say 15W both, one sporting 15 chips, the other sporting 5.

It's actually better to use the 15 chip SIL vs the 5 chip SIL, i.e. seems to be better using bulbs with more chips of lower wattage, than the ones with less chips of higher wattage.

Using SILs with more chip count of less wattage each allows for more homogeinity in light spreading, and closer positioning to the canopy, it seems is it there where the sweet spot is.

Until a 3way SIL is opened to see the chips it would be difficult to say.

I had a friend tell me a few months ago that “LED won’t supply enough light”

Been told that more than once, by knowledgeable and really experienced growers. Used to believe it too after an HML grow (fluffy buds on Atomic Hazes, but super-resinous and 1gpw!), until my last HPS grow was a fiasco gpw wise (0.6), and discovered this thread.

Just look at Terpene or Blynx results... with the proper technique, SILs can be the most efficient light for growing, I'm witnessing it so far, have a tent full of sativa leaning (9-10+ flowering weeks) sativa-hybrids by ACE under SILs, COBs and an HPS to compare, and a 100% SIL tent flowering cuts (Kalichakra, and Beyond the Brain) whose donors were previously flowered on the same tent under a 400W HPS (yielded 0.6gpw).

GU10 LED Bulbs
I wonder if anyone tried GU10 LED bulbs?

Philips seems to have one of the most efficient in 4000K, which will be great to retrofit on PLL hoods for micro-vegging cabs, but I'm concerned as the lens cannot be taken out without breaking glass... also lumens on the lowish side (390lm) Not worthy possibly?

After witnessing vegging rates under SILs it's being difficult for me not to replace the PLL hood... or at least tweak it by adding SILs

EDIT:
Couldn't find pictures where the LEDs can be seen, but after reviewing specs, I think this bulb is not the best for our application... 36 degrees light aperture, these are usually deployed for accent (detail) lightning; looking at the glass lens I'm almost sure it will contain a single led chip, possibly like a Cree XM-L. I used these on my HML, and SILs are better by a good margin.

 

[Cannablessed]

Repuk, thank you for your input! I hadn’t even concidered the need for 3way sockets! Good point. I will say that I’m on the fence about posting any glory shots of my own. However, there is no denying the power of the led tech. My first grow has been from bag seed and I got lucky with a healthy female. If I get rid of the jitters I may throw up a picture or two of my LED cab.

 

[repuk]

Feel free to post pics Cannablessed! Showing off SILs grows is not the only topic in this thread, we're all learning here, sharing findings/experiments/ideas and helping the community to innovate and succeed using SILs... that's what made the thread this great IMHO...

 

[Cannablessed]

Don’t let mom see this...

Don’t let mom see this...

Feel free to post pics Cannablessed! Showing off SILs grows is not the only topic in this thread, we're all learning here, sharing findings/experiments/ideas and helping the community to innovate and succeed using SILs is what made this thread that great IMHO...[/QUOTE

You have inspired me. I’ve been wanting to compare notes

My flower cab consists of 10 16w 2700k SIL
The cab is 25”x18” with a vertical height of about 48” With one plant on day 31 of flower. I think it’s beautiful but I’ve never been among a thriving flowing plant.

My veg cab is 17.5”x17.5” with about 20 inches of vertical space available. And it can accommodate 4 bulbs. I currently have about 30w in there and the occupants haven’t complained once.

 

[Cannablessed]

Also to comment on my experience with those little 50w halogens, they get hot! Suckers will burn your finger quick, but with good ventilation it may not be a problem for your plants at the right distance.

 

[jonhova]

B

 

[repuk]

You have inspired me. I’ve been wanting to compare notes

Glad to hear that

50W Halogen lamps are horrible in terms of efficiency, you will pay more electricity for less light and more heat.

Edit: hallogen irradiation (IR) won't allow to place them close to the canopy like SILs either.

SILs ftw...