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

MdNewgrower

Active member
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

recidivist icmag - OUT-ist convins - microgrower
Veteran
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.
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. :tiphat:
 
Last edited:

MdNewgrower

Active member
Didn't want to type this all out again.
 

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Ca++

Well-known member
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.
 

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