LED Noobs, STOP Buying China Junk

hyroot said:

leds suck . That's old tech. Its all about growing with lasers and fiber optics now.lol

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you sir is not right LMFAO

I can't stop laughing.

REALSTYLES said:

No no no stop being a sales rep and show me the lights. I use to be in industrial tool supply 50% was made in china lol. I used to sell Meineke, Midas Mufflers back in the day as well as Machine shop, Plumbers, Electricians and Etc. Just because some people can't grow with what ever why can't I can? I had bad growing conditions growing for the dispensary and I still turned out great meds.

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I am not affiliated with any LED company (yet). My main interest was replacing 2400W HPS with 1200W LED and increasing yield. That has been a great success so I am all set. Now I am interested in helping other growers with their lights whenever possible.

I have nothing against Chinese products. Of course they are not all created equal. The most efficient LEDs in the world are manufactured in China (Cree CXA3590). The lowest efficiency LEDs in the world are also manufactured in China.

Whatever gr/W you got with generic LEDs, multiply by 1.5 and that is what you could do with a commercial lamp that was engineered with some care and quality parts. Double the generic if you use DIY LED. Triple it if you DIY with efficiency as your main goal. As you can imagine, that is a huge decrease in heat, which might allow you to yield more in your space and could increase the nug quality.

WazzaX said:

my last grow using "cheap Chinese leds" ...mars 600w ...personally I think you are wrong sorry


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What was the pull? grams and g/w?

This is not a case of proof is in the pudding. The people trying to help you are not corporate shills.

You seem to be attached to bad science to save face. That is a shame.

The real point is you may be a great grower even with those panels, youd be an even better one if you did you homework and made an informed purchase.

You could have either stuck with hps (cheaper and more efficient) or bought a quality panel (more expensive and much more efficient). You did neither and youve got nothing but vitriol for folks who are trying to help you grow the best cannabis you can.

If you are not here to learn and contribute...why are you here?

REALSTYLES said:

The biggest problem I have with these lights is I don't have enough of them. They work bottom line. It isn't my fault you guys don't know how to grow. Growing is like cooking not everyone can do it and I do both.

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I had to stop and comment to say if ANYONE ever needed some tissues, you sir REALSTYLES surely do

4 300w (150 actual) $92 shipped eBay Chinese. 3x4 area gives a pound. Nuf for me. Love my SourD. Easy to cool.

PetFlora said:

First, china sell snake oil

Lots of exaggerations

Lowest quality parts,

no support after the sale

AND they have the spectrums wrong

Multibands and multichips mean lots of different temperatures and driver requirements, If any fail you're screwed

Quality far red and IR diodes are very expensive. The crap they add will not last or be very effective (more sales hype)

There will no doubt be some saying theirs works fine, but for how long, and at what PR lumen loss in one year?

A lot of us have been R & D'ing and experimenting with various led alternatives, including common led light bulbs for 3+ years

We have found several manufacturers who are dedicated to producing quality lights. And yes, they cost more, but are within most starter budgets

Most importantly, they will easily outperform the chinese offerings

Of great benefit to you is, several companies now have smaller panels at affordable prices.

Just add more panels as your budget allows. Some have lots of successful grows, others are from quality companies and use quality parts, but are yet to be proven

Area 51 now has a sweet RW 75 $250 http://a51led.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=191

Innoled is the first to offer nanotechnology

http://innoledinc.com/product/innoled-50w-led-grow-light-system-replaces-a-400w-sodium-copy/ $395

BML Horticulture offers a unique individual bar option where you can select your own spectrums

Bars are available from 12" @ $119/ft; 18" @ $134; 24" @ $179...

There are no doubt more companies, so those who know of them, feel free to add them along with links to make it easier on the noobs
http://www.bmlcustom.com/custom-led-strip/

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i use 2 180w vipar clone cree cobb leds for 40 bucks they a pissing it in wicked so leds aint that shit

Greengenes707 said:

What was the pull? grams and g/w?

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287 dry grams from 2 plants...plus the leftover rubbish which I didn't weigh but I turned that into bubble hash

WazzaX said:

my last grow using "cheap Chinese leds" ...mars 600w ...

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WazzaX said:

287 dry grams from 2 plants...plus the leftover rubbish which I didn't weigh but I turned that into bubble hash

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Which light was that? There is no Mars 600. The Mars 1200 runs 600w actual. If that's the light, then that's what critics have been saying. 10 ounces isn't bad. I'd be proud to produce that much. But, it's well under the 1g/w more efficient (more expensive) LEDs can produce. You had to generate more heat to produce less light, resulting in less yield.

Again, not criticizing your yield. But, look at it this way: if you're cash cropping you could have produced $1500 more weed by spending $1200 more for four A51 RW-150s instead of $400 on the Mars 1200 (600w actual).

az2000 said:

Which light was that? There is no Mars 600. The Mars 1200 runs 600w actual. If that's the light, then that's what critics have been saying. 10 ounces isn't bad. I'd be proud to produce that much. But, it's well under the 1g/w more efficient (more expensive) LEDs can produce. You had to generate more heat to produce less light, resulting in less yield.

Again, not criticizing your yield. But, look at it this way: if you're cash cropping you could have produced $1500 more weed by spending $1200 more for four A51 RW-150s instead of $400 on the Mars 1200 (600w actual).

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You're a little wrong about the Mars 600. There is actually a Mars 600, there is no Mars II 600 (The Mars II use 5w diodes as opposed to the old models' 3w diodes). Here is it on MarsHydro website (Old Model 200x3W) http://www.mars-hydro.com/led-grow-light/old-model-series, and here it is available for $200 on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsHydro-600W-LED-Grow-Light-Full-Spectrum-Flower-LED-Hydroponic-Pro-Lamp-Panel-/290950075690. If he pulled 10oz from this light (Which is what I assumed from reading his post) a 600w light that draws ~300w and costs $200, that seems like great performance to me.

Ace Yonder said:

There is actually a Mars 600 ... (Old Model 200x3W)

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I've never heard of the "Old Model" referred to as Mars. It seems like everyone says "Mars" as shorthand for what TopLED calls Mars II. When @WazzaX said "Mars 600w" it sounded like he was referring to actual wattage -- corresponding to the actual Mars model. I.e., odd way to refer to what is named "Old Model 3x200.".

I'd like wazzax to confirm which it is.

az2000 said:

I've never heard of the "Old Model" referred to as Mars. It seems like everyone says "Mars" as shorthand for what TopLED calls Mars II. When @WazzaX said "Mars 600w" it sounded like he was referring to actual wattage -- corresponding to the actual Mars model. I.e., odd way to refer to what is named "Old Model 3x200.".

I'd like wazzax to confirm which it is.

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Actually we were both wrong (although I was extremely close to being right). I got tired of waiting and did a little digging, i found someone else ask him this exact question and he had a very specific answer.

WazzaX said:

600 watt ...

• Reflector design 100% LED lumen output to plants

• Glass free design. Glass and extra lenses can diminish lumen output by as much as 20 percent! Our design provides more light for your plants.

• Growth/Bloom switches, Save more power and more efficiency.

• Spectrum: 430~440nm, 450~475nm, 620~630nm, 650~670nm, White, Real Infrared spectrum: 730nm

• LEDs: 192*3WLEDs

• Dimension: 22*19*2inches

• Lumen: 29200lumens

• Coverage: 4*4ft( Veg), 3.5*3.5ft(Flowering)

• Output power: 600Watt

• Power consumption: 110V: 370W-384W/220V: 350W-364W

• Amp: 2.44A/110V, 1.22A/220V

• Worldwide Voltage Capable: AC85~265V

• View Angle of LEDs: 90/120° Mixed

• Lifespan: 50000-100000hours

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This is the light he is using ------------> http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsHydro-Reflector-600w-Led-Grow-Light-Power-cord-Flower-Veg-Switch-Lamp-Panel-/291053413905

mine is a MarsHydro 600 watt http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsHydro-Reflector-600w-Led-Grow-Light-Growth-Flower-Switches-Grow-Lamp-Panel/280980995708

I paid $225.36 au. for mine via auction

please know I am only a hobbyist...cash crops are not important to me...with that said I am totally happy with my results so far

Ace Yonder said:

did a little digging, i found someone else ask him this exact question and he had a very specific answer. This is the light he is using ------------> http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsHydro-Reflector-600w-Led-Grow-Light-Power-cord-Flower-Veg-Switch-Lamp-Panel-/291053413905

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Thanks. That's 377w actual yielding 0.76g/w. Not bad!

But, people easily get 1g/w from higher-efficiency LEDs. The question is whether it's worth it to spend $400 more to get 90g more per grow. Using market prices as an example, the first grow would pay for the more efficient light. Every subsequent grow would be $450 profit.

Getting back to @REALSTYLES boasting about how he's gonna rock everyone's world: Whatever he can squeeze out of Chinese epi-whatever lights -- he could squeeze 24% more with just a modest investment (in market terms).

@WazzaX I understand you're not trying to make a profit, the light produces well enough for your requirements, etc. I'm not negative about Chinese lights. I recommend TopLED/Mars to a lot of people who aren't willing to buy higher efficiency lights. Maybe to start small, test the waters. But, ultimately you can get more yield for the same watts. It's just a matter of whether it's worth the $400 more to do it. Not everyone has the same priorities, etc. It sounded like realstyles doesn't share yours. It sounded like he expects to have maximum output.

az2000 said:

@WazzaX I understand you're not trying to make a profit, the light produces well enough for your requirements, etc. I'm not negative about Chinese lights. I recommend TopLED/Mars to a lot of people who aren't willing to buy higher efficiency lights. Maybe to start small, test the waters. But, ultimately you can get more yield for the same watts. It's just a matter of whether it's worth the $400 more to do it. Not everyone has the same priorities, etc. It sounded like realstyles doesn't share yours. It sounded like he expects to have maximum output.

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yeh mate no worries... my Chinese led totally suits what i need and doesn't produce "fluffy nugs" which is what i originally replied to... also one of the main reasons i purchased was that they had AU stock which meant i didn't have a led light go thru customs making me an easy target

WazzaX said:

yeh mate no worries... my Chinese led totally suits what i need and doesn't produce "fluffy nugs" which is what i originally replied to... also one of the main reasons i purchased was that they had AU stock which meant i didn't have a led light go thru customs making me an easy target

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You might consider supplementing with commonly available LED screw-in lightbulbs. I have a LighthouseHydro Blackstar which I think is about the same as a TopLED/Mars. It's a rebranded Chinese import. I supplement it with Cree "lightbulbs" and got 1.2g/w. I show the details about the lights here. (<<link) Could be an easy way to get more out of your grow space if/when you wanted to. Another user uses lightbulbs from Alibaba which he feels are as good or better than the Crees I use. I haven't tried them yet. I link to them at the end of that article. (Those could be imported without raising suspicions?).

cheers ill check it out

this is a pic ive just taken from my current grow (2nd indoor) at the end of 5 weeks flower today...im pretty sure i will beat my 287 grams from my previous attempt...

2 plants x 5 weeks flower pic...

Looking great in there @WazzaX ! What is your medium and what size containers?

In a few days i"ll have some time to start reading through the led section. I"ve been working with LEDS from an american Vipar vendor on ebay. I hit .8 gpw, but i feel like ive hit a ceiling.

I want to build my own panel, but i dont have thr funds to put together all the materials and then struggle with configuration. Im fairly bright, and ive got an elementary understanding of circuits. But evertime i read a DIY panel thread i get lost...