**ULTIMATE LED TEST** *GLH Spectra 290* VS *Blackstar 500* VS *Hydro Grow LED 336X*

Endur0xX

Well-Known Member
Are you going to use HPS again in the near futur or you are completely sold on LEDs? Are you going to put more lights after this experiment or just keep the 1 light per tent? looking forward to see the next batch of pics!
 

WeJuana

Active Member
Are you going to use HPS again in the near futur or you are completely sold on LEDs? Are you going to put more lights after this experiment or just keep the 1 light per tent? looking forward to see the next batch of pics!
No set plans. It really all depends on the results of the testing. This experiment will last me a while since I would like to do a few more runs with these lights and possibly try out some other brands of LED as well.

Once the experimenting is over, I might not even keep the tents and just go back to a hydro set up. But I may decide to run some testing with LEDs vs HPS/MH/T5 while im still doing soil.. its all up in the air at this point.
 

WeJuana

Active Member
I found a pack of CLFs laying around so I added 4 - 23w CFL's to the veg section of the garden.. $34 in clamp lamp cords later lol.

[video=youtube;J9ohzTuJe1M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9ohzTuJe1M[/video]
watch in 1080p if you can!
 

WeJuana

Active Member
14 to go..

Spectra


Blackstar


Penetrator


I was also talking about how I love my tent because the fabric and stitching held up against a bare pole poking it with approx 60-80 lbs on it (because my ghetto metal gate lighting rig broke the plastic corner joint of the tent).

I put some cardboard between the gate and the tent to more evenly disperse the weight.
 

Endur0xX

Well-Known Member
If I was to buy a light based only on this LED TEST, I would definitely buy a Blackstar, the blackstar plant look the most healthy and it is the cheapest light. However, I got some problem with the power cord connector on my blackstar...And for that reason I would recommend doing more research if you are about to buy a Blackstar to make sure the problem I am having isnt too common.. would they pay for shipping if I was to get that checked? I just don't want to send the light away and not having it at all for the one crop I will do this year... it still works it's just everytime I touch the cord near the unit the light goes off... It's looking good Wej, I cant wait for harvest to see the weights!
 

WeJuana

Active Member
would they pay for shipping if I was to get that checked? I just don't want to send the light away and not having it at all for the one crop I will do this year... it still works it's just everytime I touch the cord near the unit the light goes off... It's looking good Wej, I cant wait for harvest to see the weights!
If I were you I would call and let them know about the situation and see if they say they can/will do anything for you. Maybe they would send out a new power supply and let you swap it with the old one if they feel it would help or something?

I have owned 6 Blackstar lights to date and haven't had any issues like you described yet
 

Endur0xX

Well-Known Member
That is what I will endup doing I guess... or just send the light when I am done for the year but it's mainly that I don't want to pay shipping again... I sure hope they would pay for it but we never know. It's a pretty bright light though and I know it can grow nice plants on it's own, but I am probably going to stick it in my grow room with the 2 400w, (I took it out of my dresser to test the FERO)
 

curly604

Well-Known Member
the spectra plant looks a little over fed and maybe the penetrator as well what the ppms runnin at bro?
 

WeJuana

Active Member
the spectra plant looks a little over fed and maybe the penetrator as well what the ppms runnin at bro?
I don't have a PPM meter, but the same PPM as the Blackstar tent. I use Dyna-Gro so I would not guess too high until I use Bloombastic (the last 4 weeks). Ill grab a meter when im out though so I can report in PPM because you aren't the first to ask.
 

LIVID

Well-Known Member
I got my Blackstar on the 18th of Nov, and having the same problem at first, i just stuck it in reallly good, and dont touch the panel too much. Got some Vanilla Kush going hoping this light works out well.

If I was to buy a light based only on this LED TEST, I would definitely buy a Blackstar, the blackstar plant look the most healthy and it is the cheapest light. However, I got some problem with the power cord connector on my blackstar...And for that reason I would recommend doing more research if you are about to buy a Blackstar to make sure the problem I am having isnt too common.. would they pay for shipping if I was to get that checked? I just don't want to send the light away and not having it at all for the one crop I will do this year... it still works it's just everytime I touch the cord near the unit the light goes off... It's looking good Wej, I cant wait for harvest to see the weights!
 

Endur0xX

Well-Known Member
well I guess that makes us 2 with this problem! I was thinking of putting a little toothpick or something to jam it in there really good... I won't be using the light for another week but I ll do something like that. Thanks
 

Beefbisquit

Well-Known Member
well I guess that makes us 2 with this problem! I was thinking of putting a little toothpick or something to jam it in there really good... I won't be using the light for another week but I ll do something like that. Thanks
3 of us... both mine are picky with the power cords...
 

Endur0xX

Well-Known Member
lol .. I didnt have to look too far to find other users with the same problem... none of you contacted Lighthouse about this issue?
 

DoctorCanna

Well-Known Member
This is my first post ever, and I want to say thanks to WeJuana for spending his time doing this for all of us who are very interested in the LED grow lights currently on the market and seeing roughly what some of these company's lights are relatively capable of. I personally own 3 blackstar 240's, 2 spectra 290's a V1 and V3, a spectra 100 watt ufo V1, and 1 180 watt advanced LED light. Out of all the lights I own the ones that consistently have had amazing plants grow well under them are first the advanced led true draw 180 watt, and secondly the V1 Spectra 290. And so I am inclined to suggest to you an investment in advanced leds grow lights because they have been working really well for me. I am also interested in the new 357 Magnum plus, which from what ive seen has grown some pretty awesome heavy plants. I Currently have 8 plants under three blackstar 240s and 1 180 watt advanced led panel and they are on day 35 of flower and are doing honestly much better than yours, not to be rude at all. Mine are hydro grown so i feel they may be further along than yours due to this. Ill attach a Pic for ya. But again thank you and keep up this great work, we appreciate your commitment.

So this first pic is a close up on a bud.

IMG_20111121_161005.jpg And this is that current crop!
IMG_20111119_144008.jpg
 

hippy132

Well-Known Member
Look in where the cord plugs into the lite, are there three posts? If so, they can be moved a very little way to tighten the connection. DO NOT BREAK IT, it justs needs about 10 RCH's distance.
 

hoss12781

Well-Known Member
This is my first post ever, and I want to say thanks to WeJuana for spending his time doing this for all of us who are very interested in the LED grow lights currently on the market and seeing roughly what some of these company's lights are relatively capable of. I personally own 3 blackstar 240's, 2 spectra 290's a V1 and V3, a spectra 100 watt ufo V1, and 1 180 watt advanced LED light. Out of all the lights I own the ones that consistently have had amazing plants grow well under them are first the advanced led true draw 180 watt, and secondly the V1 Spectra 290. And so I am inclined to suggest to you an investment in advanced leds grow lights because they have been working really well for me. I am also interested in the new 357 Magnum plus, which from what ive seen has grown some pretty awesome heavy plants. I Currently have 8 plants under three blackstar 240s and 1 180 watt advanced led panel and they are on day 35 of flower and are doing honestly much better than yours, not to be rude at all. Mine are hydro grown so i feel they may be further along than yours due to this. Ill attach a Pic for ya. But again thank you and keep up this great work, we appreciate your commitment.

So this first pic is a close up on a bud.

View attachment 1899380 And this is that current crop!
View attachment 1899381
any bleaching? those look super close to the canopy but I can't really tell distance from the picture.
 
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