Why do people pay 1k USD more for an LED that does the same thing

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
I compare it to people using run of the mill hids vs running gavitas or the lecs. If you have the money, go for it. I am waiting on a Mars 2 400. Figured I'd give leds a try but I'm also not going to go out and buy the gavita of leds either.
I did; I went straight to the source and bought the very best COB available and built my new lights around them.

Best fucking decision I've ever made in lighting.
 

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
If you're going to try those Mars LED's for flowering, just use hps, much better and even if you matched them watt-for-watt with hps you'd yield less, you'd probably yield more using warm T5's or CFL's. Anyone who claims that the Mars panels can hold their own in flowering has either never grown with anything else or is not being honest with themselves.

I did a couple of test runs and then put them up against CMH about 1.5 years ago. Same environment, clones from the same plants that were flowered under Mars, same medium, same environment/room/feed schedule. The CMH plants produced 3x the weight of those Mars 3w reflector panels. So, if you want to waste your money or 3-4 months producing 1/3rd of what you could have, go for it. Maybe read through this thread first, could save you a lot of time and money.
It's threads like that which helped me make the decision I did. I'm very happy.
 

Astro Aquanaut

Active Member
Why buy any of it when you can put together your own for a quarter of the price, have parts replaceable and update your LED's and drivers with the latest tech... I would make the comparison to buying an acer to building your own desktop... That is the issue with LED the market is flooded with garbage... We all know with quality diodes etc you can produce good results...

from what I been reading the LEP isn't worth it, LEC looks good, and LED in my mind is still better DIY because everything on the market doesn't really add up to what you could put together yourself...

I been looking at refreshing my lightening system from the run of the mill hps 1k's to HPS DE, LEC or LED...
 
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Matt Kitski

Active Member
Most consumers nowadays don't know how to build their own computer so they only judge results from pre built systems. Go to Walmart and buy the cheapest computer pre built and lets see how that compares to a DIY computer with selected components. It's a pain to see that people just make assumptions when they are just uninformed.
 

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
Why buy any of it when you can put together your own for a quarter of the price, have parts replaceable and update your LED's and drivers with the latest tech... I would make the comparison to buying an acer to building your own desktop... That is the issue with LED the market is flooded with garbage... We all know with quality diodes etc you can produce good results...

from what I been reading the LEP isn't worth it, LEC looks good, and LED in my mind is still better DIY because everything on the market doesn't really add up to what you could put together yourself...

I been looking at refreshing my lightening system from the run of the mill hps 1k's to HPS DE, LEC or LED...
I agree with you in premise, but let's be clear. It's not THAT cheap to build a top of the line HPS replacement. It's not THAT cheap when you build your own PC (have been since 01), but the quality and performance improvement is like a Geo vs. a Porsche. You're going to spend at least 800-1k + your time building this thing, however, the benefits outweigh all of it.

8 CXB3590 - 400 + s/h
2 HLG-185H-700/1050/1400 - 120 + s/h
Heatsink/Fan combo x8 - $110
Fan Driver x2 - $50
+ Assorted parts and wire
+ Time (@ min $15 an hour)

Still, you're using the best available parts on the market, with the best drivers in terms of life and efficiency, and you're going to put up PPFD numbers comparable to a 1k HPS with a better spread over the entire and the benefit of multi-point lighting. All while burning about 3-400 less Watts from the wall and significant decreases on the A/C load. I have to use a CO2 burner to heat my room in the winter, without it, my room barely gets over 70 with the lights on.
 
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Astro Aquanaut

Active Member
I agree with you in premise, but let's be clear. It's not THAT cheap to build a top of the line HPS replacement. It's not THAT cheap when you build your own PC (have been since 01), but the quality and performance improvement is like a Geo vs. a Porsche. You're going to spend at least 800-1k + your time building this thing, however, the benefits outweigh all of it.

8 CXB3590 - 400 + s/h
2 HLG-185H-700/1050/1400 - 120 + s/h
Heatsink/Fan combo x8 - $110
Fan Driver x2 - $50
+ Assorted parts and wire
+ Time (@ min $15 an hour)

Still, you're using the best available parts on the market, with the best drivers in terms of life and efficiency, and you're going to put up PPFD numbers comparable to a 1k HPS with a better spread over the entire and the benefit of multi-point lighting. All while burning about 3-400 less Watts from the wall and significant decreases on the A/C load. I have to use a CO2 burner to heat my room in the winter, without it, my room barely gets over 70 with the lights on.

Compared to 4x315w LEC's(let's say 450 a piece) building your own LED system is quite reasonable if you can get the same type of results... That is where I am at currently have the outdated 1k SE hps's looking to upgrade, can't make up my mind between 4x 315 LEC or my own LED build(area sizes(4x4,5x5,4x6,4x8 )) So far the LED build looks like it would be cheaper or similar price... I like the 61%~ efficiency setup. My main concern is getting proper spectrum, build, and not wasting a lot of money on trial and error... For example Water Cooled heat sinks should allow to run at a higher wattage, and maintain efficiency if am not mistaken...
 

2ANONYMOUS

Well-Known Member
I think people are fooled into thinking cause its made in USA its really better truth is when it comes to electronics China has everyone beat by a red mile..
let me think here what many think are made in USA could rattle a few brains lets look at Snap on tools haha where are they made ??? USA ???? Nope Taiwan

But wait a minute here the box said made in USA funny huh
could this mean that when we look at cobs , drivers Meanwell you know with that sticker made in USA could be just another BS lie let me see here 11 week wait for HGL 240's hmm it takes approx 1 month 2 weeks for a cargo ship from china to get to USA pending on route and speed so maybe just maybe that mean well driver we all thought or that Cree Cob was in facit made in Indonesia , China , japan , Tawian nut labled made in usa

Brings a whole new prespective to the meaning of MAde in USA or could it be put together in USA
Harley Davidson woo hoo made in USA you mean maybe assembled but most of the parts either came From mexico and Japan
 

Astro Aquanaut

Active Member
I think people are fooled into thinking cause its made in USA its really better truth is when it comes to electronics China has everyone beat by a red mile..
let me think here what many think are made in USA could rattle a few brains lets look at Snap on tools haha where are they made ??? USA ???? Nope Taiwan

But wait a minute here the box said made in USA funny huh
could this mean that when we look at cobs , drivers Meanwell you know with that sticker made in USA could be just another BS lie let me see here 11 week wait for HGL 240's hmm it takes approx 1 month 2 weeks for a cargo ship from china to get to USA pending on route and speed so maybe just maybe that mean well driver we all thought or that Cree Cob was in facit made in Indonesia , China , japan , Tawian nut labled made in usa

Brings a whole new prespective to the meaning of MAde in USA or could it be put together in USA
Harley Davidson woo hoo made in USA you mean maybe assembled but most of the parts either came From mexico and Japan
China has never been known for quality products... Sorry, but you just made this discussion into an economic geopolitical discussion... :P
 

2ANONYMOUS

Well-Known Member
China has never been known for quality products... Sorry, but you just made this discussion into an economic geopolitical discussion... :P
As far as "cheap Chinese" I think you'll find that no one in the US uses an all US built Diode and to my knowledge every company out there is sourcing internationally. Most of these companies are Chinese, and they lead the world in the actual tech. US companies are cashing in now because they have had the chance to actually grow with the lights unlike the Chinese and are making adjustments to get them better.
And then there are a whole lot of people using sites like Alibaba finding cheap lights not seen in the US, renaming them/branding them and making all kinds of false claims and selling them as a brand new light.

And lastly There are several colors used in LED's that are not made in the US. It's like a company "claiming" they use Cree diodes, which in some cases they are. Fact is, Cree only makes about 2 of the colors used in say a 7 band array. So the first question to a company using Cree should be, ok so what do you use for the other 6 colors outside of white?

Fact is, If you're being told that a light is using all US diodes and everything else, you are being lied to.
 

Astro Aquanaut

Active Member
As far as "cheap Chinese" I think you'll find that no one in the US uses an all US built Diode and to my knowledge every company out there is sourcing internationally. Most of these companies are Chinese, and they lead the world in the actual tech. US companies are cashing in now because they have had the chance to actually grow with the lights unlike the Chinese and are making adjustments to get them better.
And then there are a whole lot of people using sites like Alibaba finding cheap lights not seen in the US, renaming them/branding them and making all kinds of false claims and selling them as a brand new light.

And lastly There are several colors used in LED's that are not made in the US. It's like a company "claiming" they use Cree diodes, which in some cases they are. Fact is, Cree only makes about 2 of the colors used in say a 7 band array. So the first question to a company using Cree should be, ok so what do you use for the other 6 colors outside of white?

Fact is, If you're being told that a light is using all US diodes and everything else, you are being lied to.
I could just as easily say American companies are partnering with Chinese partners ( which is required prior to TPP) and the Chinese are stealing tech, and selling it... However, your point about Chinese Subsidiaries that look like US companies selling crap and others going along with that model I can agree with... Any subsidiary of the Chinese Government or alien can start a business in the United States and claim their products are made in the US... The Chinese government operates as a web of subsidiaries and front companies that span the globe.. Even recreational marijuana operations in the United States have Chinese investors. That model expands beyond simply electronics, but basically anything you can get involved in.. It is the dynamics of American business vs the Dynamics of a totalitarian communist state...

Overall I agree, however I disagree on who is leading tech...
 
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2ANONYMOUS

Well-Known Member
What america companies the very few that is left ? ?? think about what your saying
i wonder what nationality Jerry is at kingbrite do you know ????
You are well aware chinese are buying up land and companies faster then companies going bankrupt who has the money i mean sure you can say that
But truth is most american companies are in fact out sourcing internationally those are facts

To say Chinese are stealing your tech i also find Amusing i mean see this all falls back to when USA sold out you know why should the owners of companies get there hands dirty so they what sell the rights to you guessed it Japan , China and whom ever along with that your so called tech gets bled off
Its like saying well Germans in 1940 had the Horten stealth jet but lost the war before they went full build,,
Its ironic when you look at that 1940 german stealth jet and american stealth bomber its the same dam design more or less who stole what ??
 

2ANONYMOUS

Well-Known Member
think about when buddy in USA was making that super computer,, he had to order his chips from Japan why not silicon valley where he was from ???
 

Astro Aquanaut

Active Member
What america companies the very few that is left ? ?? think about what your saying
i wonder what nationality Jerry is at kingbrite do you know ????
You are well aware chinese are buying up land and companies faster then companies going bankrupt who has the money i mean sure you can say that
But truth is most american companies are in fact out sourcing internationally those are facts

To say Chinese are stealing your tech i also find Amusing i mean see this all falls back to when USA sold out you know why should the owners of companies get there hands dirty so they what sell the rights to you guessed it Japan , China and whom ever along with that your so called tech gets bled off
Its like saying well Germans in 1940 had the Horten stealth jet but lost the war before they went full build,,
Its ironic when you look at that 1940 german stealth jet and american stealth bomber its the same dam design more or less who stole what ??
Think you are going way off topic, however the United States has over 27 million companies... Granted china has 75 million however they also have over 1.3 billion people... This seems more like an Anti American rant than a constructive discussion about LEDs...
 

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
Ok Anon, what exactly are you trying to get at here? You've taken this conversation so far off topic with unrelated issues. Let's be clear - It's not the fact that they're MADE IN CHINA that makes them junk. It's the parts they source, the drivers, and so on that are not great. Now, there are CHINESE COMPANIES that are building these cheap fixtures and selling them, and there are companies, such as CREE, who use factories in China to make their stuff. I'm not going to get into supply side economics here. Let's just say, I don't support using slave labor to produce our goods at cheap prices. The LED companies that say MADE IN THE USA are full of shit. They just assemble them here. They're mostly rebranded chinese tech. That's why I don't care for pre-built panels.

Anyone who's on the cutting edge doesn't use Mono-panels, so we don't care about chipped boards that aren't all CREE. We're using COB, and when we're only using COB light, we know exactly what we're getting. We know exactly what drivers we're using, and we can use a heatsink of our choosing. We can build exactly to the space we're trying to fill.

So, if you're going to start going off about manufacturing issues, make a new thread. That derailment serves little to further the discussion of this thread.

Compared to 4x315w LEC's(let's say 450 a piece) building your own LED system is quite reasonable if you can get the same type of results... That is where I am at currently have the outdated 1k SE hps's looking to upgrade, can't make up my mind between 4x 315 LEC or my own LED build(area sizes(4x4,5x5,4x6,4x8 )) So far the LED build looks like it would be cheaper or similar price... I like the 61%~ efficiency setup. My main concern is getting proper spectrum, build, and not wasting a lot of money on trial and error... For example Water Cooled heat sinks should allow to run at a higher wattage, and maintain efficiency if am not mistaken...
Ah, yes. The LEC are pretty pricey, but look promising. I'd build out in LED, hand's down. I haven't seen anyone really finding anything beneficial from water cooling. It's usually not the the temp of the chip that causes the performance dip, but just the actual curve of LED voltage applied vs. power output. I don't think that the heat of the chip, or need for cooling, is the answer. You'd probably want to start a thread about that, though. From what I've gathered, it's not worth it to try to water-cool your LEDs. You won't get enough of a performance increase to offset the costs, difficulty, and frankly, inherent dangers of such an endeavor. I'm not sure how much benefit you'd see, but it'd be worth making a thread about to poll some of the experienced builders. Remember, KISS.
 

2ANONYMOUS

Well-Known Member
Ok Anon, what exactly are you trying to get at here? You've taken this conversation so far off topic with unrelated issues. Let's be clear - It's not the fact that they're MADE IN CHINA that makes them junk. It's the parts they source, the drivers, and so on that are not great. Now, there are CHINESE COMPANIES that are building these cheap fixtures and selling them, and there are companies, such as CREE, who use factories in China to make their stuff. I'm not going to get into supply side economics here. Let's just say, I don't support using slave labor to produce our goods at cheap prices. The LED companies that say MADE IN THE USA are full of shit. They just assemble them here. They're mostly rebranded chinese tech. That's why I don't care for pre-built panels.

Anyone who's on the cutting edge doesn't use Mono-panels, so we don't care about chipped boards that aren't all CREE. We're using COB, and when we're only using COB light, we know exactly what we're getting. We know exactly what drivers we're using, and we can use a heatsink of our choosing. We can build exactly to the space we're trying to fill.

So, if you're going to start going off about manufacturing issues, make a new thread. That derailment serves little to further the discussion of this thread.



Ah, yes. The LEC are pretty pricey, but look promising. I'd build out in LED, hand's down. I haven't seen anyone really finding anything beneficial from water cooling. It's usually not the the temp of the chip that causes the performance dip, but just the actual curve of LED voltage applied vs. power output. I don't think that the heat of the chip, or need for cooling, is the answer. You'd probably want to start a thread about that, though. From what I've gathered, it's not worth it to try to water-cool your LEDs. You won't get enough of a performance increase to offset the costs, difficulty, and frankly, inherent dangers of such an endeavor. I'm not sure how much benefit you'd see, but it'd be worth making a thread about to poll some of the experienced builders. Remember, KISS.
If you like to get technical

Patent No.: 20051003432.2

Mr. Wang RuiXun, the General manager of Lightspot holds this important patent.

Patent Name: The package method and the product of multi LED chips on board. (abbreviateion COB ).

Valid territory

Valid in China.

Without Lightspot's permission, in China any enterprises or individual's activity, as long as it is about COB LED relating to commerce, they are all illegal and infringe Lightspot's intellectual property rights. Lightspot holds complete intellectual property right for COB LED and lamp.

In China, Lightspot is the only legal manufacturer and seller of COB LED and lamp.





Patent Protection

In China, there are 3 type of patents: Invention, Utility Model and Design. Invention is highest technical value, and Chinese law gives highest protection to invention than utility model and design.

Lightspot COB patent is Invention Patent, enjoys the highest protection against to utility models and designs relating to COB.
 
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