Why do some LED lights cost $800+ without being 8 times bigger?

grassy007

Well-Known Member
I have a BestVA 1000w LED light ($139). It's got the latest 10w chips and draws 185w. Even tho my BestVA light is rather small (12"x 8")...why are some LED lights that cost $900+ (8 times the cost of my BestVA) not 8 times larger?
 

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
I have a BestVA 1000w LED light ($139). It's got the latest 10w chips and draws 185w. Even tho my BestVA light is rather small (12"x 8")...why are some LED lights that cost $900+ (8 times the cost of my BestVA) not 8 times larger?
Cause they are 10 times better?

IDK anything about LEDS except they are expensive..I dont even know how u can have a 1000w light that you say draws only 185w...
 

grassy007

Well-Known Member
What I can't understand are those YouTube videos showing this light growing awesome looking bushy plants. Mine is a 50 day old PE clone, is healthy ( but really growing slowly). I researched a lot before starting out on my first stealth grow (root lock, ph, nutrient problems, overwatering, etc). I think I've avoided these problems. I've tried lowering the light (no leaf burn happened) and raising the light (thinking it was getting too intense light). Not much change days after trying different heights. If you look back at postings, I showed a few pics from day one onward.

I'd really like to put in an $800 LED and see if that makes a difference ( I could even opt to return it via Amazon and pay only shipping. I'm still working on whether it was something I've done wrong.

Here is the obligatory pic of what's happening. I thinned out unnecessary new and old growth. Freaking Bonzai plant, lol.

 
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OrganicGorilla

Well-Known Member
What I can't understand are those YouTube videos showing this light growing awesome looking bushy plants. Mine is a 50 day old PE clone, is healthy ( but really growing slowly). I researched a lot before starting out on my first stealth grow (root lock, ph, nutrient problems, overwatering, etc). I think I've avoided these problems. I've tried lowering the light (no leaf burn happened) and raising the light (thinking it was getting too intense light). Not much change days after trying different heights. If you look back at postings, I showed a few pics from day one onward.

I'd really like to put in an $800 LED and see if that makes a difference. I'm still working on whether it was something I've done wrong.
The light you have may be okay to veg a plant but it'll be garbage in flower
 

grassy007

Well-Known Member
The light you have may be okay to veg a plant but it'll be garbage in flower
You mean low yield fluffy slow developing spears? Understood. That's why I need to do first things first...get what's growing now to grow better. I'm saying my light source has caused me moments of wondering if that is the cause of my banzai plant. The only possible positive I can see is that the main stalk is over 1/2" thick now and growing wider, the branches are sturdy like like a tree. Banzai!
 
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OrganicGorilla

Well-Known Member
You mean low yield fluffy slow developing spears? Understood. That's why I need to do first things first...get what's growing now to grow better. I'm saying my light source has caused me moments of me wondering if that is the cause of my banzai plant.

One thing not evident in my pic. The stalk is a big strong (1/2"). The branches too are tree like solid.
If you want real LED, buy COBs(Chip on board) or QBs(Quantum boards). They are the real deal LED
 

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
My experience with using led's is this: The cheap led panels can grow some decent meds, BUT when you are able to step up to an array that can really produce some light energy you will see the difference. The main difference I see is that the costlier chip sets are more efficient are converting electricity into light.
 

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
What I can't understand are those YouTube videos showing this light growing awesome looking bushy plants. Mine is a 50 day old PE clone, is healthy ( but really growing slowly). I researched a lot before starting out on my first stealth grow (root lock, ph, nutrient problems, overwatering, etc). I think I've avoided these problems. I've tried lowering the light (no leaf burn happened) and raising the light (thinking it was getting too intense light). Not much change days after trying different heights. If you look back at postings, I showed a few pics from day one onward.

I'd really like to put in an $800 LED and see if that makes a difference ( I could even opt to return it via Amazon and pay only shipping. I'm still working on whether it was something I've done wrong.

Here is the obligatory pic of what's happening. I thinned out unnecessary new and old growth. Freaking Bonzai plant, lol.

Pot looks to small. Also looks to have to much N in saying that the leaf tips are curling down not up..so maybe just over watered? Somethings up with it at any rate.
 

grassy007

Well-Known Member
Pot looks to small. Also looks to have to much N in saying that the leaf tips are curling down not up..so maybe just over watered? Somethings up with it at any rate.
It's a 3 gallon pot, yes. I wish I'd gotten a 5 gallon pot. Before visiting my local hydropoincs store, the only 5 gal. containers were paint containers which I deemed were going to be too tall for my tent height (63"). It may be too late in the game for me to risk transplanting a mature vegged plant into a proper 5 gallon container.

I'm starting to steer this conversation towards my bizzare banzai plant. Too much so. Let's get back to popular and cheap $139 LED light buyers (me) whose sellers boast the equivalent of 1000w (185w draw). Versus $800 LED lights that are maybe just half again bigger than the size of my BestVA1000w. Something just doesn't add up that has nothing to do with my current banzai plant.
 
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Nugachino

Well-Known Member
That light is junk. There is absolutely no way that sub 200w light can even come close half that 1000w claimed power output.

These cheap ass chinese lights are all bs claims and sub standard parts. That's why they can sell them for an unbelievably low price. Also. It's highly likely that these lights will burn out a whole lot faster than their expensive counterparts.

You can transplant that plant now if you want too. Be careful to not damage the roots too much.
 

grassy007

Well-Known Member
Thanks for its not too late to transplant. Agreed. A 185w power draw is not that far from one regular 150W household incandescence bulb shining down on your plants.
 
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Rahz

Well-Known Member
Too much so. Let's get back to popular and cheap $139 LED light buyers (me) whose sellers boast the equivalent of 1000w (185w draw). Versus $800 LED lights that are maybe just half again bigger than the size of my BestVA1000w. Something just doesn't add up that has nothing to do with my current banzai plant.
The hidden variable you need to know is how much PAR wattage a lamp provides. The other factor is parts used (and how well they are cooled) and how long they will last before malfunctioning. LEDs in a lamp may be operating between 20 and 60% efficiency... which means there could be a 200w lamp and a 600w lamp (from the wall) both providing the same PAR wattage (light). Good lamp retailers will advertise the PAR wattage which will be less than than wall draw while poor lamp retailers will advertise the supposed equivalent wattage which will be more than the wall draw.
 

redzi

Well-Known Member
Check out he Photon 450 if you want to see something with big price tag and no more than $100 to make. Go to Amazon and pay $79 for a Galaxyhydro or a Lightimetunnel 300 watts...don't waste money on the dimmer. I bought one of the Platinum Led ... and it's coverage area was so small I returned it. Spend your money on good genetics and not on something that looks like a modern art piece.
 
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