"Area 51 LED" Information and discussion

captainmorgan

Well-Known Member
Yeh there have been more delays so you'll have to be patient on new W90 stock coming in but when Jeff gets a firm date I'm sure it will be posted.

I have a little teaser from Jeff about 3 possible new lights coming and here's a quote from a email he sent me.

"The 1st one will be 47% efficient and will use CXB and Mean Well, the 2nd
will be 62% efficient and will use CXB and Mean Well. The 3rd will use
multiple Veros and Mean Well, it will be close to 38% efficient, and the
cost will be comparable to cheap Chinese lights. That's what I'm willing
to share with the public for the new stuff."
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
"it will be close to 38% efficient, and the cost will be comparable to cheap Chinese lights."
Can you contextualize that? For example, I believe Cree lightbulbs use XBD diodes, I believe. The next step up is XTE. How does 38% compare to those?

You guys who DIY talk in terms of PPFD and % efficiency. But, I think if that light becomes reality, there will have to be some way to contextualize those numbers into something the average epi-whatever buyer (and me) can understand. Something like "on a scale of better or worse...."
 

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
I used to run these XTEs in flower. If you look at the .7A current row, the cost/PAR W is $3.08 and efficiency is 34%. To compare that with modern COBs, the CXB3590 @ $3/PAR W is estimated 64% efficient, amazing difference.

XTE typ.png
 

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
I have a little teaser from Jeff about 3 possible new lights coming and here's a quote from a email he sent me.

"The 1st one will be 47% efficient and will use CXB and Mean Well, the 2nd
will be 62% efficient and will use CXB and Mean Well. The 3rd will use
multiple Veros and Mean Well, it will be close to 38% efficient, and the
cost will be comparable to cheap Chinese lights. That's what I'm willing
to share with the public for the new stuff."
That sounds like an awesome lineup !
 
Drove past area 51 on the extra terrestrial hwy on a road trip with my girl a few weeks ago. It was a long creepy road with no gas for a long time. But when it comes to these lights i don think thats where there from. As for the product..well im sure there still better then having a hot ass hps, and for that price id just hope the spectrum isnt too out of wack and make my phenos look like their distant cousins that grew up next to the power plant.
 

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
Drove past area 51 on the extra terrestrial hwy on a road trip with my girl a few weeks ago. It was a long creepy road with no gas for a long time. But when it comes to these lights i don think thats where there from. As for the product..well im sure there still better then having a hot ass hps, and for that price id just hope the spectrum isnt too out of wack and make my phenos look like their distant cousins that grew up next to the power plant.
They are made in china.
 

bleushrume

Member
Hey All,

It's been a while since I've tracked Area 51 lights, but I think I am finally in a position to buy.

However, I noticed the only lights they are selling (which are also out of stock) are small 90w set ups.

I've read through the forums, but I'm not quite following the progression of this change.

Are the 90w lights better, the "hot new design" so to say. Or are they just filler until supply issues are resolved and we can get the bigger lights again.

I don't mind waiting or paying more, but I'd like to get some kick ass LED lights for my grows.

Thanks in advance.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
Are the 90w lights better, the "hot new design" so to say. Or are they just filler until supply issues are resolved and we can get the bigger lights again.
More of a "hot new design." When Jeff sold the RW-75 and 150, people here often urged buying two 75s for better coverage (the overlap of two light sources separated a little more than one monolithic light source).

That was such a "best practice" recommendation that I believe the W-90 was intended to be "both lights in one." You can connect W-90s together into one rigid fixture (they bolt together). Or, hang them seperately.

The other issue was that the RW (and XGS) footprint didn't fit some tent sizes very well. Making the light more modular allowed different shapes to be made, or footprint coverages.
 
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jeroly

Well-Known Member
SO how does one go about buying one of these lights? They appear to be out of stock
You can place orders through their web site, but in the past they used to post how long until the stock was replenished... so I'd assume it would be a fairly lengthy wait, but I'm sure if you posted a question through the website's form you'd get an answer.

I'm using the 4000k lights which worked great in veg and seem to be keeping the ladies happy in flower as well.
 
You can place orders through their web site, but in the past they used to post how long until the stock was replenished... so I'd assume it would be a fairly lengthy wait, but I'm sure if you posted a question through the website's form you'd get an answer.

I'm using the 4000k lights which worked great in veg and seem to be keeping the ladies happy in flower as well.
Ahh gotcha. Need something more immediate.
 

Wswise

Active Member
I have 2 rw75, and I'm in the market for a 90 to add to my new tent. I'm wondering if it will be longer than 6 weeks to get them or if I should wait for something new. They are working great, but this baby is chopping in 35-40 days and the 4 new ones will be going into bloom and I think my coverage will not be enough. IMG_20151229_182258.jpg
 

churtmunk

Well-Known Member
Greetings RIUers,
Thought I'd give some input on the W90s. I have 6 W90s all @4000K for a 4x4 tent. I've been using a combination of the W90s from the day I received my clones (3 to start), progressively adding another until using all 6 a little over a week prior to flip. Running 6 plants in soil using a scrog. Should have started with 4 plants and perhaps all the same strain to make things easier on myself the first go round but you live and learn. Speaking of which, I do want to mention that this is my first inside grow and first time using LEDs, so take my input as you will. I'm sure I'm really not doing these plants/lights justice as I have a lot to learn in general, but am thinking I helped myself by going with A51. Thus far I'm enjoying using the lights and love the modular style. I haven't connected them as I see others doing. Honestly, I like playing with them as I think is needed and with them not connected I feel I get better spread. Here are some pictures from the journey thus far through veg and to the start of flower. Calling veg start ~Nov 19th. Flip to 12/12 Dec 27th.

Nov 23rd.. day 5 veg
IMG_2008.JPG

Dec 6th... day 18 veg
IMG_0112.JPG

Dec 24th..day 36 veg
IMG_0199.JPG


Dec 27th.. flip to 12/12.. Actual flip was on 26th but lost power for 24 hours during ice storm.. go figure
IMG_0206.JPG
Jan 1st.. Day 6 flower
IMG_0218.JPG
 
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hillbill

Well-Known Member
More info flow from a51 would be great. Got 1 each of 4 models of a51 and am enjoying the ride! Never one problem and superior results, even with the old xgs. These and the few other top tier 3w and 5w last generation LEDs destroy hps. Only up from here with cobs.
 
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