Help me make up my lighting decision - 1000W MH + 1000W HPS or 5 180W Blackstar UFOs?

Hudsonvalley82

Hudsonvalley82

Well-Known Member
My partner and I are sitting on a some capital monies. Currently running 1000W HPS and a 1000W MH.We Have an established LED grow light store 20 minutes away specializing in black star LED lights. Looking at the 180 Watt UFOs so I can have them in multiple locations instead of center of the grow rooms. (1 every 2 feet). The 1000W for the Veg is a touch of over kill (but i got it for 100 bucks used), the veg room is 4x4. The flower room is 6x4 and will have many more plants than the veg room, therefore the 1000W (or equivalent) is necessary. I pay roughly 18 cents a KwH. Prices for LED are as follows: 3 x Flower 180W UFO at 210 each, 2 x 180W 6 band Veg UFO's at 240 each. grand total investment: $1110. After doing some calcs, it seems that the electrical savings will pay for the lights in just over a year (flower somewhat longer due to 12/12). Should I use these stand alone?? Add complimentary lights?? or Save my money?? I am open to any suggestions. I have so far gathered info stating 33% of People saying that LEDs Suck, 33% of people saying that they are a God send, 33% of people tell me to STFU and cry somewhere else. I really need some help, I will see these in person prior to purchase, and I am paying in cash so hopefully I can cop a deal. Website for product rundown is:
http://stores.ebay.com/gothamhydroponics/LED-Grow-Lights-/_i.html?_fsub=2502304018&_sid=122824148&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Please say what you can, I am taking anything into consideration...
 
Bighill

Bighill

Active Member
Edit: seen you allready are using them... why spend the extra $$ on the LEDS? 1ks are the way to go, commercially speaking.

Just my 2 cents.
Bh.
 
Hudsonvalley82

Hudsonvalley82

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I got them (the 1K's) really cheap too...200 for the HPS whole kit w/fan and new bulb and 50 for the 1000W MH with mad old school reflector and all. Just looking at the LED's and thinking about them really strongly. Mainly for the VEG room seeing as how I am paying the most $ for Electric there. Just got my bill today, last cycle was $0.195 per KwH. That adds up quick with 30KW a day not counting fans. If I go with 5 180W which should support as many plants as the 2 1k's (or so it has been said). That translates to 13KW a day. 30 x .195=$5.85 a day...13 x .195=$2.54 a day. Thats about 100 bucks a month saved. Still, I am wary of these tales of light crops and such from LED's which would quickly offset the 100 bucks a month savings. Ugh...I still haven't pics from a decent crop with LED. Most journals I have read aren't that mature yet, and the search on this forum is a mess, So I have turned to the community.
 
Hudsonvalley82

Hudsonvalley82

Well-Known Member
ledbudguy said:
I'm using ISIS-1 170w hybrid panels you can check out a grow I am doing right now using 5 x 170 here https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/378470-confined-space-850w-led-master.html from what I have seen out there nothing comes close to these hybrid panels. I have also heard that the company that manufactures these lights is releasing a new 350w model that is supposed to revolutionize the LED grow light business...
Click to expand...
Dude I really want to see that crop...get a time machine or something. I want pull a minimum of 2 zips per plant. I know that HID can do that, LEDs are sketchy. I have called that number for LEDGROWLIGHTSDIRECT.COM and spoke with the guy running it, he really seems like the shit, I almost dropped the money on the phone with him. I just need to see some dank monster bud from LED. I have seen way too much veg, and not enough NUG. If you know any good journals, please pass them along, as I don't have all day to search through the 1000's there. Your grow is very impressive, I just need to see it when its all done. LED's seem to VEG great, and I may just buy one for the veg room, getting them for flower too would be ideal if there was more proof around.
 
MomaPug

MomaPug

Active Member
I use T-5 lights for veg, cheaper than running my MH and seems to keep the plants nice and healthy while getting ready for the HPS light. I think LED lights still have a way to go, but will be following your research closely hoping I am wrong.
 
ledbudguy

ledbudguy

New Member
Hudsonvalley82 said:
Dude I really want to see that crop...get a time machine or something. I want pull a minimum of 2 zips per plant. I know that HID can do that, LEDs are sketchy. I have called that number for LEDGROWLIGHTSDIRECT.COM and spoke with the guy running it, he really seems like the shit, I almost dropped the money on the phone with him. I just need to see some dank monster bud from LED. I have seen way too much veg, and not enough NUG. If you know any good journals, please pass them along, as I don't have all day to search through the 1000's there. Your grow is very impressive, I just need to see it when its all done. LED's seem to VEG great, and I may just buy one for the veg room, getting them for flower too would be ideal if there was more proof around.
Click to expand...
One of my good friends grows with the same lights, he is running 1600w 4x400. His last crop he pulled down just over a pound per light. That is what sold me on going with LED. So far I am stoked with the results for veg. I wish I had a time machine also, these plants smell so good man!!! Keep an eye on my grow as it is in flower now and I will be posting pics every day or so. I call Dave and Geoff at LEDGLD all of the time, they are probably sick of me by now!
 
dunit

dunit

Active Member
What are the Blackstars worth? Been searching Blackstar and Lighthouse and cant seem to find a website to get the actual manufacturers specs. From what I can tell they are 2W led chipsets and 90 degree lens angle and tri band spectrum. Personally I would look for 3w chipsets and 60 degree lens for a more vertical concentration of light but I'm looking to keep plant numbers down so I need better penetration to run larger plants even using LST. Would also be inclined to look for something with more spectrums. Def some UV and white for overall health and keeping bacteria and mould growth down. Not sure that a guy needs a zillion spectrums but from what I've researched seems like 7 is a good start. For sure agree with your idea of more points of light for better coverage.
 
Hudsonvalley82

Hudsonvalley82

Well-Known Member
He has several models. the 500W uses 3w led chipsets, he mixes and matches to get various wattages. I went for all 3w for clear reasons. I have no idea what the angle they are, he is claiming a small footprint for these things, so I am assuming it has a tighter angle. He has a 300W veg model, with the cree ultracool white leds, it was nuts, but I wanted the flowering model cuz I needed to cover more room in there. Google gotham hydroponics, or check out blackstar led on ebay if you want to. He has several things on there.
http://www.gothamhydroponics.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/gothamhydroponics
There isn't a ton of spec info on there, but if you contact him with technical questions over ebay on a weekday (EST) he replies next to immediately.

he is mainly an ebay retailer, however I went to his store front in person and purchased mine (so I can scope it out prior to purchase). It was worth a trip, pretty informative. I would def buy from him again, and I plan to. However www.ledgrowlightsdirect.com has some good shit (at a much higher cost) and the guy who runs that is a cool dude as well. I only spoke to him once, he is in BC, Canada. Where are you looking for LEDs? I am always interested in the next thing to check out, and everyone seems to have their own place.
 
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