Why LEDs?

Simple. Why LEDs? In my experience they suck. I am looking to switch, but have not seen any reason to. Looking for info. Especially when to get the weight per watt I get now would be 1000-1300 a light and wouldn’t cover the same area as my Gav.

Thanks to all who respond.

Much Love

There are several LED Bar lights on the market now that would absolutely cover the same area with as much or more light. I havn't made the switch to LED yet either, I still use my 1k hps. For me its only because I don't have the money to invest at this point. I would love to get one of the Amare 8 bar lights, but there are a few others that seem pretty impressive too.

they perform respectably, run relatively inexpensively (especially when you factor in the reduced need for a/c), and can be diy'd cost effectively and easily. i wont be swapping out my de lights for led in my production garden any time soon, but i threw a few together for my clone making/seed popping/pheno hunting tents and i am satisfied with their performance. i also like the modular nature of diy fixtures. they can be reconfigured with relative ease if you want to add, subtract, change shape, etc.

DuBR said:

In my experience they suck

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what is this experience?

DuBR said:

Simple. Why LEDs? In my experience they suck.

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If that's your experience, you probably bought a cheap blurple LED that's no better than HPS.

Why LED?
1. Efficiency. The same amount of light from less power.
2. Less heat. Less power used means less heat. 1 watt = 3.42 BTU. Less heat means less or no power used for air conditioner.
3. Less vertical space needed. Many LED lights can be run just a few inches over the canopy.
4. Better coverage/light spread. Good LED lights give very even distribution of the light.
https://fluence.science/store/spydr-series/spydrx/
http://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/

I actually laugh when people ask, WHY LEDS?

Its like asking, why use a jet engine on an aircraft and not a piston engine. Both will get you to your final destination. But one is better suited than the other for the application.

Lets reverse the question for a moment, Why HPS?

If you are really cold and you want a light and a heater in one, then an HPS it is.

If you want a light to make light, thats what an LED does, it makes light really well. The HPS makes some light and some heat in the form of IR (half half).

What if, you want lots of light, and no heat?
If you want to preserve your trichomes, you cant have IR blasting them so they evaporate.

With an LED, you can have light with no heat (IR). This is not possible with an HPS. Even with aircon, HPS has IR and zaps the trichomes.

HPS IS DEAD.

LED is KING.

LED + CMH is the ACE in the deck.


So thats your answer.

DuBR said:

Simple. Why LEDs? In my experience they suck.

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Less heat and elecy bills, less light pollution, no changing bulbs every 3-4 grows and disposing them harming the environment, covers a smaller area granted but you get more LED to cover the area, far from rocket science though. Decent LED are expensive but pays for itself in no time.

1212ham said:

If that's your experience, you probably bought a cheap blurple LED that's no better than HPS.

Why LED?
1. Efficiency. The same amount of light from less power.
2. Less heat. Less power used means less heat. 1 watt = 3.42 BTU. Less heat means less or no power used for air conditioner.
3. Less vertical space needed. Many LED lights can be run just a few inches over the canopy.
4. Better coverage/light spread. Good LED lights give very even distribution of the light.

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I just don’t see LEDs that can perform weight/density as well. Like the photo. I have LED cultivating experience. I am talking cultivating the Highest Quality. Not some larf.

Porky101 said:

I actually laugh when people ask, WHY LEDS?

Its like asking, why use a jet engine on an aircraft and not a piston engine. Both will get you to your final destination. But one is better suited than the other for the application.

Lets reverse the question for a moment, Why HPS?

If you are really cold and you want a light and a heater in one, then an HPS it is.

If you want a light to make light, thats what an LED does, it makes light really well. The HPS makes some light and some heat in the form of IR (half half).

What if, you want lots of light, and no heat?
If you want to preserve your trichomes, you cant have IR blasting them so they evaporate.

With an LED, you can have light with no heat (IR). This is not possible with an HPS. Even with aircon, HPS has IR and zaps the trichomes.

HPS IS DEAD.

LED is KING.

LED + CMH is the ACE in the deck.


So thats your answer.

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I haven’t used an hps in years old tech or the word dinosaur springs to mind

Porky101 said:

I actually laugh when people ask, WHY LEDS?

Its like asking, why use a jet engine on an aircraft and not a piston engine. Both will get you to your final destination. But one is better suited than the other for the application.

Lets reverse the question for a moment, Why HPS?

If you are really cold and you want a light and a heater in one, then an HPS it is.

If you want a light to make light, thats what an LED does, it makes light really well. The HPS makes some light and some heat in the form of IR (half half).

What if, you want lots of light, and no heat?
If you want to preserve your trichomes, you cant have IR blasting them so they evaporate.

With an LED, you can have light with no heat (IR). This is not possible with an HPS. Even with aircon, HPS has IR and zaps the trichomes.

HPS IS DEAD.

LED is KING.

LED + CMH is the ACE in the deck.


So thats your answer.

Click to expand...

Why HPS DE? 3-4lb a light is why.

I am talking High Quality. Not Larf. Topself. And I paid $650 a light a few years ago. 3 LEDs, each one supposedly replaced a thouwie. Uh, no way. So I paid more than I did for my Gavs to get what, 3 lights only useful in vegging a 8x4 area lol.
It may say I am new member but I am not new to this. If someone knows of an actual set up that works LED. At least 2-3 lbs every 3x3 section, let me know. Other wise I am just seeing the same stuff over and over. Less A/C, Less energy yadda yadda.
Pull times 7weeks or does it take 10, weight by 3x3x3 or 4x4 or 5x5 if that’s how your set up, Strain/Pheno used. Lots of factors, like time = money.

Porky101 said:

I actually laugh when people ask, WHY LEDS?

Its like asking, why use a jet engine on an aircraft and not a piston engine. Both will get you to your final destination. But one is better suited than the other for the application.

Lets reverse the question for a moment, Why HPS?

If you are really cold and you want a light and a heater in one, then an HPS it is.

If you want a light to make light, thats what an LED does, it makes light really well. The HPS makes some light and some heat in the form of IR (half half).

What if, you want lots of light, and no heat?
If you want to preserve your trichomes, you cant have IR blasting them so they evaporate.

With an LED, you can have light with no heat (IR). This is not possible with an HPS. Even with aircon, HPS has IR and zaps the trichomes.

HPS IS DEAD.

LED is KING.

LED + CMH is the ACE in the deck.


So thats your answer.

Click to expand...

Also you don’t know anything about aircraft, my dad was one of the best Propeller Techs in the world. Drones were all propelled with backwards propellers, my dad helped in the design of the blades as they had to be twisted different, they used propellers because they are more silent and less air turbulence. Only now do they have jet engines quite enough for low stealth missions and usually for low flying drones they are still propelled. Just some facts for ya. Your right it’s about application, and LEDs don’t seem to pull like hps de why I am on here asking around.

Much Love and Hope the Best for You

DuBR said:

Why HPS DE? 3-4lb a light is why.

I am talking High Quality. Not Larf. Topself. And I paid $650 a light a few years ago. 3 LEDs, each one supposedly replaced a thouwie. Uh, no way. So I paid more than I did for my Gavs to get what, 3 lights only useful in vegging a 8x4 area lol.
It may say I am new member but I am not new to this. If someone knows of an actual set up that works LED. At least 2-3 lbs every 3x3 section, let me know. Other wise I am just seeing the same stuff over and over. Less A/C, Less energy yadda yadda.
Pull times 7weeks or does it take 10, weight by 3x3x3 or 4x4 or 5x5 if that’s how your set up, Strain/Pheno used. Lots of factors, like time = money. View attachment 4359605View attachment 4359610 View attachment 4359613

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Lets compare watts for watts.

How many grams do you pull per watt of power consumed?

Against an LED grower, he will pull more grams per watt than an HPS.


Correct me if im wrong?

But its now about "I pull 4 lbs per light" So what. Forget the number of lights, if you match the light in LED watts, you will have the potential to yield more. If im wrong im open to correction, but I just dont see why anyone would choose HPS over LED except for the PRICE.

If I need 4/40/400 LEDS to match the light output of a 1000W DE HPS, I will be using half the power. How can you say the HPS is better if the LED for arguments sake had the exact same spectrum as the HPS yet uses less power?

Imagine I built an LED with the same spectrum, spread as a DE HPS, yet is used half the power. Which would you take? How could you possibly choose the HPS over the other light if it covers the same area, uses less power and puts out no heat.

I dont see why anyone would use an HPS over an LED. Makes no sense.

DuBR said:

Also you don’t know anything about aircraft, my dad was one of the best Propeller Techs in the world. Drones were all propelled with backwards propellers, my dad helped in the design of the blades as they had to be twisted different, they used propellers because they are more silent and less air turbulence. Only now do they have jet engines quite enough for low stealth missions and usually for low flying drones they are still propelled. Just some facts for ya. Your right it’s about application, and LEDs don’t seem to pull like hps de why I am on here asking around.

Much Love and Hope the Best for You

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Please dont assume what I know and dont know. I dont assume what you may or may not know.

Clearly you do not know why we use Jet engines instead of piston engines today. The reason is, Jet engines are very light. Planes are very sensitive to weight. No engine can outperform a Jet engine in power/weight ratio. Jet engines are not used in boats because in this scenario, weight is of a lesser concern while efficiency is more important.

Good luck to you and your grow. Keep using dinosaur tech and you will be left behind. Your flowers look good for HPS.

DuBR said:

Also you don’t know anything about aircraft, my dad was one of the best Propeller Techs in the world. Drones were all propelled with backwards propellers, my dad helped in the design of the blades as they had to be twisted different, they used propellers because they are more silent and less air turbulence. Only now do they have jet engines quite enough for low stealth missions and usually for low flying drones they are still propelled. Just some facts for ya. Your right it’s about application, and LEDs don’t seem to pull like hps de why I am on here asking around.

Much Love and Hope the Best for You

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If you’re growing that much dope you’d be able to afford an HLG 550 led that can flower a 5x5ft area and is apparently the best on the market

DuBR said:

View attachment 4359599 View attachment 4359598

I just don’t see LEDs that can perform weight/density as well. Like the photo. I have LED cultivating experience. I am talking cultivating the Highest Quality. Not some larf.

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Did you post to learn "Why LEDs" or to bash them?

1212ham said:

Did you post to learn "Why LEDs" or to bash them?

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Ya i dont think hes actually open to discussing the pros of LEDS, i think he just wanted to show off his primo ganja pics and trash on the new tech for a bit lol

I never quite got the loyalty towards lights lol...personally i think either of the big 3 ( hps,led,cmh) can all grow fire, hell im sure we have all seen it on this site numerous times. I actually own and have grown with a 600w hps and 315 cmh and now 1440 watts of led strips, i dont think any of them makes me a better grower, what i can say is the leds allows me to control my environment much easier, i dont need AC and i built them myself at a fraction of the cost of buying.

All pros for my situation

diggs99 said:

Ya i dont think hes actually open to discussing the pros of LEDS, i think he just wanted to show off his primo ganja pics and trash on the new tech for a bit lol

I never quite got the loyalty towards lights lol...personally i think either of the big 3 ( hps,led,cmh) can all grow fire, hell im sure we have all seen it on this site numerous times. I actually own and have grown with a 600w hps and 315 cmh and now 1440 watts of led strips, i dont think any of them makes me a better grower, what i can say is the leds allows me to control my environment much easier, i dont need AC and i built them myself at a fraction of the cost of buying.

All pros for my situation

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Agreed.

I too have grown under LED (all types, even the rubbish ones, they all work). HPS again all kinds and wattages, CMHs, CFLS etc...

They all work.

They all have their place.

Which is the best? Well we need to define best first.


In my eyes, what makes a light a good light, is its ability to make light from the resources you give it.

From my understanding, LEDS do this best.

I think we need to define what is "best" before even talking about this further.

nitoker said:

If you’re growing that much dope you’d be able to afford an HLG 550 led that can flower a 5x5ft area and is apparently the best on the market

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sorry.....medicinal herbs !

DuBR said:

Why HPS DE? 3-4lb a light is why.

I am talking High Quality. Not Larf. Topself. And I paid $650 a light a few years ago. 3 LEDs, each one supposedly replaced a thouwie. Uh, no way. So I paid more than I did for my Gavs to get what, 3 lights only useful in vegging a 8x4 area lol.
It may say I am new member but I am not new to this. If someone knows of an actual set up that works LED. At least 2-3 lbs every 3x3 section, let me know. Other wise I am just seeing the same stuff over and over. Less A/C, Less energy yadda yadda.
Pull times 7weeks or does it take 10, weight by 3x3x3 or 4x4 or 5x5 if that’s how your set up, Strain/Pheno used. Lots of factors, like time = money. View attachment 4359605View attachment 4359610 View attachment 4359613

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I would just say watch @hybridway2 's thread.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/hlg-vs-hgl-side-by-side-take-2.989196/

Many of us have HPS/HID in our veins cause they are solid and do work but also are open to technology and looking to the future.
I just wish this led section was more chill and about seeing and sharing grows so others can make decisions for themselves based on the experiences others are having with products rather than always turning it into a big dick / brand swinging fanboy belieber fest

DuBR said:

Simple. Why LEDs? In my experience they suck. I am looking to switch, but have not seen any reason to. Looking for info. Especially when to get the weight per watt I get now would be 1000-1300 a light and wouldn’t cover the same area as my Gav.

Thanks to all who respond.

Much Love

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Output. Why de vs se hps?