Lighting Decisions.. why pay more for LED?

[Tanglefoot]

Hello all, wonder if anyone can help. Am switching over to LED & auto's after using hps with photo's for years. Have had my eyes on the GN HS1 & along with Tang's results so far it would seem a very sensible option. However, I also see a lot of happy people using other's such as the Mars reflector.

From what I have read & found out so far the benefits of the more expensive GN unit are:
*Efficiency
*Special Light diffuser
*Super efficient cooling
*Possible longer life due to higher quality parts

Are there any other benefits, is the spectrum super calibrated now after years of R&D?

My grow will be in a wardrobe/closet roughly 2x4x6'. Am just trying to get a grasp on whether to fork out more $£ for a high end light like GN or to go with Mars or something that'll give me more light output for the money. The main initial difference seems to be the efficiency, & if i'm not too worried about that & also the other things i mentioned then perhaps it's better for me to save some $£ & go for a Mars unit or something ?

Thanks for any help or suggestions

 

[TaNg]

Ive never used Mars lights but I have used older generation Chinese lights in the GN MS0006 and im getting better results with 2 75w HS1s than I was with 2 180w MS0006s in the same area. You can save money now and get lights that will give you the results your looking for or you can splash out now on the more efficient lights and save money in the long run.

 

[blue]

Hi Tanglefoot welcome to AFN!

The biggest benefit for a small cab grower like myself was the lack of heat ommitted by an LED! I was struggling to keep my temps in range with even a 250w hps and now i'm rocking 190w (ish) of LED and my temps (and results) have never been better!

There's an electricity saving too for me!

As for which one to choose - it's a balancing act i guess. What will the lower wattage of the HS1 save you over the period of it's warranty (vs competitors) is how i like to look at it.

AFN seems to have many happy MarsHyrod LED users and loads of happy GN users too! I'm still undecided which way i'm going to go for my next, but LED's are definately the future!

 

[Magic]

Hello all, wonder if anyone can help. Am switching over to LED & auto's after using hps with photo's for years. Have had my eyes on the GN HS1 & along with Tang's results so far it would seem a very sensible option. However, I also see a lot of happy people using other's such as the Mars reflector.

From what I have read & found out so far the benefits of the more expensive GN unit are:
*Efficiency
*Special Light diffuser
*Super efficient cooling
*Possible longer life due to higher quality parts

Are there any other benefits, is the spectrum super calibrated now after years of R&D?

My grow will be in a wardrobe/closet roughly 2x4x6'. Am just trying to get a grasp on whether to fork out more $£ for a high end light like GN or to go with Mars or something that'll give me more light output for the money. The main initial difference seems to be the efficiency, & if i'm not too worried about that & also the other things i mentioned then perhaps it's better for me to save some $£ & go for a Mars unit or something ?

Thanks for any help or suggestions

You answered you own question bro if your not too worried about efficiency then go for mars do what is best for your sitiuation. GN is for thoses who need a higher output but want to save money on energy bills. If you are not worried about saving energy then go with something with a higher output to max out your grow space. This what I tell people mars lights are using older led tech that's why they can charge less for lights. The older tech is good but not as advanced as the newer lights coming out. So they work just don't have all the bells and whistles you'll find on a newer model led and for some people that's all you need to be happy.

 

[pop22]

You answered you own question bro if your not too worried about efficiency then go for mars do what is best for your sitiuation. GN is for thoses who need a higher output but want to save money on energy bills. If you are not worried about saving energy then go with something with a higher output to max out your grow space. This what I tell people mars lights are using older led tech that's why they can charge less for lights. The older tech is good but not as advanced as the newer lights coming out. So they work just don't have all the bells and whistles you'll find on a newer model led and for some people that's all you need to be happy.

You'd have to run them for 10 years to"save money" over less expensive lights. More efficient, sure looks like it, but at the price the sell for, there is no savings compared to old style lights. There advantage is better lighting per sq.ft.

 

[1guy1plant]

IMHO I agree with pop. If the old styles work why not use them? They are 1/3 the cost of the latest models in most cases. Until we start seeing dramatic increases in yield and or quality why spend the money? There will be new models constantly coming out and I am sure that in the future someone will come up with a big improvement in technology but I am not seeing it right now.

Regardless, of your opinion on this matter I think that we all agree that if you are a small indoor grower LED's are the only way to go.

 

[TaNg]

You'd have to run them for 10 years to"save money" over less expensive lights. More efficient, sure looks like it, but at the price the sell for, there is no savings compared to old style lights. There advantage is better lighting per sq.ft.

To be honest until there have been proper comparisons done to actually see how much more efficient the newer tech is than the older we are all just guessing.

 

[astronomy420a]

I have been using blackstar's for five year's:clap:and I love them:hug:. two of my five year old panel's had a problem, in the fifth year, the one bought first, had a foil topped board and could not be repaired simply:no:the other panel , I put a meter on the suspect diode, made a small u out of 16ga. wire bridged the contact's on the diode, back in operationworking fine:Cool bud:

then I saw some blackstar refurbished on flebay and bought a replacement panel fo 50 buck's:dance2:it had a compleat rebuild and gotham was the one that was auctioning there refurb's, works great.:clap: while on fleabay I saw a vipar 300 watt panel set in reflectors, and it had a great price, so I bought one.:thumbs:it also work's very well"Bailers Booya"that being said,.....I would love to have a pair of hs1's:Sharing One:so why don't you all take up a collection and by them for me!!:brow::roflcry:

 

[Magic]

Like my blackstar also astro! I have a new model tho but it rocks the hell out of my breeding tent! But its also a smaller smace 2x2.

 

[Corgy]

I can't help wondering why LED manufactures don't get their lights tested independently, say at UC Davis, University of Wageningen, Hortresearch NZ, etc. Yesterday I posted about the Parrot Flower Power gadget https://www.autoflower.org/f2/anyones-got-parrot-40378.html and those guys got their act together


[video=youtube;aL5BtpKFnm8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL5BtpKFnm8[/video]

I will never take anything at face value from LED manufactures websites and/or their advertising material, colorfancy charts and all, unless there is scientific independent testing to back up the claims about "natural sunlight" and what not. Comparison grows by random growers is a good indication, but not "scientifically" controlled.

Sure it cost money, but then they can at least with a straight face market their products, and if they don't have the wonga to pay for testing, then I wonder what aftersales/warranty will be like.........

Personally I find most of the website "info-mercialism" pure baloney produced by charlatans preying on "gullible below the radar" growers full of wishful hopes.

In my time in horticulture I never met a grower anywhere in the world who would start using a new product, unless.....it was given for free and used in a small corner or backed up by independent testing by a recognized authority.......big bucks in product is at stake.

As I'm about to get my first LED's, I will likely personally go for the GN HS1, because although expensive and GN is very slow in getting the accessories out(unless you are Master Operative TaNg!! :tiphat, power consumption/running cost, heat generated, fanless and the results I have seen plus a few more things favor this light, however the jury is still out for a little bit longer. That being said, with a gun to my head having to make a decision today, I would go GN lol.

Sure the technology is evolving very quickly, but like computers/smartphones, then you can keep waiting forever.......if you want the next best product.