New Grower LED for 4x4 tent

[az2000]

I'm preparing to buy an LED to use in my 4x4 tent. I'm curious if it's better to have one larger fixture, or 2-4 smaller ones that can be adjusted independently?

One reason I ask that question: I see a lot of odd-ball sized lights. For example, Advanced Diamond Series are in extremely rectangle sizes, giving the impression they cover a strip of the tent (use 2-3 lights?).

Also, is higher wattage better? For example,

1. Calif. Lightworks uses 88 5w bulbs for total 440w, but runs 320w max.
2. Pro Grow 400x uses 221 3w bulbs for total 663w, but runs 350w max.

It seems like #2 is better because it's running more bulbs at almost 50% capacity. Is there something about 5w bulbs which makes running fewer bulbs at 80% better?

Also, why would Calif. Lightworks create a light that covers 6x6 in veg mode, but only 3x3 in flower mode? That seems like a design flaw. Buying too much blue capacity; mismatched capacity?

Also considering Lighthouse Blackstar, including their "chrome" lights. But, I don't like how they don't have switchable veg/bloom modes. It's either full spectrum or you buy one light for veg, another for bloom (which might not be so bad?).

The Blackstars take me back to my opening question about 1 large or 2 smaller lights? Blackstars are smaller. Would I be better with two 240w lights? And, if so, duplicating those in veg and bloom fixtures? (total of four lights?).

I'm having trouble putting together all the LED criteria and determining what's important. (Is switcable, veg-/bloom-specific beneficial enough to justify a switch or duplicated unswitched light fixtures?).

 

[Mindzeye]

I'm preparing to buy an LED to use in my 4x4 tent. I'm curious if it's better to have one larger fixture, or 2-4 smaller ones that can be adjusted independently?

One reason I ask that question: I see a lot of odd-ball sized lights. For example, Advanced Diamond Series are in extremely rectangle sizes, giving the impression they cover a strip of the tent (use 2-3 lights?).

Also, is higher wattage better? For example,

1. Calif. Lightworks uses 88 5w bulbs for total 440w, but runs 320w max.
2. Pro Grow 400x uses 221 3w bulbs for total 663w, but runs 350w max.

It seems like #2 is better because it's running more bulbs at almost 50% capacity. Is there something about 5w bulbs which makes running fewer bulbs at 80% better?

Also, why would Calif. Lightworks create a light that covers 6x6 in veg mode, but only 3x3 in flower mode? That seems like a design flaw. Buying too much blue capacity; mismatched capacity?

Also considering Lighthouse Blackstar, including their "chrome" lights. But, I don't like how they don't have switchable veg/bloom modes. It's either full spectrum or you buy one light for veg, another for bloom (which might not be so bad?).

The Blackstars take me back to my opening question about 1 large or 2 smaller lights? Blackstars are smaller. Would I be better with two 240w lights? And, if so, duplicating those in veg and bloom fixtures? (total of four lights?).

I'm having trouble putting together all the LED criteria and determining what's important. (Is switcable, veg-/bloom-specific beneficial enough to justify a switch or duplicated unswitched light fixtures?).

By using less 5 w led's they can create the same power as a 3w light with more diodes. The 5w Leds are supposed to have a longer throw so they penetrate more.

The reason they say it covers more in veg than flower is because less light is needed to veg a plant, while intense light is needed in flowering so they are telling you 3x3 coverage to still have the intense light. With just about every led company they claim the lights cover a certain space, I find this is usually exaggerated. I would say double the power up, when they say you need 200 watts you should really use 400 watts..

Have you considered the grow northern lights? They seem to be high quality and less money than what your looking at.. Also check out topledgrowlight.com they have great deals, Im using one now in my journal, it has 5w leds.

 

[Mindzeye]

Oh also multiple lights will give more even light coverage than one big, this does cost more though. It all comes down to how much you have to spend.

 

[az2000]

Also check out topledgrowlight.com they have great deals, Im using one now in my journal, it has 5w leds.

Thanks, those lights look appealing. I may try a couple of those instead of investing deeper into a Pro Grow 400x.

Regarding switchable modes (veg/bloom), is mode specificity that important? Would a person notice much difference between a mode-specific (switchable) light and those TopLedGrowLights that are full spectrum?

I was thinking modes would conserve the LED life by turning off LEDs that aren't needed. But, I'm also curious how veg-/bloom-specific lighting contributes to finished product. I assume it's not too important because there are so many non-switchable fixtures out there.

 

[Mindzeye]

I guess it saves electricity because your not using all the diodes, I used mine full spectrum through veg and they did just fine. It is a cool feature but isnt crucial to have switchable modes.

 

[TaNg]

It's a bit of a missconsepition that a light with 5w diodes will penetrate more than a light with 3w or 1w,it's more about the quality of the chip how it's been driven and the overall power of a light. For example 5 1w chips will perform as well as 1 5w chip....just look at the Hydrogrow sol lights there "50w chips" are just 50 1w chips intergrated together.

About your Q regarding 1 big light or multiple lights multiples are the way to go...at the moment in my 1.2m2 room I'm running 2x120w units (arrays driven at 1w) and I really wish I had 4 60w lights to spread the light more.

 

[armory]

Im also using the toplightled 5w led's they seem real tough and sturdy dam thing weigh's a ton lol i got the 900w marsII been using it for a couple grows now,it seems to work real well but i havent tried using it by it's self yet,i will this summer.

One thing i will note, I never got the cal/mag defecinecy untill i started using led but the buds seems alot more frosty and overall more healthy same density but size seems to have improoved quite abit lolz

 

[Mindzeye]

It's a bit of a missconsepition that a light with 5w diodes will penetrate more than a light with 3w or 1w,it's more about the quality of the chip how it's been driven and the overall power of a light. For example 5 1w chips will perform as well as 1 5w chip....just look at the Hydrogrow sol lights there "50w chips" are just 50 1w chips intergrated together.

About your Q regarding 1 big light or multiple lights multiples are the way to go...at the moment in my 1.2m2 room I'm running 2x120w units (arrays driven at 1w) and I really wish I had 4 60w lights to spread the light more.

I havnt looked too much into different diode brands.. Are Epistar Leds good? Thats what they claim are in my light and the 5w LEDs are being driven at 3watts each.

 

[TaNg]

I havnt looked too much into different diode brands.. Are Epistar Leds good? Thats what they claim are in my light and the 5w LEDs are being driven at 3watts each.

As long as there 'top bin' meaning there highest quality all of the bigs names chips will give good results.

 

[Mindzeye]

As long as there 'top bin' meaning there highest quality all of the bigs names chips will give good results.

I have no clue what bin they got them out of, the light is effective though..

Az2000- Whatever light or lights you decide on this site has a lot of good info and reviews, make sure you look at the review section there are a lot of good lights out there.