Lighting LED only thread (the manual)

[verano]

THANK YOU! Glad that was said... Lighthouse Hydro Blackstar are good as in they work & definitely affordable, but they are the worst with advertised wattage.
The 240w model for instance is a mere 130-135w actual wattage! Its a big difference and main reason why when LED haters see the performance of a 240/500w Blackstar LED (specifically) unit vs their 600/1000hps, they assume all LEDs are as underpowered.
Simply not true at all, they just need to see the premium LEDs from GrowNorthern, Advanced LED, CaliLightworks, etc to really see what they can do.
Love me LED, and I have the 135w UFO (real draw 96w ) amongst other stronger panels but as RedEyedC pointed out... not all panels are created equal!
Blessings,
-Verano

"When doing my research on the Blackstar I read people post that it wasn't really 240W. I also understood that this rating is likely just calculated by taking the number or leds x their wattage in order to get a total - not actual power draw. I was OK with this and just hoping for the best as I also read somewhere that the number was more like 185W actual draw. Well I just had to know so ran out to the home depot and grabbed a kill-a-watt. This resulted in a surprising and very disappointing reading when I plugged in the Blackstar.
Oof, this thing is only pulling 133 watts! This really took the wind out of my sails..."
(Source - http://bubbleponics.com/forum/showt...ar-240W-side-by-side-with-Grow-LED-Hydro-240W)

 

[verano]

HAHA oh most DEFINITELY can! Jungles even

This ones for you Rob lol who said you can't grow big photoperiod under LED.

 

[TaNg]

THANK YOU! Glad that was said... Lighthouse Hydro Blackstar are good as in they work & definitely affordable, but they are the worst with advertised wattage.
The 240w model for instance is a mere 130-135w actual wattage! Its a big difference and main reason why when LED haters see the performance of a 240/500w Blackstar LED (specifically) unit vs their 600/1000hps, they assume all LEDs are as underpowered.
Simply not true at all, they just need to see the premium LEDs from GrowNorthern, Advanced LED, CaliLightworks, etc to really see what they can do.
Love me LED, and I have the 135w UFO (real draw 96w ) amongst other stronger panels but as RedEyedC pointed out... not all panels are created equal!
Blessings,
-Verano

"When doing my research on the Blackstar I read people post that it wasn't really 240W. I also understood that this rating is likely just calculated by taking the number or leds x their wattage in order to get a total - not actual power draw. I was OK with this and just hoping for the best as I also read somewhere that the number was more like 185W actual draw. Well I just had to know so ran out to the home depot and grabbed a kill-a-watt. This resulted in a surprising and very disappointing reading when I plugged in the Blackstar.
Oof, this thing is only pulling 133 watts! This really took the wind out of my sails..."
(Source - http://bubbleponics.com/forum/showt...ar-240W-side-by-side-with-Grow-LED-Hydro-240W)

Thanks for that dude +rep.

 

[robwars]

I'm not a techy although I do understand the majority of it. All I can say is that the proof is in the pics . Not knocking your info in the least bit I appreciate all info on all LEDs because there isn't a lot out there..... Thankfully we have several different models/brands being used here and we can avoid members spending money on junk. My advice to all is do your research, don't $kimp on a no-name LED brand. Spend some time in the fabulous lighting section and take a peek at what we are all doing with these amazing lights. :smokebuds:

 

[savoy]

I have an led quandary. I bought the lighthouse 90 watt veg ufo light and it says it can cover 2 square feet, and from the look of it it seems like its more like a bit over a square foot. What distance is best from the canopy top? You get more light spread the higher it is, I want to know the tipping point for losing efficient penetration. I'm trying to use it to service 3 plants from pre flower to full flower, then I move it to the hps I rotate them so each get the center every couple days.

 

[verano]

Too true robwars, you've got some danktastic girls!
I grew under my BS for awhile and grew some fine diggity dank at that.
It is just like any other technology out, its exponential for the most part.... a top end Intel Pentium 4 HT of yesteryear doesn't even touch a pimped out Intel i7 of today.
I swap out my LEDs about every 2-3yrs, down commission them as veg/mother only lights and the newer ones do the flowering.
All else equal, every LED upgrade has yielded more each time. Better optics/lens, actual draw, better heat-sinks/dissipation, advancements in diodes... LEDs continue to outshine more and more each year!
Blessings,
-V

 

[Red eyed c]

THANK YOU! Glad that was said... Lighthouse Hydro Blackstar are good as in they work & definitely affordable, but they are the worst with advertised wattage.
The 240w model for instance is a mere 130-135w actual wattage! Its a big difference and main reason why when LED haters see the performance of a 240/500w Blackstar LED (specifically) unit vs their 600/1000hps, they assume all LEDs are as underpowered.
Simply not true at all, they just need to see the premium LEDs from GrowNorthern, Advanced LED, CaliLightworks, etc to really see what they can do.
Love me LED, and I have the 135w UFO (real draw 96w ) amongst other stronger panels but as RedEyedC pointed out... not all panels are created equal!
Blessings,
-Verano

"When doing my research on the Blackstar I read people post that it wasn't really 240W. I also understood that this rating is likely just calculated by taking the number or leds x their wattage in order to get a total - not actual power draw. I was OK with this and just hoping for the best as I also read somewhere that the number was more like 185W actual draw. Well I just had to know so ran out to the home depot and grabbed a kill-a-watt. This resulted in a surprising and very disappointing reading when I plugged in the Blackstar.
Oof, this thing is only pulling 133 watts! This really took the wind out of my sails..."
(Source - http://bubbleponics.com/forum/showt...ar-240W-side-by-side-with-Grow-LED-Hydro-240W)

A blackstar led will grow you premo bud mate,it's probably the most used led at AFN and you won't find many complaints about the performance,which is the main thing we want,an led the performs the prices are sweet too and it's a small niggle on a great product.:smokebuds:
It also a better option if you have big grow space to buy multiple lower wattage panels than one bigger one,you have a core growing area with leds and plants do better in that zone,one large wattage panel restricts the amount of plants in that zone,but with multiple leds it increases the core growing areas and gives you a better spread

 

[verano]

Hey Savoy-
with that UFO 24"-30" max... beyond that the drop off of lumens is exponential.... huge loss as in halved every couple inches.

I have an led quandary. I bought the lighthouse 90 watt veg ufo light and it says it can cover 2 square feet, and from the look of it it seems like its more like a bit over a square foot. What distance is best from the canopy top? You get more light spread the higher it is, I want to know the tipping point for losing efficient penetration. I'm trying to use it to service 3 plants from pre flower to full flower, then I move it to the hps I rotate them so each get the center every couple days.

 

[GROWNBITCHZ]

Im seen new ufo stealth leds today they have ones with almost sillent fans and other ones with no fans there 7 inch 50W do 2 square feet but thry do much bigger . They look legit im waiting fore more info back il stick up a link if anyones intrested I seen a few complain about noisy fans.

 

[savoy]

Hey Savoy-
with that UFO 24"-30" max... beyond that the drop off of lumens is exponential.... huge loss as in halved every couple inches.

Thanks a lot. I'd been keeping it at 12-18" a little more height would be nice.