Vipar lights are powerful and pretty cheap per watt (actual watts). Haven't had them for more than four months tho so cant say anything on longevity. Getting another one or two of them next as well tho, so that speaks for itself.
Lighting led prices
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One thing that concerns me about California Lightworks is that they don't provide the light spectrum/ratio. They claim it's a closely guarded secret that their competition would kill for. What troubles me about this is that the competition would only have to buy a light and use a radiospectrometer to discover the "secret."
In fact, it's even easier than that. CLW provides the spectrum, just not the ratio. With the spectrum, the average home user can discover the ratio by viewing the light through appropriately shaded and UV-protected eyewear. The colors are easily identifiable. It's just a matter of counting the bulbs.[1]
So... what concerns me is that CLW is creating the illusion of a closely-guarded "secret" as a marketing ploy. To play upon the common consumer psychology that they're buying into something proprietary nobody else has. The man behind the curtain telling you "never mind that competitors could easily acquire this info. We just don't want you to have it. We want you to believe you have a magical thing."
California Lightworks has a good reputation. A lot of owners who are very happy with the light. However, the same can be said for many other lights. As long as CLW prefers keeping the community ignorant for what can only be self-serving reasons, I would urge you to consider other makers.
TopLED (Mars) appears to do the same thing. I believe they're in the process of reconsidering their position to withhold ratio. But, at least the price is right. If I were going to patronize a company that doesn't allow consumers to make an informed choice, at least I wouldn't plow a large profit into them.
For me, I'm considering Grow Northern or Area 51, both of whom are transparent with what you're "feeding" to your plants (in the same way HPS/MH makers publish spectrum graphs).
[1] It's not quite that simple with UV and IR. These may be produced through phosphors built into white bulbs.
Trapper
Rocky Mountain...High
It's so they can "validate" the astronomical margin to the low info customer....if it isn't the specific ingredients (parts) that can be pointed to as unique or superior, then is has to be the "recipe". KFC Original Recipe secret spices. You don't sell the steak, you sell the sizzle.
A some of the time you are paying for better quality parts and the R&D they put in but other times it's plain old greed.
With LED's, it is my strong belief that it is not a case of you get what you pay for.
Some of these companies sell LED's for such rediculously inflated prices...I feel like its a case of you pay what you're willing to.
A $1000 Premium brand LED is not going to grow twice as well as a $500 Chinese version.
I'm sure there is some disparity on the 'quality' of the parts going into some of these LED's. But if you can find an honest reputable company selling a comparable product for less than half the price that still comes with a 3 year warranty... Some people like to throw money at things for imagined premium/quality gained...I tend to take a more pragmatic approch.
Some of these companies sell LED's for such rediculously inflated prices...I feel like its a case of you pay what you're willing to.
A $1000 Premium brand LED is not going to grow twice as well as a $500 Chinese version.
I'm sure there is some disparity on the 'quality' of the parts going into some of these LED's. But if you can find an honest reputable company selling a comparable product for less than half the price that still comes with a 3 year warranty... Some people like to throw money at things for imagined premium/quality gained...I tend to take a more pragmatic approch.
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OK, as an LED grower here is my 2 an a half pence worth. Like Steely I have a Prakasa 120w which is top notch and not too pricey and great customer service. Also I recently bought a Vipar C180 dimmable unit which is sooo bright and has two controllers so I can save a few bob on the leccy.
LED is the way to go for tight wads like me.
Sadly I can't use 'em to barbecue a pilchard like the old sodium lamps.!!! eP.
LED is the way to go for tight wads like me.
Sadly I can't use 'em to barbecue a pilchard like the old sodium lamps.!!! eP.
I've read some of the most knowledgeable LED users say it's better to use cheaper LEDs because of the way technology is advancing. LEDs considered top shelf today could be superceded in a year or two. And, more important, thoughts on spectrum change. There seems to be a shift toward more white light. Area51 and Astir seem to have gone to all white, mimicking T5 and CMH lighting.
I'm not sure how the all white will turn out. But, the state of LED causes me to think it's better to go lower expense and have the ability to upgrade sooner. (Especially as a newbie to LED.).
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i run a hydro grow led penetrator 126w pro panel, the 2011 models with no x lense tech , its a great panel but cost alot of money, i think off the top of my head by the time i had it sent to the uk bough 500 pounds ! or $700 .
i am toying with the idea to buy a new grow northern panel, bu i am also in the process of making my own . i am an elctronic engineer by trade and have all the equipment at my disposal to pick and place the leds and solder them in reflow ovens etc, i have chosen the leds i am planning to use and also started drawing up the board layout.
thinking about doing a side by side grow with my own led lights and my penetrator pro panel,
paul
i am toying with the idea to buy a new grow northern panel, bu i am also in the process of making my own . i am an elctronic engineer by trade and have all the equipment at my disposal to pick and place the leds and solder them in reflow ovens etc, i have chosen the leds i am planning to use and also started drawing up the board layout.
thinking about doing a side by side grow with my own led lights and my penetrator pro panel,
paul
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Paul, that would be real cool.
If you do go ahead, please post the project in the LED section and we will follow it with interest. eP.
If you do go ahead, please post the project in the LED section and we will follow it with interest. eP.
ill see what i can do eP i am on another forum alot more than on here, i come and go on here from time to time, but i recon the leds i am gonna knock up will be just as good as some of the better led panels available on the market, but at a first look at costing i can see why the better companys charge what they charge, some of the leds i am looking at using are over 2.50 pounds each , if you break that down to 126 leds on a panel you can see where the cost is, without even taking a metal box into account and a bloody big expensive aluminium heat sink
paul
paul
