Lighting Question about Blackstar EFSF 12

[south]

Hey nice to meet yall, I'm looking to grow 8 plants in a big walk in closet. I'm growing 4 purple cheese and 4 sixty day lemon auto plants. I need some help choosing an LED light that will be able to produce an ounce from each plant.

My budget for this light is about $1000, so I'm considering the Blackstar enhanced full spectrum flowering 12 2013. It has 180 3w led's and says "power consumption: 430w-540w".

do yall think this light can handle it? It says it's for experienced growers because the light is so intense. So I'm thinking it can do it but would like to hear what yall think before I drop a grand on it..

 

[robwars]

Greetings south and welcome to AFN :smoke: That light looks deadly (in a good way) but instead of the 12 I'd get two 6's. It'll give you a bit more coverage. Just watch your eyes with these lights, I wear really good sunglasses when I'm around mine, the light will burn holes in your eyeballs :drool: ok maybe not but it's intense and you should wear eye protection. :smokebuds:

 

[verano]

Hi South,
No just that light would not be able to handle 8 plants as efficiently enough to get an O per plant, uneven canopy problems, etc.
Blackstars are good LEDs but not all that powerful since they are generally on the cheaper end and underpowered. They do not run anywhere close to the advertised wattage... those panels have actual draw closer to 96w for every 180w stated (Gotham Hydro will tell you this is you question them). They have gotten better with the Chrome line but still if you have the money, wayyyy better lights out there. Its best to get multiple lights than just one big one also.
If you wanna stay with 3w diodes (better to upgrade to 5w), try AdvancedLedLights - Diamond Series, waaay better optics and spectrums than Blackstar.

If you wanna step it up and have better penetration and newer led technology....
Look at the 5w diode growlights, 200w SolarFlares (actual draw 186w!) or 400w/800w SolarStorm by CaliforniaLightWorks or the BlackDog leds.

I had started out with a Blackstar 135w 3w UFO that I was told was "so intense"... uhm yea not, it could handle 2 plants (15-25g each plant max), and thats it.
So personally I researched for ages and bought 4 of the 200w Solarflares (for varying plant heights in my 5x5 shed) and now use the Blackstar just for vegging.

3w diodes are soo year 2011 lol put that $1000 to good use bro, you can get some good stuff for that cash!

All LEDs are "intense" to our eyes fyi so always wear sunglasses, but usable Lumens are what you pay for.
Feel free to ask me anything else.

Blessings,
-Verano

 

[TaNg]

I had 5w chips in 2011,3w chips 2012 and my upgrades (due in 2 weeks or so) will have Philips Lumiled 1w chips so I'm going backwards in most people's eyes lol but I think the future is low energy LEDs producing well over a gram per watt. I use Grownorthern lights by the way.

 

[Taviddude]

Anyone asking 2,000.00 for a 700 watt light loses my vote. Come down to the common man's level or at least meet me half way. All the decent LED companies need to come down in price in my opinion.

 

[Taviddude]

Hi South,
No just that light would not be able to handle 8 plants as efficiently enough to get an O per plant, uneven canopy problems, etc.

-Verano

I agree with most of the rest of what you said, but an ounce per plant from 8 plants is a pretty low bar. That light could definitely pull 8 ounces. 5x3 flood drain table with 8 plants would be perfect for that light and I would anticipate a larger harvest than 8 zips. 4-500 Par watts on that area would be awesome. Do a ScrOG and that could really be a haul.
Just my 0.2.
Peace.
Tav

 

[GoidianGanja]

In China LEDs are made DIRT CHEAP and vendors are marking up massive profits multiplying their money many times

Anyone asking 2,000.00 for a 700 watt light loses my vote. Come down to the common man's level or at least meet me half way. All the decent LED companies need to come down in price in my opinion.

 

[verano]

I had 5w chips in 2011,3w chips 2012 and my upgrades (due in 2 weeks or so) will have Philips Lumiled 1w chips so I'm going backwards in most people's eyes lol but I think the future is low energy LEDs producing well over a gram per watt. I use Grownorthern lights by the way.

Haha thats awesome. I do wish Grownorthern shipped to USA, awesome lights from what I've read.
And yea taviddude, it's insane what premium LEDs command as well as plasma.
The Chinese made rebranded panels are the BlackStars for sure (AdvancedLeds does the same thing with their cheaper lines, they just add their lenses)
Grownorthern, Blackdog and CaliforniaLightWorks look like they make their stuff all in-house.

 

[Man In The Jar]

Welcome.. south

Anyone asking 2,000.00 for a 700 watt light loses my vote. Come down to the common man's level or at least meet me half way. All the decent LED companies need to come down in price in my opinion.

I'm with you on this bro I would think that a $1 a watt would be a good start see'in how 95%+- of them are built in mass production in China = (cheap labor)
I know someone is getting rich and its not the guy boxing the parts.


[QUOTE=verano..Grownorthern, Blackdog and CaliforniaLightWorks look like they make their stuff all in-house.

Hench the big price tag !!

 

[TaNg]

The Grownorthern modular lights I use are made in china but to Grownortherns design and spec you know like Apples iPhone,I also don't think the price of my lights is anywhere near Cali light works,my 120w lights cost £220. If you wanna see and expensive LED check this out http://www.ledjunglelight.com/ $1500 for what looks like a 400w 1st generation panel.