Lighting Question about Blackstar EFSF 12

[WVTurtle]

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.

I might be a newb grower however you start talking about electronics is another thing. It's all about efficiency with led's and not particularly about about the watts. I haven't looked at the exact LED's or datasheets companies are using for their lights but it is very possible that a 3W LED can be outdone (or equalled) by a 2W LED with a better lumen per watt ratio.

 

[south]

If you can't get grownorthern to ship to you give igrowled a look,they do nice LEDs at at decent price and fellow member adz did a test grow with very nice results..here's the igrowled link http://igrowleduk.co.uk/

Hey thanks for that link Red Eyed c. I saw the grow adz did.. man what a harvest off two plants! I'm thinking I'm going to go with igrowled and spring for two H4 penetrator 161's. I'ma grow 4 plants instead of the 8 and aim for 2 ounces for each plant..

 

[Taviddude]

2 ounces per plant is a good target. If you're running larger strains It can definitely be done.

 

[robwars]

What are you going to use in your setup as far as pots/size, nutes, soil/hydro, and so on. 1 oz per plant should be easily achievable once you get your room dialed in and a grow or two under your belt. Just like Taviddude said your strain choices have a lot to do with it as well.

Like I said before, in my opinion it's all about coverage with LED's I'd much rather have two 300 watt leds then one 600 watter. Also like you said people around here have mixed emotions about BlackStars... All I can say is that they are good lights man, I have 5 of them and I love everyone of them equally !!! Lights are only half of it, there's much more to it then that.

Check out my albums in my profile, all grown with BlackStar LEDs. :smokebuds:

 

[south]

2 ounces per plant is a good target. If you're running larger strains It can definitely be done.

Bet Ima do a batch of Think Different just cause I want a huge harvest and plenty of bud to last me 3 months..

What are you going to use in your setup as far as pots/size, nutes, soil/hydro, and so on. 1 oz per plant should be easily achievable once you get your room dialed in and a grow or two under your belt. Just like Taviddude said your strain choices have a lot to do with it as well. :smokebuds:

Rob ima use 3 gal airpots.. as for everything else I still don't know wassup. I'ma read up on nutes and soil next I'll probably start a new thread similar to this one but about nutes and soil to get everyones recommendations.. this is my first grow and I'm doing it with my boy so we don't have to keep spending 10 bucks each every day on a sack

 

[Mr Piggy]

Hi South,

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).



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

I have a major bone to pick with this, blackstars are the witches titties.

Of course your ufo was insufficient for a grow, most all ufos are. This is known.
Blackstars are in fact quite powerful and do a great job for the price. The best bud I ever grew was under a 240 unit.

The op stated the actual draw of the unit in his post, so he's done his homework on that.

As far as 3w diodes being "so 2011" I have to disagree again. 3w diodes have great penetration without as much bleaching danger. More power does not necessarily mean better. I don't use a sledgehammer to drive a 10penny nail.....even if it would be fun

As far as them having insufficient spectrum, That's a load. Having more spectrum in your light again does not mean better. The vast majority of the light they cast is PAR light.

"but usable Lumens are what you pay for"

No, photosynthetically active radiation is what you pay for. Lumens don't really mean squat in led growing, so there's no point in bringing them up.



OP, I plan on buying more 240 blackstars when I upgrade to a bigger tent.

Edit: They're not kidding about the sunglasses, I have two pairs on top of my tent. If you don't used them and expose yourself to the light your vision gets tinted green afterwards. That can't be good!