Anyone out there use LED lights...

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

I’m looking to upgrade my lighting system, now I’m using t5 HO in an eight bulb fixture. I’ve been using these lights for about 6 years, the fixture is getting tired, lost two “slots”. I use a 4x4x80 grow tent.

The prices for LED lights are rapidly decreasing sooo... time to get more light. Running LEDs is much cheaper in energy usage even beats out compact fluorescents. I grow autos so the lights are on a majority of the time, either 18/6 or more commonly 24 straight. I can’t spend barrels of $$$, I need to keep the cost of a light down to under 200 bucks. This is a light I found on Amazon, not the only one but think I’ve narrowed it to this one. ?.??

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Dimmable-PAR450-450W-Light/dp/B01M084LIE

You can adjust the light colors to enhance each stage of the growing process or stay full spectrum.

Any advice or knowledge would be appreciated.

Here’s a pic of a bud from my last grow, it’s Critical Purple it traces its lineage to popular Critical Mass and Big Bud.

[Locrian]

1. that is just so beautiful....

Sorry I can't help with the lighting though - I live in a moron state.

[SHRED]

2. I have

I now grow with Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) and I'm thrilled. I harvested 19.6 ounces of Autoflowers from a 3x3x7 foot tent in soil at 315 watts.

Check them out.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

3. Did the LEDs do ya good?

[SHRED]

4. I never could afford high end LED so there's that

I was turned on to the Sun System 315W LEC (CMH) by my local hydroponics store. So glad I was. These lights emit UV rays like the sun where LED does not. Think lots of "trichomes".

There isn't going to be an LED at 315 watts that could come close price wise nor gram per watt and flower quality of CMH.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. No, but I have extensively used fluorescents and...

I doubt affordable LED lamps yet have the proper spectrum to do a good job. Besides, if you forget about Amazon there are actual plant people who can steer you right. Like:

https://www.epicgardening.com/best-full-spectrum-led-grow-lights/

I don't agree entirely with that article, although it makes a lot of good points. The first problem is defining "full-spectrum". Nasty old filament lamps are by definition full spectrum, since they start as a black body and color temperature and spectrum change as it heats up. No need to fool around with phosphors. But, they create too much waste heat. Much too much.

There's a thing called "color rendering index" which measures how closely the spectrum of the lamp approximates sunlight. 0 is terrible, and almost impossible to achieve, while 100 is as good as it gets. It is relatively easy to get in the 90's with properly engineered fluorescents, and I used to install them regularly. They work great with plants and people. (Cats and birds, too.) Cheap fluorescents and CFLs can go down in the 60s for soft white. Almost no CFLs bother with the expensive red phosphors to get that and should simply be avoided for accurate color. 40" and 80" nicely colored tubes are not too difficult to find, and work well for plant lighting. All lighting, actually. My personal favorite is 5000K with a CRI of 94.

I don't remember the specs for the Gro-Lites I used to use, but they did look kinda purplish and everything thrived under them.

Now, LEDs are more efficient than fluorescents, but often not by that much with the larger tubes (you get a LOT of lumens for your 40, or less watts). And LEDs with a high CRI are hard to find. And expensive when you do.

So, without any more boring technical stuff, the bottom line is-- experiment. Cool-white 40" tubes and fixtures are dirt cheap and might work very well. Their spectrum is anything but full, but they could have what your plants want. And find a cheap set of LED lights that claim to be grow lights and set it up, seeing which, if either works better.

Truth is, I can't see cheap LEDs on Amazon working that well. Their "color' is usually just trying to balance three or four very narrow spectrum LEDs and you get something. Real full spectrum LED lighting tends to be on the expensive side.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

6. Thanks...

Yea, I only ever used compact fluorescents t5 high output. 8 4ft. Bulbs each in a reflective fixture bundled into one lamp. The bud I posted is from the last grow.
CF bulbs have mercury in them disposing is a bitch. Hazardous waste. LEDs are better for that one reason less expensive to run.
I have researched extensively online watched all the YouTube vids, well not all I’d still be watching. I was just looking for anyone with personal experience with LEDs.

[pansypoo53219]

7. we got a 'sun' bulb & the kitchen was ready for planes.

we to the basement.