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Budget LED fixture-Please help ASAP!

YAMracer754

YAMracer754

So... I've been scouring for weeks already and learned so much more than I already did about PAR, ppfd, wavelengths, different diodes and drivers, fan/power supplies, etc.,and my brain is turning to mush at the moment! I am on a budget big time but willing to spend up to $100-$150 at most for now until things go farther along, and a light to move forward with my seedlings and I just cannot settle on one in particular. Anyone have any good/bad experiences with these Amazon units? Looking for dimmable if possible to conserve electricity for seedlings and vegging so efficiency is important to me-as well as ability to acclimate plants at different stages from one another without raising and lowering lights on a daily basis for optimal growth. Electricity is expensive here at 0.125¢/kwH so looking for bang for buck as well as being able to produce quite a few young plants. My ears are open to what you guys think, t5 vs. Led for my purposes?

I need help quick as things are getting too big with what I am currently using and looking to have something in a few days.. I've been looking at the roleadro 300+400w COB, the viparproducts, as well as the dimmable maxsisun and the cheaper bloomspect to name a few. Can something like this be optimal? Growing seedlings and trying to veg plants to prep most for outside full sun spectrum growth here when the Temps are right. Will use it to flower a couple indoors if possible as well, depending on space.

Currently have one of the kingbo cheap 50w (26 actual watts) ufo shaped panel and that is far from optimal except for little seedlings. Currently growing on a multishelf rack outfitted with reflection, approx. 2'x1'x5' but planning on a 3.5x3.5x60" tent or something close to that. Any help would be golden and would really appreciate your input-my brain hurts! Thanks guys!
Regards,
-Tristan

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
 
IMHO, you just can't buy a truly optimal, efficient, reliable, robust, safe, quiet, versatile, full-spectrum grow light for $100-$150.
 
Yeah I've gathered that it won't be 100% optimal for photosynthetic desires of the plants buying a fixture "on the low", but I wanna be able to do my plants some justice until funds get further along and keep the growth nice in the meantime. I've done the CFL rigs and chambers in the past and know how time consuming that can be but still produce nice/acceptable results, even moderate results through flower with spectrum change of bulbs. I don't know, just seeing what you guys thought or if anyone had used any to good results. :-/

Once I get more cash and have the lighting situation covered in the meantime I would like to build a cob fixture in the future-I see very impressive results with those and having a dimmer tied in is even more awesome! I haven't ruled out t5ho either just looking for personal experiences and opinion/expertise.. Thanks!
 
Also if it matters I plan on topping, low stress training, and fim'ing to get max yield and also to create the framework for an excellent pod setup later down the road. Also will be burying stems ND all that as I have had excellent results with that as well.

I've also got these racks that are being used for nothing that I could clear out and they go from floor to ceiling, and here is also what I am currently growing in to help illustrate.
ceace3dd273646847821f968a2c94fd2.jpg
bd7f0c94dd23d15882b224b9bbd273be.jpg


Trying to keep the bottom of the black rack as "germination station" and then everything else is open season for vegging or flowering if it came to that for a few indoor plants. Rest will go outside when it's time.
 
I really wish people would stop posting those inefficient blurple grow lights. You have all been misinformed. the LED in those SUCK. •LED Quantities: 60pcs 5Watt Bridgelux/Epileds
 
 here is the data sheet for those LED. They dont even show the efficacy of them. Epiled diodes are easily 5+ years old. They were cream of the crop in the beginning but now they are just awful. Samsung LED achieve an efficacy of 198 lm/W.  If you are going to use blurple, do it right. Use Cree XP-E chips.
 
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PexPeppers said:
get one of these. it beats HPS/MH with a fraction of the heat. Phator has one, ask him :)
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/273090971210
Click to expand...
 
PexPeppers beat me too it. I have the one he just posted and it is more powerful than i was expecting. I had to raise the whole light to almost 4 feet. even with the light so high the plants don't try to get leggy. I Just measured the lux above the plants and got 40,000 lux. I set the meter on the floor outside the tent about 3.5 feet still getting 2000 lux. 
 
Heat wise if you are in a tent, the normal air exchange that you should have will take care of any extra heat. If you are not using a tent then you will not have to worry about it one bit.
 
The one thing I like about the Folux LED's they are expandable if you need to expand your growing operation.
 
Where in the us do you live? Are you planning to/able to plant them outside for the growing season?
Are you trying to buy a lamp for year round indoor growing?

I grow more peppers than I can eat with 6 T12 tubes for the spring and the sun for the rest of the year in WI
 
Malarky said:
Where in the us do you live? Are you planning to/able to plant them outside for the growing season?
Are you trying to buy a lamp for year round indoor growing?

I grow more peppers than I can eat with 6 T12 tubes for the spring and the sun for the rest of the year in WI
Click to expand...
East TN at the moment and will be planting lots outside and in containers, but am looking at something capable for all my growing needs and not be lacking in flexibility-bang for buck kind of thing for PAR- if I can sell some at farmers markets and grow some spectacular crops for my own enjoyment then I will be happy [emoji4]

Thanks to everyone so far with your experiences, opinions, and reflections I'm looking into all as we speak keep em coning!
-Tristan

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
 
Phator said:
 
PexPeppers beat me too it. I have the one he just posted and it is more powerful than i was expecting. I had to raise the whole light to almost 4 feet. even with the light so high the plants don't try to get leggy. I Just measured the lux above the plants and got 40,000 lux. I set the meter on the floor outside the tent about 3.5 feet still getting 2000 lux. 
 
Heat wise if you are in a tent, the normal air exchange that you should have will take care of any extra heat. If you are not using a tent then you will not have to worry about it one bit.
 
The one thing I like about the Folux LED's they are expandable if you need to expand your growing operation.
Click to expand...
Wow that is sexy, what you guys use for frames?

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
 
they come with heatsinks which you can hang from included hanging straps. you have the option of having it assembled or assembling it yourself. either way its really easy. Alternatively you can use 3/4" 90 degree aluminum rail to rig up a ballin light
 
Phator said:
 
PexPeppers beat me too it. I have the one he just posted and it is more powerful than i was expecting. I had to raise the whole light to almost 4 feet. even with the light so high the plants don't try to get leggy. I Just measured the lux above the plants and got 40,000 lux. I set the meter on the floor outside the tent about 3.5 feet still getting 2000 lux. 
 
Heat wise if you are in a tent, the normal air exchange that you should have will take care of any extra heat. If you are not using a tent then you will not have to worry about it one bit.
 
The one thing I like about the Folux LED's they are expandable if you need to expand your growing operation.
Click to expand...
That sounds super 'deeee-lux'! [emoji23] but for real that is excellent! How is the footprint of the light?

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
 
YAMracer754 said:
That sounds super 'deeee-lux'! [emoji23] but for real that is excellent! How is the footprint of the light?

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
I'm in a  3 ' X 3 ' Tent and I am getting more than enough light. The LED's are capable of 198 lumens / watt.
But PexPeppers says 2 ' X 3 ' so i would follow what he says since he knows best.
 
Searching google I found This;
 
"HID lamp: Source efficiency is typically 120 lumens/watt or higher. However, losses from trapped light, protective covers and lenses, inefficient ballasts and unfavorable operating temperature typically result in a measured system efficiency of 30lumens/watt or less."
 
so at optimal efficiency the LED light gets 78 Lumens per Watt more than a HID bulb. In an unfavorable condition you would get 168 Lumens per Watt more.
 
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