I've been all over the various LED retailers and many of the LED threads in these forums. Just like all of you I'm still confused and frustrated. The retailers obviously say that their approach is the best but as buyers we haven't yet really challenged them or tried to confirm or disprove their hype. Some of the forums actually propose head to head grows but as far as I can see any results are inconclusive with too many variables. They all seem to degenerate into the emotion and hype that we get from the retailers.
I really would like to get a serious discussion going, digging deeper into the technical issues.
From what I can see the main areas that we as buyers need resolved are as follows:
1. The actual spectrums of bulbs employed and the percentage of each light. Apparently some less effective spectrums have lower raw costs
2. Some manufacturers are coming out with 2, 3 and 6watt LEDS. They contend that the higher wattage LEDs have better penetration and are more efficient (more Lumens per watt) I ran into a company recently that rejects this completely. They contend that 1 watt LEDs are the most efficient and provide more Lumens per watt. I really hit a brick wall trying to confirm that statement. The LED manufacturers websites are difficult to navigate and geared for electrical engineers. I also cannot determine if the Lumen per watt issue is across the industry or just for one manufacturer. Do higher wattage LEDs actually penetrate deeper regardless of the efficiency issue? (certainly a 1000w HID has more penetration horsepower than a 250 w HID) The whole penetration issue is anybody's guess.
3. The next confusing variable is the lens angles utilized. I've seen very focused (30 deg) to very disbursed (180 deg) and most company's that will not discuss it at all. The argument that the more focused light would naturally penetrate deeper into a plants canopy seems logical but is it? As a side thought.... could a wider angle lens work with a SCROG setup in a growbox if the canopy was trained partially up the box on the perimeters of the SCROG screen. Perhaps this would effectively use some of the light that is focused at the walls of the grow, HMMM?
Lets all get out there and really challenge these companies with these questions. Send emails and or call them. Make them be specific about their suppliers, spectrums etc and challenge them to do controlled side by side tests with other lights. Let them know their answers will be shared on this forum. If we all stand together on this they will learn that they cannot just pass off any bullshit on their websites. Lets stop taking their word for it!!
This may turn into yet another fruitless thread on LED lights. Unfortunately until we feel more confident paying for expensive lighting the industry will not achieve its potential. That would be a shame.
I really would like to get a serious discussion going, digging deeper into the technical issues.
From what I can see the main areas that we as buyers need resolved are as follows:
1. The actual spectrums of bulbs employed and the percentage of each light. Apparently some less effective spectrums have lower raw costs
2. Some manufacturers are coming out with 2, 3 and 6watt LEDS. They contend that the higher wattage LEDs have better penetration and are more efficient (more Lumens per watt) I ran into a company recently that rejects this completely. They contend that 1 watt LEDs are the most efficient and provide more Lumens per watt. I really hit a brick wall trying to confirm that statement. The LED manufacturers websites are difficult to navigate and geared for electrical engineers. I also cannot determine if the Lumen per watt issue is across the industry or just for one manufacturer. Do higher wattage LEDs actually penetrate deeper regardless of the efficiency issue? (certainly a 1000w HID has more penetration horsepower than a 250 w HID) The whole penetration issue is anybody's guess.
3. The next confusing variable is the lens angles utilized. I've seen very focused (30 deg) to very disbursed (180 deg) and most company's that will not discuss it at all. The argument that the more focused light would naturally penetrate deeper into a plants canopy seems logical but is it? As a side thought.... could a wider angle lens work with a SCROG setup in a growbox if the canopy was trained partially up the box on the perimeters of the SCROG screen. Perhaps this would effectively use some of the light that is focused at the walls of the grow, HMMM?
Lets all get out there and really challenge these companies with these questions. Send emails and or call them. Make them be specific about their suppliers, spectrums etc and challenge them to do controlled side by side tests with other lights. Let them know their answers will be shared on this forum. If we all stand together on this they will learn that they cannot just pass off any bullshit on their websites. Lets stop taking their word for it!!
This may turn into yet another fruitless thread on LED lights. Unfortunately until we feel more confident paying for expensive lighting the industry will not achieve its potential. That would be a shame.
