I can pull a 1.5 pounds from 480 watts of lm301h leds in a 4x4 area. Im sure some can do better. But, im pulling that with no scrog nets. Just yoyos, bamboo sticks and twisty tie to hold up heavy branches.
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We are comparing watt to watt output of led vs hid. So, it only makes sense to compare 2000 watt led to 200 watt hid. Thats what this whole discussion is about.
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Gave me an idea I have 300 watt led in my 4x2 got a couple of ww auto fems going as soon as they are dun I’m gonna set up another 4 x2 tent exact same set up with a 400 watt halide start them at the same time same soil 5 gallons cloth pots same nutes etc etc for both runs and see which produces more I will do this for several runs and keep a strict journal…damn I have way to much time on mynhands
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I can pull 1.4lb dry (no co2) with 1 1000W (in air cooled shade) in a 4x4 area in 7.5 weeks doing proper SOG with 49 (LSD) plants and no veg, clone to flower, in 2 gallon pots. Just like some customers that come in and tell me how they are pulling 3LB+ dry with 4 plants under 1 light then they go on to tell me its with a 8 week veg and 8 week flower then I go on and tell them how I get that too in less time.
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My flower tent runs constantly unless im drying in it. Which i have just started using another tent for that purpose. So, veg time doesnt enter the equation for me. I can pull 1.5 pounds with 480 watts of led with no training besides topping sometimes. Most the stuff i run takes atleast nine weeks to peak ripeness. My point was that we are comparing led vs hps per watt.
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No, you can’t, you’re right. But as far as power consumption goes…would rather power the leds rather than hid.
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Figured I’d give my 2cents as I’ve been playing with the Gavita 1700s for a little over a year now. My Results have were mixed at 1st, but once I listened to a few people and made adjustments, I was blown away by what they can do. I’ve been running HIDs for 25 years and always hated on LED. I was gifted a 1700 to try from a friend. The 1st run was tough, no controller, didn’t understand the temp amd humidity preferences under the 1700, hadntt adjusted the cal/mag feed yet, and truly didn’t expect to see how fast thier metabolism sped up, drinking and feed almost doubled. By the second run I was figuring them out, and by the 3rd I was dialing in nicely. The 3rd run i really saw the difference in the 1000 hids with the Gavita. Hids were at 1.2 gpw, and the Gavita was 1.8 and prettier and greasier and environmentis much easier to control. I now have all 3 of the 1000s switched out and my 4th finally came in (my only real complaint was communication during covid, waited 5 mo for 2 lights, and another 2 months on this last one add could never get a real answer or date). Im a believer in the new technology for sure.
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Watt per watt of actual draw, LED out perform HID. Heat issue aside, with a horizontal HID in a reflector/hood 40-50% of the energy is directed in the wrong direction and needs to be reflected down or just wasted. So when you compare, it’s recommended to have 50w per sq/ft with HPS, but the same growth can be done with 30w sq/ft of LEDs, and the LEDs can be much more evenly spread. To maximize the use of HPS, a few vertically hung bulbs surrounded by plants would help with yield per watt, but would require multiple bulbs in large room so most plants will be lit on two sides and each light will be surrounded. You could do a vertical trellis if you want to let the plants just bud on one side that’s facing the light, or rotate the plants constantly.
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I read that that multiple points give some type of an advantage over a single point light as well. It. Makes sense because you hit the plants from more angles.
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Agreed. I ran vert for a decade and will agree that’s the best way to maximize your space and use with hids, especially is space is an issue. I regularly hit 1.5 and upwards of 2 on a few occasions.That being said, I’ve shelled out 5k in leds and have over 2 dozen hids justvsitting. After this run is over, I’ll have no more hids or t5s (t5s will still be use for seed starts and clones) running, except for at stubborn
partners spots. From what I’ve seen, the plants are happier under the gavitas. Also, with some more fine tuning, im almost certain 2 gpw will be fairly easy with most of our strains.
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Fluence Spydr 2i and Gavita 1700e are the best LED fixtures on the market. And yes, they compete very nicely against 1000w HPS with none of the heat issues or plant height issues in a 6’7" - 6’11’ grow tent. I favor Fluence but either will do a great job and they both will set you back around $1,350 US
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So they help control stretch? Im running mh for the first 2 weeks of flower, that is seeming to help alot. Im looking towards ledsi nthe future though.
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here is my setup… 12 LED panels powered by 160 watts each ( 320 split) …each panel covers 2’ x3’ my canopy is 12’ x 6’9" …ceiling is 7’ … HID in this room could not compete, even with 4000 watts air cooled… the layout of the room and low ceiling limited what HID could do whereas the LED panels are right at home and give me perfect light coverage and ridiculous production per watt… but I have 12 light fixtures… FYI these are Cookie Sheets with high end LED strips made by Photon Solutions… last crop was 9lbs pluus… I run 40 plants and average 4oz per plant .last crop was not 40 plants due to testing seeds and pulling males…biggest plants cracked 6 oz’s . And the plant pictured was a 25% plus producer of Rosin… primo quality with these LED’s
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The Fluence Spydr fixtures are safe at 6" over the canopy … and with that much photon intensity you control stretch (at least stretch beyond what the strain does naturally) and get great canopy penetration.
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A little tip for you !!,… temperature control at night is how to control stretch… don’t let your night temp dip below your day temp for the first 3-4 weeks, or until the stretch stops…
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Badger, Yes, they def help control height. Seems they encourage shorter wider plants in most strain from what I’ve seen. That being said, some sativas will still reach. The bandaid hazes i have running right now shot to 6’ and did not get bushy under the Gavitas, but all my keeper/production strains do.
Peace
Headie
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Ive been within 10 degrees, so that has been helping as well. Thanks for the tips y’all.
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You could also supercrop to control or limit the stretch. I pinch and crush the stem between every node as they start to space out.
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try for no movement, 10 degrees will cause stretch… I run 85 day and night under LED
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I will try to dial my temp in better, thanks buddy.
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