LED GROW LIGHTS

[upndn99]

i can't see spending $20 or more for lighting that will only last for 6 months.  below i have listed several sites that offer LED GROW LIGHTS inexspensively, even build your own if you are so inclined.  the site where the build your own is from, is a site where you can build anything you want, with complete instructions.  hope you enjoy
 http://shop.sunshine-systems.com/product.sc?productId=1

http://www.thelashop.com/catalog/225-High-Power-Red-Blue-LED-Plant-Grow-Light-Panel-p-395.html

http://www.instructables.com/tag/?q=%22led+grow+light%22&limit%3Atype%3Aid=on&type%3Aid=on&type%3Auser=on&type%3Acomment=on&type%3Agroup=on&type%3AforumTopic=on&type%3AforumTopic=on&sort=none

[Jason in Plano]

I've never replaced any of my bulbs yet.  Some have been in service for more than a year.  The rule is kind of like car service centers saying you must change your oil every 3 months.  Nobody ever does it.   

[John J]

There have been several posts on here about the LED Grow Lights. Someone has the Blue/Red ones and I believe they did not have much success with them? Power was too low. Now there are some out there on the market that use Cree XLamp MC-E LED's that I heard work excellent. These are 1+ watt LED's. When put together into a unit they put out a lot of light. The units run into the hundreds of dollars.

I was going to try some of the Blue/Red ones myself as a test. You can get the 14W versions like you show above, on Ebay for a low as $15.00.

[ocarolina]

I have the blue red ones in my home rig, and they work great.  I dont recall seeing any failures here about them - mine have flourishing cherry tomatoes under them and they are going strong.

[John J]

Sorry about that! I could swear that last year sometime there was a big discussion about them and someone said they did not put out enough power and their plants were always reaching for the light? Maybe I read it somewhere else? I will have to look around.

[ocarolina]

I won mine in a contest from Maximum yield last year (Mary H posted it) and put it to good use.  THis is the one I have http://shop.sunshine-systems.com/product.sc?productId=10 and I have 3 cherry toms in there since early summer, and one lonely pepper plant - placed there about a month ago.  They are doing great - and are on their second round of producing tomatoes

[ocarolina]

The middle link light above looks almost the same as mine, and is only $40. Worth a try....

[John J]

Your plants look great but I knew I wasn't crazy.

Here is where I read it on the forum.

http://www.aerogardengrowers.com/index.php/topic,1182.0.html

Here is what Joyce finally had to say. I believe she is the one everyone was talking about?

http://www.aerogardengrowers.com/index.php/topic,175.msg4028.html#msg4028

[ocarolina]

maybe the kind that I have has a different spectrum??? I do not know much about them, but they have definitely grown past the seedling stage.

[John J]

That sounds great. I have been wanting to try them and have heard from other people that they were working OK. I think I might give it a shot later on in the year. Thanks for the information.

[rangergord]

I think LED systems hold great promise.  Long life, low power consumption.  But I am going to wait for the technology to mature.  The first compact flourescent lamps were not very good compared to the full spectrum bulbs in aerogarden.  Soon full sprectrum CFL's will be everywhere.  LED's are not full spectrum and since I live in the light of the aerogarden this is important to me not just the plants.  When LED's are full spectrum and low cost I will fill my house with them.

[ocarolina]

I did not purchase mine - won in a contest.  It has done it's job for growing cherry tomatoes and peppers - and seems that the plants are not lacking in any way for light.  I have them in a spare bedroom, and honestly, sometimes we have to close the door from too much light (the ag's are in there too).  If I had to pay $140 for the one I won, I would pass. But for about $40 -seems reasonable.  You cannot use the LED I have  for "living light" because it gives off a pink/purple hue of light.  But for a hydroponic light, it is great  and low cost to use.

[John J]

I think LED systems hold great promise.  Long life, low power consumption.  But I am going to wait for the technology to mature.  The first compact flourescent lamps were not very good compared to the full spectrum bulbs in aerogarden.  Soon full sprectrum CFL's will be everywhere.  LED's are not full spectrum and since I live in the light of the aerogarden this is important to me not just the plants.  When LED's are full spectrum and low cost I will fill my house with them.

The units sold that use the high power Cree XLamps are 5000 K Daylight. Cree makes the high power LED's from 2600 K to 10000 K. The are very expensive. On one of the posts here about LED lights, we posted the price of the unit and what would be the payback time based on the much lower electric usage. If I find it I will add a link.

I found it. Here is the Link where we spoke about the Procyon and Supernova Units. We figured about 2 1/4 years to break even on the Supernova.

[rangergord]

Great   full spectrum LED's exist.  Now we just have to wait for the price to drop.  Another few years till then I guess.