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formerly RGG

I have been useing growlights for many years.First I was useing fluorescent bulbs and later began useing more efficient HID [high pressure sodium and metal halide]systems.Lately I have been hearing a lot about LED lights.Earlier today I was on eBay and ran across LED growlights. This is some of what I read:

"BENIFITS: This panel has no ballasts to burn out like other plant lights. It does not run hot, just warm. You will not experience unsightly brown burned leaves when they accidentally touch the LEDs. This is common with most other lights that get very hot. This more controlled running temperature reduces the need to water so often and keeps rooms with plants from getting uncomfortably hot in the summer months requiring additional air conditioning. Extreme energy efficiency permits this new LED panel to pay for itself many times over each year in electricity savings. It saves 50% to 90% in energy consumptioncompared to incandescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes. Wide angle projection insures uniform leaf coverage.

Scientifically calculated even blending of red and blue LEDs eliminates the time consuming task of repositioning separate colored lights back and forth trying to achieve uniform exposure. 14 to 16 hours per day is all that is necessary for maximum plant health with this wave blended lighting system. This allows distances 6" and less between the LEDs and the plants accelerating photosynthesis. Red and blue wavelengths are for growing and flowering of plants.The typical white plant lights that are very hot is unnecessary and just consume excessive electricity. The purity of the LED generated light lengthens flowering periods. These LEDs turn on instantly and can be turned on by hand each day or work well with all standard lamp timers."

So I am wondering if anyone on this forum has experience with this type of lighting and do you have any comments or recommendations concerning their use?

1/27/2009 4:58:01 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Here's some more specs on it. I am interested in hearing what people think.

Specifications:
Body material: Thermoplastic
Circuitry board material: Diecast Chrome
60 Blue light LEDs: 465nm (nanometer) wave length
165 Red light LEDs: 650nm (nanometer) wave length
165 + 60 = Total 225 LEDs

Color: Red + Blue = Purple looking to the eyes
Working Voltage: 12V or 110V-220V
Power: 13.8 Watts
Dimensions: 12 ¼ inches (30.5cm) square

Thickness: Low profile 1.25"

Power cord length: 48 inches

Recommended coverage: one panel per 18 inches square

LED life: Approx. 15 years used all year long. (60 years for spring starting of seedlings)

$41.00

1/27/2009 5:36:11 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If it gets the right part of the spectrum, it is the way to go. LED's are the cheapest to operate, don't produce heat and last a very long time. If I had the extra bucks I would be getting them myself. To bad I'm on a very limited budget.

1/27/2009 8:59:50 PM

sevierville, Tn

Sounds good. Anyone have a link to these products ? I really like the life & energy usage of these.

1/27/2009 9:34:07 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Just take a line out of either TD's description, or from my specifications, and google search. You will find a number of places that sell them.

Here's my concern. I start my plants in a grow box in the basement. An unheated basement. This means that the grow lights actually heat the grow box. I think my plants would just about freeze if I switched to LED.

I have never had a problem with the plants and florescent bulbs. It may not be ideal, but it works fine for the watermelons, and the 500 or so odd plants I also start.

James.

1/28/2009 9:36:17 AM

formerly RGG

Excellent point James.Watermelons just sit there waiting on heat when there isn't much.I do suppose this type of lighting would be a good idea in a already well heated room.Also, it seems they would be good for indoors only and not good for nighttime outside use such as I was doing last season.

1/28/2009 6:03:26 PM

Alaska

If you like looking at your plants through an unnatural annoying looking light. They cast a weird light that I would have to turn off just to be able to look at them to see if they we doing okay. That's just me, I don't care for them.

4/18/2009 12:44:42 PM