LED Grow Lights

We review all the best LED Grow Lights from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and now the best full spectrum LED Grow Light grow lights of 2018.

From full spectrum LED down to the cheaper more affordable models. LEDs are now being used all over the world to grow marijuana. Recent advances in LED grow light technology have led to more and more growers seeing success, high yields and LED lighting sources are fast growing in popularity. 

We are here to tell you that growing marijuana with LEDs works. The best models offer results better than HIDs together with huge electrical, management and heat savings. A number of our members in the HTG forum have shifted to growing under LED and are not going back to the old ways of burning electricity with HIDs.

• 2018 LED Grow Light Reviews

• 2017 LED Grow Light Reviews

• 2016 LED Grow Light Reviews

• 2014 & 2015 Full spectrum LED grow light review

• What LEDs are available?

• LEDs pros and cons

• Brief history of LEDs

• How are LED colors made?

• Full spectrum LEDs vs. 3 band, 5 band, 11 band

• How to make high intensity white LEDs (WLEDs)

• LED efficiency versus HID lamps

• High powered LEDs (HPLEDs) – 1W, 2W, 3W & 5W

• Difference between 1 Watt and 3 Watt LEDs then?

• IMPORTANT – Advertized Watts vs. actual Watts draw

• Heat – Thermal management of LED grow lights

• LED grow light lens – Boost light & direction

What LED Grow Lights are available?

Most LED grow light components are made in China or another Asian country. The grow lights themselves are then either assembled in China, USA or European counties with varying degrees of materials, skill and quality LEDs. You can have great LEDs, drivers and heat sinks which are poorly assembled.

Cheap – Poor spectrum, LEDs and build quality

UFO type LEDs from many online sources and of course eBay. They may quote all kinds of huge Watts or ‘full spectrum’ but when you see big red and big blue LEDs in a cheap looking plastic housing you know this is the bottom end of the market. You will not be getting top shelf LEDs and results / yield will be drastically affected. We just don’t recommend these products at all. You are far better off buying a HPS/MH system and deal with the added electricity costs and ventilation issues.

Mid price – Bands of spectrum, fans and reasonable quality

These usually look more the part with better housing, higher quality LEDs that may even include brands like Epistar and Bridgelux. In variably though these will not be full spectrum LED grow lights they will be 6, 8, 11 or 12 band models. These bands will cover sections (bands) of the whole PAR spectrum but will miss chunks here and there. The sun doesn’t miss any of the spectrum required to grow and flower plants correctly so why would your plants react to their full potential under them? They don’t. Mid price larger models will incorporate fans for cooling.

High end – Full spectrum, fan-less operation, excellent build quality

These are more often the full spectrum models that cover approximately 420 to 750 nanometres, the PAR range. They include expensive white LEDs and in photos you will see some LEDs look like they are ‘dead’ – not true these are emitting in the far-red portion of the spectrum which is 710 to 850 nanometres, dimly visible to some people eyes. Look for high end components such as brand name LEDs from Epistar, Bridgelux or Cree. Thermal engineering is a key to design with the best being fan-less. LED grow lights that are high Watt and fan-less are designed well because they have dissipated the heat created by the LEDs perfectly using rapid heat sink materials. Then there are self protecting power supplies, UV protected and angled TIR lenses and not to mention the warranty, two years is not enough. LED grow lights with these features offer excellent results with thick and juicy buds.

LEDs pros and cons

• LEDs have far lower energy consumption running at approximately 60% of an equivalent HID;
• There is no filament to burn so LEDs have longer bulb times of 50,000 to 60,000 hours versus HIDs which start dropping output considerable at 2,000 to 3,000 hours;
• LEDs are smaller and faster to emit light and are physically more robust so they relatively shock resistant being solid state components;
• LEDs’ offer far less heat output, in fact the good ones run pretty much ‘cold to touch’ while HIDs run very hot. LEDs reduce your fire risk considerably;
• LEDs can focus their light output with the use of lenses rather than disperse the light like HIDs that require reflectors;
• Precise current (power) management is required with LEDs when compared to HIDs. However, LEDs have the power management built in while the HID lamps rely on external ballasts which also add another 100 to 150 Watts of power consumption;
• LEDs are more expensive to start a grow with when compared to HID but they are cheaper over the long term;
• LEDs are instant on and instant off, they do not need to ‘warm up’ like HID lamps;
• LEDs can be dimmed also if required;
• LEDs are safe, classed as ‘Class 1 LED product’ as they do not contain mercury like compact fluorescents;
• LEDs powerful enough for lighting big areas like rooms or greenhouses require more precise current and heat management but are now used in some large areas over CFL and HID lighting.

Brief history of LEDs

How do they work? LED grow lights produce light by passing a current through a semiconductor material. The movement of electrons within the semiconductor releases energy in the form of photons, i.e. light.

LEDs once just came red in color, they were the little low lights in the corner of every TV. These days LEDs have advanced massively, they are now available across the spectrum from ultraviolet through the visible right into infrared wavelengths with very high light output.

The first observation of ‘electroluminescence’ was in 1907 by a British experimenter from Marconi Labs named H. J. Round. Then twenty years later, way back in 1927 a Russian named Oldeg Vladimirovich Losev created the first LED but no practical use for it was found. It took until 1955 for semiconductor alloys, namely gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium antimonide (GaSb), indium phosphide (InP) and silicon-germanium (SiGe) to show infrared emissions at room temperature as firstly observed Rubin Braunstein working with RCA (Radio Corporation America) . Then in 1961 Texas Instruments patented the idea.

How are LED colors made?

The semiconductor material has a p-n junction which is the interface between the two types of semiconductor materials, n-type and p-type, known as ‘n’ and the ‘p’. This is the active site whereby the electronic action of the LED takes place. The color of the light emitted or its wavelength is dependent on the ‘band gap’ energy of the materials forming the p-n junction.

In 1962 -Nick Holonyak Jr., considered by some the father of LEDs, working within General Electric (GE) reported the first visible spectrum LED showing red color. Craford, then graduate student of Holonyak, created the first yellow LEDs and improved the overall brightness of his red and orange LEDs tenfold in 1972.

The Monsanto corporation, yes the seed guys who sued USA farmers, were the first to mass produce visible spectrum LEDs, firstly as indicators, in 1968.

We had the first high powered blue LED (not the first blue) created by Shuji Nakamura of the Nichia Corporation in 1994 which was based on the semiconductor alloy InGaN or Indium gallium nitrite, your new word for the day?

This quickly led to the development of the first white LED using Yttrium aluminium garnet or ‘YAG’, which is a phosphor coating to mix ‘down-converted’ yellow light with blue which produces a visible white light.

Moore’s law which saw the doubling of chip performance every 18 months to two years, applies similarly within the LED industry with a doubling in performance ever 36 months since the late 1960’s due to the improvements in semiconductor and optics.

Full spectrum LEDs vs. 3 band, 5 band, 11 band

As with many plant species, marijuana also has light-mediated development – photomorphogenesis. The blue spectrum stimulates vegetative growth and the yellows, ambers, reds and far-red spectrum stimulates pre-flowering and flowering (reproductive growth). Therefore, growing marijuana to maturity will use the light wavelengths from approximately 420 to 730 nanometres (nm), covering both chlorophyll A and chlorophyll B absorption peaks (Photosynthetically Active Radiation, or PAR for short).

LEDs are manufactured using different semiconductor materials to create LEDs which emit light of different wavelengths. Using LED grow lights that emit the proper spectrum is essential to obtaining high yields.

In the earlier days of LED grow light technology, your main options were red and blue diodes or more expensive white LEDs. The white LEDs, commonly called full spectrum LEDs, provided a much closer match to the natural spectrum of sunlight (the PAR spectrum) than the individual diodes which emitted light at a single wavelength.

As you can see from the table below, there are now many different possible LED diodes that can be produced using different semi-conductor materials.

What wavelength or spectrum your LED grow lights offer your marijuana is of paramount importance to your yield. The most expensive LEDs are white, offering a broad spectrum of light like the sun covering much of the visible light spectrum (PAR). You need white LEDs! If you see an LED grow light with just red and blue lights you are not going to achieve a high quality grow at all as the white LEDs are so much closer to mimicking the sun. The table below outlines the different LEDs versus the color and wavelength they produce.

Many leading LED producers now use an assortment of different diodes in place of white LEDs. These manufacturers state that by choosing individual diodes they can match the PAR spectrum more closely than a white led. White LED lights do have peaks and troughs in their spectrum, as do spectrums composed of individual band diodes. When choosing an LED grow light it is important to consider the spectrum it covers and how closely that spectrum matches the PAR spectrum. There is more good information at LED grow light expert on this.

The more closely the LED matches the PAR spectrum the more efficient it is. There is less light that cannot be used by the plants which means less waste. An efficient LED grow light saves on electricity and boosts yields. In addition, less light is lost to heat, which decreases the cooling requirements in the growroom.

How to make high intensity white LEDs (WLEDs)

• Use a single LED that emits three primary colors of red, green and blue and mix the colors perfectly to form a white light. These are known as ‘multi-color white LEDs’ or ‘RGB LEDs’ and are more complex to manufacture than the phosphorus type explained below. Multi-color LEDs are at the forefront of LED development because with the right tweaking they can offer nearly any color light we want by mixing primary colors. These are the best type of white LEDs;
• Or use a phosphor based semiconductor material to convert a blue or even a UV light into the broad or full spectrum white light your plants require. These WLEDs are known as phosphors based white LEDs which are also the easiest to manufacture and therefore the cheapest to buy;
• There is a third method of making white LED grow lights using zinc selenide (ZnSE) but this is in its early stages.

The key difference between WLEDs is how solid their color stability, color rendering and luminous efficiency are key. Color rendering index, CRI, basically means how faithfully the color is produced, you may know the term from using Photoshop. While luminous efficiency is discussed later on. If your LED grow light is constructed using LEDs from brand name suppliers such as Cree or Bridgelux, then these issues will be minimized and cause little affect. It is far easier to get good solid color rendering and luminous efficiency with the multi-color or RGB white LEDs.

• There are many commercially available LED units that have spectra specifically balanced LEDs for the grow room. This is generally achieved by using a mix of red and blue then white, ambers and far-red ranges so that they cover the entire spectrum;
• When you see LED grow lights advertized as 3, 5, 6, 11 or 12 band LEDs this means they offer a spectrum with gaps, maybe something like this: 440nm, 470nm, 525nm, 640nm, 660nm, 740nm. So there will be peaks and troughs in the spectrum produced rather than one continuous full or broad spectrum. These ‘6, 11, 12 etc band’ products operate in some but not all of the spectrum required for a successful, fast, big yield crop. These are not full spectrum grow lights;
• Quite often LED grow light companies are reselling someone else’s product configuration and they simply don’t know what LEDs are mounted in the system;

Did you know that LEDs are now available is very short wavelengths with near UV 375-395 nanometres and more expensive models that achieve wavelengths closer to 240 nm. The absolute wavelength depths of LEDs are known as ‘deep UV’ with labs using diamond to produce 235 nm, boron nitride at 215 and aluminium nitride right down at 210 nm.

LED efficiency versus HID lamps

LEDs are ‘luminous efficient’, which means they produce visible light very efficiently from electricity. For example in 2002 Lumileds manufactured a 5W LED with a luminous efficacy of 18 – 22 lumens per Watt, compare that to the traditional incandescent bulb which at around 80 Watts offers 15 lumens per Watt (lm/Watt). Nichia released a white LED 140 lm/W in 2010. Since then Cree have increased that right up to 254 lumens per Watt at a color temperature of 4,408 K (Kelvin) using the Cree XLamp® which uses silicon carbide technology and runs at 350 mA. Note these figures are in controlled labs and are only the chip, so in real life after the LED has its plastic shell and is mounted these figures will be much lower but they are still better than the HPS lamps with standard HPS lamps running at approximately 100 lm/Watt.

These days, good LED grow lights will save a grower around 50% off their electrical bills. Growing with 2 x 250W (true Watts drawn not potential draw) equals a total power bill of 500 Watts per hour. This setup will offer better but comparable growing to a 1000 Watt HID (HPS or MH) which also requires a 150 Watt ballast. So when you include the ballast and potential ventilation system the savings are more like 60% or more.

High powered LEDs (HPLEDs) – 1W, 2W, 3W & 5W

Normal LEDs used in electronics consume a tiny 30-60 milliwatts (mW) of power at very low amperage; note the word ‘milli’ in there. However high power LEDs running at between 500 milliwatts to over 500 Watts (Yes! Think industrial lighting) are driven from 100’s of mA (milliamps) to over an Ampere. In 1993 the first highly bright blue LEDs were manufactured by the Nichia company and were based on silicon carbide. It wasn’t until 1999 that Philips Lumileds introduced the first 1 Watt LEDs to the market in far larger semiconductor die sizes.

So what is the difference between 1Watt and 3Watt LEDs then?

The 1W and the 3W can tolerate running at a range of power outputs up to and over there named Wattage. So a 3W LED can run at say 1W but it will also be able to run at say 4W too. Why? Well it’s because the names given to these LEDs (1W, 3W, 5W) are only ever a guide as to the power possibilities of the LED. However a 3W LED is built on a larger semiconductor die size when compared to a 1W LED so it is built to run at higher Watts, this why it is named a 3Watt LED.

IMPORTANT – Advertized Watts vs. actual Watts draw.

All LED grow lights run well below their potential Watts. If you have 100 X 3W LEDs the potential is 300 Watts but the actual draw will be closer to 150 Watts. LEDs are usually driven at anything from between 50% to 65% of their potential. If you run a 1 Watt at 1Watt continuously or a 3W at 3Watt you have a greater chance of color shift and will also cut its life (hours) down considerably, just as you would running a car at high revs all the time.

Let’s get this straight; don’t be fooled into thinking that just because your LED grow light has 150 x 1W LEDs it as an output of 150 Watts. No, it does not. Well, you hope it doesn’t as the bulb time will be severely limited if you power it at full capacity at all times. Your LED grow light will have an output closer to 55% to 65% of its full capacity; the same concept applies to all LED grow light diodes.

Again, if you see a light advertised as 450 Watts using 150 x 3W LEDs its actual draw will be more like 250 Watts. You can work out the actual output or draw of any LED grow light using the Volts, Amps Watts calculator. If the company selling the lights does not advertise the Volts and Amps then you have to wonder why and assume they are run at 60% of capacity. We have compared a couple of popular LED grow light models further down this page on their actual draw versus their advertised.

Heat – Thermal management of LED grow lights

Another happy result of LEDs having no filament is that they are far more efficient than other light sources and LEDs produce far less heat. With traditional HID’s, up to 95% of energy is wasted as heat or radiation, whereas LEDs run relatively cool they do still produce some heat. That heat difference means HIDs should be placed two or three feet above the plant canopy while LEDs can be placed extremely close, usually around 12-18 inches, helping prevent ‘stretch’ and directing the light exactly where it’s needed.

Even though LEDs are far more energy efficient and waste a lot less heat than HIDs there are still heat issues associated when running high powered LEDs. LEDs are cool to touch mainly because they do not produce heat in the form of infrared (IR) radiation. The higher the Watts the less energy efficient they become because they turn more and more electricity into heat which is wasteful and needs management.

Where does the heat come from? The heat originates at the semiconductors p-n junction due to its slight inefficiencies when electrical activity is not turned into light. The p–n junction in turn heats the soldering point and that heats the metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) which then needs to be directed into a heat sink so it dissipates into the atmosphere.

The three areas focused on for heat transfer are convection; which uses a moving fluid such as water or air to cool the device, conduction; whereby heat is transferred from one solid to another until there is no more and the last is radiation but that isn’t used with LEDs.

The best LEDs use heat sinks to control heat. The heat sink medium provides a path from the LED to the medium which dissipates the heat. If you are using a smaller LED light (under 700 Watts) look for a model that uses passive cooling through heat sinks. The best thermal management within high powered LEDs uses heat sinks that include materials such as aluminium, copper, thermoplastics and at the high end of the cost scale, graphite. The heat sink material needs to incorporate a large enough surface area to work so this is why you see the classic ‘fins’ shape layered next to each other to the top of some high end LED grow lights.

Because properly designed heat sinks require a large surface area, they are not always the most practical way of cooling large LED grow lights. Some high quality larger lights use a combination of passive heat sinks and fans to efficiently cool their lights. However it is possible to have a fan-less system which if designed well with big fin like heat sinks is optimum as it removes the chance of fans breaking and airflow being required.

Thermal management of LEDs is a science in itself. There are a variety of methods, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Fans add extra moving parts to your system and have the potential to break down if they are poorly made. Choose fans that are rated for a lifetime that exceeds that of the LEDs. Passive cooling systems require airflow and many cannot be mounted to a ceiling. Larger Wattage LEDs that use only passive heat sinks are not always fully cooled. Poorly cooled LEDs degrade quickly from excess heat. Look for a well-built LED grow light that uses high quality components regardless of the cooling technique.

LED grow light lens – Boost light & direction

LEDs only look like their finished product when the ‘die’ or ‘chip’ is set or encapsulated in a resin or plastic which is known as potting. This plastic shell helps out in many ways. It holds the very delicate system together, mounting the LED is made far easier in products and it acts as a lens or refractive intermediary to boost the light from the semiconductor. As you can imagine there are a lot of different methods of potting these chips to make LEDs – some cheap and some expensive which result in different light output.

Light extraction of grow light LEDs is just as important as the semiconductor materials being used. Most materials have very high refractive indices so that light is reflected back and out of the LED.

• There are many types of lenses and reflectors available to harness the LED’s output and direct it where it will do the grower the most good. A simple, well-designed reflector is usually suitable to do the job, but Total Internal Reflective (TIR) lenses more fully and accurately collect and guide the light;
• Make sure you choose a reflector or lens product with an output that meets your needs. An LED’s light output is usually a cone with a 160 degree angle. Some products have 120 degree lenses but we find a LED lens with an angle of 90 degrees is just about perfect at directing light deep into the plants. However, too wide a lens spreads the luminous intensity over too great an area, it wastes light, either providing too little power to your plants, too wide a coverage area or both. Some LED grow lights have no lenses and obviously, these are a waste of valuable light, and your money;
• Narrowing the lens or reflector increases the power delivered to your plants significantly, up to 400-500%, but narrows the effective coverage area. A good trade-off for both problems is to use a medium output angle, from 60-90 degrees. The grow light manufacturer should provide effective coverage charts for their products and some will even perform photometry evaluations for your specific grow area, telling you exactly where to place your light(s) for maximum effect.

Actual Watts

A 1000 Watt LED does not have the same intensity as a 1000 Watt HID. Whenever you are working with LEDs, you need to consider the Actual Watts, which we discuss in depth here

Most LEDs are not named based on their actual Watts, which leads to confusion. If you purchase an 800W LED its actual Watts are will be around 450 or 500. It is a replacement for a 600W HID, but not for an 800W HID.

What this means for you:

When replacing an HID with an LED, choose the size of the light based on actual Watts. Remember that an LED is more efficient and will replace an HID with higher actual Watts. Currently the only LED grow lights being named for their actual Watts are those from Black Dog.

Efficiency and Spectrum

LED grow lights are becoming more and more efficient. They can do this in two ways:

• 1. Intensity of Light: Measured by a PAR meter.
• 2. Accuracy of Spectrum: The PAR curve shows the wavelengths of light that a plant can use. Any light which hits a plant that is not in these wavelengths is reflected. This reflected light = wasted energy in any LED grow light.

What this means for you:

The spectrum of an LED grow light should match the PAR spectrum as closely as possible for maximum efficiency.

Some manufacturers offer graphs to help you see how their spectrum matches the wavelengths plants use, like this one from Platinum LED. The three lines show the absorption peaks for chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B and carotenoids. The colored peaks show the spectrum that Platinum LED’s lights use. As you can see, they’ve tried to match the absorption peaks for photosynthesis so no light energy is wasted.

PPF and PPFD: What Do They Mean

Terms like PAR, PPF and PPFD are now commonly referred to by manufacturers and reviewers as important specs of LED light units. But what do they really mean?

It’s easy to get confused between what PPF and PPFD are and how they are used when they describe lighting fixtures. Inconsistencies in the industry are widespread, but the reality is not so complex.

The definition of PAR, PPF and PPFD:

The PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) region is the sum of all the energy that is required to support plant growth and development. It is measured in mmol/m2. PAR levels are at their highest during summer middays and drop down to zero in the night.

• PPF (Photosynthetic Photon Flux): The total number of photons emitted per second in the lamp’s PAR region. PPF is measured in µMol/S.
• PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density): The total number of photons emitted in the lamp’s PAR Region per m2S. The difference between the two is that PPFD represents a field measurement (in this case the light footprint at a certain distance from the source of light). PPFD is measured in µMol/m2S.

Ultimately, the discussion boils down to the terms flux and density. Flux is used to describe the production of power or energy without a spatial correlation. Density on the other hand, applies to the production of power/energy over a specific area that light covers.

When reviewing PPFD measurements of a LED lighting fixture, we should always take into account the following data: the height of the lamps at the time of measurement and different spots across the light footprint in order to get our growing priorities straight and avoid inconsistencies. This is precisely why it is tricky to list PPFD measurements when reviewing LED grow lights: it depends on height, grow area dimensions and intensity.

How Much PPFD Does Your Grow Really Need

Measuring the PPFD of your LED grow light is one of the most important indicators of quality. Light intensity is vital for your plants and you should be aware of the relevant values in the blue (vegetative) and red (flowering) wavelengths to get the best yield.

Minimum PPFD Values

In order for your plants to reach at least some amount of growth, the minimum PPFD values should be:

• 255 – 350 μMol/m2/s on a 24/24 light cycle
• 383 – 520 μMol/m2/s on a 18/24 light cycle
• 510 – 695 μMol/m2/s on a 12/24 light cycle

Medium

Anything above 510μMol/m2/s should get you decent results. Be aware though that too much light can be harmful too! Generally, the longer the light cycle=the lower the PPFD value you should aim for.

High

The optimal PPFD values that you should always aim for for are between 700–1500 μMol/m2/s, provided that you don’t run a 24-hour light cycle.

Too High

Anything above 1500 μMol/m2/s can be harmful for your plants. Try to maintain the suggested manufacturer distances above the canopy in order to find the sweet spot for your crop and adjust the lights at the slightest sign of light burn.

Be aware that PPFD readings will vary greatly depending on the distance of your LED grow lights from the canopy and the different parts of the coverage area. The farther from the center of the light, the more the PPFD measurements will drop.

How to use all that information as an indoor grower?

Advanced growers can use this information to get the best out of their garden and optimize their plants’ light intake. It is very important to have accurate canopy PPFD values, especially if you use CO2 supplements since the two correlate. So, in order to measure PPFD values you should: 

• • Take the PPF value provided by the manufacturer;

Reduce it by roughly 15-20% to compensate for lost power;

• Divide the result by the canopy surface in square meters. That number is the intensity you would expect over that surface area;
• Use that value to calculate how much CO2 your plants would require in an environment with a relative humidity of about 50-70%.

To put it more simply, the PPFD formula is this: (PPF) μMol/S ÷ (grow area) M2 = (PPFD) µMol/M2s

Although the above might seem like a treatise on mathematics, it is actually not hard to calculate!

PPF and PPFD are useful measurements in LED lighting. However, as with all aspects regarding advanced physics and light engineering, certain inconsistencies occur as the technical details get simplified to reach the average consumer. On the other hand, we exist to help you make smarter decisions!

What’s Better than PPFD?

When investigating a grow light you want to consider the entire footprint; the larger the footprint, the greater the area that receives considerable amounts of PAR spectrum light.

Some manufacturers provide graphs showing the change in the amount of light reaching the plant throughout the footprint of the light, like this great image from California Light Works.

As you consider each of the lights on our Top 10 LED Grow Lights for 2016 list, keep in mind that any single piece of information we’ve provided is only part of the story. We’ve given you the best information available. It is up to you to put the pieces together and choose the light that is best suited to the size and style of your grow.

If any of the terms used in these reviews are unfamiliar to you, check out our grow light glossary for help.

2018 LED Grow Light Review

Best LED Grow Lights for 2018

• Model: Diamond Series EX-Veg 300 LED Grow Light

• Model: Diamond Series XTE 300 LED Grow Light

• Model: Apollo Horticulture LED PANEL 400W

• Model: BESTVA X5 1000W New LED

• Model: PHYTOMAX-2 400 LED GROW LIGHTS

• Model: California Lightworks SolarStorm 440

• Model: Cirrus LED T500 LED Grow Light

• Model: Galaxyhydro 3W series – 300W LED Grow Light

• Model: Global Star Gs- 100x6W(600w)

• Model: HLG 550

• Model: SuperGrow LED FATPHARM250

• Model: LTC Black Diamond v2 LED

• Model: PRO MAX600

• Model: Fluence SPYDERx 340W

• Model: Mars Pro II Epistar™ 320 LED Grow Light

• Model: MEIZHI Reflector-Series 600W LED Grow Light

• Model: Neonica Growy LED 118 30W

• Model: Roleadro 400W COB

• Model: SimuLight LED-9614G | 540 Watt

• Model: Smart Grow Systems GOLDENi 600

• Model: Unit Farm UFO-160 Cree Osram Led Grow Light

• Model: MarsHydro Reflector 480W

Our Top Picks

Best LED Grow Lights for 2018 – Indoor Hydroponic Marijuana Grows

LED grow lights have gone a long way since they started appearing in the hydroponic marijuana scene. Although earlier models were weaker and largely unreliable, every year we see more and more manufacturers entering the race, improving the quality of the LED grow units on the market while driving the prices down.
Full-spectrum fixtures are now the norm on the market but that wasn’t always the case. The first LED grow lights that were available for indoor gardens only ran at blue and red spectra, which are inefficient for full-cycle grows. This made LEDs great for supplemental lighting but not much else. Nowadays, however, things have changed. Serious companies devote a significant part of their time in scientific research, in order to discover the perfect bands of light that will achieve the optimal spectrum for plant absorption and growth.
Models released in the last few years have seen improvements in light intensity and penetration. Improved lenses, combined with stronger 5W chips make newer generation LEDs a must for every indoor grower, as they can produce bigger yields for the same amount of light compared to older units.
Nevertheless, not all LEDs are made equal. There are a lot of manufacturers on the market and not all of them offer quality products. Luckily, we’re here to help you!
Listed below are the best models you can currently find on the market as of winter 2018. Each review contains a short description and detailed specs for each LED grow light. Read them all and see our top picks at the end of the article!

Model: Diamond Series EX-Veg 300 LED Grow Light

MSRP: $849.00

 

Hailing from Hiwasse in Arkansas, USA, Advanced LED presents us with a LED fixture especially for the vegetative period of your plants. Manufactured to aid flexibility, this LED light comes with a 1ft cable-integrated hanging suspension system, that enables easy control while running on an average power draw of the 283W and total power output of 375W.
The absence of ballasts or high wattage cooling systems allows the “plug-in and grow” feature in a light that is 100% assembled in the USA and tailored for effectiveness. Instead of releasing a full-spectrum model, Advanced LED EX-Veg series features 50+ wavelengths of intense blue light that promise ultimate vegetative results without worrying about heat.
The company offers a three-year warranty, 90-day money back policy, and free shipping. Included in the package is a Diamond series EX-VEG 300, exclusive LED grow guide, a power cord in 110V (US), 220V, international power plugs, hanging rope ratchet and chain cord.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Draw in Watts: Avg. Power Draw: 283W;
• Cost per True Watt: $3
• Total Power Output: Total Power Output: 375W;
• Total LEDs: High Output 5W CREE XT-E LEDs;
• LED Brands: 5W CREE XT-E2 LEDs – 46% Brighter than other Blue LEDs
• Spectrum in nm: 50+ Wavelengths of Intense Blue Light: Relative intensity of 50% or higher from 430nm to 480nm. Peak Wavelength: 434nm;

• Heat Management: Two Whisper Quiet 120mm Fans;
• Dimensions: 19.5″x 12” x 3″ (495x304x76mm)
• Weight: 17lbs (7kg)
• Coverage: Total Coverage: 30 sq.ft. (1.67 sq.m.)/ Core Coverage 16 sq.ft. (121 sq.m.)
• Extras
  1 x DIAMOND SERIES EX-VEG 300;
  1 x Exclusive LED Grow Guide;
  1 x 75″power cord in 110v US (220v and international plugs available);
  Hanging cables, hanging rope ratchet, and daisy chain cord.
• Assembled in Hiwasse, Arkansas
• Warranty: 3 Year Warranty and free shipping to most of the US

Model: Diamond Series XTE 300 LED Grow Light
MSRP: $879.00

Drawing inspiration from the commercial success of the Diamond Series, Advanced LED presents us with the XTE 300: a USA-made full spectrum LED grow light, equipped with high output 5W LEDs from CREE. The 5W LED chips run at an actual 3.9W, while the XTE 300 claims a 79% higher PAR than their other 5W counterparts currently on the market.

The XTE also proves highly efficient as the unit is cooled via heat dissipation and needs no fans. Its ColdFlo heat dissipation technology makes it impossible for heat to accumulate thus ensuring protection from heat and lower costs. The XTE allows you to be in full control of your spectrum output and intensity and stands as a real replacement for a 500W HPS or MH fixture.

With this product comes an array of extra gadgets that include an exclusive LED grow guide for efficient planting tips, hanging cables, rope ratchet and daisy chain cord. These features make the process of using the lamp hitch-free. The light is suited for commercial plant use as well as for home operations. It includes fixture and power cords and comes with a 3-year warranty.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Draw in Watts: Avg. Power Draw: 252W;
• Cost per True Watt: $3.42
• Total Power Output: Total Power Output: 372W;
• Total LEDs: High Output 5W CREE XT-E LEDs;
• LED Brands:Premium 5W and 3W LEDs from CREE and OSRAM – 79% Higher PAR than other 5W grow lights!
• Spectrum in nm: Premium 5W and 3W LEDs from CREE and OSRAM – 79% Higher PAR than other 5W grow lights!

• Heat Management:ColdFlo Heat Dissipation Technology
• Dimensions: 19.5″ x 12″ x 3″(495x304x76mm)
• Weight: 18lbs (7.5kg)
• Coverage:Total Coverage: 14 sq.ft. (1.28 sq.m.) / Core Coverage: 9 sq.ft. (0.91 sq.m.)
• Extras
  1 x DS XTE 300 Grow Light
  1 x Exclusive LED Grow Guide;
  1 x 6ft power cord in 110v US (220v and international plugs available – contact us after you place the order)
  Also included: hanging cables, hanging rope ratchet, and daisy chain cord.
• Where AssembledHiwasse, Arkansas USA
• Warranty:3 Year Warranty, Hassle Free Returns, and Free Shipping to the Lower 48 States

Model:Apollo Horticulture LED PANEL 400W
MSRP: $292.00

Apollo Horticulture doesn’t need any special introductions among seasoned growers. Their lights offer a solid solution to those who don’t want to spend a small fortune for a decent grow light. This particular model features 100x3W Epistar LED chips and a 6-band spectrum (excluding UV).
This model does not require ballasts and allows for greater flexibility in tight space and it offers much more than its price would suggest. The unit provides a full spectrum of light for proper plant nourishment through all stages of growth including veg, flower, or even seedling or clone stage. There are two different modes of growing that you can select the panel to operate in. The vegetative growth mode uses a spectrum of 430-475nm, 620-630nm, 660nm, and White. The flowering mode uses a spectrum of 430-475nm, 620-630nm, 660nm, 730nm, and White. In terms of heat management, the GL100LED is equipped with three quiet cooling fans and heat sinks.
One thing that should be noted though is that the actual power draw is around 192W. Apollo Horticulture is transparent about this and they state it clearly on their product page. All in all, if you don’t care about the slight humming of the 2 large fans, this panel is a decent choice.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Draw in Watts: 192W;
• Cost per True Watt: $1.52
• Total LEDs:80x5W Epistar LEDs
• Spectrum in nm:430nm, 475nm, 620nm, 630nm, 660nm & 730nm

• Heat Management: Two large 4.5-inch fans
• Voltage: 110V – 1.8A / 220V – 0.88A
• Vegetated Coverage Area: 6-7 sq.ft. (1.8-2 sq.m.)
• Flowering Coverage Area: 5-6 sq.ft. (1.5-1.8 sq.m.)
• LED Brands: Epistar 3W Chips with 50,000-hours lifetime
• Dimensions: 13.2″ x 13.2″ x 3.75″ (335x335x95mm)
• Weight: 15lbs (6.8kg)
• Extras: Power Cord and Stainless Steel Hanging Clips Included
• Warranty: Limited 2 Year Warranty

Model:BESTVA X5 1000W New LED
MSRP: $176.00

Bestva’s X5 1000W COB LED grow light is an interesting choice, offering a high output light for a competitive price. This unit utilizes the Chip-On-Board technology, meaning multiple Epistar chips are packed together, making them appear like small light boxes. Small as they are, these arrays can provide more light than other forms of LED!

Each COB LED array uses a single circuit for all the diodes in a group, minimizing heat generation and risk. Whatever heat is generated, is dissipated to an external heat sink cooled by fans. It is worth mentioning that COB LEDs do not need lenses to amplify their viewing angle.

The X51000W COB LED induces heat that is conveyed from the ceramic and aluminum underlayer to an external sink that is cooled off by fans at the top of the panel.

This unit is suitable for vegetative, and bloom stages of plant growth and has an expected lifespan of 50,000 hours. Its price makes it a great choice for beginners.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Draw in Watts: 200W±2%;
• Cost per True Watt: $0.97 ($2.27)
• Input Voltage(V): AC85V-265V
• Total COBs: 5pcs
• Power per COB: 200W
• LEDs Brand:Epistar
• Spectrum in nm:Red(620-630nm;650-660nm); Blue(440-450nm;450-460nm); Orange(600-610nm); IR(730nm); White(3500K;6000K), UV(395-410nm)

• Heat Management: 20 ±50degrees cooled by fans lifetime
• Dimensions: 12.2”x8.26”x2.36” (310x210x60mm)
• Extras: 1 x Hanging Kit, 1 x 6ft Power Cord, 1 x User Manual
• Warranty: Limited 2 Year Warranty
• Made in China
• Warranty: 3 years

Model:BIOS Icarus 660W Gi LED Grow Light
MSRP: $1,750

This industrial-grade LED grow light by BIOS shows that they mean business! The 660W model stands as a real replacement to a 1000W HPS/MH fixture and offers up to 70% greater PAR photon efficiency with almost half of the energy. The lighting source is sustainable, eco-friendly and mercury-free thus providing an efficient method for plant growth. Bios Icarus 660W was designed for use in indoor crops, growth chambers, greenhouses, and retrofit existing HID.

The 660W is using NASA-inspired white LEDs, passive cooling and enhanced blue radiation to aid plant development. Finished with powder coated extruded aluminum, the 660W is a capable lighting system that provides a 16 sq.ft. (1.5 sq.m.) coverage area with no daisy chains and a Y-fit Gripple hanger. In a few words, this grow light is destined for the more serious grower rather than the newbie.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Wattage: 660W;
• Cost per True Watt: $2.65
• Voltage(V): 100-277VAC & 249Total COBsisc;”>5pcs PAR/s): PAR Photon Efficiency (µmol PAR/J):
• Photosynthetic Photon Flux (µmol PAR/s): 1221 µmol/s
• PAR Photon Efficiency (µmol PAR/J):1.85 µmol/J

• Optimal Mounting Height:18″-24” (46-61 cm) above canopy
• Optimal Footprint: 16 sq.ft. (1.5 sq.m.)
• Coverage Area16 sq.ft (1.5 sq.m.)
• Average Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (across 4’x4’ area):~800 µmol/(m2 · s)
• Spectrum: Broad “White” Full Spectrum; for vegetative growth and flowering

• Fixture Dimensions:40” (101.6 cm) long x 32” (81.3 cm) wide
• Fixture Weight: 45 lbs (20 kg)
• Housing and FinishPowder coated extruded aluminum
• Mounting: Y-fit Grapple Hangers
• Gripple Hanger Dimmability: 0-10 V
• Rated Power Factor: >90%
• Certifications: UL1598, UL 8750; TÜV SÜD America, RoHS, FCC
• Warranty 5 Year Limited

Model: California Lightworks SolarStorm 440
MSRP: $899

Coming from the reputable California Lightworks, SolarStorm440 is designed to suit all the stages of plant development.

The SolarStorm series offers the only LED grow light to include UV-B bands of light, which, according to many growers is essential to develop higher potency buds. Using UV lighting to extract more potent buds is a verifiable truth, however, it is a technique most well suited to seasoned growers due to high levels of risk involved. In fact, this is quite a big feat for CLW as they seem to advertise it a lot on their website.

No other LED grow light in the market covers the UVB spectrum because LED diodes are narrowband and focus their light in a narrow spectrum.

The SolarStorm 440 can replace a 600W HPS or Metal Halide system and it is an amazing grow light for medium home growing operations. Overall, the SolarStorm 440W is a good all-purpose light that pays for itself in a short time. However –and we can’t stress this enough- be careful around UV-B lighting. It is very harmful to humans and you should never operate the lights without protective glasses (provided for free alongside the product by some distributors).

Detailed Specs

• Actual Draw in Watts: 350W;
• Cost per True Watt: $2.56
• Total number of LEDs: 144
• LED BrandsOSRAM SSL
• Operating Voltage :90-277 VAC, 50/60Hz
• Total Power Consumption:
  • Veg Mode 235W
  • Bloom Mode 320W
  • Bloom Mode + UVB 350W
• Power Factor 0.99
• Typical Current::1.46A (@240V) – 2.92A (@120V)

• LED color spectrum (dominant wavelengths):
  • Deep Blue 440nm
  • Blue 470nm
  • Red 620nm
  • Deep Red 665nm
  • Bloom Mode + UVB 350W
  • UVB 285-315nm
• Type of LED driver :Custom Built – Constant Current Mode
• Number of LED drivers :4
• Max power per driver :100 Watts
• Coverage Area:
  • Bloom (16”-24” distance) Up to 3’ X 3’ (90x90cm)
  • Veg (Up to 5’ above plants) Up to 6’ x 6’ (180x180cm)
• Dimensions: 15” X 18” X 5”
• Weight: 18 lbs (7.5kg)
• LED Expected Life Span: 80,000+ Hours
• LED Expected Output: After 50,000 Hrs > 90%
• Cooling Fan Life Span: 50,000 Hrs MTBF
• Operating Temperature: -15°C to 40°C (5°F to 104°F)
• Made in California, USA
• Warranty: Limited 3-year warranty

Model:Cirrus LED T500 LED Grow Light
MSRP: $2,299

Let us start by clarifying that this grow light from Cirrus is not for beginners. It is quite pricey and it is targeted at people who want to cut costs in the long run. After all, the T in T500 stands for Titan! With low power usage, high customizability and its own dedicated mobile app, the T500 certainly justifies its high price tag!

The T500 is a replacement for a 1200W HPS/MH fixture. Titan lights emit a full-spectrum light that includes infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. Most of the light is in the red and blue ranges, which is exactly the light plants need most.

The T500 only uses 500W of power due to its unique mCOB array, that drastically reduces heat generation and power costs. The mCOB arrays setup is a relatively new technology that gives you a more intense and brighter light than any standard diode. As a result, canopy penetration is easier and closely matches the results you would get from a standard HPS fixture, as the light from gets deep beneath the canopy and reaches all parts of the plant.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Wattage: 500W;
• Cost per True Watt: $4.49
• Total LEDs: 36 mCOB arrays
• Spectrum in nm: Full Spectrum including UV and IR

• Heat Management:XL heatsinks
• Coverage: 5 sq.ft. (0.4 sq.m.)
• Build Quality:
• Dimensions :19.25″ x 27.25″ x 3.8″ (488x692x96.5mm)
• Weight :52lbs. (23.5kg)
• Extras :110-volt power cord, hanging cables, and the Cirrus Leaf app
• Made in the USA
• Warranty 5 Year Limited

Model:Galaxyhydro 3W series – 300W LED Grow Light
MSRP: $78 (Original Price: $250)

A well-known and beloved option among affordable grow lights, the Galaxy Hydro 300W is currently discounted at under $100 and offers quite a lot for its low price tag.

First of all, it combines 9 different bands including both UV and IR. It’s a full spectrum that covers all the way from 430 to 730 nanometers, and that fact makes it usable for all stages of plant growth with proper photosynthesis.
In terms of power usage, things get a little murky as this grow light actually uses about 140W (and not 300W as advertised). That being said, many manufacturers are guilty of similar marketing tricks, so that’s why it pays to be careful when choosing a grow light. Still, it is a good choice for beginner growers.
A really cool feature of the GalaxyHydro 300W LED grow light, is that it is dimmable. This feature allows you to adjust the intensity of the light. This is with a simple touch of a dial that’s located on the top of the panel. This is pretty handy, especially if you are among the growers that prefer to adjust the dimming settings rather than adjusting the hanging settings of your light fixture between growth stages!
In terms of heat management, the GH 300 has two UL-approved cooling fans plus Sunflower radiator system.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 135W±5%
• Cost per True Watt: $0.577 ($1.85)
• LED Brand: Epistar
• View Angle of LEDs: 90°and 120°mixed
• Worldwide Voltage:AC85~265V
• Spectrum: 430nm, 450nm-470nm, 620nm-630nm, 740nm, white
• Frequency: 50/60 HZ
• Coverage: 5 sq.ft. (0.4 sq.m.)

• Dimensions :16”x8.5”x 2.5” (406x215x63mm)
• Efficient Heat Dissipation: UL approved two cooling fans plus Sunflower radiator system.
• Certificates: CE, ROHS, FCC
• Replaces a 250-W HPS/MH
• Lighting Coverage 25 sq.ft. (2.3 sq.m.) at 24″ above the canopy
• Warranty 2 years

Model:Global Star Gs- 100x6W(600w)
MSRP: $133

Yet another instance of an Amazon-favorite from China, Global Star is an extremely cheap LED grow light, especially taking into account that this unit is full spectrum and promises quite a lot, despite its price tag. When asked about the power draw of their grow light, the company responded:

We use an Intelligent temperature control system power supply. When the temperature is higher, the current will become low. The power is lower than the start. The power of the Leaf switch is from 96W-119W. The Flower Switch is from 95W-116W.

The light is not dimmable (although the company offers a model that is) and features a switch for veg and bloom settings. The fans are not loud, and the light is not very bright, especially if we take the 95-115W power draw into account. Also, you don’t get any warranties from the company (which does not have an official website). All in all, this grow light is a decent choice for beginners, although you might consider saving up for a higher quality unit if you are a more experienced grower.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 95-119W;
• Cost per True Watt: $1.4 – $1.11
• LED chips: 100x6W
• Input Voltage: AC85-265V
• Spectrum in nm
  • Switch-Veg Spectrum: 630nm(red), 66nm(red), 470nm(blue), 450nm(white), 7000K(white), 4500K(white)
  • Switch-Bloom Spectrum: 630nm(red), 660nm(red), 610nm(orange), 430nm(royal blue), 585nm(yellow)

• Heat management:4 Quiet Cooling Fans
• Best Work Time :8-10 hours/day
• Dimensions :13.28″ x 13.28″ x 2.8″ (337x337x71mm)
• Weight :11.6 pounds (5.2kg)
• Coverage Area15~20 Square Feet for Vegetated Stage / 10~15 Square Feet for Flowering Stage
• Working Temperature range 0-131ºFahrenheit (-17 to 55ºC)
• Extras 1 x Stainless Steel hanging kit, 1 x Power Cord

Model:HLG 550
MSRP: $1,049

HLGorHorticulture Lighting Groupwas founded in 2016 after Johnson Grow Lights, and Northern Grow Lights merged. Using their collective expertise, they designed their trademark “Quantum Boards” that promise brighter and more efficient indoor plant lighting activities. This lamp is the best bet for vegetables as its actual draw in watts of 250-515w, and total LEDs of 1152 provides the ideal capacity for practical horticulture lighting. The HLG 550 provides the best canopy light penetration with diffused light and a recommended 18-28 inches mounting height.

The HLG replaces a single 1000W HPS/MH lampIn total, there are four lights on the fixture, each one using a customQuantum Board,withSamsung LEDs.It’s flowering footprint in 4.5’ x 4.5’ or 4’ x 5’ is perfect for any environment, as it complements the ability of the system to aid rapid growth in plants.
In terms of heat management, the HLG 550 features passive cooling, that gives it an edge which protects plants from being overexposed to heat. This lamp is built from first-rate anodized aluminum. It is also dimmable via the HydroPods WiFi Dimming Module.
The HLG 550 is crafted to make an impact as portrayed by its detailed specifications ranging from power to dimensions and an impressive 30 sq.ft. vegetative footprint.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 250-515W
• Cost per True Watt: $4,19-$2.03
• Total LED: 1152
• LED Brand: Samsung 561C
• Spectrum: Standard 3000K Full Spectrum, others are available upon request;

• WiFi Dimming Module Available
• Total PPF Output: 1265
• Heat management: Passive Cooling
• Veg Coverage:6’x6’ (182x182cm)
• Flowering Coverage:20 sq.ft. (1.85 sq.m.)

• Efficiency: 161 Lm/W
• Efficacy2.4 μmol/j
• Dimensions Clear Anodized Aluminum, LE Green, and LE Red
• Made in the USA
• Warranty 3 years

Model: Super Grow LED FATPHARM250
MSRP: $550

FATPHARM250 Super Grow LED is an industrial grade grow light designed for maximum efficiency. The 2018/2019 model offers over 1,400 PPFD at 12″. 
Manufactured in a commercial LED factory along with millions of high-bay LEDs with similar solid state blood lines, FATPHARM250 is full spectrum, and it is ideal for use from seed to harvest. Its robust fanless heat management system allows for greater flexibility and power savings. Ruggedly built with anodized aluminum chassis, the FATPHARM250 is fully packed with a constant self-protecting power supply, and its real draw in Watts of 250W/[email protected] gives it the capacity it needs to function at the most efficient level.
The FATPHARM250 comes with clear instructions and diagrams showing a variety of potential grow room set-ups. If you have any questions, Super Grow LED’s in-house lighting engineers are happy to help at any time.
The FATPHARM offers an impressive 30 sq.ft. vegetative footprint.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 250W / [email protected]
• Cost per True Watt: $2.20
• Total LED: 150x3W
• LED Brand: Bridgelux & Epistar
• Spectrum in nm: Full spectrum – 380 to 780 nanometers with supplemental chlorophyll (A+B) absorption peaks

• Heat Management Fan-less thermal management, no fans due to high-quality heat sinks, thermal bond and highest quality metal clad printed circuit boards (MCPCB)
• Flowering Coverage: 16 sq.ft. (1.5 sq.m.)
• Vegetative Coverage: 30 sq.ft. (2.7 sq.m.)
• Build Quality:Rugged industrial construction with anodized aluminum chassis
• Peak photon delivery in μmol: 1400μmol @ 12”
• Dimensions: 22” x 14” x 7” (558x355x177mm)
• Weight: 23lbs with hangars (10.5kg)
• Lifespan of 12+ years or 50,000 hours
• Extras: Yo-yo hangers
• Warranty 3 years

Model: LTC Black Diamond v2 LED
MSRP: $882

The Black Diamond V2- 115W LED grow light by Lil’ Tomato Concepts is one of the most energy efficient grow lights on the market. Although it is great for small crops, its price tag might deter newbies and small-time growers from buying.

Regarding build quality, the Black Diamond stands true to its name and is made from a lightweight and durable material This LED grow light only draws 115W while putting out full spectrum, white light over a 16 sq.ft. area.
Another cool fact about the Black Diamond is that the end LED bars arerotatable for targeted lighting. Due to its exceptional design, the 48x3W Luxeon diodes byPhillipsdo not require noisy and power-consuming cooling equipment! The heat sinks do an adequate job and the LEDs are guaranteed to last 70,000-100,000 hours! The Black Diamond V2 comes with a 6-foot over-molded power cable and quality-constructed hangers.
A great choice for those who have both the budget and the need for quality.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 115W
• Cost per True Watt: $7.66
• Voltage: 110-240V
• LED Brand: Bridgelux & Epistar
• Spectrum: Full spectrum; 5500K (330nm-770nm); for all phases of growing
• PAR: 330nm-770nm
• Heat management: Heatsinks – The unit does not get hot enough to require additional cooling equipment
• Input Currency at 120V:0.89A
• Efficacy: 102 lm/W
• Number of LEDs:48 x 3W
• Lifespan: 70,000-100,000 hours
• LEDs brand:Philips
• Coverage :16 sq.ft (1.4 sq.m.)
• Total Lumens:11810lm
• Dimensions: 17.5″ x 17.3″ x 5.1″ (444x439x130mm)
• Weight:6lbs (2.7kg)
• Extras:6-foot over-molded power cord; Hangers
• Warranty 5 years

Model: PRO MAX600
MSRP: $872

ProMaxGrow is among the most reputable manufacturers of LED panels and hasfrequented our lists for many years now. The MAX600 is designed to emulate natural sunlight and do not emit this familiar red/blue tint. This, not only is better for plant growth but also enables you to check on your plants’ status directly, rather than removing them from your grow space (which can be harmful).

The MAX600 consists of 6 boards, containing 384 LEDs placed in a 120º hood. This angle enhances coverage and ensures equal light distribution. Another pro is that it generates virtually no heat and thus, it requires no cooling fans. You just plug it in, point it at your plants and forget about it until harvest time. The full-spectrum it offers is great for both vegetative and flowering stages.
However, it should be noted that there is no information available on the brand of their LEDs , a fact that stirred controversy among cannabis growing forums. Also, while the company claims that this fixture replaces a 1000W HPS/MH panel, we believe that 600W is a far more realistic proposition.
These lights are designed by Eco-Lite Products , a company with more than 30 years’ experience in manufacturing specialty lighting for a variety of industries. The PRO MAX600 LED fixtures are entirely assembled in the United States..

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 130 ([email protected])
• Cost per True Watt: $6.70
• Total LEDs: 384 custom LED diodes with a 50,000-hour lifespan.
• Spectrum in nm: Full spectrum; for germination, cloning, vegetative growth, and flowering; CRI: >90

• Spectrum: Full spectrum; 5500K (330nm-770nm); for all phases of growing
• Heat management: Fan-less thermal management
• Flowering Coverage:4-9 sq.ft. (0.4-0.8 sq.m.)
• Build Quality: Rugged industrial construction with anodized aluminum chassis, designed by Eco-Lite products.
• Peak photon delivery in μmol:1000μmol @ 12”
• LEDs brand:Bridgelux and Epistar
• Dimensions: 25.1″ x 15.1″ x 6.5″ (637x383x165mm)
• Weight:18lbs (7.5kg)
• Lifespan:50,000 hours
• Extras:Fixture and ratchets
• Assembled in the USA
• Warranty 5 years

Model: 2018 SPYDERx
MSRP: $900

Fluence SPYDRx is the newest version of BML Lighting Spyderx. At 340W (actual: 330W), this indoor grow light has an average Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density of around 455 µMol/S That makes a good solution for both commercial and full-cycle home growing operations without CO2 supplementation.

Fluence claims that their spectral wavelengths are specially designed for particular photomorphogenic plant responses such as photoperiodic signals, chlorophyll A and B absorption, xanthophyll carotenoid pigments, and anthocyanin accumulation in plant tissue.
Confused? Well, Fluence is really big on scientific research! Their goal was to create a customized full spectrum that will be perfect for complete physiological plant growth. To do this, they had to reinvent their own products. According to the people at the company themselves, their previous models, with a red (700nm)/blue(400nm) spectrum, coincided with peak Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B absorption areas, however, they left out of range other critical photoreceptors for plant growth.
Determined not to repeat mistakes of the past, Fluence developed their own full-spectrum range, the Fluence PhysioSpec Indoor.This spectrum is tailored for full-cycle growth , regardless of the development stage of the plant. In addition, the contrast was specially engineered to allow you better control over your plant’s health.

Fluence grow lights are designed and built in Austin, TX and they are good for operation at temperatures from -40°C (-40°F) to 35°C (95°F) when suspended and up to 30°C (86°F) when surface mounted. Operating temperature ranges between 25°C (77°F) to 30°C (86°F) above ambient.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 330
• Cost per True Watt: $2.72
• Output: 730 umol/s, 2.15 umol/J
• Total LEDs:
• Spectrum in nm: PhysioSpec Indoor™ Full-cycle spectrum

• Heat management: Passive Cooling
• Coverage: 16 sq.ft. (1.4 sq.m.) at 6” from the top of the canopy
• Build Quality: Anodized, extruded aluminum alloy chassis with integrated heat sink for longevity and passive, natural convection thermal management (no fans or moving components).
• Dimensions: 42” x 44” x 4.6” (106x111x11cm)
• Weight: 22lbs (10kg)
• Working Temperature: Suitable for operation in still air ambient temperatures from -40°C (-40°F) to 35°C (95°F) when suspended and up to 30°C (86°F) when surface mounted. Operating temperature ranges between 25°C (77°F) to 30°C (86°F) above ambient.
• Lifetime: 100,000 hours at 70% of max power
• Made in Austin, TX
• Warranty 3-year warranty

Model: Mars Pro II Epistar™ 320 LED Grow Light
MSRP: $580

Mars Pro II Epistar 320 LED Grow Light is the evolved version of the well-known Mars Pro Epistar 320. Only this time, instead of a remote control, it comes with veg and bloom switches to control the lights between different growth phases!

Of course, this is not the only thing that changed in this new edition. Under the hood, Mars Hydro upgraded the fans, the power supply and the LEDs (320 Epistar chips) to provide a more powerful product. The Epistar LED chips offer a great output for small to middle-sized grows. This model is equivalent to an 800W HID fixture.
All of the components are housed in a reflector cup design to ensure proper light distribution, while, as with all Mars Hydro products, the build is modular, meaning you can swap, upgrade and expand to your heart’s content! Heat is managed via the dual cooling fans and aluminum heat sinks.
Mars Hydro has a reputation for creating affordable and relatively high quality grow products and all of their lights are specially designed to fit their grow tents, for more discreet home operations.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 115
• Cost per True Watt: $5.04
• Power Output: Bloom: 700~760w | Growth: 500~530w
• Total LEDs: 320 x Epistar™ HI-LEDs; 100,000-hour lifespan (20+ years if LED lights are on 57% of the time)

• Spectrum in nm: 440nm, 460nm, 630nm, 660nm, 2700K-3000K

• Coverage: 16 sq.ft. (1.4 sq.m.) at 6” from the top of the canopy
• Heat management: Aircraft-grade aluminum heat sinks; Dual ball bearing cooling fans
• LEDs Brand: Epistar
• Dimensions: 23″ x 23″ x 4″ (59cm x 59cm x 10cm)
• Weight:36 lbs (16.5kg)
• Extras: Power cord, Hangers
• Warranty 2 year

Model: MEIZHI Reflector-Series 600W LED Grow Light
MSRP: $146 (Original Price: $269)

MEIZHI is an Amazon retailer from China, offering affordable grow lights similar to Global Star and Galaxy Hydro Similar to the above, you get a surprising amount of power and extras for a much lower price. Quality is indeed an issue, but then again, experienced growers are not the target group for these products.

The MEIZHI has a lifespan of 50,000 to 100,000 hours depending on usage, and it provides a 12-band spectrum. The MEIZHI reflector is a full spectrum light, using heat sinks and fans for heat dissipation. It can replace a 600W HID fixture, while it offers a surprising amount of brightness and light penetration with a PAR value of 1120umol.The unit features a VEG/FLOWER switch and is not dimmable.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 277
• Cost per True Watt: $0.52 ($0.97)
• Total LEDs: 120x5W Epistar LEDs
• Spectrum in nm: 12 bands full spectrum, bloom and growth switches to control spectrum, MEIZHI 600W led grow lights could fit for indoor and greenhouse hydroponic plants sprout, seedling, veg, budding, flowering and ripening all stages. IR available but no UV.

• Heat management: Heat sinks plus two fast speed and quiet cooling fans and dense vents around four sides, which help to dissipate the light heat.
• Coverage and Consumption: MEIZHI 600W grow lights could fit for nine sq.ft. (0.8 sq.m.) growing area at 18″ above the canopy, while it only consumes 277W ±5%@AC110V.
• Par Value: 1120umol
• Frequency: 50-60HZ
• Input Voltage: AC85-265V

• Amp: 2.528A@AC110V 1.285A@AC220V
• Lumen: 16503Lm ±5%@AC110V 16308Lm±5%@AC220V
• Lifespan: 50,000-100,000hours
• LEDs Brand: Epistar
• Dimensions: 5.4” x 14.9” x 19” (137x378x482mm)
• Weight:11.95 pounds (5.5kg)
• Extras: 1 x Free Hanging Kit, 1 x Free Power Cord
• Made in China
• Warranty 1 year

Model: Neonica Growy LED 118 30W
Unavailable

The Growy company is, in fact, a branch of the Polish company Neonica Polska, which specializes in LED lighting. It offers industrial products to Poland and some European countries, mainly in the form of bars. All its products are made in Poland.

The company has been specializing in the production of LED lighting systems since 1995. They exclusively use CREE and OSRAM chips, which they rigorously test in laboratory environments.
Although the company is still not as popular as others, its 30W model is a great choice for small crops, as it packs quite a punch for its size. Also, heat emission is negligible, allowing for placement near the plants. Neonica has been working on their own special LED sequence, that, according to their claims, reduces the time of vegetation. It is well worth noting that the unit is also self-cooled and requires no fans to dissipate heat.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 30W
• Voltage: AC 90-264V/50-60Hz
• Spectrum in nm: Specially selected LED sequence enriched in 430-453 nm and 642-662 nm wavelength to suit perfectly the needs of plants on the chlorophyll “A” and “B”. No UV emission.

• Heat management: a self-cooling housing with an anodized aviation aluminum alloy which does not require active cooling by fans, reduces energy requirements and extends the lamp life up to at least ten years of continuous use.
• Build Quality: Robust housing made of anodized aluminum provides excellent heat dissipation through gravity exchange (passive cooling)
• LEDs Brand: CREE & Osram
• Dimensions: 17.6”x3”x2,75” (447 x 75 x 70 mm)
• Made in Poland
• Warranty 3 year

Model: Roleadro 400W COB
$99

Back to the Chinese Amazon grow lights, Roleadro 400W, is a COB LED light sold byGalaxyHydro.

This is a full spectrum light that offers an inexpensive solution for all phases of plant growth. Weighing 6.45 pounds with a two-year warranty and 30-days money back policy, this fixture has a lot to offer for its price. Although we are not essentially dismissive of LED fixtures manufactured in China, these grow lights are not recommended not recommended for those who want something more out of their crops. On the other hand, they will allow newbies on a budget to enter the world of growing smoothly and without worry.
The COB of LEDs promises an improved color uniformity and PAR value, while at the same time reducing heat and risk of failure. The unit is fan-cooled (with fans reaching 55DB in max power) and has a reflector that controls light distance and area.
Finally, we should point out the manufacturer’s commitment to customer satisfaction: they are very active on Amazon, and they answered all our questions quickly and clearly.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 200w±5%
• Cost per True Watt: $0.55

• Total LEDs: 2x200W COB LEDs
• LEDs Brand: Epistar
• Input voltage: AC85-265v
• PAR: Blue led around 450 nm (best for germinating) red led around 650 nm for flower and bloom

• Spectrum in nm: Full Spectrum from 380nm-780nm.
• Heat management: UL approved two cooling fans
• Build Quality: Modular design
• Coverage16 sq.ft.(1.5sq.m.)
• Dimensions: 5.5” x 9.4” x 14.2” (139x238x360mm)
• Weight: 6.45 pounds (2.5kg)
• Extras 1 power cord, one stainless steel hanging hook
• Made in China
• Warranty 3 year

SimuLight LED-9614G | 540 Watt
MSRP: $1,299

SimuLightLED-9614G is a 1,000 HID replacement unit. These lights are full-spectrum, dimmable, programmable and entirely full-spectrum, dimmable, programmable and entirely customizable with individual Veg, Grow, and Flower channels.
The most striking feature about these lights is its highly efficient fixture with optics that help in giving direction to the light for improved penetration and more rapid growth; this fixture can be utilized in the various stages of plant growth.
The grow lights can be controlled remotely, and they are daisy-chainable as well. The remote control extra is welcome for bigger crops, as it allows a more hands-off experience. Made of aluminum and glass, this fixture is quite durable. Its low heat output reduces the need for cooling and ventilation. These lights can be used in greenhouses, plant factories, and nurseries.
The lights also come with a 36” control cable which is optional but gives room for the user to chain up to eight lights , enabling their operations under the same program.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Draw in Watts: 540W
• Cost per True Watt: $2.40
• PAR Output Center
  • 1 foot 1,352 µmol/m2/s
  • 2 feet 899 µmol/m2/s
  • 3 feet 485 µmol/m2/s
  • 4 feet 333 µmol/m2/s
• Spectrum: Enhanced Full Spectrum, engineered growth, and flowering. The center COB provides a full spectrum of high power lighting optimized for plant growth. The supplemental LED have wavelengths of 390nm, 430nm, 460nm, 620nm, 660nm, 740nm, and white.
• Build Material: Aluminum and Glass
• Dimmable: </strongYes – 3 channel
• Beam Angle: 78°and 105°
• Lifespan: 50,000 hours
• Dimensions: 21” x 15” x 3” (533x381x76mm)
• Weight: 15.3lbs (7kg)
• Options: Remote Control, Daisy Chain Cables
• Warranty: 2 years limited

Smart Grow Systems GOLDENi 600
MSRP: $1,450

The aptly named GOLDENi 600 is an ambitious project by Smart Grow Systems. What they offer is a lightweight and powerful LED panel, which is also completely remote controlled! In terms of spectrum, the company has developed their own Smart Grow Golden Glow , which mimics the sun’s natural light.
The Smart Grow GOLDENi 600 LED is ideal for SoG and SCRoG methods of growing, offering even light distribution and a flexible (but sturdy) design. The unit is lightweight (5.1 lbs) and thin (1′ thick) and features a user-friendly remote driver power supply.
The Smart Grow Golden Glow spectrum imitates the sun’s PAR levels , with a spectrum mix that is perfect for cloning, vegetative and blooming growth stages. By eliminating the purple/ magenta 660nm red light chips which were harmful to cloning and early vegetation, the new Golden Glow spectrum promotes healthy plant growth throughout the entire grow cycle.

Detailed Specs

• Cost per True Watt: $2.41
• Total LEDs: 1680 Samsung LEDs mounted on an aluminum PCB; 50,000-hour lifespan

• Spectrum in nm: ‘Golden Glow’ warm white spectrum; for seedlings through harvest
• Heat Management: Passive cooling
• Build Quality: Aluminum
• Coverage: 10.6 sq.ft. (0.9 sq.m.) at 10″ (254mm) above plants
• LED Brands: Samsung
• Operating/input voltage: 110VAC @ 5.45A; 240VAC @ 2.5A
• Dimensions: 41″ x 21″ x 1″ (104x53x2.54cm)
• Weight: 5.1 lbs (frame), 7.8lbs (LED Driver) (2.2kg-3.5kg)
• Extras: Luminaire, V-hangers, 8′ driver leash, 110-120v plug
• Built in the USA
• Warranty: 3 years

Unit Farm UFO-160 Cree Osram Led Grow Light
MSRP: $770

The Australian-based Unit Farm is a qualified player in the LED grow light scene. For over 9 years they have been producing a lot of OEM product for various organizations and companies all over the world.
Their experience is obvious, as they have done a pretty good job in creating a great all-rounder with the UFO-160 LED grow light , which incorporates high-output CREE and Osram LED chips.
The specially designed reflectors blend the wavelengths while directing the light down to your plants. All Unit Farm models feature a switch between Growth and Bloom modes to conserve energy and aid the plant according to its development.

As far as quality goes, Unit Farm LED grow lights are an affordable and reliable alternative compared to the many other LED grow lights on the market.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Draw in Watts: 360W (±5%@AC120V) – 350W (±5%@AC240V)
• Cost per True Watt: $2.13 – $2.2
• LED Brands: CREE and Osram
• Spectrum in nm: 450~475nm 620~630nm, 650~660nm, and white
• Heat Management: Active cooling via aluminum heat sinks and cooling fans
• Lumens: 17540 Lm±5%@AC120V 17174 Lm±5%@AC240V
• PAR Value: 2028.6umol
• Amperage: 2.99A/120V 1.483A/240V
• Max Coverage: 36 sq.ft. (3.3 sq.m.)
• Dimensions: 18.3″ x 13.4″ x 3.14″ (465x340x80mm)
• Weight: 17lbs (8kg)
• Built in the Australia
• Warranty: 3 years

Model: MarsHydro Reflector 480W
$174 (Original Price: 189.99)

MarsHydro is a well-known brand in the hydroponic growing world, often associated with affordable LED grow lights. However, this drop in price does not necessarily equal a lack of quality.

The Reflector Series is a popular series among growers. This particular product comprises of 96x5W diodes and has an actual power draw of 200W. Mars Hydro are upfront about the actual wattage and they clearly state it on the product description.Each LED chip features a reflector (hence the name) that mixes the emitting light and distributes it equally all over the canopy.
The spectrum of the Mars Hydro Reflector uses 10 bands of light (430-440nm, 450-475nm 620-630nm, 650-660nm) including white and infrared (730nm) range, which is invisible to the naked human eye.
The full spectrum of light will allow you to grow your plant from seedling to the vegetative stage and flowering without much effort.
Even though it is not fancy, the heat management is adequate in this model. LEDs run way cooler than traditional HPS/MH light systems, they still need to be cooled and in this unit this is done via a quiet fan, running as loud as a PC. This fixture comes with a 2-year warranty and there are dedicated repair centers in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Detailed Specs

• Actual Power draw: 200W@110V – 190W@220V
• Cost per True Watt: $0.87 ($0.95) – $0.91 ($1)
• Total LEDs: 96x5W
• LEDs Brand: Epistar
• Spectrum in nm: 430-440nm, 450-475nm 620-630nm, 650-660nm, and white Real IR spectrum: 730nm (invisible to humans)
• Heat management: Cooling Fans
• Lumens: 17540 Lm±5%@AC120V 17174 Lm±5%@AC240V
• PAR Value: 2028.6umol
• Amperage: 2.99A/120V 1.483A/240V
• Veg. Coverage Area: 8.75 sq.ft. (0.81 sq.m.)
• Flowering Coverage Area4.5 sq.ft. (0.4 sq.m.)

• Dimensions: 18.3″ x 13.4″ x 3.14″ (465x340x80mm)
• Weight: 10lbs(4.5kg) /12lbs (5.6kg)
• Made in China
• Warranty 3 year

Our Top Picks

All of the LED grow lights we presented above are trustworthy solutions for your indoor garden. That’s why we made three top picks, one from each price category. Starting from LED lights that market at or below $500, we decided to go with the Mars Hydro Reflector 480. This full spectrum grow light has a 200W power draw and a really low cost per true watt ratio. MarsHydro is very responsive to messages and they will be happy to answer whatever question you might have. In all, this is a solid option for beginners or growers on a tight budget.

Moving on to the $501-$900 category, we picked the full-spectrum SuperGrow LED SK 450. Completely fan-less and made with aluminum, this unit offers amazing value for money at about $860, making it a great all-rounder choice. A single unit will replace a 500W HID fixture, for a drastically reduced cost, while all models come with a 5-year manufacturers warranty.

Finally, for the last category, we saved the place for the most luxurious of the LED grow lights we presented: The Cirrus T500. Built for commercial purposes and advanced growers, this unit has the ultimate specs: Full-spectrum, a 5-year warranty, amazing build quality and an extremely powerful mCOB design for optimal light intensity and penetration. This behemoth retails at $2,299 and surely offers enough to match the price.

There are many LED grow lights on the market, so there is a chance we missed a great unit. We’d love to hear about your favorites! Tell us which light you would like to see featured on this list and we will get our hands on one.

Best LED Grow Lights for 2017

We have rounded up the best and newest LED grow lights we have found across the world. We aim to review only well built, high (broad full) spectrum LEDs with an eye on fan-less hat management. We also communicate with the manufacturers and ask them questions you guys want to know the answers too. Here we go, in no particular order.

Dorm Grow G8-600B G8LED Bloom Only/ G8-900 Veg/Flower

Models

One of the most active grow light manufacturers in the US, Dorm Grow, is back with the newest iterations of their critically acclaimed G8LED series (the most recent being in 2016, when they won Best LED Grow Light according to “High Times” magazine for their 600W MEGA LED model). Designed to offer specialized support to your plants depending on their grow phase, the all-new G8-600 and the G8-900, succeed in creating a perfect combination of power, safety and yield maximization, suited both to professional and amateur growers. Also, the company’s known G8-9RR Flower Booster makes a return, offering a reliable supplemental lighting for flowering seasons.

G8-600B 600W Bloom Only

The G8LED 600W Bloom Only Light comes as a replacement to the successful 450W model and is specially designed for the flowering phase of a plant’s development. It covers an area of 20ft² (2m² – about 10 fully grown plants) and is larger than its predecessor. It offers an optimal rate of 8 bands of the color spectrum, with an emphasis on UV and extra red wavelengths to maximize yield. That being said, it is important to clear up that this grow light is better suited to those who like to keep their plants separate, according to their status (vegging/flowering).

G8-900 900W Veg/Flower

The company’s flagship model, the G8-900 is a great all-rounder solution to any serious grower. Using an actual power draw of 540W, this full-spectrum grow light has an output of 900W, that can easily replace more powerful MH or HPS fixtures at 1200-1400W. It covers an area of 24ft² (2,3m² – about 12 fully grown plants) and it can penetrate about 5’(150cm) into the canopy. Like most of the modern “plug ‘n’ play” grow lights, the G8-900 comes with a Vegetative/Flowering switch, which turns the blue and red diodes on or off depending on your needs.

For those who want a little extra “oomph” in their yields, this light truly shines (pun intended) when used alongside a G8-9RR Flower Booster. This supplemental light can be added to your fixture and deliver some extra red wavelengths in your growth, offering a great return on the “yield per Watt” scale.

All of the Dorm Grow products come with a 2-year warranty, 24/7 support and a 90 Day money back guarantee.

Actual Draw in Watts

While it is an almost standard marketing practice for manufacturers to not release the actual power draw of their products, this is not true for Dorm Grow. The data advertised are in line with our own calculations, so that is an extra plus regarding their credibility.

Below you will find comprehensive tables about the wattage of each model

Total LEDs and Spectrum

G8LED 600W Bloom Only

The G8-600B is ideal for the flowering stage of your plants and therefore offers an increased UV lighting and emits more red wavelengths. Note that the G8-9RR is not needed when using this grow light, as it packs quite a punch by itself.

Spectrum: 740nm, 660nm, 630nm ,610nm, 580nm, 475nm, 460nm, 440nm, 380nm, 6000k

G8LED G8-900 Veg/Flower

The G8-900 can be used as one-size fits all solution, although some experimenting might get you more bang for your buck (if you know what you are doing. Otherwise, stick with the G8-900 for all stages of plant growth and you’re golden! Just remember to pull turn the switch when flowering starts!

Spectrum:

Most Efficient for cannabis photosynthesis.

740nm, 660nm, 630nm, 610nm, 580nm, 460nm, 440nm, 380nm, 6000k740nm, 660nm, 630nm, 610nm, 580nm, 460nm, 440nm, 380nm, 6000k

Thermal Management

Due to the 3W Bridgelux diodes used in all Dorm Grow products, the lights run at cool temperatures, eliminating the need for noisy (and energy-consuming) fans.

Coverage and Build Quality

G8LED 600W Bloom Only

• Flowering Coverage: 5’x4′ (1,5×1,2m)
• No. Plants Coverage: 6-10 mature plants
• Dimensions: 21”x14”x3” (53x35x7 cm)
• Made in USA
• Diodes by Bridgelux
• Weight: 20lbs / 9kg

G8LED G8-900 Veg/Flower

• Veg Coverage: 6’x4′ (1,8×1,2m)
• Flowering Coverage: 6’x4′ (1,8×1,2m)
• No. Plants Coverage: 8-12 mature plants
• Dimensions: 24”x14”x3” (61x35x7 cm)
• Made in USA
• Diodes by Bridgelux
• Weight: 22lbs / 10kg

Warranty

• 2 Year Full Warranty
• 90 Day money back guarantee

Neonica – Growy LED-254-200W

Model by Neonica

Hailing from Poland, Neonica recently introduced their very promising Growy LED series. Although it is among the very few European grow lights manufacturers, the company has been working hard to increase its presence in the world market. They are not newbies in this game either: they have been specializing in the production of LED lighting systems since 1995, having secured some very solid partnerships along the way:

“Among few in Europe we have special machines able to produce a variety of LED solutions: led strips, led lamps, led tubes, led bulbs, led modules and led lighting for industrial applications. High qualified staff, know-how and expanded photometric laboratory allow us to develop and improve a whole range of products.

High innovation of our solutions and their quality is appreciated both by thousands of satisfied users, industry experts and international leaders of the market. Leading manufacturers of LED chips CREE and OSRAM offered Neonica Polska partnership agreements. Thus Neonica Polska has permanent access to high-tech LED chips and our products are tested not only for necessary certifications in national laboratories but also in order to ensure world’s highest quality.”

Their credentials are surely impressive, but what about their products?

Although in this case we will be presenting the 200W model (which stands as a true replacement of a traditional HPS600W fixture), LED fixtures from Neonica company come as a pleasant surprise: they significantly increase vegetative growth, boosts flowering and budding. Though not very well known in the US, these Polish guys work really make up on their company’s obscure reputation by focusing on their products sophisticated components and build quality.

Actual Draw in Watts

The Growy-254 is not the largest and most powerful grow light created by Neonica and thus it is recommended for small/medium sized crops. However, its 200W Watts draw is designed to and will replace a 600W HPS fixture. Of course, we have approached the people at Neonica with some questions regarding the true Watts intake, but haven’t received an answer as of yet. The lack of detailed information on the web only made matters worse. Based on our own calculations, the actual wattage is around 185W.

Total LEDs and Spectrum

Growy 254 features a carefully selected LED sequence enriched in 520-540nm and 595-615nm wavelength to suit perfectly the needs of plants on the chlorophyll “A” and “B”. Its LEDs do not emit much heat radiation so that the lamp can be installed very close to plants without having to worry about their condition. Again, although we have contacted Neonica to ask about any “gaps” in the spectrum, there was no response.

Also by working at a much lower temperature Growy LED fixtures drastically decrease the consumption of water needed to grow. Growy LED uses specially dedicated OSRAM LEDs which guarantees maintenance-free use and high quality product. However, if you so wish, you can use different focusing optics, allowing for individual adjustment of Growy LED to a different style.

Thermal Management

The Growy series’ specially engineered housing with anodized aviation aluminum alloy does not require active cooling by fans, reduces energy requirements and extends the lamp life up to at least 10 years of continuous use.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Coverage and Build Quality

• Dimensions: 56.3” x 5.5” x 4.2”;
• Expected Lifetime: 50,000 hours;
• Voltage: Voltage AC 90-264V/50-60Hz;
• Special selected high-quality LEDs from OSRAM;
• Robust housing made of anodized aluminum provides excellent heat dissipation through gravity exchange (passive cooling);
• Modern design with handles for easy installation in line or stand alone;
• Designed and manufactured in Poland.

Warranty

Neonica offers a 36-month warranty plan.

Comments

Being a European company, Neonica’s Growy series is not especially well known among US growers. Information about their product series was scarce and their social media presence is scanty, to say the least (they have disabled comments in their YouTube channel and their FB page looks neglected). However, their website is regularly updated, so you can easily find out information about shipping details.

Pro Max Grow – MAX1200 – 250 Watts

Model

Pro MAX Grow LED products have a reputation for reducing grower’s expenditures, while simultaneously, increasing the size of their harvests. MAX1200 is the pinnacle of this philosophy. This LED panel has been designed to generate virtually no heat and therefore it does not require external cooling fans – a factor that significantly lowers energy costs. Also, it is worth mentioning that the technology between the ProMax grow lights, enables them to work equally well in both the Growth and Flowering stages, meaning that you can just plug the light and just never change the settings. Plug’n’play, from seed to harvest!

The lights themselves are designed by Eco-Light products, a company that has more than three decades of experience in specialty lighting manufacturing, all in US soil. Perhaps the fact that the people at NASA have been using their products to conduct research on their study for plant growth in space says everything there is to know about them: your space cookies will finally be spacier than ever!

Actual Draw in Watts

It is a common theme for grow light manufacturers not to state the correct number of their products’ Watts draw so we asked the manufacturer and Christie Lunsford from ProMaxGrow told HTG:

“The Max1200 is only 250W and it draws 250W. We use the most advanced LED diodes on the market which are significantly more efficient and allow Pro MAX Grow lights to produce more usable light power while drawing less wattage than traditional LED grow light fixtures that draw much higher wattage.” – Christie Lunsford ProMaxGrow

Turns out that Christie was completely sincere in her answer. In fact, testers and reviewers concur that not only the company’s claims are true, but that the actual number is slightly higher, reaching 259W in some instances!

Total LEDs and Spectrum

The MAX1200 features 768 custom-made diodes that will last for more than 50,000 hours if the LED lights are on 57% of the time. Christie also answered some of our questions regarding the LED lights quality and the color spectrum:

• Do you use ‘white’ LEDs to get the spectrum?

“Pro MAX Grow’s Max1200 is a full spectrum “white” light LED Grow light. Our chip produces a white color in order to permit accurate plant health evaluation. However, within the white color that is projected, we hit the peak spectrums along with the ancillary spectrums required to produce quality, high yielding crops. Our cultivators love us for our full spectrum technology.”

• Are the lights “dimmable” or able to select spectrum?

“Pro MAX Grow grow lights are dimmable. You cannot select a specific spectrum, because by choosing only one spectrum you are going to negatively impact the other spectrums and negatively affect the spectrum which would cause a gap in the band. While many grow lights require constant turning of switches to change from one spectrum of light to another, our advanced diodes integrate the necessary light waves required for both growth and flowering/vegetation so that one of our Max 600 or 1200 grow lights is all you need for growth and flowering.”

The MAX1200’s 768 full-spectrum, high-power white diodes emit an array of light that and will cover a 48″ x 48″ (16 sq.ft) area and could easily replace a much more expensive and power-consuming 1000+ Watts HID system. It goes without saying that this is suitable for all phases of plant development.

The company’s CEO, Jeffrey Gasman, was even so kind as to email us a copy of the lab results from one of ProMax Grow’s clients, to highlight the effects of MAX1200 on the THC level of the plants:

“They are getting just over 16% more THC from their plants that are growing under the Max1200 than they are getting with the same strain while it was grown under 1000Watts HPS.”

Thermal Management

Fans are not required; the operating temperature ranges from 40°F to 104°F without the need for thermal management.

Coverage

16 sq. ft. (48” x 48”) ProMax claim that the MAX1200 gives you high PAR readings throughout your grow space and thus, it has an actual 4’x4’ grow area. That means that you can grow 12 good-sized plants in a space this size.

Build Quality

• Build: Powder coasted white finish;
• Dimensions: 11.5” x 22.5” x 29.9”;
• Weight: 20 lbs.;
• Expected Lifetime: 50,000 hours.

Warranty

• Five Years Limited Warranty;
• 30 Day Money Back Guarantee;
• Made in the U.S.A.

Comments

MAX1200 reviews are unanimously declaring it as one of the most successful LED grow lights that have ever been produced:

• “After several tests with other grow lights, we found a favorite in the MAX600 from Pro MAX Grow Lights. Not only did our test plants thrive under the MAX600, with all nutrients tested, but they were also a huge money saver on our electric bills. When it comes to it, MAX Grow Lights are the best choice out there on the market.”-Sheila Keller,MyGrowPhonics
• “The Pro MAX Grow MAX1200 have outperformed consistently for our most discerning clientele. Product quality and yield are greater than ever with the Max1200.”-Charles Allin, THC Global Consulting, Missoula, MT
• “We rely on Pro MAX Grow MAX1200’s for our cannabis collection. We appreciate the cooler temperatures of Pro MAX Grow and the amazing cost savings on electricity.”-Kim Ott , Green Lion Farms Seattle, WA

TruthLighting-M16-760Watts-1.jpg

Lighting Science VividGro V2

Model by Lighting Science

Another space-traveler, the VIVIDGRO V2 by the Florida-based company Lighting Science, promises to take your growing to the next level. This high-end fixture was built by the same brilliant minds that helped astronauts aboard the International Space Station grow their own food. VividGro is incredibly energy efficient and it is optimized for all horticultural activities, so feel free to grow a healthy batch of tomatoes (along with your MJ) with this.

“Plants are all about photosynthesis, and LEDs offer an unrivaled source of optimized solid state lighting that’s used to fuel plant cultivation and propagation. The nurturing of plants in an indoor environment, supported by LED light, helps to control many of the elements influencing the growth of the plant,” said Randy Mortensen, leader of the Agricultural Business Unit at Lighting Science. “With our proprietary VividGro™ technology, the spectral output of the light can be tuned to a particular species of plant, delivering optimal plant growth and energy efficiencies. As the urban population centers continue to flourish and higher demand is placed on growth of specific plants, such as in the cannabis industry, indoor horticulture will require more quality, energy efficient lighting, like that provided by our VividGro V2 LED Grow fixture.”

This model uses a passive, fan-less cooling method, that is both quieter and more energy efficient. It is also making use of an advanced thermal technology that provides maximum light intensity with increased PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation), needed to enhance growth, development and yield, with a proven 45% reduction in energy costs. Note that the V2 qualifies for utility rebates, so check with your energy provider for specific instructions and info.

Actual Draw in Watts

The VividGro V2 has an actual 585W draw, which can easily act as a true replacement to a 1000W HPS/Metal Halide fixture. According to the guys at Lighting Science, that’s because HPS and MH grow lights weren’t designed for horticultural purposes in the first place and can, in fact, be harmful to marijuana plants. The solution to this problem was the development of a light with a spectrum, coverage and temperature specifically designed to ensure plant growth (and not object illumination).

Total LEDs and Grow Light Spectrum

312 High Power LEDs; 60,000-hour lifespan (10+ years if LED lights are on 57% of the time). V2 uses seven-band wavelength spectrum and their color bands are at:

• UV: 300-400nm;
• Blue: 400-500nm;
• Green: 500-600nm;
• Red: 600-700nm;
• IR: 700-800nm;
• Visible: 400-700nm;
• Blue: 400-500nm.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

V2 can deliver about 1081 µmol at a 24″-30″ distance.

VIVID GRO V2 offers a broad light spectrum – tailored to maximize photosynthetic absorption efficiency. The light is engineered to penetrate down into and across the canopy, without sacrificing PAR efficacy.

Thermal Management

VIVIDGro2 uses Aluminum Heat Sinks without fans, a system that significantly cuts down energy costs (and unwanted noises).

Coverage

16 sq. ft. (48” x 48”)

Build Quality

• Build: Rugged die cast aluminum housing and optical grade weather resistant polycarbonate cover;
• Dimensions: 1077(L) x 603(W) x 110(H)mm 42.4″(L) x 23.74″(W) x 4.33″(H)
• Input Voltage: 100-277 VAC, 50/60 Hz;
• Weight: 64 lbs.;
• Expected Lifetime: 60,000 hours.

Warranty

Lighting Science offers a five years limited warranty on this product.

Comments

• “This grow light has far exceeded our expectations and “wish list”. We have tested and light metered virtually every other LED grow light on the market and none of them reach the PAR levels that this one does. The price is the lowest we’ve seen for this amount of light output as well, showing an efficiency of 1.84 umol/j. We even got utility rebates for it. This is a win-win grow light. Save energy, save money, increase light output and yield over traditional grow light sources”. – User Review
• “Hi there, first of all I’m a great researcher and me and my friend Google can find amazing things, after a ton of release I found out that the vividgro v1 had one of the highest efficiency led on the market, and they had just release this monster so I bought five.
• I have just recently started to use one of them and I’m at awe, never seen any growth like this before anywhere. But destine look so bright for the eye, but I’m sure it is made specially for plants not for eye.” – User Review

Truth Lighting – M16 – 760 Watts

Model by Truth Lighting

Truth Lighting has spent over 10 years on research and development for their next grow light. By looking at the M16, we can definitely say that this was time well spent.

All models of the series (M6, M9 and M16) feature an original 25 diode module layout, that distributes patterns of light in a 4×4 array. This system ensures that your plants will always absorb the optimal amount of light. Whether on vegging of flowering period, the M16 has been proven to easily outperform 1000W HID setups.

Perhaps one of the best points about any of Truth Lighting LED panels is that they are completely modular and customizable. In the unlikely event of a failure, every part is easily replaceable (although failure is not a very common occurrence with Truth Lighting products). However, the real highlight of the M16 is the achievement of a full spectrum at a surprising 3”-6” above the garden’s canopy. This compares to most traditional LED panels, that require the grower to keep it around 2”-3” above. This feature allows growers to have more vertical space – and grow larger plants. According to the manufacturer, keeping the light at this distance optimizes the absorption of PAR and promises a generally healthier and higher yielding harvest.

The M16 is also incredibly easy to set up: unbox it, hang it up, turn it on and you’re ready to go. Its footprint is around 5”x5” for flowering and vegging and its spectrum is fully customizable for both phases of plant growth. If you need to expand or modify your setup, more modules are available through Truth Lighting. When combined with the traditional benefits of LEDs such as energy savings, safety, durability and life span, Truth Lighting LEDs quickly become the obvious choice for cultivation professionals concerned with the quality of their product and the health of their plants.

Actual Draw in Watts

The people at Truth Lighting claimed that 760W is the actual output of the product. Truth Lighting insisted that they are “highly against the misleading marketed wattage selections by most competitors” and if we are to judge by the reviews all over the internet, their stance is highly appreciated by the grower community as well.

However, we have to mention that reports from reviewers and growers, suggest that 714W might be a more realistic expectation for this setup.

Total LEDs

400 x 3W Bridgelux/Epistar/Epiled LEDs; 50,000+ hour lifespan (10+ years if LED lights are on 57% of the time)

Grow Light Spectrum

Multiple; for vegetative growth and flowering. According to Truth Lighting themselves, M16 was “designed between 380nm – 840nm. These fixtures were specifically tailored for fueling cannabis through its entire life cycle”. The spectrum on this light is trying to focus on chlorophyll a and b, with a strong spike in the blue and two spikes in the reds around 640 and about 660 nanometers and in the low blues at 450 nm.

Thermal Management

The fixture is cooled by an arrangement of 6 x 120mm internal Thermal Management fans that are quiet as much as they are effective in providing fresh air to the aluminum heat sinks. These keep the unit running at internal temperatures of 86 to 100.4ºF.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

At a two-foot distance from the top of the canopy, the M16 already has a PAR of 781.72 µmol.

Coverage

25 sq. ft. (60” x 60”) at 24″ above plants. Truth Lighting tells us that their fixtures do not have dimmers, but dual power switches which allow for partial illumination of the fixture, or as they put it:

“The M16 is capable of running with only six Modules at a time or 10 modules at a time or all 16 modules for full power. The M9 is capable of running with four modules or with five modules and then full power with all nine modules illuminated. The M6 is 3” and 3”.

Build Quality/Specs

• Operating frequency: 50Hz/69Hz;
• Input Current: 580-630mA;
• Working Temperature: 4°F to 140°F (4.4°C to 40°C);
• Life Span: 50,000 hours;
• Input Voltage: AC85~264V;
• LED Beam Angle: 90º;
• Net Weight: 0 lbs. or 19kg/pc.
• Dimensions: 6” x 23.6” x 2.6”

Warranty

The warranty package of the M16 is also very impressive and includes a three-year manufacturer guarantee of your investment. Practically, this means that if anything fails, you can contact the company and they will have you covered.

Comments

Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of positive reviews to be found on the web about the M16:

“I bought one of these, and it is simply amazing. Runs cooler than a 525W NextLight LED and puts out SO much light. Very substantially built.

It’s my favorite high-end LED, with the best coverage. I keep it about 12″ above my plants, works great. I’m using it for both veg and bloom cycles, with no issues. Big deep green leaves, huge thick buds. AAAAAAA+” – Amazon review

“The Truth LED Lamp is one of the most impressive LED systems on the market.” – High Times

“Hands down the best LED on the market. I don’t normally write reviews but believe me when I tell you that all other lights pale in comparison to the Truth Lighting LED. Read about the light in High Times and decided to purchase. So happy I did.” – User Review

2016 LED Grow Light Review

#1: Black Dog

Model: Phytomax 800 LED Grow Lights

Black Dog is trying to set the record straight about LED grow lights. They have started by naming all their lights accurately based on their actual Watts.

“We focus on true footprints and true results. Part of our challenge is to educate people. Everything is based on research and trials. There is a lot of misinformation being spread out there which we are trying to fight our way through.” Patrick at Black Dog

They strive for transparency, which starts with disclosure of the actual Watts and carries all the way through to their stellar warranty, which is the best available.

At 800 Actual Watts, their Phytomax 800 is a true replacement for 1000W HID lights. In fact, it kicks any 1000W HID light’s a$$.

Actual Draw in Watts

The Phytomax 800 is one of few LEDs named for its actual Watts instead of its LED Watts. The actual draw is 800 Watts, with an LED Wattage of 1710W.

Total LEDs

There are 342 high output 5 Watt LEDs. They have LEDs from five top manufacturers, because no single manufacturer makes diodes covering the entire PAR spectrum and UV and IR light.

Grow Light Spectrum

Black Dog LED’s proprietary full-cycle Phyto-Genesis Spectrum™ is full spectrum without gaps between 375 nm and 735 nm.

The spectrum spikes to match the PAR spectrum as closely as possible.

It covers UV light which increases THC and CBD content, boosts terpenes and flavonoids for better taste and boosts antioxidants, vitamins and pigmentation of buds.

The spectrum also includes near infrared (NIR) light to boost photosynthetic activity.

Fans

Black Dog uses one of the most effective active heat management set-ups in the LED industry, with ultra-quiet, durable fans to maximize the life of your light.

Lens

The Phytomax 800 has a 120° beam angle primary lens.

At Black Dog they don’t use secondary lenses, because these actually reduce efficiency. You lose about 2% of your light intensity just by filtering it. While a secondary lens may look nice in the stats, it actually decreases the footprint of the grow light.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Black Dog made it clear that PPFD is only one aspect of measuring a grow light’s efficiency. As we mentioned above, alone it doesn’t tell you how well a grow light actually grows marijuana plants.

Coverage

Black Dog is the only company that gives footprint information specifically for growing marijuana.

They have had the footprint of their lights independently tested with light spectrometers. These tests have shown that they have large, even footprints with no hotspots.

For growing cannabis, use the following recommendations:

• Vegetative Stage: 7’ X 7’ with light hung 40 inches above plants
• Flowering Stage: 5’ X 5’ with light hung 29 inches above plants

If you ever decide to grow something else under these lights (hey, you may decide you want hydroponic tomatoes this winter!) check out their guidelines for different footprints here. It also discusses adjustments for growing auto-flowering varieties.

Build Quality and Materials

The Phytomax 800W LED grow light is built with commercial grade components designed for a long life. It’s industrial heat sink is the largest in the industry.

• 21” X 21” X 7”
• Weight: 50 lbs
• Expected Lifetime: 50,000 hours

Warranty

Black Dog offers the best warranty available for LED grow lights. It is a limited lifetime warranty which features:

• 90 day money-back guarantee
• First 3 years: all parts, all labor. You’re covered no matter what happens.
• 3-5 years: all parts are covered.
• 5 years+: call Black Dog for trouble shooting and support.

As Patrick from Black Dog explained, five years is a lifetime when it comes to technology. Most clients want to upgrade to the latest LED grow light before then, and Black Dog has you covered there too.

They offer upgrade programs depending on how long you’ve owned a light. This means significant amounts of credit when you upgrade to a new LED grow light.

User Comments

Here’s what growers are saying about the Phytomax 800W Grow Light:

“This is the best light out.” Review from youtube.com

“With this update, only two companies- Black Dog LED and Build My LED- were put in the ‘Good Choice’ column. Black Dog LED has UV, IR and isn’t exaggerating footprint sizes or lying about anything.” Review from www.compareledgrowlights.com, which aggressively picks apart the claims made by the leading LED producers.

“You can’t do this with other LED Grow Lights — #PhytoMAX800—Larger Yield, Higher THC 2-5%, Lower Power.” Review from Instagram.com

#2: California Light Works

Model: Solar Storm 440W

California Light Works (CLW) is the oldest LED grow light company in the industry. They credit their success to the ingenuity of electrical engineer George Mekhtarian, who is the owner/operator of CLW.

Mekhtarian’s genius is evident in the Solar Storm 440. This highly scalable full spectrum LED grow light is up to 25% more efficient than competitors. It features UVB supplementation to inhibit mold and mildew while increasing potency. The mode settings make it easy to switch back and forth from vegging to flowering spectrums.

This is an efficient, reliable and well-designed LED grow light from a very dependable company. Let CLW make your next grow the best you’ve had yet.

Actual Draw in Watts

The actual draw of the Solar Storm 440 depends on which mode you’re using:

• Veg Mode: 235W
• Flowering (Bloom) Mode: 320W
• Bloom Mode + UVB T8 bulbs on: 350W

Total LEDs

This grow light has 144 3W Osram SSL LEDs. This gives them 1.7 mmol/j efficiency, which is 25% higher than competitors.

Grow Light Spectrum

CLW uses their proprietary OptiGrow^® Blend which is based on university studies. It features dominant wavelengths at:

• 440 nm (Deep Blue)
• 470 nm (Blue)
• 620 nm (Red)
• 665 nm (Deep Red)
• 3100 K (Warm White)
• 285-315 nm (UVB)

There is a switchable feature which allows you to turn the UVB light on and off as you choose. UVB exposure will increase yields and reduce the risk of bud rot. Unless mold is a serious issue in your grow room, you do not need to leave the UVB light on at all times and can turn it off to save energy.

Fans

This unit stays cool using 92mm integrated fans and large heat sinks.

Coverage

The Solar Storm 440W light will cover:

• Vegging (up to 5’ about plants): 36 square feet (6’ X 6’)
• Flowering (16”-24” above plants): 9 square feet (3’ X 3’)

Lens Type

The Solar Storm uses no lens, just a glass dust shield. This maximizes the efficiency of the light. Instead of using efficiency reducing lenses, CLW chooses the LEDs that give the proper field.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Par Output:

Build Quality and Materials

Durable power coated 6063 aluminum and sheet metal construction with a sealed electronics section make the Solar Storm 440 a tough light that will last.

Solar Storm 440W: 15” X 18” X 5”, weighs 18 pounds

Estimated Lifespan: 80,000+ Hours

Warranty

All CLW LED grow lights are designed and manufactured in California. They build all their LED boards in-house to assure the highest quality.

The Solar Storm 440 comes with a limited 3 year warranty.

User Comments

Growers everywhere are raving about the Solar Storm 440W:

“I bought these to test and set them up in a 4 x 8 tent. With two 440’s running I didn’t not even have to run an A/C. If you are looking into LED I strongly suggest you take a good look at these Solar Storm 440’s. Top notch product, top notch manufacturer and service.” Review from growershouse.com/

“I started with one of these through Cali. Light Works Grower Feedback Program, and liked it so much, I ordered 3 more.” Review from growershouse.com

“Excellent light for indoor growing. Gives HP and MH lights an honest run for the money. Company reps provide great support and a 3 year warranty. Be ready to have your expectations exceeded and your growing space cooled, all in one day! Great product.” Review from Amazon.com

“This is a bad as# light, hands down kills a 600 watt hps.” Review from Amazon.com

#3: Dorm Grow

Model: G8LED 450W Veg/Flower and G8LED 900W Veg/Flower

Dorm Grow’s G8LED grow lights are among the most efficient on the market today. They have a sound reputation for producing high quality lights that last.

The G8450W G8-450 Veg/Flower is great for small spaces, including grow boxes or tents. Make your grow easy using a single light for all stages from seedling to the end of flowering.
Lollipopped-Marijuana-Under-G8LED-450W.jpg
Unlike HID lights which throw off light in many wavelengths that plants can’t use, the G8LEDs use the Optimal 8-band spectrum to deliver light in exactly the right wavelengths for plants. This means no wasted light. For you that means a lower electric bill, higher yields and a better final product.

They include UV and IR light, which not only improve photosynthesis but also fight mold and boost the terpene content of your buds.

Dorm-Grow-LED-with-90W-Red-UFOs.jpg

Dorm Grow stands by their lights because they know they have a quality product. As Robert from Dorm Grow explained,

“G8LED Technology provides the most efficient photosynthesis from a grow light using the Optimal 8-band wavelength spectrum. From seedling to harvest, the G8LED system gives some of the best yields possible from any LED grow light system.”

He’s confident that you’ll love these lights, and so are we.

Actual Draw in Watts

G8LED 450W: Actual Draw is 280 Watts

G8LED 900W: Actual Draw is 540 Watts

Total LEDs

The G8 series uses LEDs by USA made BridgeLux, Epistar and Optotech.

G8LED 450W: 17.5”x11”x3” (44.5x28x7.6cm)

Weight: 14 lb

G8LED 900W: 20.5”x14”x3” (44.5x28x7.6cm)

Weight: 22 lb

Grow Light Spectrum

Dorm Grow uses the Optimal 8-band wavelength spectrum that includes IR and UV light. Their color bands are at:

• 475nm Blue
• 440nm Violet
• 610 nm Orange
• 630 nm Red
• 660 nm Deep Red
• 380 nm Ultraviolet
• 740 nm Infrared
• 3000K White

Fans

Both of the G8 grow lights are fan cooled.

Coverage

G8LED 450W: 12+ square feet

G8LED 900W: 24+ square feet

Add two 90W red UFO lights during flowering to boost yield even further.

Lens

The G8 grow lights feature 90 and 120 degree angled lenses for optimal direction of light into the plant canopy.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

G8LED 450W Veg/Flower: 1800 µmoles at 2” from center.

G8LED 900W Veg/Flower: 3600 µmoles at 2” from center.

Build Quality and Materials

Dorm Grow produces only high quality LED grow lights. These are heavy duty lights, designed and built to last.

• G8LED 450W: 5” X 11” X3”
• Weight: 18 lb
• G8LED 900W: 5” X 14” X 3”
• Weight: 22 lb
• Expected Lifetime: 50,000 hours

Warranty

Both models come with a 2 Year Warranty, plus a 90 day money back guarantee, giving you a full flowering cycle to test out the lights.

Dorm Grow is known for their great customer service. If you have any questions or concerns just give them a ring and they’ll help you out right away.

User Comments

If the specs aren’t enough to convince you how great the G8LEDs are, maybe the growers who use these full spectrum LEDs are:

“G8LED 900W grow light and two G8LED 90W Red UFOs – that is all you need. Hands down best growing system for the money (actually saves me money!)” Review from theweedblog.com

“G8LED 450 Watt LED Grow Light is a very high quality,durable and outrageously bright.i did a ton of research on all led specs,parts,brightness and reasonably priced,and this light exceeded my expectations and now im walkin’/basking in sunshine B-)” Review from amazon.com

“The G8 system is a cut above the rest. Very few led systems are able to match the yield of sodium lights but G8 has done it. Using their system I used the 450 and added the 90red after my dark period and I outperformed my 600w sodium light on my first try. I had already done extensive research and knew the G8 technology was the real McCoy but having the results in my hands was truly a rewarding experience. Indoor growers Can’t go wrong with this system.” Review from amazon.com

#4: Platinum LED

Model: Advanced Platinum Series P300W

Platinum LED is another company that is striving for transparency and quality. We think they’ve achieved both. Their LED grow lights are made in America, so you’re dollars will stay right here, helping to build the economy.

Platinum LED proudly told us:

“We’re producing the most powerful LED light on the market. We have the highest PAR for the Watt of any grow light right now. That means we have the brightest lights.”

Even more important than having bright lights is having light in the right spectrum. Platinum LED uses 12 different colors of narrow banded diodes to match the natural absorption curve as closely as possible.

Actual Draw in Watts

The actual draw of this grow light depends on which setting you use:

• Vegging: 93 Watts
• Flowering (Veg + Bloom Switch): 180 Watts

Total LEDs

100 U.S. Made 3 Watt LEDs

Grow Light Spectrum

Platinum LED has carefully correlated their LED spectrum to match the PAR spectrum. They use twelve different color bands which overlap to match the natural

Coverage

At 18” above the grow the maximum coverage is 4.5’ X 3.8’. The core coverage at the same height is 3’ X 2’.

Lens

The P300 uses a 90° secondary focusing lens to direct the light directly into the plants.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Build Quality and Materials

• 9” X 19” X 3”
• Weight: 13 lbs
• Expected Lifetime: 50,000-100,000 hours

Warranty

In addition to offering a 5 year warranty, Platinum LED is widely praised for their stellar customer service. If you have any doubts about the product, just give them a call and they’ll be happy to help.

User Comments

Here’s what growers are saying about the Platinum LED:

“Holy S#!%. With just the p300 plugged in, first night, I took my 6″ buddies from outside in the 85 degree sun, in less than 24 hours the new growth is looking CHUNNNKYYYY. And NO HEAT. I woke up to 72 degree temps at 48% humidity and unplugged my 4″ cooling can.” Review from Amazon.com

“Never… ever have you seen growth like this. Platinum LED lights are the highest powered, best spectrum emitting lights you can possibly find on the market today and the results don’t lie! Using only 2 of these P450 lights in a 4×4 tent, I regularly pull over 1.6 grams/watt while using less than 600w of power.” Review from Amazon.com

“I was very skeptical, I called the manufacture and asked them an array of questions. Great down to earth people who know what you’re doing and want you to be successful. This is honestly one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.” Review from Amazon.com

#5: Super Grow LED

Model: FATPHARM250

Super Grow LED is one of the few grow light manufacturers that offers a true continuous full spectrum, with no gaps. Their FATPHARM250 is an industrial grade grow light designed for maximum efficiency.

This light is ideal for use from seed to harvest. It will maximize growth during all stages, improve your cloning success rate and boost yields. With their tough fanless design these grow lights are built to last.

The FATPHARM250 comes with clear instructions, specs and diagrams showing a variety of potential grow room set-ups. If you have any questions Super Grow LED’s in-house lighting engineers are happy to help at any time. These durable lights will improve the harvest from a grow of any size.

Actual Draw in Watts

The actual draw of the FATPHARM250 is 250 Watts.

Total LEDs

Super Grow LED uses Bridgelux and Epileds chips in their own custom diodes. The spectrum covers 380 nm through to 780 nm far more than PAR and offers high PPFD.

The FATPHARM250 has 150 3W LEDs. These give 250 Watts of true power, and are a real replacement for a 600W HID grow light.

Grow Light Spectrum

This is one of the few LED grow lights out there that really does provide continuous full spectrum light. The FATPHARM250is continuous full spectrum from 380-780nm, with supplemental cholophyll a and b absorption peaks. Their spectrum closely matches the natural spectrum or daylight.

Two thirds of the diodes in the FATPHARM250 are “white” LEDs, which have a mix of red, green and blue light. These supply the full spectrum. The remaining third of the diodes are a mixture of either UV, far-red or red light wavelengths to supercharge the flowering cycle. This increases yields and allows strict photoperiod control.

Fans

This fanless LED grow light uses high quality heat sinks, thermal bond and metal clad printed circuit boards to manage heat.

There is no heat increase 12 inches from the source, which will considerably reduce HVAC requirements in your grow room.

Coverage

The coverage of the FATPARM250 depends on the growing stage;

• Vegetative: 30 square feet
• Flowering: 16 square feet

Two or more FATPHARM250 units can be easily bolted together to cover larger grows.

Lens

The FATPHARM250 features 90° lenses for optimal photo deliver. These lenses are the best compromise for maximizing the coverage area while maintaining a high light intensity. This give the FATPHARM250 the best value in terms of cost per square foot of harvest area compared to LED grow lights of the same size.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Par Output: 1400+µmoles at 12” from center

Build Quality and Materials.

These LED grow lights are built with rugged materials like the anodized aluminum chassis. There are no bulbs or ballasts to replace.

• Dimensions: 22” X 14” X 7”
• Weight: 23 lbs
• Lifespan: 50,000+ hours
• Yo-Yo Hangers included

Warranty

The FATPHARM250 comes with a 3 Year Warranty from manufacturer’s defects.

Their customer service is outstanding. You’ll have access to their in-house engineers in case any questions or problems arise.

User Comments

People love the FATPHARM250 for its continuous full spectrum and great customer service:

“The FATPHARM250 produces a continuous spectral distribution that is close to daylight, it uses name brand LEDs, does not require an internal fan due to the impressive thermal management design and comes with 90 degree TIR lenses to concentrate the light on the plants.” Review from canybus.com

“You may note the Super Grow LED banners on this site, we only recommend these lights because they are the best on the market beating the likes of Advanced, HydroGrow and Prosource. Why? To start with they beat those other companies hands down on a $ per sqft of flowering basis and deliver higher yields per Watt than HPS lights.” Review from greenthumbgrowing.wordpress.com

“I just finished my first hydroponic grow and the LED lights are efficient and produce the estimated 1g per watt. My entire household electricity was $60 last month and I’m running a hot water spa. It’s great not to have to switch the lights out between cycles. My home was built in 1953 so traditional lighting systems weren’t an option for me unless I spent a lot of money on upgrades etc.. The temperature in my grow room rarely gets above 85 degrees and usually runs about 78 degrees – no air cooling – just an efficient fan. Lastly, you’re not on your own once you purchase this product – no really – the response to my questions and concerns have been extremely prompt.

It’s great when a product does what it claims to do so you can plan ahead and count on it.” Review from supergrowled.com

#6: Kind LED

Model: K5 XL1000

Kind LED was founded by real growers with years of hands-on experience. They painstakingly developed their technology as they realized the full potential of LED grow lights. With the K5 series LED grow light Kind is setting a new industry standard.

Most LED grow lights have a small “footprint”, which means they don’t fully cover the square footage of cannabis canopy. This has traditionally resulted in lower harvest yields from full spectrum LEDs when compared to HPS. The K5 series has an extra-large footprint, making these lights true replacements higher wattage HPS lights.

Actual Draw in Watts

The actual draw of the K5 1000 is 650 Watts.

Kind LED advertises this light as a true replacement for a 1000 W HID.

Total LEDs

The K5Models: Diamond Series XML150 XL1000 has 320 LEDs, in a blend of 3W and 5W diodes.

Grow Light Spectrum

The K5 models use a 12 bandwidth spectrum which covers the entire photosynthetic growing spectrum. It is dimmable, allowing the grower to customize the spectrum to suit vegging or flowering cycles.

Their spectrum ranges from 350 nm – 740 nm, covering the entire PAR spectrum.

Natural Light Cycle

The X1000 mimics the natural light cycle by moving through eight different stages during the day. It starts off with a dawn setting, gently waking up your plants. Then it moves gradually through the intensity of midday before slowly dimming into sunset and eventual night. The natural light pattern results in higher yields and more natural growth patterns.

Fans

There are four large diameter fans that run over several heat sinks to effectively dissipate any heat generated through the light cycle.

Coverage

25 square feet (5’ X 5’)

Lens

This grow light uses a secondary optical lens.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles, PPFD

Kind LED offers some of the most useful PPFD data we’ve come across. They provide measurements at realistic distances from the light. They also give averages for the inner and outer edges of the coverage area.

Here is their data, comparing their XL1000 to 600W and 1000W HPS cooltube lights.

All measurements are in µmoles/m²/s:

Build Quality and Materials

Everything in a Kind LED grow light is manufactured by Kind, right down to the screws. They don’t outsource to anyone, so they can ensure that every light is the highest quality possible.

• XL1000W – 26” X 20” X 3.5”
• Weight: 36 lbs

Warranty

All Kind LED products are covered by a 3 year comprehensive warranty and a 90-day, money back, satisfaction guarantee.

User Comments

Here’s what users are saying about Kind LED:

“I went from CFL to this Kind LED. Wow. There is practically no heat other than the little bit that comes from the heat sinks being cooled. To the touch is cold. The progress alone in 1 week was astonishing. The difference in size in so little time is mind blowing.“ Review from Amazon.com

“Best LED light on the market. I have three K-5’s one 1000 and two 750’s. I have had them for three months and product is amazing. Great all the way through.” Review from Amazon.com

#7: Illumitex

Model: NeoSol DS

XTE-Series-LED-Grow-Light.jpg

Illumitex is an American company based in Austin, TX that is fully vertically integrated, meaning that they own their supply chain. This gives them the opportunity to manage the quality of their lights at every stage of manufacturing.

The NeoSol DS from Illumitex is another LED grow light designed to maximize efficiency. It is dimmable down to 10%, so you can adjust the amount of light reaching your plants without moving it up or down. The adjustable LED bars allow you to direct light exactly where you want it.

The light itself provides uniform distribution and silent operation. Illumitex partners with research companies like the world renowned Syngenta to continually improve their LED lights. The NeoSol DS is their latest offering.

Actual Draw in Watts

The actual draw of the NeoSol DS is 457.9-508.8 Watts. The fluctuation is due to effect of heat on the efficacy of the Surexi diodes.

Total LEDs

The NeoSol features 96 ultra-efficient Illumitex Surexi arrays, each of which is 5.4 Watts.

Grow Light Spectrum

The Illumitex Surexi F3 Spectrum LEDs use a mix of four wavelengths designed for the best vegetative and flowering results. In addition to the common blue and red wavelengths it includes a small amount of green which increases the quality of your yield. Here’s the breakdown:

• 400-499 nm (Blue) 11%
• 500-599 nm (Green) 7.7%
• 600-699 nm (Red) 81%
• 700-780 nm (Deep Red) 0.3%

Fans

This is a fanless system that uses a passive heat sink to keep cool.

Coverage

The 520 Watt NeoSol replaces a 1000 Watt HID, and covers 16-25 square feet depending on the growth stage:

• Vegging: 5’ X 5’
• Flowering: 4’ X 4’

Lens

Illumitex’s patented Digital Distribution optical technology guarantees that 65% of emitted light is contained using a 50° beam angle. Each diode is protected against dust and water.

Build Quality and Materials

The NeoSol has eight 48” extruded aluminum LED bars with formed aluminum end caps and housing, with IP66 rated LED bar construction. It features liquid tight cable connections.

• Dimensions: 2’ X 4’
• Weight: 37 pounds
• Estimated Lifespan: 60,000+ Hours

According to Rebecca Knight, the Director of Horticulture Research and Development at Illumitex, the NeoSol DS “allows for tight mounting heights with the ease of plug and play installation, maximizing utility in height restrictive grows” as well as affording growers “the flexibility to customize light-bar desnity and configuration as well as the ability to mount driver housings away from the plant canopy.” These features ensure that the NeoSol DS can be made to fit a grow room of any dimensions.

Warranty

5 Year Warranty. The NeoSol DS also comes with a 15-15-15 guarantee. This means they promise you’ll get 15% faster growth compared to a 1000 Watt HID equivalent lighting, 15% increase in yield and 15% higher PPFD (that refers to the amount of light that actually reaches your plants). With a guarantee like that, what do you have to lose?

As an added bonus, when you purchase a grow light from Illumitex you gain access to their talented team of horticulture specialists. They do more than just offer technical support regarding the grow light; they’ll answer any growing questions you have an help you attain the highest yields you’ve ever seen.

#8: Grow Northern

Model: Holographic Series 2

This is the new and improved grow light from Grow Northern, a highly respected LED grow light manufacturer in the UK, which will be available starting summer of 2016.

New and improved features of the Holographic Series 2 include:

• New, Ultra-Efficient LEDs
• Cutting Edge Single Stage Holographic Optic
• Silent Synjet Cooling System

This new series is light weight, compact and features an adjustable lighting angle. The lights can be remotely dimmed, and turned on or off using a programmed timer via a phone app.

The Holographic Series 2 uses the latest LED grow lights, powerful drivers and a sturdy build for a long life of powerful LED growing power.

Look for a full review of the Holographic Series 2 grow lights will be coming soon.

#9: KingLED

Model: King 1200W

You may be wondering how this light made the list. It is made in China, by a Chinese company no less. At first glance, I didn’t think it was much either. But a little research showed that these lights actually work great.

These are the best cheap LED grow lights on the market right now. And sometimes cheap is important.

The King 1200W has a color band spectrum with peaks in the right places (matching PAR). It has a high intensity output. Many growers are seeing better results from this light compared with two 300W LEDs and even with 1000W HID lights.

As far as LEDs in this price range, you can’t beat the results you’ll see with the King 1200W. They are backed by a good warranty and the company is known for quality customer service. Plus they ship from inside the US, so you’ll get your lights quickly.

Actual Draw in Watts

The actual draw of this light is about 340W.

While this seems low, keep in mind that a large LED Wattage (1200W in this case) means that the light has a bigger LED driver. In turn, this creates higher intensity light (measured in lumens or PAR/Watt). The heavy duty 6W LEDs in the King 1200W give a better PAR/Watt than smaller 3W LEDs.

So this light uses less electricity but is able to produce intense light that will improve your yields.

Total LEDs

This grow light uses 200 6W LEDs.

Grow Light Spectrum

The King 1200W grow light has color bands for vegetative and flowering marijuana stages.

• 410 nm (Deep Blue)
• 440 nm (Deep Blue)
• 450-475 nm (Blue)
• 620-630 (Red)
• 650-670 nm (Deep Red)
• White
• 730 nm (IR)

KingLED reminds us that the IR wavelength is at the far edge of wavelengths visible to the human eye. It will look like these diodes are not working or are very dim, but they are helping your plants produce bigger, tastier and more potent buds.

Fans

This fanless light uses custom copper core heat sinks to quickly dissipate heat.

Coverage

While the lighting area and height can be adjusted depending on your set-up, the average coverage is 5.5’ X 5.5’.

Build Quality and Materials

The King 1200W is not a cheaply made Chinese grow light. It has surprisingly tough materials and is built to last for years.

• Dimensions: 13.1” X 13.1” X 2.37”
• Weight:
• Expected Lifespan: >50,000 hours

Warranty

The King 1200W comes with a 3 Year All Inclusive Warranty.

User Comments

Here’s what growers think about the King 1200W Grow Light:

“This light was leaps and bounds ahead of my two 300w’s (and I want to mention they are very good LED lights that have good par/per watt performance and are new technology). I couldn’t believe how fast the plants put on weight and growth, it was near explosive growth.” Review from amazon.com

“This is a great grow light for the indoor grower. It is a good investment for your growing needs and I highly recommend this product. Great light for a great price 🙂 🙂 I’ve been using it and I couldn’t be happier with the results of my grow.” Review from amazon.com

“I bought a 1200w w/6w bulbs from China for 300.00 and its works 5 times better than my 1000w Gravita.” Review from boards.cannabis.com

#10: Advanced LED Lights

Model: XTE Series 300

The XTE series is the latest innovation from Advanced LED Lights. These American made grow lights outshine even their original Diamond Series thanks to many hours of research.

The XTE 300 uses 5W high flux LEDs which output twice the power of competing 5W diodes. In addition to the boost in power, you are in full control of the spectrum output and intensity. This makes it easy to adjust the lights instead of changing their height for different stages in the grow.

With a quality build, great diodes and a strong PAR/Watt output, the XTE 300 is a grow light to be reckoned with.

Actual Draw in Watts

The actual draw of the XTE 300 is 252W.

Total LEDs

This grow light uses a combination of Cree XT-E 5W LEDs and Osram 3W LEDs.

Grow Light Spectrum

With the XTE series you are in full control of the spectrum. You can change the “season”, spectrum peaks and intensity of the light with Advanced LEDs upgraded Color Select Controls.

Fans

Advanced LED claims that their ColdFlo Heat Dissipation Technology keeps the powerful 5W lights cool better than any other system out there. They were not willing to tell us more about it. Reviewers say it works, so we’ll have to go with that for now.

Coverage

The XTE 300 has a total coverage of 3.5’ X 4’, with a core coverage of 3’ X 3’.

Lens

The XTE series used the Diamond Series Optic built-in reflector to direct extra light at the garden.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

The one complaint we have with Advanced LED is that they decline to share much information. In a phone call I was told that the information on their website is all that they “are allowed” to release. It doesn’t include PPFD data.

Customers seem to love these lights and say they live up to all the claims Advanced LED makes. So we can’t judge them too harshly. These appear to be really great LED grow lights, but we would love to have just a little more information about them.

If you’ve used the XTE series for a grow, please share your experience in the comments section below. Devendra please link to the comments section.

Build Quality and Materials

Advanced LED uses quality US made materials for all their grow lights. The XTE series has parts that are easily removed and replaced. Even if you encounter an issue you can usually make the repair yourself with parts supplied quickly and free of charge from Advanced LED. This means less time fooling around and more time growing great weed.

• Dimensions: 19” X 8” X 3”
• Weight: 18 lbs

Warranty

90 Day Risk Free Trial- You get a full flowering cycle to decide if you like it or not. No hidden fees or questions asked.

Advanced LED’s Limited Lifetime Warranty is one of the best around. Here’s the breakdown:

• First 3 Years: If a defect occurs Advanced LED will either provide replacement parts immediately, repair the light (they pay shipping) or replace the light with a new one.
• After 3 Years: Advanced LED will provide all parts. Customer is responsible for shipping and labor.

User Comments

Growers everywhere love the XTE series from Advanced LED Lights:

“One thing I noticed about the new XTE series is with the reflectors built in to the secondary lens hardly no light is wasted out the sides of the lens, most cluster panels the whole cluster lights up due to wasted light. The XTE series clusters don’t.” Review from 420magazine.com

“I am using the Advanced LED XTE 300’s in my garden and couldn’t be happier. The panels are well built, using top brand diodes (Cree and Osram) which will last much longer than cheap epistar and epiled diodes found in 90% of the LEDs on the market. I would highly recommend them.” Review from icmag.com

Advanced Lights

Models: Diamond Series XML150 & XML350

The Diamond Series XML from Advanced Lights are one of the first LED grow light arrays to feature the 10W Cree XML LEDs; a breakthrough in LED technology that massively increases the power of LED grow lights. These LEDs deliver over 1,000 lumens each at full power and are run here in conjunction with Bridgelux 3W LEDs to make a very powerful grow light.

The ‘Diamond Series’ features two models

• The Diamond Series XML150
• The Diamond Series XML350

 


The difference in the two models is the size, with the larger unit (XML350) covering 4’6” squared as opposed to the 3’ squared of the smaller (XML150) unit.

• The XML150 has 4 X 10W Cree XML lights and 64 X 3W made up of 4 arrays of Bridgelux LEDs, each containing 16 LEDS. Total potential Watts = 40W + 192W = 232W
• The XML350 has 10 X 10W Cree XML lights and 144 X 3W made up of 9 arrays of Bridgelux LEDs, each containing 16 LEDS. Total potential Watts = 100W + 432W = 532W

Color select and dimmable controls are available for you to switch between different modes for different phases of growth. You can choose from clone/seedling mode, veg mode and flowering mode.


With dual heat sinks and fans the Diamond Series XML LEDs run cool and can lessen the need for heat ventilation in the growing area. You can also fit more of them into your grow room with the functionality that allows you to daisy chain up to 4 units from the same power supply.

If you are looking to totally maximize production from a limited space then this could be the light for you. The Diamond Series XML LEDs deliver more power than most of the competition with light across the spectrum to meet all your plants needs.

Spectrum

Each of the units emits light in 11 different wavelengths. This is not full spectrum but still good quality light.

• 760nm
• 740nm
• 720nm
• 660nm
• 630nm
• 615nm-480nm
• 460nm
• 440nm
• 415nm
• 380nm

Total LEDs

• Diamond Series XML150 – 68 (4 x 10W and 64 X 3W)
• Diamond Series XML350 – 154 (10 x 10W and 144 X 3W)

Actual Draw or True Draw

Diamond Series XML150 – “Amps @ 110 Volts quoted at 1.6 and 220 volts @ 0.5.” Therefore @ 110 Volts, 1.6A = 176Watts or 76% of potential. Quite high, maybe their quoted amperage is incorrect.

Diamond Series XML350 – No Amps given. They claim 330 Watts which sounds about right = 330Watts or 62% of potential.

LED Brands

• Diamond Series XML150 – 4 X Cree 10W XML LEDs and 64 X Bridgelux Blue and White LEDS
• Diamond Series XML350 – 10 X Cree 10W XML LEDs and 144 X Bridgelux Blue and White LEDS

Driver Brands

Advanced LED drivers

Lens

Precision 90 Degree XML Collimator Lenses

Thermal Management

Dual heat sinks with fans and honeycomb fan covers with dust filters.

Build Quality

The Diamond Series XML lights look solid in metal housings with diamond vents for increased airflow.

• Diamond Series XML150 – 12.5” X 12.5” X 3” – weight: 9lb
• Diamond Series XML350 – 19” X 19” X 3” – weight: 14lb

Footprint

Total Coverage

• Diamond Series XML150 – 3’ X 3’
• Diamond Series XML350 – 4’6” X 4’6”

Core Coverage

• Diamond Series XML150 – 2’6” X 2’6”
• Diamond Series XML350 – 4’ X 4’

From

Advanced Lights of USA

Warranty

3 Year Warranty

Money Back Offer

90 Days No Hassle Money Back Guarantee

Area 51 LED

Model: XGS-190

For those who prefer an all in one solution that best simulates natural sunlight Area 51 offer the XGS-190 LED grow light.

This switchable 100W/195W Cree XTE Warm White LED set comes with finned aluminum heat sinks plus two ball bearing fans and will operate on any voltage from 100 to 240 V without the need for providing any special drivers or cords to run on different voltages. These are the specific LEDs they use XTEAWT-02-0000-00000BFF6.

Unlike some LED units the Area 51 does not offer you the ability to switch between different modes that optimize the light frequency depending on your plants’ growth phase. It does however offer 2 power settings that allow you to choose from 100W actual draw and 195W actual draw to adapt the unit to your spatial needs. These two options can also be used to provide gentler lighting to young plants and then to ramp it up during flowering.

The Area 51 XGS-190 LED Grow Light is designed to allow you to daisy chain up to four lights from a single power source (check your circuit breaker) by simply connecting them in series.

Each Area 51 XGS-190 comes with adjustable ratchet hangers and provides high energy Warm White lighting that is suitable for growing plants throughout the grow cycle. It seems like a good option with a reasonable price for providing good quality light that your plants will surely like.

Spectrum

Only mentioned in terms of the LED “Cree 5w warm white 3700k” here is the datasheet from CREE. “The XT-E LED delivers up to 148 lumens and 148 lumens per watt in cool white (6000 K) or up to 114 lumens and 114 lumens per watt in warm white (3000 K), both at 350 mA, 85°C”.

Total LEDs

72 LEDs x 5W = 360W potential

Actual Draw

Switchable between 100W or 195W, as stated by Area51, these sound like reasonable actual Watts given a potential of 360W.

LED Brands

Cree XTE Warm White 3750k. See spectrum above.

Driver Brands

Not Known

Thermal Management

Aluminum Heat Sinks with 2 X 120mm ball bearing fans. Each fan operates at 73cfm and makes an almost silent 10dB. Operating temperature: 77F – 86F / 25C – 30C (generally operates a few degrees higher than ambient temps) They recommend that you keep your grow room between 70°F and 77°F.

Build Quality

The Area 51 XGS-190 LED is robustly housed in a vented aluminum casing. It measures 12” X 18” X 2.75” (30cm X 45cm X 7cm).

Footprint

The recommended growing area for the Area 51 XGS-190 LED is:

• Veg 100W – 24” X 30” (61cm X 76cm)
• Veg 195W – 39” X 39” (99cm X 99cm)
• Flowering 195W – 30” X 30” (76cm X 76cm)

From

Area 51 LED of USA

Warranty

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Dorm Grow

Models: Full Spectrum G8LED Veg/Flower Lights 900 Watt & 450 Watt

G8LED lights from Dorm Grow are extraordinarily efficient grow lights which are used to full capacity during both vegetative and flowering cycles. Unlike many LED vendors, Dorm Grow combines ultraviolet and infrared diodes in their unique G8LED lights. The extra wavelengths maximize plant growth and yields while saving hundreds of Watts of electricity each hour. With penetration of up to five feet past the plant canopy, it is no surprise that these lights have received rave reviews and been awarded a High Times Magazine Gear of the Year award in 2014. Reviewers have gone so far as to say there are no cons to be listed for G8LED lights.

The Full Spectrum G8LED Veg/Flower Lights are available in 2 sizes:

• 450 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum Veg/Flower
• 900 WattG8LED Full SpectrumVeg/Flower

The smaller unit covers over 12 square feet of growing space, while the larger model can accommodate over 24 square feet. By placing two or more G8LED lights on 4 or 6 foot centers respectively you can increase the grow area further through cross coverage.

• According to Dorm Grow, the 450 Watt unit will replace an 800 Watt MH/HPS System with a power draw of 280 Watts
• The 900 Watt unit will replace a 1400 Watt MH/HPS System with an power draw of 540 Watts

Spectrum

The G8LED lights each emit wavelengths along the Optimal 8 band system that Dorm Grow has formulated, including wavelengths in Infrared and Ultraviolet plus 6000K white. After extensive research and testing, Dorm Grow found a weighted average ratio of wavelengths used by plants throughout vegetative and flowering growth. They balanced their LEDs accordingly, creating a grow light whose efficiency is unmatched.

The G8LED wavelengths have been chosen to include the following three peak colors of the PAR spectrum and the surrounding wavelengths:

630 nm (red)

480 nm (blue)

580 nm (orange)

Dorm Grow explains that more bands are unnecessary, as their 8 carefully chosen wavelengths cover all the light necessary for rapid growth and high bud yields. Users seem to agree, describing these lights as durable, efficient and contributing to some of the highest yields they have ever achieved.

G8LED lights are unique in that they do not have a switch to turn off red diodes during vegging and back on during flowering. Instead the lights are used at full capacity and add on 90 W Red during the flowering period in place of decreasing the number of it diodes during veg.

Total LEDs

• 450 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum – 150 x 3W
• 900 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum – 300 x 3W

900-Watt-LED-Grow-Light.jpg

LED Brands

Both the 450 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum and the 900 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum lights use a combination of Bridgelux, Epistar and Optotech diodes.

Actual Draw or True Draw

• 450 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum– “Amps @ 110 Volts quoted at 2.49 and 240 volts @ 1.0.” Therefore @ 110 Volts, 2.49A = 280 Watts or 54% of potential.
• 900 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum– “Amps @ 110 Volts quoted at 4.9 and 240 volts @ 2.0.” Therefore @ 110 Volts, 4.9A = 540 Watts or 54% of potential.

The actual draw of both models is slightly lower than the power draw listed on their site, which work out to 62% and 60% of potential respectively.

Thermal Management

With 6internal cooling fans in the 450 Watt G8LED and 8 in the 900 Watt G8LED both stay cool to the touch and require no extra heat ventilation.

Build Quality

The G8LED Full Spectrum lights are solidly built and durable to last for many years. Dorm Grow is known for quality construction. You can expect to get over 50,000 hours from these lights, which means you could use them for up to 10 years if you treat them well!

• 450 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum– 17.5” X 11” X 3” – weight: 17.8lb
• 900 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum–20.5” X 14” X 3” – weight 24.8lb

Footprint

Total Coverage

• 450 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum– 12 square feet
• 900 Watt G8LED Full Spectrum– 24 square feet

Warranty

2 Year Warranty

Money Back Offer
90 Days Money Back Guarantee

Rapid LED

Model: Dual Aurora Puck Kit

The Dual Aurora Puck Kit from Rapid LED is a self assembly LED array that allows you to build your LED lighting unit to your own exact requirements.

If you have some experience of Electronics, LEDs and series circuits then self assembly is a great way to save costs, building yourself a top of the range LED grow light without having to pay top dollar for pre-assembled units.

For simulating daylight the Dual Aurora Puck Kit (Dimmable) seems a good solution as it presents 4 channels of control and 7 colors of LEDs: 4 XP-G cool white; 4 XT-E royal blue; 4 XP-E blue; 4 Violet UV; 2 XP-E Green; 2 XP-E Red; and 1 XP-E Red-Orange. Apart from good mimicking of natural daylight, thus covering the photosynthetic spectrum, this set allows you to create different combinations of light colors which then can be used to stimulate marijuana’s vegetative or reproductive growth (flowering) requirements, depending on your interests.

The 4 channel arrangements are:

• Channel 1 (1000mA max) – 4 royal blue + 3 blue;
• Channel 2 (700mA max) – 2 green + 1 blue + 2 red + 1 red-orange;
• Channel 3 (1500mA max) – 4 cool white:
• Channel 4 (700mA max) – 4 Violet UV.

The Dual Aurora Puck Kit (Dimmable) comes with current and fan adapters and dimming accessories. There are also clear and thoroughly explained instructions which allow you to create, adapt and experiment on different environmental conditions.

Total LEDs

42 LEDs

Actual Draw

We asked Rapid LED directly and they stated:

We emailed them about our review.

Hi Todd,

Thank you for thinking of us! The theoretical wattage draw of the Aurora Puck is about 65w. However, this is when running each channel at exactly the max current as specified on our site

Regards

Mike

Hi Todd,

That is correct, it’s just a calculator that multiples current (mA) times volts to find watts.

a) We provide a maximum current for each string here

The actual current you’ll use is really up to you and your tank/needs, some people will run at 100% of our recommendations, most are at 70-90%, but I’ve seen some go as low as 30-40%.

b) The 110V isn’t the voltage you’re using to calculate wattage, that’s simply the input AC voltage to the driver. The driver then converts that to DC voltage (if you’re using a LDD driver the power supply would do the converting for you but it’s essentially the same thing). You’re going to look for the DC voltage draw of each LED, which will vary depending on the current. For example, here’s the datasheet for our XT-E royal blue LED:

Look at page 8 of the datasheet and you’ll see a chart showing you the relationship between current and voltage. For example, if you’re running the LED at 1000mA (the max we suggest for channel 1 on the puck) the LED will draw about 3.2V. Thus, you will multiple 3.2V x 1.0A to get 3.2 watts. This is the true wattage draw of the royal blue LED at 1000mA (1A). You simply add up the wattage draw of each LED on the puck to find the total draw for the puck.

c) Each LED will output a different wavelength. I don’t have a spectral graph of the output on the entire puck, but if you click on each LED’s product page (linked at the top of the puck product page) we’ll tell you the wavelength of each LED. For example, the royal blue is 450-465nm, the blue is 465-485nm, etc. The only one that won’t have a nm is the white LED as those are full spectrum and thus are always rated in Kelvin temperature (the higher the temperature the cooler the LED).

Hope that helps clear things up, if you have any other questions please feel free to let me know.

Regards,

Mike

Hi Sam

Thanks for your reply.

I am unsure of the draw and electronics so I need some help here as normally I would work out the true wattage when I have the Voltage and the Amps (current) using thishttp://www.supercircuits.com/resources/tools/volts-watts-amps-converter . Please assume I have just bought one of your kits, which comes with two pucks, what would the be the answers to the following assuming I am an average home grower?

a) What current/Amps should I use?

b) What would that current draw in Watts assuming 110 Volts for the entire kit combined, total of two pucks?

c) Also, what is the spectrum of the output in nanometres?

Thanks in advance for your time.

Todd

LED Brands and Spectrum

Cree LEDs. Rapid LED state: For full spectrum color lovers this is the ideal puck! You’ll get 4 channels of control and 7 colors of LEDs! All LEDs are from our regular stock and each puck contains 4 XP-G2 cool white, 4 XT-E royal blue, 4 XP-E blue, 4 Violet UV, 2 XP-E Green, 2 XP-E Red, and 1 XP-E Red-Orange.

Unit has 2 pucks (arrays). We believe this is correct. Each Puck contains:

• 4 XP-G cool white @ 5W – color temperature 5,000K-8,300K;
• 4 XT-E royal blue – Wavelength 450-465nm; Is this 1.8W?
• 4 XP-E blue @ 3W – Wavelength 465-485nm; Is this 1.2W?
• 4 Violet UV; Wavelength 410nm – 420nm Is this 0.84W?
• 2 XP-E Green @ 3W – Wavelength 520-535nm;
• 2 XP-E Red – Wavelength 620-630nm; Is this 0.84W?
• 1 XP-E Red-Orange – Wavelength 610-620nm. Is this 0.84W?

Driver Brand

Choose from:

• 2 x Mean Well ELN-60-48D and 2 x Mean Well ELN-60-27D or;
• 2 x Mean Well ELN-60-48P drivers and 2 x Mean Well ELN-60-27P or;
• 2 x LDD-700H drivers + 2 x LDD-1000H drivers + LDD-H-4 board + SE-350-48 power supply.

Lens

All LEDs come with appropriate lenses to suit.

Thermal Management

Temperature is managed by black anodyzed heat sinks with fan. Choose from:

• 1 X 6” X 20” Heat Sink or;
• 2 X 6” X 10” Heat Sink.

Heat sinks have splash guards for aquarium use and come either drilled or not, depending on your choice.

Each Heatsink comes with 1 X 92mm Vantec Stealth Fan (model SF9225L).

• 80% quieter than standard case fans;
• Suitable for 1.4” or 6” heat sink;
• 92 x 92 x 25mm (3.62″ x 3.62″ x 1″);
• 12V DC power;
• Runs at 1750 RPM;
• Moves 28 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air;
• 20 dBA (equivalent to whispering);

Build Quality

The Dual Aurora Puck Kit is a self assemble kit that contains high quality products from leading brands.

From

The Dual Aurura Puck Kit is supplied by Rapid LED of Burlingame, California.

Warranty

Rapid LED offers the following Return Policy:

If defective, replacement will be provided if we are notified within 14 days. Return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer. Replacement shipping is on us. Please note that once LEDs have been soldered, they are no longer under warranty. Due to the nature of DIY projects, we must be notified of any defective LEDs PRIOR to soldering or use of any kind.

For all other returns, product must be brand new and in original shipping box and sent back to us within 14 days. We’ll refund you back the cost of the order, minus what we paid to ship the order to you.

Black Diamond LED

Models: Black Diamond & Double Black Diamond

There are two size options in the Black Diamond range from Lil’Tomato Concepts.

• Black Diamond LED Light V2, and
• Double Black Diamond LED Light V2

Each offers high output LEDs that run at 5500/73 K/CRI. The smaller Black Diamond has 48 LEDs whereas the larger Double Black Diamond has 96.

Lil’ Tomato advertize their lights as operating at 115 W and 228 W potential.

As with XGS-190 LED Grow Light, both these Black Diamond LED Light V2 sets operate over a voltage range, here from 110 to 240 V. To work out the actual draw for you, use this handy calculator and enter your home voltage in the top box and either 0.89 (for the Black Diamond) or 1.89 (for the Double Black Diamond) in the bottom box. The answer in the middle box is your actual power draw.

Lil Tomato go on to suggest an input of 120 Volts at 0.89 Amps which equates to 107 Watts true draw. The Double @ 1.89 Amps and 120 Volts equates to 227W. This is because LEDs never run at maximum power all the time. This would be like always driving your car at full revs; it would soon wear out!

Overall, and understandably, these sets are a bit more expensive than the XGS-190 LED Grow Light set. However, Lil’Tomato Concepts come with proven experience in the field of agricultural lighting and offer you a 5 year warranty period.

Spectrum

• 5,500–6,000 K Vertical daylight is the concept there, they do not mention nanometers however this sounds like good white broad spectrum light.

Total LEDs

• Black Diamond – 48 LEDs
• Double Black Diamond – 96 LEDs

Actual Draw in Watts

• Black Diamond – 107 Watts
• Double Black Diamond – 227 Watts

Total Lumen Output

• Black Diamond – 11810 lm
• Double Black Diamond – 21300 lm

LED Brands

Philips Lumileds – 5500/73 K/CRI

Driver Brands

Not Known

Lens

All LEDs come with 900 angle lenses.

Thermal Management

Not Known

Build Quality

The Black Diamond LED V2 units come on strips set in a robust metal housing. The spacious desing should help with heat management.

• Black Diamond – 17.5” X 17.3” X 5.13” – weight: 13lb
• Double Black Diamond – 17.5” X 37.03” X 5.13” – weight: 21lb

Footprint

Optimal Growing Area

• Black Diamond – 48” X 48”
• Double Black Diamond – 48” X 72”

From

Lil’ Tomato Concepts (LTC) of Sun Valley, California, USA

Warranty

5 Years

Black Dog

Model: BD360-U LED

The Black Dog LED Universal Series is a solidly constructed LED grow light series that relies on proven 5W LED technology to deliver powerful PAR lighting to your plants.

This model, The BD360-U, is a mid range model that is suitable for home growers with a 4’ square growing area. It more than adequately replaces a 400W HID and features 140 5W single chip LEDS.

Black Dog Universal Series LEDs use the trademarked ‘Phyto-Genesis-Spectrum’. This is the result of extensive research and uses 15 different colored LEDs to create a spectrum that closely mimics the graph below which shows the rate of light absorption of different plant pigments.

The full spectrum created goes from UV to IR and covers crucial absorption peaks in the red, orange, violet, and blue spectrum. This represents optimum lighting for both flowering and veg. For vegetative growth the light covers a 4’ square and should be hung at 22” from the canopy. Lower the light to 16” for flowering to cover a 3’ square.

Having a square footprint is more efficient than some of the rectangular footprints available and can make for easier grow room planning.

The Black Dog BD360-U LED has a capacity of 700W but only actually draws 340W when running. This prolongs the life of the LEDs and keeps your energy bills low. Extra large heat sinks are used to keep operating temperatures low, allowing you to get your plants closer to the light source.

Black Dog LED lights enjoy an excellent reputation and the BD360-U is a great buy that comes with proven performance and productivity.

Spectrum

Black Dog claim: “BDL’s proprietary full-cycle Phyto-genesis Spectrum™, which eliminates the need for separate vegetative and flowering grow lights”. “Includes multiple wavelengths targeting crucial absorption peaks in the red, orange, violet, and blue spectrum, as well as IR and UV.”

We have not seen any tests outlining spectrum, PAR or nanometers.

Total LEDs

140 X 5W = 700 Watts potential

Actual Draw

Black Dog claim 340W actual draw which is 48% of potential, this is in the ball park of reality. We checked, given the amperage is 2.8-1.4A (@ 120/240v) this equates to 336 Watts true draw, so they are bang on correct.

LED Brands

5W High Output LEDs – no brand name given

Driver Brands

Not Known

Thermal Management

Black Dog use some of the ‘largest heat sinks in the grow light industry’ to keep operating temperatures down. Operating temperature range of -20 to 40 °C. BTU of 1161.

Build Quality

The BD360-U comes in a sturdy black metal frame that is oversized to allow for extra heat dissipation. The side panels are designed with good venting and the unit comes with D rings and adjustable metal ratchet hangers. CE certified and ROHS compliant.

Footprint

The recommended growing area for the BD360-U is:

• Veg 48” X 48” (121.9 X 121.9)
• Flowering 36” X 36” (91.4cm X 91.4cm)

From

Black Dog LED of Boulder, Colorado, USA

Warranty

Limited Lifetime Warranty

BML Custom LED

BML offer an array of lights from the SPYDR 1000 and 600 Grow Max Spectrum models to the 600 Start-Max Spectrum.

You can even build your own spectrum lights, find a length from 7” through to 72” and the angle of the beam from 30 ° to 90 °.

To create the best LED combinations that mimic natural daylight for your plants and are suitable for the physical conditions that you have (i.e. space, temperature, humidity), BML offers you a most convenient custom LED tool you can create and see how your own custom made LED spectrum will work.

With reviews from PhD’s at Princeton it is seen as a quality light “In my opinion, BML Horticulture is an ambassador of the LED revolution and is a great partner for plant science!” Paul P. Gaulthier, PhD.

By selecting your preferred fixture length and creating a circuit board with any LEDs (up to 15) of your choice together with choosing the beam angle you want in your fixture, you will have the opportunity to evaluate, experiment and compare many different light conditions and scenarios that you can offer to your marijuana plants.

Depending on length, fixtures can have a different number of circuits. These custom made fixtures come with a three year unconditional warranty against defects in workmanship or materials. With the different set of LED colors offered BML you can build an enormous variety of spectrum ranges and built different sets of LEDs specific for different development stages of your plants, e.g. vegetative vs. reproductive growth, according to your own needs. In addition to this most helpful builder and to help you choosing the best LED combinations, BML, bmlcustom.com/custom-led-strip, also offers you a graphical tool where you can analyze and compare the different values of the physiological parameters that matter created by a given LED combination. For example, you can see the wavelength (color) predominance and the resulting PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) of a given LED combination and fixture that you chose. This way you can see which region of the light spectrum is most represented and evaluate which developmental stage of your plants are you favoring most, i.e. vegetative vs. reproductive growth.

Spectrum

SPYDR 600 GROW-MAX Spectrum – They state it covers PAR >> “Spectrum is the perfect choice if you need to take young plants to maturity with maximum vegetative growth and flowering capacity.” “When the bars are centered in the fixture to achieve max PAR levels, you can expect PPFD readings of up to 2100 mmol/m2/s at a 12″ mounting height.”

LED Selection

(67%) 660nm Deep Red,

(13%) 625nm Red,

(13%) 6500K Cool White

(7%) 450nm Royal Blue

Total LEDs

270 x 3W Osram LEDs. Total 810 Watts potential.

Actual Draw

Input voltage 90-305 VAC. They state these are under driven, as they should be and 333 Watts actual draw.

LED Brands

OSRAM

Driver Brands

Thermally protected MEAN WELL driver. The SPYDR is powered by a single, driver that consumes 333 watts.

Thermal Management

U.S. made, industrial quality, fan-free LED fixture.

Build Quality

Top quality LEDs protected by heavy spray-proof aluminum case and tough, easy to clean polycarbonate cover.

Footprint

Coverage over a 4’x4′ grow area

Dimensions

Fixture weight: 23 lbs / 10.4 kg. 36” x 36” x 4.5” thick

From

Built-to-Order in the USA

Warranty

Three Year Limited Warranty. CE certified to Low Voltage and EMC safety directives. ROHS compliant.

Lil’Tomatoes

Model: Cool Diamond & Diamond II

Cool Diamond LED Lights from Lil’Tomato Concepts are built on the same sturdy framework as their Black Diamond LED sets. As with Black Diamond they offer two different sizes.

• Cool Diamond LED Grow Light
• Cool Diamond LED Grow Light II

Although of the same size as the Black Diamond sets, Cool Diamond LEDs squeeze more power out of the same area, providing 64 and 128 LEDs respectively. More light energy into your system means more weed out! As with other LTC products, the Cool Diamond LED lights also operate over a voltage range, here from 110V to 240V.

The specs on the Cool Diamond show an actual draw of 147W and 300W respectively @ 120 Volts and 1.23 A and 2.5A respectively.

If your domestic voltage is 110V then this equates to an actual power draw of around 135W and 275W respectively. The reason for the difference in this is that the LEDs do not continually run at full capacity as that would drastically shorten their life time. What this means to you is even lower utility bills than expected.

If you live somewhere with voltage other than 110V then you can use this simple calculator to work out what the actual power draw of the Cool Diamond LED lights would be for you. Just enter your domestic power supply in the top box, then enter either 1.23 for the Cool Diamond, or 2.5 for the Cool Diamond II, in the bottom box. The result in the middle box will be your actual power draw.

The Cool Diamond LED lights are a step up from the Black Diamond sets in price, but they provide much more power to your grow, enabling you to increase output for the same sized growing area. Basically it means fatter buds and bigger yields.

Spectrum

5,500–6,000 K Vertical daylight is the concept there, they do not mention nanometers however this sounds like good white broad spectrum light.

Total LEDs

• Cool Diamond – 64
• Cool Diamond II – 128

Actual Draw

• Cool Diamond – 135W
• Cool Diamond II – 275W

Total Lumen Output

• Cool Diamond – 14821 lm
• Cool Diamond II – 29329 lm

LED Brands

• Cool Diamond – Philips Lumileds – 5500/74 K/CRI
• Cool Diamond II – Philips Lumileds – 5500/75 K/CRI

Driver Brands

Not Known

Lens

All LEDs come with 900 angle lenses.

Thermal Management

Not Known

Build Quality

The Black Diamond LED V2 units come on strips set in a robust metal housing. The spacious desing should help with heat management. Sizes are:

• Cool Diamond – 17.5” X 17.3” X 5.13” – weight: 14lb
• Cool Diamond II – 17.5” X 37.03” X 5.13” – weight: 23lb

Footprint

• Cool Diamond – 48” X 48”
• Cool Diamond II – 148” X 72”

From

Lil’ Tomato Concepts (LTC) of Sun Valley, California, USA

Warranty

5 Years

Growblu

Model: Apollo 240 X 3W

The Apollo 240 X 3W LED grow light, from Growblu of USA, is a high quality full spectrum grow light that is rated to replace a 1000W HID.


The Apollo 240X3W uses 240 3W LEDs clustered into 16 pods of 15 individual LEDs. This amounts to 720W of LED power, although Growblu state the actual power draw of this light is only around 500W.

We calculated the actual draw using this calculator and, using the 5.4 amps stated by Growblu, found the actual draw at 120V to be 648W.

Either way, it would lower the running costs of the 1000W HID it replaces, as well as significantly lowering the high operating temperatures that are associated with HIDs.

To keep operating temperatures down, the Apollo 240 X 3W grow light uses aluminum PCB modules and a 2 cm premium aluminum heat sink. For added cooling there are also 8, quiet, high output cooling fans. All of this keeps operating temperatures at the canopy (12” from lens) at just 79oF, creating minimal need for you to supply extra ventilation for cooling.


The Apollo 240X3W uses a selection of top quality 3W LED chips from Bridgelux and Epistar to create their own, proprietary full spectrum. The actual breakdown of the spectrum is not available. However it is suitable for all your plants’ needs from germination, thru veg, to harvest. Each LED is fitted with a primary 90o lens and a secondary 60o focus lens for maximum light penetration.

The Apollo has an independent on board monitoring system that keeps an eye on how the LED grow light is performing. Any malfunctions with the lights are indicated by flashing or extinguished lights on the side of the casing. This allows you to address any problems that may occur immediately.

The Apollo 240 X 3W is a powerful light. Growblu give the optimal footprint as 4’ X 4’. The long rectangular shape of the light might be awkward for some tents or smaller rooms. However for larger commercial grows, several of these side by side would supply excellent coverage.

The Apollo performs equally well at either110V or 240V. Growblu will even supply the unit with the correct plug for the country that you live in. We contacted them for information for this page and they responded quickly to all our questions

Spectrum

They state “Proprietary Groblu full spectrum” with no other details.

PAR-1300-1ft, 700-2ft, 430-3ft

Average LUX 70,000-1ft, 32,000-2ft, 18,000-3ft

Total LEDs

240 X 3W = 720 LEDs within 16 arrays. Potential of 720 Watts

Actual Draw

We understand it is around 500W. An emails from them stated “Amps drawn by a 240V is 5.4.”

LED Brands

Bridgelux and Epistar

Driver Brands

Not Known

Lens

90o Primary Lenses + 60o Focus Lenses

Thermal Management

PCB modules 2cm aluminum heat sinks + 8 cooling fans. Average canopy temperature 79°F @ 1FT. Average lens temperature 88°F.

Build Quality

Good and solid. Hanging wires supplied.

Size

37? X 11.5? X 3? (94cm X 29.2cm X 7.6cm)

Weight

34lb

Footprint

Optimal Growing Area – 4ft X 4ft. A larger area would be appropriate for seedlings or vegetative plants.

Recommended Grow Height

24-36? Germinating

12-18? Flowering

From

Growblu, California, USA

Warranty

3 Year warranty on parts and repairs with one time free replacement

Money Back Offer

30 Days No Hassle Money Back Guarantee

Advanced LED Grow

Model: Grow Sun 320PGrow Sun 320P LEDGrow Sun 320P LED

The Grow Sun 320P LED grow light is one of the 5g Grow Sun Series. It offers single 20W LEDs with 12 multi-chips emitting in 12 bandwidths of light to give you great spectrum coverage for your plants.

The Grow Sun 320P features 16 of these 20W LEDs and is shipped in directly from the manufacturers in China and available from Advanced LED Grow of USA. Chinese LEDs can sometimes get a bad rep but there are a number of online reviews backing up the efficacy of this unit.

The Grow Sun 320P is designed to be comparable with a 400W HID. Side by side tests show an increase in yield of around 20% and a corresponding drop in energy use of around 30% with the actual draw of the Grow Sun 320P being around 280W on full bloom.

Grow Sun state that their bandwidths run from 400nm to 760nm plus white. Optical lenses are used to blend the light into the full spectrum but Grow Sun do not stipulate the individual chip frequencies. An acrylic sheet with reflective covering makes best use of the light, focusing it directly onto the plant canopy.

The Grow Sun 320P comes with an advanced wireless remote control with timer and the choice of three channels to meet the requirements of different stages of plant growth; seedling, veg and flower. The intensity of light with each channel is also adjustable from 10% to 100%. Each 20W LED comes with a solder free design that makes changes individual chips easy.

A built in safety feature lowers the light intensity of the GS320P should overheating occur. A trip switch is also fitted to cut off power in the event of an accident.
GS 320P is worth a look at. We contacted Advanced LED Grow and found them very communicative and easy to deal with.

With hanging kit included, a one year full warranty, free tracked FEDEX shipping and the possibility of paying with Paypal, the GS 320P is worth a look at. We contacted Advanced LED Grow and found them very communicative and easy to deal with.

Check out this Youtube clip of the Grow Sun 320P grow light in action.

Spectrum

12 bans covering 400 – 760nm. We are sure there will be gaps in that spectrum but still 12 is a good number and close to full spectrum.

Total LEDs

16 X 20W = 320 Watt potential. These are multi chip LEDs with multi spectra in them.

Actual Draw

280W is what they quote, there is no discussion on Amps. We think that 280 is too high and not correct as that is 87% of potential, so either the LEDs will burn out (1 year warranty) or they are driving them at far less than this actual draw, maybe 160 to 180Watts.

Email from Advanced LED Grow “The actual power draw of the Grow Sun 320P is 280W. Attached is a brochure on the unit with a light source test report that shows the distribution of the LED light.”

LED Brands

Not known

Lens

Sunface Optical Lenses

Driver Brands

Mean Well

Thermal Management

Fan cooled by built in fans. Side vents only.

Build Quality

The Grow Sun 320 is an attractive unit with gold effect aluminum casing for those who like a bit of bling with their grow.

Footprint

Grow Sun give us the levels of coverage for the 320P at varying heights above the canopy. Obviously you would lose a great deal of the intensity at the higher levels and only be able to flower effectively at the lower levels.

From

China via Advanced Lights of USA

Warranty

1 Year Warranty

Bonsai Hero

Model: Hans Panel 80 Watt

In the same line as Dual Aurora Puck Kit (Dimmable) and BML LED combinations, there is a brand new 80 Watt LED panel and upgraded version of the famous Hans-panel from Bonsai Hero.

Bonsai Hero offer the 65W and 80W models. We concentrate on the 80W model here.

Bonsai Hero’s Hans Panel combines 4 Cree XBD Royal Blue, 17 Cree XBD 701 Red, 2 Cree XBD White and 10 Osram LH-CPDP Deep Red Rebel LEDs. The difference and main advantage of the Hans Panel is that this LED panel is optimized for a higher current and delivers 15% more light than the standard 65 Watt Hans-panel. However, both versions are among the very best LED color combinations on the market today.

The Hans Panel allows you to optimize the spectrum and the amount of light you deliver at different developmental stages of your plants’ growth. This way you can provide optimum lighting conditions whether you are growing seedlings or cuttings, vegetative growth or flowering.

• Growth Phase – Seedlings and clones. Power draw = 38W
• Early Flowering – Mothers and first weeks of flowering. Power draw = 60W
• Full Flowering – Thru to harvest. Power draw = 80W

Hans Panels have no light losses caused by plastic covers or lenses in front of the LEDs. Patented reflectors are used instead.

The Hans Panel comes with an external, waterproof power supply that doesn’t add any heat to the array. The whole unit operates at a mere 45dB, this almost silent noise output is a must for stealth growers.

Spectrum

There is no mention of actual spectrum but they offer a good selection of LEDs. There are 3 selectable positions;

(1) Seedlings and cuttings;

(2) Mothers and Early weeks of flowering;

(3) Full flowering position. Easily selectable by switch.

Total LEDs

33

Actual Draw

Max 80 Watts quoted which sounds reasonable. No mention of Amps used.

LED Brands

CREE and Osram

• 4 Cree XBD Royal Blue
• 17 Cree XBD 701 Red
• 2 Cree XBD White
• 10 Osram LH-CPDP Deep Red Rebel LEDs

Driver Brands

Not known. EU, USA or UK power supply included.

Lens

No plastic or glass lenses. System uses patented reflectors instead. Each LED has its own refelctor and measures eiither 106 or 123 degrees.

Thermal Management

Metal core PCB for effective cooling. “Very quiet, only -45 dB at 60 cm, 24″.

Build Quality

The Hans Panel is ‘simple industrial design’ solid constructed and measures 15” X 10” X 1.6” (26cm X 38cm X 4cm).

Footprint

The recommended growing area for the Hans Panel 80W LED is 24” X 28” (60cm X 80cm)

From

The Hans Panel 80W is made by Bonsai Hero of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Warranty

2 Years Warranty

Hydro Grow LED

Model: SOL 6 300W and 600W

Hydro Grow LED from Monroeville, PA., have cemented an excellent reputation for themselves over the past few years for their LED grow lights.

Their SOL Series covers a wide range of needs, from the SOL 1 which is suitable for supplemental lighting or single plant grows, up to the SOL 9 which is equivalent to 750W of HID lighting.

The SOL Series is based around integrated LEDs that come in the choice of either 50W or 100W. The 50W LEDs contain 32 individual 3W chips whereas the 100W LEDs contain 64.

Here we take a look at the mid range SOL 6, a powerful grow light with 6 of the integrated LED units. You can choose the 300W model which operates with the 50W LEDs or the 600W model which runs the 100W LEDs.
CREE-XBD-LED-Grow-Light.pngBecause LEDs don’t run at full power all of the time the actual power draw of these LEDs is not 300W or 600W respectively. The true actual draw can be calculated by using this handy calculator. Given the amperage supplied by the manufacturer we can calculate that the actual power draw of the SOL 6 is as follows.

The LEDs used by Hydro Grow LED are Top BIN LEDs. Binning is a process that grades individual LEDs according to their brightness. Top BIN LEDs are the best quality LEDs available.

Hydro Grow LED use their own 3rd Generation light spectrum that emits light at 440nm, 470nm, 525nm, 640nm and 660nm. The spectrum breaks down to around 10% blue, 15% green and 75% red.

The SOL 6 is an elegantly designed unit with the 6 integrated LEDs mounted in Fusion reflectors. These Fusion reflectors are patent pending and focus all the light from the LEDs into a concentrated beam. No lenses are used.



The SOL 6 LED grow light has a future proof modular design that is easily upgradeable should the need arise. Extra units can be daisy chained to a maximum of 1200W. Units are available with 110V or 220V power supplies.

Each LED has a dedicated 80mm dual bearing fan and custom built thin finned heat sinks to keep operating temperatures low.

We contacted Hydro Grow LED for information and found them very helpful and quick to respond. Nice work guys.

Spectrum

They state “tested PAR output matching that of a 600W HPS!” But then mention that it is bands, “440, 470, 525, 640, 660”. So this is not full spectrum.

Email from HydroGrow: “Our 3rd Gen light spectrum was broken down into 10% blue, 15% green and 75% red based on lumen output. I cannot break down the individual wavelengths into their percentages.”

Total LEDs

• SOL 6 300W – 6 X 50W = 300W potential (192 individual chips)
• SOL 6 600W – 6 X 100W = 600W potential (384 individual chips)

Actual Draw

• SOL 6 300W – 275W – 2.5A @ 110V (1.3A @ 220V = 286W)
• SOL 6 600W – 539W – 4.9A @ 110V (1.8A @ 220V = 396W)

Email from HydroGrow “The 50W LED contains 32 chips in total, while the 100W contains 64. The chips we use are 3W, however it is rare for a colored 3W LED to consume more than 2W of actual power. Likewise we do not drive them at full power as this would create too much heat.”

LED Brands

They mention they use Philips LumiLEDs ‘top bin’. Model numbers. LXM2-PD01-0050 and LXM2-PD01-0040 on their website.

However the email response was different:

Email from HydroGrowLED: “We do not use any LEDs one might typically consider “brand name” such as Cree, Osram, Luxeon, Nichia, etc… The reason for this is that their LEDs test out to produce approximately 1/2 the PAR output per watt of those we use in our products.”

Driver Brands

Generic, 85V – 480V and the email reply stated: “The drivers we use are generic. I believe the power factor is around 92.”

Lens

120° with no lenses, not glass or acrylic lenses, just the back reflector – pat pending Fusion reflector.

Thermal Management

6 X 80mm dual bearing fans and custom, radial, thin finned heat sinks. SOL 6 300W 115° – 125° F and the SOL 6 600W 140° – 155° F. Also mentioned is a built in ‘ballast and fan’.

Build Quality

Solid with modular design for easy maintenance

Footprint

Primary Coverage

• SOL 6 300W – 3′ x 4′ (92cm x 122cm)
• SOL 6 600W – 4′ x 5′ (122cm x 152cm)

Supplemental Coverage

• SOL 6 300W – 12′ x 15′ (3.7m x 4.6m)
• SOL 6 600W – 15′ x 18′ (4.6m x 5.5m)

*primary coverage based on 12-18″ hanging height above canopy, supplemental coverage based on 6-10′ above canopy.

From

Hydro Grow LED., PA., USA

Warranty

2 Year Warranty

Money Back Offer

90 Days No Hassle Money Back Guarantee

Solid Apollo

Model: Solid Core Titan LED 370W

The Titan 370W LED grow light is the biggest light in the Solar Core line from Solid Apollo of Washington State, USA. It has been designed with the larger scale grower in mind and has a core coverage of 27ft2.

Solid Apollo also offer the Ares LED Grow Light @ 120W and the Midas @280W. We review the Titan @ 370 Watt.

The Titan 370W is a good looking, sturdily built, modular high tech light that comes with all the confidence of a 120 day money back offer or 5 year warranty.

The driving force behind the Titan 370W LED comes from the 10 X Full PAR spectrum LED grow lights from the industry renowned Bridgelux. These LEDs are combined with 120o polycarbonate lenses to ensure effective coverage of the whole growing area. Each of the ten light ‘cores’ contains 15 individual 3W Bridgelux LEDs. This makes a total of 150 individual diodes in the following light spectrum:

• 10x Infrared 730nm,
• 10x Deep Red 660-670nm
• 60x Red 640-660nm
• 10x Orange-Red 620-630
• 20x Red 630-640nm
• 10x Blue 460nm
• 10x Cobalt blue 430-440nm
• 10x Violet 410-420nm
• 10x Warm White full spectrum 3000K

This creates a full light spectrum with extra oomph at the red end, ensuring good coverage of the chlorophyll A and B peaks, the most essential wavelengths for your marijuana plants’ growth.

This Titan 370W LED is designed to replace 800W of HID lighting power and can easily grow up to 15, medium sized marijuana plants. 150 X 3W LEDs actually equals a maximum power of 450W. However, LEDs are never run at maximum capacity as this would just burn them out too quickly. You can calculate the actual power draw of the Titan for yourself by using this calculator. The input current is 2.5amps. At 120V, the actual power draw is 300W. This low power consumption can help you to slash the considerable energy costs of your grow.

Heat management in the Titan 370W comes via 6 whisper quiet 90mm fans and effective side venting. These Bridgelux LEDs are 98% efficient at creating light meaning that the heat created is kept to a minimum anyway.

The Solar Core Titan 370W LED comes with a sophisticated on board LED diagnostics system (LDS). This system constantly monitors your grow light and provides you with an up to date status. Any faults or problems with the system are notified by a flashing light to indicate which individual LED is giving you trouble. Although, with an expected lifespan of 50,000 hours on the LEDs, you shouldn’t be seeing too much of this.

We contacted Solid Apollo whilst gathering information for this article and found them quick to respond and helpful with providing information.

Spectrum

See information above and note the bands here:

• 730nm
• 660-670nm
• 640-660nm
• 620-630nm
• 630-640nm
• 460nm
• 430-440nm
• 410-420nm
• Last is ‘white with temperature of 3000K

Total LEDs

10 Solar Cores with 15 X 3W LEDs =150 Total LEDs

Actual Draw

Around 370W

LED Brand

Bridgelux

Driver Brands

Proprietary drivers

Lens

120o polycarbonate polished lenses

Thermal Management

6 X 90mm built in fans and venting. Working temperature 32-140F.

Build Quality

Sturdily built with modular design for easy maintenance. IP55 rating. CE, RoHs.

Size

24” X 11.14” X 3.4” (60.9cm X 28.3cm X 8.6cm)

Weight

8.03lb

Footprint

Optimal growing area – 27ft2

From

Solid Apollo, Washington, USA

Warranty

5 Year Warranty

Money Back Offer

120 Days no hassle money back guarantee

Super Grow LED

Model: FATPHARM250

Known as one of the Rolls Royce LED grow lights on the market. Super Grow LED offers a model regularly used by Dutch seed companies like Green House.

The FATPHARM250 has 150 X 3W LEDs to offer a 450W capacity light with an actual power draw of approximately 250 Watts.

The concept with the FATPHARM250 is that two units, total draw of 500 Watts, would replace your 1,000 Watt HID unit. In the process you would save at least 50% in electricity compared to an HID unit, more if you consider there is no ballast needed and a reduction in HVAC requirements.

The FATPHARM250 offers a full spectrum from 420nm through to 750nm with no gaps or bands missing. Other features include high end heat sinks which require no fans, eliminating noise and further lowering energy bills. The solid state construction is extremely durable and SuperGrowLED back this up with a 3 year warranty.

The light includes Bridgelux and Epileds LEDs with 90° and 120° beam angle PMMS lenses for greater photon delivery. Optimum photon delivery is at 12” and has been measured at 1400+ µmol.

The FATPHARM250 from SuperGrowLED is a high quality grow light with a great track record. Whether you want some small supplemental lighting or a replacement for your HIDs, SuperGrowLED can supply you with cutting edge LED lighting technology to suit your needs.

Spectrum

True full spectrum no gaps, no bands, 420 nm through to 750 nm right into IR.

Total LEDs

• FATPHARM250 – 150 X 3W LEDs = 450W potential

Actual Draw

• FATPHARM250 – 250 Watts (250W / 120VAC @ 2.1A)

LED Brands

Bridgelux and Epileds

• FATPHARM250 – 6th generation Spectrum II™ LEDs using 100 ‘white LEDs’. Individual ‘white’ LEDs are a mix of RGB to supply you with high end color rendering and a full spectrum. The remaining 50 LEDs are a mixture of ‘reds’ for extra power during flowering.

Driver Brands

Mean Well – Self-protecting constant current power supply,

Lens

• FATPHARM250 – PMMS 900 Lenses

Thermal Management

Totally fanless heat sinks, thermal bonds and quality metal clad printed circuit boards (MCPCB) keep operating temperatures down. Dead quiet, the ultimate in stealth.

Build Quality

Brilliantly made and well presented.

• FATPHARM250 – 22” X 14” X 7” Weight – 23lb

Footprint

Veg – Optimum

• • FATPHARM250 – 30 sq ft

Flowering – Optimum

• FATPHARM250 – 16 sq ft

From

SuperGrowLED, USA and UK

Warranty

3 Year Warranty

• Full spectrum lights carry the blue light for vegging and the yellow, amber, orange and reds for flowering and run between 420 to 750 nanometres.

• You can replace a 1000 Watt HPS for around 500 Watts of LED (500W actual power) which would yield around 600 grams of dried buds.

• Good fan-less LEDs run 1W or 3W LEDs and these lights can be situated mere inches above the canopy, however setting them at around 18 inches allows the lights to disperse the light over a larger area and gets better results.

The four LED grow light systems outlined below are all claimed to be full spectrum and are all around the 250W mark, taking into account the true Wattage rather than the total Wattage of the bulbs as explained earlier. Of the four, both the Black Dog BD-240-U and Super Grow’s FATPHARM250 can claim to be truly full spectrum, while the Hydro Grow’s Penetrator 168X Pro and Prosource’s Illuminator Pro target specific wavelengths.

The main difference between the Black Dog and the other systems, which may explain the lower price, is that the LEDs don’t have lenses or reflectors to collect and guide the light – reducing concentrated over the plants with a strong percentage of the light missing its’ target. To compensate, the lights need to be placed closer to the plants, reducing the effective growing area.

The Penetrator 168X Pro uses lenses that provide a beam angle of 60 degrees, which creates a more intense light over a relatively small area. The manufacturers also claim that their X2 lens system further increases the intensity, so more light will reach the bottom of the plants. One feature unique to the Penetrator 168X Pro is the switchable power settings from 0.5W to 1W to 3W. This is slightly misleading, as the unit is only designed to deliver just over 1.5W per LED at full power. Hydro Grow attempts to provide PAR data for the Penetrator 168X but if you visit their website you’ll see that is a graphical form that’s very difficult to interpret.

ProSource have opted for variable angled beams. This means, for example, that some may be set at 60 degrees, some at 90 degrees, and others at 120 degrees. The claim here is that this produces more illumination to the tops and the bottoms of the plants. This might allow for a slightly wider growing area but it’s not been proven it has any real advantage over single fixed angle beam.

Super Grow have opted for 90 degree lenses on the FATPHARM250 and this is perhaps the best compromise for maximizing the cropping area while maintaining a high light intensity. On a cost per sq ft of harvest area, the FATPHARM250 works out best value of the four lighting systems. If you need a larger growing area and are after a slightly more intense light, two FPH250’s can be bolted together. Super Grow’s spectral distribution data for this twin light arrangement is a very close match to natural daylight.

• Based on the specifications, the SuperGrowLED FATPHARM250 looks like the best value. It produces a continuous spectral distribution that is close to daylight, it uses name brand LEDs, does not require an internal fan due to the impressive thermal management design and comes with 90 degree TIR lenses to concentrate the light on the plants.

• Where space is limited or if you only want to grow a few plants, The Black Dog BD-240-U is worth considering, with what looks like a good spectral distribution and plenty of light.

• If all you have space for is a single row of plants, due to its long, narrow geometry, the Penetrator 168X could be the ideal solution, but you may find it hard to justify the high set up cost.

• The Illuminator Pro Hybrid 350W appears expensive with nothing special to offer. It has a fairly limited spectral distribution and we were slightly put off by the manufacturer not being open about true wattage. The spectral distribution may also be a bit restrictive, depending on what you want to grow.

• Advertised price as of August 2013. Shipping not included:
• Based on maximum input wattage, which may be less than the total wattage of the bulbs. For example, the Hydro Grow Penetrator 168X Pro has 168 x 3W bulbs but it is not possible for them all to run at full capacity;
• Harvest area for flowering plants. For young plants or leaf crops, harvest area may be 15 to 30% larger;
• Manufacturer claims that their Phyto-genesis Spectrum™ utilizes hundreds of beneficial light waves that include multiple wavelengths targeting crucial absorption peaks in the red, orange, violet, and blue spectrum, as well as IR and UV;
• Actual wavelengths not stated;
• Full spectrum output is augmented by additional discrete LEDs to further enhance the chlorophyll red absorption peaks.

The Future of LED Grow Lights

The commercial sector is really leading the way with LED grow lighting, making available a huge selection of lighting units. Although this is to be welcomed, the down side of it is that there are also many substandard products available that are not up to scratch and that will not produce the plentiful yields growers have become accustomed to with HIDs. They give the good LED grow lights a bad name.

If you do decide to invest in some LED grow lights it is important that you buy from a reputable source and be sure it’s somewhere that you can ask questions about the spectrum and light intensity of the unit. We can highly recommend working with Super Grow LED, they offer the best full spectrum LED grow lights we have seen anywhere. They are not just resellers, they are the manufacturers, they don’t sell junk, and they designed their products with the benefit of decades of LED lighting experience.

Big yields are obtainable using good LED grow lights noted by some of the leading Dutch growers who have already moved away from HID to purely LED based systems. One thing is for sure though, the technology is here right now and in a world where energy efficiency, heat reduction, space saving and sustainability is vital, LED grow light systems have a bright future for indoor marijuana cultivation.

Actual Draw in Watts: 599