|
Post by Devon on Feb 3, 2014 16:52:56 GMT -5
Hello, My friend recently gave me his LED light that he no longer needs. I don't know what the wattage is. I placed some sundews underneath it a couple days ago to see how well they will grow, and if they become more or less colourful. It seems like they are enjoying it! Before being placed under the LED's: After only 2 days: Here's the lamp. This is before I replaced one of the pots with bigger Drosera. And what they look like under the light: So far so good! Pros and cons I've noticed so far: Pros: Seems very strong, supposedly uses less power, and it looks kind of cool Cons: Loud fan built in, produced a lot of heat in my room but not on the plants, can't look at my plants without it hurting my eyes, it's expensive (although I got mine for free), and it only covers a small area. I'll update this thread with more pictures in a month or so. Cheers!
|
|
|
Post by canuk1w1 on Feb 3, 2014 19:13:03 GMT -5
C'mon mate, don't blame the light. You're just a good grower.
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Feb 3, 2014 19:14:52 GMT -5
I have one that looks the same. The bulbs kept blowing and I had to replace them all the time-very tedious. I gave up on it and switched to T5HO's. I would not go back to LED's any time in the near future.
|
|
|
Post by Devon on Feb 3, 2014 20:27:37 GMT -5
C'mon mate, don't blame the light. You're just a good grower. Haha thanks man. That doesn't sounds good. Do you know how long it was before that started happening? I recently ordered a T5HO fixture to replace my T8's. I'm pretty excited to see results from that as well once it arrives.
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Feb 3, 2014 21:40:57 GMT -5
Less than a year and it started failing. I think T5HO's are the way to go.
|
|
|
Post by Devon on Feb 3, 2014 23:03:35 GMT -5
That's too bad. Thanks for the heads up.
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Feb 3, 2014 23:27:04 GMT -5
Looking awesome devon. Don't give up on LED though...they are definitely the future.
|
|
|
Post by LucST on Feb 4, 2014 2:45:10 GMT -5
Your pro and con list made me chuckle a little. My girlfriend's nursery was looking into those and the cons definitely won out, at least on a industrial scale.
Although the lights themselves use less power the fans more makes up for the savings. Also the lights have to be closer to the plants and thus under the misters and automated watering booms would be above them and we all know that water and electronics don't mix well. There was something else about finding right wavelengths for seedlings vs plants but I don't know anything about that.
Anyways keep us informed on how they work for you.
|
|
|
Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Feb 4, 2014 9:21:25 GMT -5
All I ever used for artificial light was LED's CP's do good in it! Nice color it makes too if the light is very close and mine has a built in heatsink and does not generate any heat so There is no risk of burning.
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Feb 4, 2014 12:27:03 GMT -5
My plants definitely did not do well under the LED's. Also the colour was horrible and I didn't like looking at the plants. My wife hated the colour. The lights even gave me a headache if I looked at them more than 10 minutes.
If you're buying LED fixtures, spend a lot of money to get good ones because replacing a light is only for an electronics expert or experienced amateur. Do not buy the cheap ones from China. They will fail quickly.
Plasma/induction lights are interesting but again I had poor results. Again you have to buy top quality or the ballast will fail quickly.
I think the T5HO's have a much more "natural" spectrum that the plants like. Even succulents do well under the T5HO's.
If anybody wants my plasma/led fixtures to play with-come & get them. (Pick-up only)
|
|
|
Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Feb 4, 2014 12:32:24 GMT -5
I bought a LED lamp with only bright white light in it 36 mini-bulbs the Kind of blinding light you see in cars! mine even came with a guarantee its rated for 10 000 hours and uses 22 dollars of power a year! My 26 inch LCD Flatscreen TV burns more lol !!
|
|
|
Post by hal on Feb 4, 2014 12:35:29 GMT -5
You can get a $20 LED spot lamp that screws into a standard fitting. Any idea on whether they might be appropriate for plants?
|
|
|
Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Feb 4, 2014 12:50:12 GMT -5
I use LEDs on my plants, sunlight is best but for A L its a good way to go and plants seem to react in a positive way to it I got the 20 dollar 36 mini lights that are only bright white light desk lamp I had Drosera Natalensis seeds germinate under it , out of 10 seeds 6 germinated and last year I had 3 VFTs under them!2 typicals 1 gave 7 traps the other gave 8 I had a Big Jaws with 3 taps under LED's I got 7 traps!
|
|
|
Post by LucST on Feb 4, 2014 13:04:25 GMT -5
Also the colour was horrible and I didn't like looking at the plants. My wife hated the colour. The lights even gave me a headache if I looked at them more than 10 minutes. Right that was the other issue with then you couldn't expect happy employees working under around the LEDs all day.
|
|
|
Post by canuk1w1 on Feb 4, 2014 17:01:28 GMT -5
My plants definitely did not do well under the LED's. Also the colour was horrible and I didn't like looking at the plants. My wife hated the colour. The lights even gave me a headache if I looked at them more than 10 minutes. If you're buying LED fixtures, spend a lot of money to get good ones because replacing a light is only for an electronics expert or experienced amateur. Do not buy the cheap ones from China. They will fail quickly. Plasma/induction lights are interesting but again I had poor results. Again you have to buy top quality or the ballast will fail quickly. I think the T5HO's have a much more "natural" spectrum that the plants like. Even succulents do well under the T5HO's. If anybody wants my plasma/led fixtures to play with-come & get them. (Pick-up only) Agreed. LED "grow" lights have two peaks in the visible spectrum that correspond to chlorophyll activity and are valuable supplemental lights to encourage photosynthesis. But they are lacking in other spectra so aren't really a proper full spectrum replacement. Apoplast agev this a pretty good treatment (on ICPS I think?). I may take you up on the lights however (not sure about the plasma fixture). I'd use them to supplement sunlight for my dews in the east window. I have to go near Leaside around 7 tonight, will PM you...
|
|