When learning about the different LED grow lights, it is important to know what to consider that will help with growing. There are a few key points to consider when making purchasing recommendations. To find the best LED grow lights for your crop, carefully consider the considerations below.
Price and Long-term Costs
We can't just conjure up a need for a product and say that's it, everyone wants to spend the least amount of money on the most effective plant lights, and while price is important, a lot depends on each user's own situation and long term goals. We see LED, HID and CFL lights on the market and the price can vary depending on the type, and don't forget that lighting comes with a corresponding operating cost!
One needs to consider how much energy each type of plant light consumes when operating. Some lights are much cooler (cool light source + excellent heat dissipation), while others give off a lot of heat and may require cooling equipment if you choose this type of style. Wattage - This can be simply interpreted as how much light is the plant actually getting? Next, it is important to consider getting the optimal amount of light for the grow room; too much light is not good, and too little light is not good for plant growth.
Temperature and Cooling System
Certain types of grow lights produce a lot of heat, too much heat is bad for the plants as the heat can damage the growth and burn the plants. Therefore, the best grow lights should be good at managing heat output. We generally say that LED plant grow lights are the superior choice, they give off about 50% less heat compared to HIDs, with the majority of this heat coming from the circuit board (the thermal effect of the electric current).
In contrast, HID lights generate a lot of heat, and worse, this energy is released into the air in the form of infrared radiation, which in turn goes directly to the plants. Therefore, please note that HID fixtures generate more heat (useless energy, wasted power loss) than LED plant lights and require better heat dissipation. Users will need to install a full airflow cooling system alongside them, and air conditioning is also necessary if the weather in your city is hotter. -These have to be factored into the total cost.
Easy to Use and Install
The user may not be familiar with growing marijuana at home, and perhaps that user has never even installed lights themselves before. Therefore, it is best that the user needs plant lights that are easy to use and as simple to install as possible. Again, LED plant lights offer advantages in this area, as well as eliminating the need to replace fixtures frequently. With a 40-50% reduction in cooling requirements compared to unvented HID systems, there is a lower risk of fire hazards when LED grow lights are used in tents.
Fluorescent lights work the same way as regular lighting in our homes and are easy to install. With an HID system, the user will need about 50% more cooling requirements and may need to replace individual fixtures from time to time. Most importantly, they can cause fires in tents if not installed and maintained. If the user is used to setting up “things with cables and wires” then they may find it easy to install them. Otherwise, if we're not comfortable with these, then plug and play LED grow lights are perfect.
Excellent Choice for Marijuana Growers
Over the past few years, technology has continued to evolve, making LED plant grow lights an excellent choice for keen marijuana growers. LED grow lights usually come in the form of panels, which can be very helpful when there is a need to get a larger coverage area. As already talked about, they are very effective, especially when we compare LED plant lights with other light sources. This means that if the user opts for solid cold light plant lights with LEDs, the running costs can be effectively reduced.
Another key feature of LED lights is that it retains a considerable amount of brightness. Usually, lamps will decay as we use them until we need to have them replaced. LED grow lights do not have this problem and users do not have to worry about it at all for at least 2-3 years. LED plant grow lights can also deliver more power than many other products and while this can be seen as an advantage, it is important that the distance between it and the plant is well controlled.
The package design of the LEDs as well as the heat sink design comes with a passive cooling system that prevents the lights from overheating and raises the temperature of the fixture, which is why the best grow cabinets usually come with LED lights. With other lights, the user may need to purchase additional items in order to connect the lights to each other. This is not an issue with LED lights as the user simply plugs them in and hangs them. That's all the user has to do, making it a great option for growers.
Finally, one of the standout features of LED lights revolves around the spectrum. LEDs can be easily configured for specific wavelengths of the spectrum, and there are also plant light products that allow us to switch or adjust the color spectrum ourselves. This means that we can set up more blue light during the growth phase of the plant and then gradually increase the red light into flowering. Therefore, with LED plant grow lights, there is the potential for more efficient growth and greater profitability from cannabis.
