EQUIPMENT > BASIC GROW EQUIPMENT > GROW LIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS
GROW LIGht RECOMMENDATIONS
The most confusing task when choosing equipment to grow your own cannabis at home is deciding which light to buy. It is the most important aspect of your grow in terms of yield and plant health, but when it comes to comparing the different brands and models on the market things get hairy quickly. This is no mistake, actually. The more confusing professionals and bloggers alike make a topic sound, the more reliant the consumer will be on their recommendations and advice. This article aims to demystify many of the questions surrounding LED grow lights, such as ‘what is an optimal PAR reading?’ ‘Which light is best for my grow?’ and ‘Which is the best grow light on the market today?’ I will compare the specs and features of the top LED brands and break down important differences that you should know as a consumer. By the end of this article you will have enough knowledge of the top LED grow light brands to make the right purchase for your grow.
Let’s take a look at tent brands based on marketing, Google search requests and sales volume. Based on this threshold the biggest brands in the market are KIND LED, Advanced Spectrum, Mars Hydro, ViparSpectra and FourBudz. To compare apples to apples, I will choose one wattage light and compare all notable product specifications, features and prices.
Below I’ve created a side-by-side comparison of similar model grow lights. What immediately struck me as interesting was the lack of specification data I was able to obtain for Advanced Spectrum and KIND LED related to spectrum, lumens, cooling system details and chip make. While these companies pride themselves on the quality of their lights and yields, the actual specification data they provide to consumers is actually quite limited. For these two brands I had to dig much deeper than the others just to get the limited information I did obtain. As for Mars Hydro, ViparSpectra and FourBudz, specification data was made fairly easily available.
BRAND SPECIFICATION COMPARISON OF A 600 WATT LED GROW LIGHT
Let’s take a look at tent brands based on marketing, Google search requests and sales volume. Based on this threshold the biggest brands in the market are KIND LED, Advanced Spectrum, Mars Hydro, ViparSpectra and FourBudz. To compare apples to apples, I will choose one wattage light and compare all notable product specifications, features and prices.
Below I’ve created a side-by-side comparison of similar model grow lights. What immediately struck me as interesting was the lack of specification data I was able to obtain for Advanced Spectrum and KIND LED related to spectrum, lumens, cooling system details and chip make. While these companies pride themselves on the quality of their lights and yields, the actual specification data they provide to consumers is actually quite limited. For these two brands I had to dig much deeper than the others just to get the limited information I did obtain. As for Mars Hydro, ViparSpectra and FourBudz, specification data was made fairly easily available.
BRAND SPECIFICATION COMPARISON OF A 600 WATT LED GROW LIGHT
SPECIFICATIONS |
Mars Hydro |
ViparSpectra |
Advanced Spectrum |
KIND LED |
FourBudz |
Model |
Mars Eco 98 |
V600 |
P600 |
K3 - L600 |
pro3 |
Price (USD) |
$145.99 |
$169.00 |
$995.00 |
$909.00 |
$450.00 |
Certifications |
ETL; CE |
CE; RoHS |
ETL |
UL |
ETL; CE; RoHS |
HPS equivalent |
250w |
600w |
800w |
600w |
600w |
Total Output Wattage |
600w |
600w |
600w |
450w |
640w |
PAR @ 12" (unless otherwise specified) |
400 @ 18" |
1220 |
1535 |
582 @ 24" |
1166 |
Lumens |
6827k |
NOT FOUND |
NOT FOUND |
NOT FOUND |
6778k |
Chip Make |
Epistar |
Bridgelux, Epileds |
NOT FOUND |
NOT FOUND |
Epistar, Bridgelux, Edison, Semiled |
Chip Wattage |
5w single chip |
5w single chip |
3w single chip |
3w single chip |
5w double chip |
Heat Sink |
✓ |
✓ |
✗ |
✓ |
✓ |
Cooling Fans |
2 |
2 |
NOT FOUND |
6 |
2 |
Spectrum Range |
400nm to 740nm |
NOT FOUND |
NOT FOUND |
NOT FOUND |
395nm to 730nm |
Coverage Area |
2x3 foot |
3x3 foot |
3.75x6 foot |
3x4 foot |
3x3 foot |
Power Draw |
192w |
269w |
368w |
320w |
200w |
LED angle |
100° |
90° |
90° |
NOT FOUND |
90° |
*Product specs are based on data gathered from both official brand website and Amazon listings. If data was not available on these sites, it was deemed an unreliable third party data source and therefore not collected. Prices are from Amazon USA, non-sale only. All data was gathered in June 2018.
BRAND SPECIFICATION ANALYSIS
- PRICE TO POWER RATIO -
Let’s take a look at the notable differences in the brands and models listed above. The most obvious difference is the jump in price from the middle ground FourBudz pro3 pricing and the Advanced Spectrum P600. Over double the cost between the two would suggest that the yields for the P600 would be double as well, though the specs don’t necessarily tell this story. The best tell of yields would be PAR and lumen value. A study out of the University of Mississipi held that the optimal PAR illumination for cannabis cultivation was 1500, at which point yields plateaued in relation to electricity input. While 1500 is optimal, the study held that anywhere from 1000-1500 could increase yields by 33% compared to PAR illumination lower than this level. While KIND LED and Mars did not provide comparable data, FourBudz, ViparSpectra and Advanced Spectrum all ranked within this PAR range. This suggests that all three would be good for yield potential, though FourBudz and ViparSpectra are much more affordable.
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY -
A second notable difference between the models is chip wattage and power draw. This is important for those monthly electricity bills. FourBudz has more advanced double chip technology while also maintaining the second lowest power draw compared to the other lights, making it the more energy efficient option, and therefore most cost effective on electricity.
- SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS -
Proper safety certifications in North America include ETL and UL. All of the lights but ViparSpectra have either ETL or UL safety certifications. I found this data questionable so I did some more research, only to confirm this information. This is a huge issue for me, and likely the biggest reason why the ViparSpectra light is priced so low. Knowing the light is not fabricated and assembled within North American safety guidelines, I cannot recommend buying this light. Any of the other lights are certified, and therefore safe to purchase and use.
- FINAL COMMENTS ON SPECIFICATIONS -
As for the rest of the specification data, there are some minor differences in coverage areas for each light but otherwise nothing that would give a significant advantage from one light to another. Therefore based on price, PAR light performance, efficiency and safety, the best value light (and the one I use) is the FourBudz pro3.
Next I'll look at the special features each light offers. Features like the ones listed below work to optimize light potential, making it versatile in any aspect of growing. I will analyze the notable differences between models in terms of these features below.
BRAND SPECIFICATION ANALYSIS
- PRICE TO POWER RATIO -
Let’s take a look at the notable differences in the brands and models listed above. The most obvious difference is the jump in price from the middle ground FourBudz pro3 pricing and the Advanced Spectrum P600. Over double the cost between the two would suggest that the yields for the P600 would be double as well, though the specs don’t necessarily tell this story. The best tell of yields would be PAR and lumen value. A study out of the University of Mississipi held that the optimal PAR illumination for cannabis cultivation was 1500, at which point yields plateaued in relation to electricity input. While 1500 is optimal, the study held that anywhere from 1000-1500 could increase yields by 33% compared to PAR illumination lower than this level. While KIND LED and Mars did not provide comparable data, FourBudz, ViparSpectra and Advanced Spectrum all ranked within this PAR range. This suggests that all three would be good for yield potential, though FourBudz and ViparSpectra are much more affordable.
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY -
A second notable difference between the models is chip wattage and power draw. This is important for those monthly electricity bills. FourBudz has more advanced double chip technology while also maintaining the second lowest power draw compared to the other lights, making it the more energy efficient option, and therefore most cost effective on electricity.
- SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS -
Proper safety certifications in North America include ETL and UL. All of the lights but ViparSpectra have either ETL or UL safety certifications. I found this data questionable so I did some more research, only to confirm this information. This is a huge issue for me, and likely the biggest reason why the ViparSpectra light is priced so low. Knowing the light is not fabricated and assembled within North American safety guidelines, I cannot recommend buying this light. Any of the other lights are certified, and therefore safe to purchase and use.
- FINAL COMMENTS ON SPECIFICATIONS -
As for the rest of the specification data, there are some minor differences in coverage areas for each light but otherwise nothing that would give a significant advantage from one light to another. Therefore based on price, PAR light performance, efficiency and safety, the best value light (and the one I use) is the FourBudz pro3.
Next I'll look at the special features each light offers. Features like the ones listed below work to optimize light potential, making it versatile in any aspect of growing. I will analyze the notable differences between models in terms of these features below.
|
BRAND FEATURE COMPARISON
OF A 600 WATT LED GROW LIGHT
*Product features are based on both official brand websites and Amazon listings. If data was not available on these sites, it was deemed an unreliable third party source and not collected. An “✗” means product does not have the feature, or that the manufacturer has not included it in detailed product information. All data was gathered in June 2018.
|
BRAND FEATURE ANALYSIS
- SPECTRUM CONTROLS - Advanced Platinum, ViparSpectra and FourBudz all offer up vegetative and bloom light spectrum options, though what really separates FourBudz from the others is its 4 channel custom spectrum intensity controls. The ability to change light spectrum and intensity to cater to every stage of plant growth allows growers to optimize lighting conditions for the best possible results. To learn more about how light spectrum can effect cannabis plant growth and the benefits of custom spectrum controls read my article on the topic by clicking here. - MAGNIFYING LENS - The first notable feature is the magnifying lens. Note that all higher quality brands carry this option, and for a good reason - they amplify the LED spectrum output increasing the ability for light to reach further down from the plant canopy. This results in more light reaching the bud sites, and therefore higher yields. Definitely a feature you should consider when purchasing your lighting. - REMOTE CONTROL - A last notable feature is remote control operation. The only light that offers this is the FourBudz pro3. This is a unique advantage, allowing you to adjust spectrum settings and turn the light on or off without even opening your grow tent. An added upgrade option allows you to operate your light remotely through an Android or iPhone app. FINAL CONCLUSIONS After reviewing all the specs and features, the FourBudz pro3 offers the best value for growers. It beats the other lights in terms of notable specifications and features. You can check out the FourBudz pro3 for purchase by clicking here. |
