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Electric bill

Penetration is dictated by flux and light characteristics from the luminaire. There are a handful of commercial LED fixtures that have comparable flux of double ended sodium discharge. Combined with optical lenses they would penetrate as well as gas discharge, maybe even better.

Some fixtures for reference are products by blackdog, nextlight, fluence, california lightworks, chil led. These are commercial grade lights with flux and efficiency levels comparable to gas discharge. But they are not cheap. Most cheap LED fixtures are not better than typical sodium discharge lights. There is some way to go before they replace gas discharge technology. They have only just started to completely replace residential light technology, such as the eradication of fluorescent products. But they have not yet completely replaced commercial lighting and definitely not replaced horticulture lighting. Around 70% of horriculture facilities still use gas discharge technology, for mostly one reason. Cost.
 
Yes. Never tried a "commercial grade" led for cost. At this point just dont see the point of dropping that kind of money. But willing to try as i love to test things. Maybe ill try Soon.
 
When i can recover the cost of the fixture in just a few years i will. But at this stage it would take years to recover your initial investment.
 
Yea I was looking at them yesterday after we talked. I run my lights on solar so would never ever recoup the cost. I just want to see if they work better. But for $2k plus for one im rethinking that experiment.
 
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Dont get me wrong, LED has its place. But fixture cost per umol and electric cost per umol, gas discharge still dominates.
 
I just cant see spending $2500 plus for a light to save electricity. For that price you can install solar panels, all the wiring, and a huge battery backup so you never pay for electricity again. But im tempted to get one just to run an experiment to see if they can do better.
 
Yes, I hear you. I thought about converting my ballast to LED but now I realize that it would not save me money.
 
I have 350 invested. Light runs 22 hrs on. Bill was 230 this month , last month 157, ac for house been on all month. 83 to 95 all month and humid. 240 in cobs 99 for veg board. 2x4 tent filling out.
 
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They don't penetrate deeper. But with reflectors they get close. They use less power and put out very little heat. There fore less electric used to keep the conditions in sweet spot. More expensive to acquire less money to power and maintain.
 
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