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HELP! How dumb was this lighting decision

C

CheeseOnToast

New member
Hi. I'm looking to find out if I've made a mistake with my led light buy. After reading which LEDs were used in some of the better lights, I figured I could save a little money on AliExpress, which I'm now regretting. I realise I thought I knew more than I do, and at my level of experience I should have either asked questions first, or followed existing builds better.

I have 3 autos just germinated, and ready for solo cups soon. Many thanks in advance, and if I'm in a hole, I'm grateful for any advice.

0.5mx1m tent
PC intake fan
Small clip fan
5gal fabric pots
70/30 Coco mix
exhaust fan and smell relief in the works

LED strip 3m 60/m 2835 SMD strip powered by 5v USB

And my panel has the following information from the listing:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_Exc8Ies

Power supply: AC85-265V
Beam angle: 180°
Lifespan:20000 hours
LED type: SMD2835

Type B: Red(60leds)+White(64leds)+Warmwhite(132leds)
LED quantity: 256pcs per panel
LED power: 256X7.9W=2000W
Power consumption: 200W±5%
​
 
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That voice... in my head... maybe it's the crap meter. Maybe I'm too westernized. Maybe I don't know what's what in new lighting technology. I don't trust that light. I honestly don't trust anything from the discount markets except the assurance that I will probably get what I pay for.
Pictures in the reviews do not match the light shown in the ad. More than one reviewer got a UK plug to a US address.
No brand name. That's a biggie for me.
It lists that it is a 2000w light, even in the description. I see the little calculation. Back to my light ignorance, that is not a 2000w output light. It doesn't have a heat sink, per-se. It advertises 'All around heat distribution.' That falls under my light ignorance, sub category, heat distribution.
It lists that it is, among others, UL certified. Yeah. That voice...
In the end, if that piece is not up to your needs, are you willing to return it to get your money back? Are you able to return it to get your money back after deciding if the light is good enough?
 
Thank you.

Yes, I'm willing to send back.

I'm both disappointed and concerned that I've picked this one up and now have sprouted seeds ready to be put under a light. I'd tried to find a UK light for under $60 to fit with my budget.

If I could find something in the UK around $70 US, I'd jump at it. Would rather not waste these seeds.
 
Remember me saying how ignorant I am about lights, yeah? I gave you my opinion. There is at least one person in here who I won't name, but whose name rhymes with blue-hee, who will lay down with the PPFD and other technicalities and, perhaps, tell me I'm wrong.
The light is probably going to be good enough to get you through the first bit of germination. Your budget is pretty tight for a decent bloom light. A decent veg can be done with CFL/fluorescents which are pretty cheap and have been used for years for complete grows. Have you looked at UFO lights? That's a style based on their round shape. Consider two small lights for your small footprint. Always consider upgrading and/or adding for the next grow.
 
An update. I saw a 600w HPS with dimmer and ballast for a great price, so I've picked it up.

I'm going to go see the local hydroponic store for an exhaust fan and filter. I called them yesterday and it'll be around $120.

I haven't had my perlite delivered yet, but need to get these seedlings into solo cups today. Might have to use just Coco
 
Is that 600 Watts from the wall or 600 spoof Watts?
My LEDs draw 325 Watts from the wall for 2000 spoof Watts.
 
IMG_20250320_144939092.jpg


This is the ballast that has a dimmer on. It's a 600w hps bulb with reflector. I've got my 70/30 Coco mix and about to put into solos, then under the lamp.
 
For my own edification, I looked up what a 600w HPS covers. Everything I saw says that light is appropriate for a 1.2mx1.2m. Your tent is much smaller. Not only is it overkill for watts, but HPS lights create a lot of heat.
If I could make a personal observation, I think you are trying to stuff more light watts in your tent than you need and you are nickel-and-diming yourself out of a decent light. Weed needs 375-500 watts per square meter. You have half a square meter. Tent height is an issue, as well. Do you plan on growing a short strain or tall? Different light styles have different minimum distances they need to be kept from a plant canopy.
I was in the same mindset when I first started. If 5 is good, 20 will get me four times the result. Head over to the main GWE website and do a search on lights. You will learn a lot and might see something you can use.
 
I appreciate your reply, it's evident I haven't learned as much as I thought I had. The tent is 1.5x0.5x2.0m. I've been able to get 3 white widow auto and a rainbow sherbet auto.

I'd started in the spacebucket space, but of course had skipped to 0.5m2 tent before my first grow. I bought the light in a bit of panic as it was available locally. I thought cash purchase was better than online, so went with that.

I'm sending the led panel back, but would need to wait a couple of weeks to buy any more kit due to my haste. I have left ~$140 for a 4 inch ducting, fan and filter, a recommendation from our only local hydro store an hour away. I'll pick that up Monday.

Hopefully I've not caused a disaster for myself here. I've set aside time tonight to do some more reading and start from scratch
 
Spacebucket!!! Still have pictures? I want to do a Spacebucket.
An inline duct fan/filter is only effective when the tent is closed, and you will not need to worry about odor control for another 4 weeks when you start flowering. Me, again getting personal, I would spend my money on the light before worrying about the smell. And if you are growing autos, you do not need to worry about closing a tent.
My tent is 3x3x6 and I live in a small apartment. Odor is of minor concern. I do not use a heater or AC. My tent is always open because I grow autos. On whatever occasion I have to close my tent (usually if management wants to invade my space), a simple 6" clip-on fan in the ceiling port provides plenty exhaust and a few others circulate the plants. Point here is bells and whistles are great but not always necessary. I don't know your situation.
 
If you already have your seeds going and need quick, cheap light you might already have, t5 fluorescent lights and CFL's are just fine. Those are also on the website. Do not use incandescent bulbs.
 
A 4x2 tent will need a 200w LED if doing autos or a 300w one if doing photoperiod plants.

A 600w HPS is at risk of setting fire to a 4x2 because of excessive heat. Its not recommended to use those in a tent any more given LED technology.

If you're growing in a really cold room it will be fine though.

Lights I recommend and use myself for that space below.

https://spiderfarmer.co.uk/products...ight-dimmable-full-spectrum-for-2x4-70x140cm/

https://spiderfarmer.co.uk/products/spider-farmer-g4500-cost-effective-full-spectrum-led-grow-light/

https://spiderfarmer.co.uk/products/sf-2000-200w-led-grow-light/

https://marshydroled.co.uk/products/fc4000-evo-led-grow-lights/

​​​​​​​There's a few other brands but I've used the above and they work great. The bar style lights are the best followed by the quantum board style. The bar style have a more even spread and a larger sweet spot so height from canopy is not as critical. The quantum need more headroom for even light spread.
 
Thank you both for the input. I'm going to check out these lights and look what I can afford.

Bluey the ballast steps to 250, then 300w (450, then 600). If the tent remains cool in our location, would it be advisable to keep it on one of these steps for this grow?

I appreciate I've muddled a load of stuff up, and glad to be picking up learning for next time too.
 
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I am a fan of the 35-40 true watts per sq ft and a bare min of 450 PPFD at the outside corners and 1100 or so ,max in the center of the canopy. From experience a SF 2000 doesnt realy cover a 2 X 4 canopy even with a light mover. I use mine for seedlings in a 2 X 2 X 4 tent and its mounted to the top of the tent.. Works great with the dimmer and I did a SCROG in there with it and it came out ok
 
It will work ok for autos on an 18 or 20 hour schedule but it does lack in the corners a little.

I have two of them in tents for vegging out clones. They are fine for that. I suggested those because the OPs budget is really tight.

Not ideal, sure
 
I've been offered a mars hydro 192 used for $55 locally. I'm not about to just storm out and get it, so carrying out a bit of research. Any and all advice welcomed
 
It's my view also that light movers are pretty much a total scam. The plants still get exactly the same amount of light, distributed almost exactly the same without a mover, too much in the centre and less at the sides and corners. A really good fan moving the buds around probably does a better job at helping with light distribution. You'd be better off buying a couple of under canopy lights or small lights for the sides.

I also like the idea of reflective milar or similar under the canopy .
 
Just NO. Noisy, Old, LED life done, I think it might even have a cooling fan.

Go watch some YouTube videos over at Migro or another reputable reviewer, there are plenty that are not, and learn what works well.

I learnt quickly that every dollar saved when it comes to buying grow lights and setting them up is another dollar spent in the long run. I had my own setup I built but in the end ditched it for proper grow lights.

Wait for specials and use codes to save money.
 
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