Haight Solid State vs. H.G.LED

Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Yeah I've been watching this one and will continue to. It's too bad there isn't a third tent with HPS lighting to compare that next to the LEDs.

That would be very nice. It can always be done as a subsequent comparison with just the two tents. I have a 250w Lumatek and two 150w Galaxy digital ballasts, and soon as I come across a good deal on a 400w, I'm going to pick one up.

I am here an agree that would be intresting
GL SS hope to see some good results
if you had to choose you are you rooting for?

Honestly, I really have no favorite. I think it's cool that they use such different designs, because that makes the comparison much more interesting, but I'm neutral as far as rooting goes. If they can grow the same or more bud, of equal or greater quality, than even my 250w HID, they will have both already won in my book. The remaining question would be which one does it better.

The HSS light, at 180-190w, is getting pretty close to 250, but the extra headroom it gives me in the tent is a huge plus. Decreasing my exposure to UV is important to me also.

thanks Pacha!

I think we have a reasonable estimate of what HID lighting would do already.

I'm interested to see:

1.)gram/watt comparison of LED to HID
2.)quality of smoke.

If LED's have a better gram/watt ratio, and produce equal quality, they are a game changer for growers.

I agree.

And the best part of that would be that it would make *lots* more closets suitable for growing.

I'm aware of that. But your reason for number 1 is the same as what I said. Like I said it's too bad there isn't a sodium setup to compare that to the two LED grows. I like having side by side pictures to see which one is obviously better. I think it's only a "game changer for growers" if you're growing a lot of medicine; but when you're growing a lot of medicine then it's kinda obvious what you're doing with it.

I like side-by-side pictures too, but this isn't the last comparison I'm planning on doing. I set up my two tents not primarily for through-put, because our needs for meds would be met just fine with one tent, but to do comparison grows just like this one.

I was gearing up to do a soil comparison when I was asked to do this LED comparison.

If LED's perform, I think they would greatly benefit the small personal growers, just on the basis of heat management alone. Their smaller size, lower profiles, and proximity to the canopy are other pluses in small grow spaces.

For larger grows, I think the benefit would have to be realized mostly in energy savings, if that could be done without significantly reducing yield.

thanks bro!

may be a decent alternative to HPS for people with heat probs, they look expensive at first but if only using 125 watts instead of 400w or so, im interested in how 1 single LED panel of this size compares to certain wattage HPS lamps. i can compare the differences on my own, we all have seen HPS grows of every size from 150w to multipul 100w lamps!

finally get to see a couple of these babies all the way thru flower! instead of a mixed light setup or switching half way through.
but atleast we already know theyre good for veg, nice bushy plants

but not bad for 400$ is you can flower 4 nice plants with only 125w and staying nice and cool.

i really cant wait!

I'm right there with you bro! ;)

And I could not agree more. Being able to flower 4 nice plants with these watts and much lower temps will win me over.
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Being able to flower 4 nice plants with these watts and much lower temps will win me over.

Well said SS. I'm doing a very small personal medical grow and if either of these units can deliver good results I'll snap one up in a heartbeat.

I realize this journal is primarily focused on the LEDs but I hope you won't mind if I ask a few questions about other aspects of your operation. I am currently doing a 6 gallon DWC hydro grow and am running in to issues with bacteria and such. I'd prefer an Ebb and Flow system, or at least an 18 gallon reservoir, but I simply don't have the room. So, I'm considering switching to soil and am using your grow as a model for what may be in my future.

So... first question: I've heard it would be best to start seeds in very small containers (2"), then transplant to larger containers (6") then again to the final containers (12"). Looks like you're germinating in the containers you'll use throughout the grow and that the containers (2 gal) seem fairly small - I always thought larger was better. Could you share a few thoughts on your strategy regarding container size?

Second question: given that the lights are on and the tents will be rather warm, how do you make sure the seeds stay moist while germinating?

My apologies if these questions are too far off topic - your thoughts and guidance would be so very much appreciated.
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Hey SS,

PPl have chimed in about the Haight having the power advantage. But I think its a bit of an even playing field given the viewing angle on HGL's unit. What are your thoughts on that?

Lastly, with the 6 fans on top of the HGL unit, what is the overall power consumption of the unit?:hmmmm:

:popcorn:
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Hey SS,

PPl have chimed in about the Haight having the power advantage. But I think its a bit of an even playing field given the viewing angle on HGL's unit. What are your thoughts on that?

Lastly, with the 6 fans on top of the HGL unit, what is the overall power consumption of the unit?:hmmmm:

:popcorn:

You missed it.
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

I'm very impressed with the results I've seen Cammie get. She uses multiple panels....but you can't deny the great buds.

Too bad they're so expensive....I just want to build a large room out of panels and grow a jungle!


It's a very exciting time to be alive if you appreciate technology and have vision.

Side-lighting with LED's wouldn't be difficult, just takes more money, but prices are coming down.

A combination of LED and CFL might be fun to try also.
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Hey SS,

PPl have chimed in about the Haight having the power advantage. But I think its a bit of an even playing field given the viewing angle on HGL's unit. What are your thoughts on that?

As regards the coverage claimed for these panels, this is from Hydro Grow LED's website as regards the 126w Penetrator with a beam angle of 60 degrees:

"Maximum Coverage Area of 24" x 36" @ 12" above your canopy, with a Primary Lighting Area of 18" x 30"


And from Haight Solid State regarding the PPF-800 with a beam angle of 140 degrees:

"Covers approximately 2 sq meters (50 x 60 inches)"



This is just simple inescapable physics. The HGL light, with a narrower angle, penetrates better and sacrifices area, while the HSS light, with a wider angle, covers more area and sacrifices penetration.

With the HGL light, it's important to try to keep the plants in the "sweet spot" because light energy dissipates quickly outside of it.

The HSS light claims a much larger sweet spot, but depends a lot more on reflective walls to bounce light down to the lower branches.

I'm thinking that because the designs are so different, each light would work best with a different style of grow. The HGL light would work better for growing a few larger plants, while the HSS light would do better with a more horizontal SOG or SCROG style grow.

thanks DroJo! glad you're on-board bro!
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Well said SS. I'm doing a very small personal medical grow and if either of these units can deliver good results I'll snap one up in a heartbeat.

I realize this journal is primarily focused on the LEDs but I hope you won't mind if I ask a few questions about other aspects of your operation. I am currently doing a 6 gallon DWC hydro grow and am running in to issues with bacteria and such. I'd prefer an Ebb and Flow system, or at least an 18 gallon reservoir, but I simply don't have the room. So, I'm considering switching to soil and am using your grow as a model for what may be in my future.

So... first question: I've heard it would be best to start seeds in very small containers (2"), then transplant to larger containers (6") then again to the final containers (12"). Looks like you're germinating in the containers you'll use throughout the grow and that the containers (2 gal) seem fairly small - I always thought larger was better. Could you share a few thoughts on your strategy regarding container size?

Second question: given that the lights are on and the tents will be rather warm, how do you make sure the seeds stay moist while germinating?

My apologies if these questions are too far off topic - your thoughts and guidance would be so very much appreciated.


I like to avoid transplanting as much as possible because it stresses plants, but if plants got obviously root-bound before they reached the desired size, I wouldn't hesitate.

Germinating directly in soil works for me and that's why I do it. There's a lot of other good ways. I water the pots fairly well before planting the seeds, and that helps keep the upper layer of soil from drying out quickly. I try to sprinkle the soil lightly at least 3-4 times a day to also ensure that it doesn't dry out. LED lights throw much less heat, so they don't dry the soil out as much as HID lights, but keeping the HID lights up high prevents that also.

I like square pots. With the HGL light in particular, square pots will help keep the plants in the beam's sweet spot, and that's important with this light.

These 2-gallon rose pots are also taller than typical 2-gallon planter's pots, and weed plants like deeper rather than wider containers. Knowing that LED lights generally don't penetrate as well as HID, I thought the 2-gallon pots would also help keep the plants from growing too tall. I want to avoid topping or training if possible, because it would introduce another variable.

I suppose transplanting into larger pots might be an option in this comparison if the plants got root-bound and all parties were agreeable.

As far as soil goes, I'm still going to do a soil comparison grow, but after that I'm going to switch to passive hydro and try different media like coco, hydroton, perlite, etc, until I find one that works best for me. Passive hydro and LED would be a good combination because the need for watering would be decreased due to lower temps and reduced evaporation.

I think passive hydro combines the best aspects of soil and hydro and I can't wait to try it.

great questions, thanks bro!
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Lights are on 24/24 to help heat the tents and so the seedlings will have light as soon as they break ground. The lights are raised up for the pic, but as starting points, I have the HGL light at 12" above the pots and the HSS light at 16"

time to stare at dirt, lol


LOL! Dirt-staring, the new American pasttime. :slide:

Hey, I have a question. I have recently heard (from the manufacturer of mine) that 90 watts (or more) of primarily red color LED is overkill for seed/seedling starting and should not be closer to the seed/seedling/pot than 3ft lest the intensity of light be too much for the seedling and either stunt or kill it at its earliest stage. He said that when the seedlings grow up to the third node that the light could then be lowered, but not until then. Since I know nothing about LED light technology by being totally new to it myself, I'm wondering how much truth there is to that claim. I wonder what the manufacturers of your test panels have to say in that regard? I'm guessing we're about to find out right here in your test tents.
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Anyone know if they are coming out with leds for a vertical system? A coliseum with fogponics and leds would be extremely efficient.
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Anyone know if they are coming out with leds for a vertical system? A coliseum with fogponics and leds would be extremely efficient.

From what I've been able to see, all the LED's are oriented to hang from above, like HID's.

Imagine a box, six feet long, four feet wide and 5 feet high, with the ceiling height adjustable.....the sides and top all LED panels.

Program these panels to go on and off at different times....light from all sides.

If I had 10 grand to spare....which I don't....I'd make such a thing.
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

hey SS, doing lots of educating here early in the go. lol. nice.

i'd like to chime in here to usul's question about the container size.

i think one of the best arguments for starting in a small pot and transplanting is that the wet/dry cycles are much quicker. a big pot might stay wet for a week w/o a big root system to drink up all the water, where a small starter pot would be able to be watered 3x as often because it'll dry out much faster. these faster wet/dry cycles is better for root development than the longer ones.

but SS is right, transplanting can be stressful, so that is one drawback of doing it that way.

both ways are good, as long as you know how to do it right.
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Hey, I have a question. I have recently heard (from the manufacturer of mine) that 90 watts (or more) of primarily red color LED is overkill for seed/seedling starting and should not be closer to the seed/seedling/pot than 3ft lest the intensity of light be too much for the seedling and either stunt or kill it at its earliest stage.

The HydroGrowLED rep said as close as 6-8 inches in early veg was ok (I read this in Scooby_Snaks journal)
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

But what of sprouting? That's a tender age for intense light.

That's a great question. I don't know

I asked sfhaze as he's been running the Haight light. I hope some experienced people stop by and let us know ;)
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

But what of sprouting? That's a tender age for intense light.

I agree, and I'm probably going to handle that by not starting quite that close, but lowering it at the first sign of undesirable stretch.

In the meantime, I'll see what I can dig up on the subject.

No sproutage yet.

I think the paper towel peeps just do it that way so's they can peek at their beans, lol

I hate waiting for seeds to sprout.


thanks Irish!
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

But what of sprouting? That's a tender age for intense light.

I started a White Widow under the HSS light with both power switces on Low at a distance of about 15". After the internal branches started to show, I switched to High on both and seem to be having decent results at about 12".

This is my first try with LEDs and first grow in over a decade, so it's just trial and error.

This journal couldn't have possibly come along at a better time.

Thanks again, Setting Sun!
 
Re: Hosted Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

I started a White Widow under the HSS light with both power switces on Low at a distance of about 15". After the internal branches started to show, I switched to High on both and seem to be having decent results at about 12".

What's this? The HSS unit has dual power switches with high and low settings?! Info on the HSS web site indicates the blue/white LEDs and red LEDs are on separate power supplies - each with switchable high/low settings. This implies that it could be adjusted for different growth cycles: high blue/white and low red for veg - high red and low blue/white for flower.

SS, can you confirm the unit you're using has these controls? If so, do you plan to take advantage of them?
 
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