There is a lot of hype surrounding LED grow lights. There are great benefits you can get from them, but there are some things to consider before switching from fluorescent to LED. Maybe you’ve heard about their energy efficiency, or some other aspect that got you interested in them. However, you should read this article to find out some interesting points about LED grow lights.
Energy efficiency
The most notable thing about LED is that they are more energy efficient than fluorescent grow lights. So you can have a better idea of how much you can save, take a look at the next example. We’ll assume that the cost of Kilowatt per hour is 10 cents and that you’ll leave the light on 16 hours every day throughout the year.
Light Wattage/1000 x Kilowatt per hour cost x hours used per month x 12
Fluorescent grow light:
80 watts/1000 x $0.1 x 480 hours x 12 = $46.08
LED grow light:
9 watts/1000 x $0.1 x 480 hours x 12 = $5.18
In this example, for every passing year LED will save you $40. You’ll have to change the variables a bit to make it fit to your specific case, but the point is that you can expect to save about %90 of your electrical costs if you switch to LED grow lights.
Pros and cons of LED grow lights
In addition to energy savings, LED grow lights are durable. You can expect them to last from 50,000 to 100,000 hours. You won’t have to worry about burning your plants, because it puts out only a small amount of heat. The downside is that if one bulb burns out, it’s not very easy to fix the light other than replacing it entirely. Also, they usually have a higher price tag than the best fluorescent grow lights, but they will pay for themselves over time.
LED vs Fluorescent
In 2007 an experiment was conducted, and reported online, regarding the effects of LED and fluorescent grow lights on plants. Plants that were grown with a fluorescent bulb, showed better results. They had a more natural look, and seemed healthier. The plants grown with an LED bar light had a weaker an unnatural appearance. It’s important to say that since then, there has been a significant improvements in LED grow lights.
LED grow lights are a developing technology
This experiment is a strong argument to use against LED grow lights, but because this is newer technology it should be pointed out that the settings should be different when using it. In order to get optimum results with LED grow lights it’s necessary to experiment and tweak your set up. Things like light cycles, the distance between the light and plant, and your specimen’s requirements are all important factors. Usually, plant seed packs will contain instructions for indoor growing, but these are often indicated for HID lights.
Switching from fluorescent to LED grow lights is not as simple as changing the light source. There are different factors to consider to get the best results. At the time being, there isn’t much information available on the proper use of LED grow lights, so researching and experimenting is required. If you decide to change from fluorescent, you can reap the rewards of using the best LED grow lights. If you’re not interested in LED, fluorescent grow lights have worked for many growers for years, so if you don’t feel the calling you’ll still be able to grow healthy and beautiful plants.
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