Old Reviews BadBoy T5 vs LED

[Muddy]

Yes, that's my feeling, 3 Blackstars to one 16 bulb Bad Boy. Not to say that 2 won't do a good job.

No, if you reread my previous post, I'm needing 3 of the blackstars to get good coverage on a slightly smaller area, 14 sq. ft. vs 16 for the Bad boy. LEDs grow best when you stay within their core penetration, which is about 2' x 2.5' for the Blackstars.

ok so just for sake of an estimate 1 t5 bad boy 16 bulb would be almost equal to or equivant to 3 blackstar 240's...

So now theres a few things that come to mind, it seems that 3 black stars would give you more coverage since the T5 only coveres the area of the fixture. Also i would imagine the 1 t5 16 bulb will hit the electric bill a bit more then 3 blackstars

Again the statement i made above is not fact i am grasping here

 

[Muddy]

I believe the Quantum bulbs have a rated life of 18 months.

well, they got a really spiffy looking design to em, that's for sure. all that aluminum and stuff. i know what just one LED will do. i wonder how the penetration will lack on the badboy??? one other factor to consider...those bulbs cost decent cash by themselves. the average T5 life is 12 months...then they start to lose their beneficial spectrum for plants...4 foot long x 16 bulbs....every year....ouch.

 

[JM]

well from everything I've seen... I'd go blackstars... it seems leds have finally made the grade.... I'm considering getting one 240 myself.... debating whether i can afford it right now or not.... not really... but can i afford not to? lol

 

[Jackal]

I've had a couple harvest now with my Bad Boy and they live up to that name. I can't speak for Black star, but I owned a 240w GrowLEDHydro and the T5 blows it outta the water. I bought mine after a conversation with TBM and haven't regretted it. I'm now going to lay to rest the LED, and buy more T5. They do a great job with both veg and flower, Unlike my LED which sucks at vegging, it stunts their growth, but flowering is decent.

 

[BuddyLove]

well, i actually was told that by my hydro guy. but, now that you have brought that to my attention, i think about the source. so, i've searched for a factual, non biased report on that topic. i couldn't find that exact answer. all i found was total life duration so far. you would replace all bulbs 5 times over the life of the LED as far as projected life expectancy, per the manufacturers statements..... so thai, i am waiting on a reply from Osram Sylvania to give me that definitive answer. i'll post as soon as they answer me.

This is the first I've heard of T5's losing their beneficial spectrum so quickly. Where are you getting this info? I know some HPS/MH bulbs will do this, but I've never heard of T5HO doing that.

To OP: if you can afford 3 Blackstars - go for it, if not the BadBoys are a hella great fixture. What's the size of your grow space?

 

[DubV]

So after seeing Jackals results and the fact that I am upgrading to 2 Dr II pro 120 tents I am seriously considering running a badboy t5 in one of the tents. My question is can I practically fit a 16 tube badboy fixture inside one of these tents with a vortex fan and phat tallboy carbon filter or am I going to have to step down to the 12 tube fixture? Also if I have to go with the 12 tube will it give enough coverage and lumens to cover 8 to 10 autos in 3 gallon felt pots?

 

[BuddyLove]

just a quick update...i am still waiting on the reply from sylvania, and will post their answer as soon as i get it. initially they claim a 3-5 day response time, and it's just been 3 today.

well, i actually was told that by my hydro guy. but, now that you have brought that to my attention, i think about the source. so, i've searched for a factual, non biased report on that topic. i couldn't find that exact answer. all i found was total life duration so far. you would replace all bulbs 5 times over the life of the LED as far as projected life expectancy, per the manufacturers statements..... so thai, i am waiting on a reply from Osram Sylvania to give me that definitive answer. i'll post as soon as they answer me.

 

[mattinuk3]

Ill throw in a +1 for blackstar. Seriously there is no comparison because of one key feature of blackstar - uv light.

I have a connie chung mother plant under 24 hour light and there is resin building all over the new leaves. Let that sunk in for a minute. Not even any preflowers near the new growth, but the new growth is covered. Now, we have noticed increased resin when flowering with them, but this is the first time we have vegged under the flowering model and we're so impressed.

Ill get the picture up here as soon as I can so you guys can see it to believe it. I have had it in there for a week and the uv light is causing large, globular, psychoactive trichomes to form all over the new growth and stems. I have a great picture of this I will upload later. Please don't buy until you see the difference from UV!

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

[DubV]

Matt I already own magnum + led and that will be hanging in the other tent which will have nothing but photo's running in it! I know the advantages and disadvantages of led and am very interested in the cost basis of the badboy since it will be a couple hundred dollars cheaper than running 3 blackstars or about half the price of buying another magnum and that's with 3 years of bulbs. I totally agree with jackal that led's are not ideal for veg and that in turn effects total yield! I am not looking to start a battle between led and t5 just looking at all the other low heat alternatives that seem to produce just as well as led and the cost comparison is definitelty a plus as well!

 

[akito]

Maybe try a mixture of LED and t5 that is what im working toward