Led light for newbie

[olbobcat]

What?

I was just saying that things keep getting better and cheaper. Your first light might become your extra light. I have to see if I can find my first LEd light from about 15 years ago, I think it was $600. Awesome build, poor production

 

[Big Sul]

Yes, that’s the one I have. What info do you need?

What heights do u run with autoflowers? Do u run 100% and adjust distance, or do you move light closer and adjust dimmer?

I'm pulling the trigger on HLG600rspec on 4/20.

 

[Death The Cultivator]

I was just saying that things keep getting better and cheaper. Your first light might become your extra light. I have to see if I can find my first LEd light from about 15 years ago, I think it was $600. Awesome build, poor production

For his situation I definitely agree but many of the best lights can be simply expanded while still being relevant years later. Budget is important at first but once you learn what you need most tend to have buyer's remorse.

HPS is still a thing

 

[LearningMore]

What heights do u run with autoflowers? Do u run 100% and adjust distance, or do you move light closer and adjust dimmer?

I'm pulling the trigger on HLG600rspec on 4/20.

My very first grow ever I had the lights at 30” and “partially” turned down...I stunted the hell out of them...Newbie learning led to me buying a Lux Meter (DrMeter on Amazon) so I know what I’m blasting them with. HLG put out in a blog post that their lights tested out to allow a PAR to Lux conversion of 0.015 (so if you find a chart indicating a desired PAR of 500, you convert to Lux by dividing by 0.015 giving a Lux of 33,333). This conversion has been really helpful so my $40 lux meter could work, instead of having to spend $$ for PAR meter.

I started my (current grow) seedlings under a lux of 3500, and slowly increased. I’m still in my “first” grow, having had to restart after my burned seedlings, so I am still testing out what my plants respond to. I am in flower now and still haven’t turned it up to 100%. I am keeping my DLI around 40 right now and monitoring how the plants respond. The plants seem to be doing really well.

I got mine through LEDgrowlightdepot and have been really happy with their service. I had a bad dimmer on one light and they handled the warranty through HLG for me - I had a tracking number for my replacement light within an hour of me reaching out about the issue. HLG has since stopped using that kind of dimmer and now ships with the new one (I know this because I might be addicted to this hobby and have already expanded my grow setup to multiple lights/tents!). I have no affiliation with HLG or the light seller, btw. The light depot has reviews that give par readings and suggested grow heights, too (since that is what you asked me for!).

I hope this helps. You’ll love the light.

 

[Death The Cultivator]

My very first grow ever I had the lights at 30” and “partially” turned down...I stunted the hell out of them...Newbie learning led to me buying a Lux Meter (DrMeter on Amazon) so I know what I’m blasting them with. HLG put out in a blog post that their lights tested out to allow a PAR to Lux conversion of 0.015 (so if you find a chart indicating a desired PAR of 500, you convert to Lux by dividing by 0.015 giving a Lux of 33,333). This conversion has been really helpful so my $40 lux meter could work, instead of having to spend $$ for PAR meter.

I started my (current grow) seedlings under a lux of 3500, and slowly increased. I’m still in my “first” grow, having had to restart after my burned seedlings, so I am still testing out what my plants respond to. I am in flower now and still haven’t turned it up to 100%. I am keeping my DLI around 40 right now and monitoring how the plants respond. The plants seem to be doing really well.

I got mine through LEDgrowlightdepot and have been really happy with their service. I had a bad dimmer on one light and they handled the warranty through HLG for me - I had a tracking number for my replacement light within an hour of me reaching out about the issue. HLG has since stopped using that kind of dimmer and now ships with the new one (I know this because I might be addicted to this hobby and have already expanded my grow setup to multiple lights/tents!). I have no affiliation with HLG or the light seller, btw. The light depot has reviews that give par readings and suggested grow heights, too (since that is what you asked me for!).

I hope this helps. You’ll love the light.

If only every manufacturer released their conversion but then some might be caught in a lie.

Here is the difference between what a PAR meter and a Lux meter measure in a plants useable spectrum

Kudos to HLG on providing the information but a Lux meter is no substitute for a PAR meter. It is 'good enough' when provided with the conversion though.

Thank you for sharing that experience!

 

[Crazyassmonk]

Yes, that’s the one I have. What info do you need?

Is it just switch on n go. 1st time on autos. 2 weeks in there showing buds. Is this normal with autos. Feels like theve missed veg n gone straight into flower

 

[LearningMore]

Is it just switch on n go. 1st time on autos. 2 weeks in there showing buds. Is this normal with autos. Feels like theve missed veg n gone straight into flower

It is fully assembled - you just hang it and plug it in, then adjust intensity with the dimmer.

”Preflower” definitely starts early in autos (There is a lot of variability in what people mean by ‘day 1’, just FYI).).

 

[olbobcat]

Is it just switch on n go. 1st time on autos. 2 weeks in there showing buds. Is this normal with autos. Feels like theve missed veg n gone straight into flower

Totally depends on the strain and individual plant. I have had ones that started in 13 days all the way to 41 days. I consider flower starting when you get top bud just starting. On my present grow Mephisto 24k, all the plants started at different times the first was day 23 and last was day 32.

 

[Crazyassmonk]

Cheers guys. 1st time with these babies so wasnt really sure. Look really healthy tho so doing something right.

 

[ShadyGrove]

I am also a newbie, and I just purchased a BudgetLED Full Spec light for my small tent during their 420 sale.

Its got Samsung LM301H diodes, veg and flower modes, and a UV switch. Its about the same price as the equivalent HLG 130 rspec, but this has flower/veg/uv switches, and its a small company in Michigan with great customer service.

I just received it about a week ago, it was super easy to put together and the quality seems better than the Mars Hydro TS1000 I was borrowing. It is a bit smaller and 20 watts less powerful though. I am totally new to growing and haven't had a full grow with it yet, but I really like it so far. It seems about as bright as the Mars, and its also cooler thanks to a good heatsink.