Great thread Groff, though I didn't read through all fifty-one pages, I figured I'd share my experience with manufacturer LEDs thus far...
I bought a panel online which was advertised as a "Blackstar 240w," and as a matter of fact, the seller even used Gotham's pictures in the listing! My auction ended at like 180 bucks, I think, and so I was stoked! Great steal!
However, after the thing had gotten to me, I realized swiftly that I did not buy "Blackstar 240w," but rather, an imposter -- "LED LIGHT 240w" -- so the seller kindly credited me 50 bucks back, and my light ended up at about 130 bucks...So I was happy, and even happier to see that the light was indeed growing plants. Attached are the results I've been getting with said light, which I'm guessing is running at a capacity of maybe 170ish watts? The first two pics are of my Auto White Widow (Dinafem -- and ignore the burnt leaves, it's my shitty tap water and not the light, thankfully...), and the last is a shot with a better camera of my Grape Muerte from Barney's which is now long gone
I'm happy with the results, especially on the Widow, since it's about a three-footer with basically no nutrients (since I get mega burn from my high-EC water)...
The next light I purchased was from an ex-seller named 'irenpenguin' or something to that effect... They had over a couple thousand positive sales, but they also sold everything from LEDs to sunglasses to whatever (from China)...I began to get pretty apprehensive when -- thirty days later -- I had still not received my light (it was a 350watter for around 180$ or so) and this guy was getting a bunch of negative feedback for items not being delivered, and cheap items (such as three dollar pairs of sunglasses) were coming to the doors of his
victims instead of their intended, and substantively more expensive, purchases. The long and the short of it is: the light never came, opened a case against the guy, and got my cash back. However, be extra careful with eBay, and make sure that, if your item doesn't come after a month, you open a resolution case against the person, because if you wait past 45 days you'll not be able to open one properly through the resolution centre. If you get a report filled out within the 45-day window, PP will take care of you even if the douchebag doesn't respond, and PP will eat the cost and credit you for your loss.
Since I had the resolution money sitting in my account...
I've just ordered a "300w" panel from 'LEDGROWLIGHTMANUFACTURER' on ebay...and I've received word that everything "is okay, no worry!" -- they also have pictures of their factory, plants growing beneath lights, and their panels look very similar to Advanced Diamond LEDs -- though I have no guarantee as to their quality by comparison. All I know for now is that I spend approximately $180 on a 300w panel (which will likely run at 220w or something), whereas a Diamond 300w would have cost me $795. I hope it does a good job, but I still can't help but think of the saying that "you get what'cha pay for," and maybe there's greater value in dropping the bucks? I don't know.
I think I'll get some beefy buds once I fix my water up and I can actually FEED my plants...But hopefully this panel works as well. Once I get it I will post results! In the meantime, here is what I've been getting....
Be wary with the eBay!
GK
Sad times....and 45 bucks down the tubes!
