Buying led grow lights is a very difficult stuff because a lot of lights are available in the market.We discuss in this post how to choose the best led grow lights.
LED grow lights have changed the way that we grow plants forever; thanks to the innovative technology found in LED grow lights, it is easier than ever to create highly controlled indoor growing environments for flowers and all sorts of plants.There are many different LED grow light options out there on the market today, ranging from budget lights to complex light systems and much more in between.
Before you start buying LED grow lights, however, there are some important factors and elements that you need to consider in order to make sure you are buying the correct lights for your plants–and that you are getting your money’s worth. The following are 15 essential things you should consider before buying LED grow lights.
Under 15 Things Should consider before Buying led grow lights
1: Consider the electricity output and wattage consumption
For the best effect, you will need to be running your LED grow lights for about 10 to 11 hours a day–or more, depending on the plants you are currently growing. This can add up to some serious increased electricity bills due to the increased electricity use.
To help offset these costs, you can look for lights that have a lower wattage while still providing a decent output. This will ensure that you are getting enough LED output for your plants to thrive while reducing the cost associated with higher wattage lights running for hours every day.
2: Look for lower heat LED lights
When you are buying LED grow lights, you will notice that some lights are listed with a higher heat output than others. As a general rule of thumb, you will want to look for LED lights that have a lower heat output. This will help prevent your plants from burning or scorching, as they may more easily burn under a higher heat LED. Lower heat LED lights also save you money in the long run, since lights with higher heat outputs have to be replaced more often than those with lower heat outputs.
3: Take into account what you are growing
You need to take into account the special considerations required by whatever plants you happen to be growing. For example, let’s say you are growing a crop such as tomatoes–your lights will need to be warmer and more intense than the lighting for something more delicate such as many types of flowers.
Different plants require different LED wavelength cycles during their growth stages, so this can play a significant part in helping you choose when you are buying LED grow lights.
4: Determine how much space you have (or need) before you shop
LED grow lights come in a lot of different shapes and sizes, and the best thing you can do before shopping is get an exact measurement of your growing space. How much space do you have, and is it adequate for the plants and set-up you require? The size of your space will help you choose lights that can fit comfortably and safely into the space without requiring you to change your growing plans.
5: Consider whether or not you need full spectrum grow lights
Different plants may have wildly different growing needs–and some plants may even have changing growing needs as they continue through their life cycle. If you plan on growing plants which will have different light requirements, you should consider buying full spectrum lights. Full spectrum lights include all of the LED grow light spectrums in one convenient package which can be manually changed to suit your needs.
6: Find out how long the lights are under warranty
One of the basic ways you can gauge the quality of any brand’s LED grow lights is to find out how long the company is willing to honor a warranty. Most LED grow lights will last for about 3 years, so if the warranty is significantly shorter, this may be a sign that the quality of the lights is not up to standard.
As a general rule, don’t buy lights that have warranties under 10 years if you want to ensure they will last as long as possible. If you do want to take the risk, just know that you may end up having to replace the lights more often due to the potential for a lower quality product.
7: Know whether the ballast is included in the light before you purchase
When you are buying LED grow lights, you may notice that some lights come with the ballast–or the electrical component that helps control the electrical flow through the light itself–while others simply come with the bulb. You should always know whether or not the LED grow lights you are buying come with the ballast integrated into the unit or whether you will have to purchase the ballast components yourself. This could potentially add significant cost to your overall lighting budget or require you to rethink the layout of your light setup, so it’s best to know well before you make a purchase whether or not the ballast is included in the LED light.
8: Find out how adjustable the controls are
The very best LED grow lights will be the ones which let you have a high amount of control over the spectrum, the heat output, and the overall intensity of the light. You should look to find out whether or not you can adjust these all-important LED grow light elements before you make a purchase; avoid lights which are not able to be customized or adjustable, and instead stick to higher quality lights which allow you to exert a greater amount of control over the situation.
9: Note the wattage of the semiconductor chip
A semiconductor chip is a core of an LED light; it is the semiconductor chip which actually converts the electricity into light, though it also places a role in the wavelength of an LED light. You should ideally look for a LED grow light which has a semiconductor chip of at least 3 watts, which will be the minimum wattage necessary for the growth of many different types of plants and flowers.
A higher wattage is fine, but make note that higher wattages may result in higher electric bills at the end of the month, so you will need to factor this into the total costs.
10: Choose reputable brands
Not all LED growing lights were created equally so when you plan on buying LED grow lights, make sure that you are only choosing products from a reputable brand. Reputable brands will have good reviews, solid warranties and guarantees for the quality of their product, and excellent customer service in those rare cases where customers do find something wrong with their lights.
11: Determine whether or not you will need a cooling fan
The very best quality LED grow lights are built on heat-dissipating substrates, which will cool down the lights while they are in operation; this helps ensure that the lights do not become overheated and remain at a more consistently cool temperature, which in turn extends the lifespan of the lights.
LED lights which do not have a built-in cooling system will need to be cooled externally, typically through cooling fans which can be rigged to run at the same time as the LED lighting. Cooling fans will add an additional cost–not to mention noise–to your setup, so keep this in mind when buying LED grow lights.
12: Know the logistics of your setup to choose the right LED light style
LED grow lights come in a lot of different shapes, ranging from overhead-style leads to hanging lights to more traditional looking desk lamps which are positioned via a flexible neck. You should know the logistics of your planned setup before you start shopping so you can more easily find the right type of LED lights for your needs.
13: Consider your budget before you start shopping
LED grow lights come in a wide range of prices, so it’s best to know your budget before you begin to shop. This will help you avoid looking for lights that are beyond your price range. As a good rule of thumb, you should be willing to be flexible about your growing plans if you are on a limited budget; for instance, consider downsizing your growing space if you can only afford a small amount of quality LED bulbs.
14: Make sure the LED lights can be set at the right height
The distance between your LED grow lights and your plants is essential for stable and successful growth cycles. You should always know whether or not the LED lights are adjustable and if so, how far they can be adjusted.
15: Check out reviews from other growers
Finally, start looking for reviews from other growers once you find a few LED light products you like. Genuine reviews from other growers are one of the best ways to get an idea of the real quality of LED growing lights. Other growers will be able to let you know how well the lights work, whether or not they perform as expected, and other essential information that will help you in your final decision.
15 Things You Should Consider Before Buying LED Grow Lights
Thursday, 14 October 2021 9:22:02 PM Pacific/Auckland
Posted in LED Grow Lights news
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