subject: Incredibly Robust And Efficient Grow Light [print this page] Ive upgraded all my metal halide lights to LEDs and the 357 Magnum LED Grow Light has been just incredible. I had a lot of doubts substituting my HID bulbs for LED because I didnt think LEDs could provide the power and spectrum I needed for my buds. I was in the market for an LED upgrade because my HID lights were producing too much heat in my enclosures, it felt like a sauna in there and I was worried about the fire hazard my HID set up could pose. I finally bit the bullet after browsing countless reviews and websites. I love this light! Its incredibly well built and produces a lot less heat than my previous set-up. The LEDs seem to be properly heatsinked and the manufacturer claims to use Bridgelux, Edison and Epistar LEDs, which are quality name-brand emitters. The entire board is quite heavy so you may need to plan ahead when mounting it overhead.
So enough of the actual device, how does it perform?
The spectrum control is also a huge plus as Ive seen my plants respond to different lighting inputs, it can bring your plants to maturity quicker and also allow for a more robust harvest. No more on/off sequences to fumble with, now I can give the right kind of light at the right time. I know a couple reviewers have commented on how many more crystals their buds seemed to produce because of these lights. My results have been similar to those reviews. There seems to be a lot more pollen on first batch that I can safely attribute to their new growing environment. Others have commented on how much more potent their buds have been. Since I usually grow potent strains Im not completely sure theyre MORE potent, but my buds have been a lot bigger! My second batch seem more robust than my first batches,I can only be sure once they reach full maturity, but it seems like Im on my way to a much more fruitful harvest with this second batch!
I can also comment on my electricity bill which has seen a drastic fall, this helps me to save on my operating expenses and in turn save a lot of money! Dont let the initial costs of upgrading your lighting systems turn you off, you do save in the long run and your first electricity bill will show you just how much! The heat reduction will also change the way you water your plants, be careful not to overwater as so many growers have done in the past. HID fixtures produce enough heat to evaporate water from the soil, these LEDs do produce heat, but they the heat does not radiate onto the plants, instead the heat builds around the base of the emitter which is why the lights are built on a large slab of metal, to draw heat away from the LEDs and allow them to operate in a cooler, more efficient temperature. The heatsink also ensures a long LED lifespan, I dont picture my emitters burning out anytime soon, and theyre coupled with collimating optics that produce an even, uniform flood onto my plants.
The 357 Magnum LED Grow Light is truly one of best LED grow lights Ive seen or used. If youre looking for more yield from your plants this is really the way to go.
