LED Grow Lights

We review all the best LED Grow Lights from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and now the best full spectrum LED Grow Light grow lights of 2018.

From full spectrum LED down to the cheaper more affordable models. LEDs are now being used all over the world to grow marijuana. Recent advances in LED grow light technology have led to more and more growers seeing success, high yields and LED lighting sources are fast growing in popularity.

better than HIDs

What LED Grow Lights are available?

2017 Best Reviewed Grow Lights Model True Watts Spectrum Neonica – Growy LED-254-200W Phytomax 800 200 Watts Growy 254 features a carefully selected LED sequence enriched in 520-540nm and 595-615nm wavelength to suit perfectly the needs of plants on the chlorophyll "A" and "B". Pro Max Grow – MAX1200 250 Watts The MAX1200 features 768 custom-made diodes that will last for more than 50,000 hours if the LED lights are on 57% of the time. Lighting Science VividGro V2 585 Watts 312 High Power LEDs; 60,000-hour lifespan (10+ years if LED lights are on 57% of the time). Truth Lighting - M16 - 760 Watts 760 Watts Multiple; for vegetative growth and flowering. According to Truth Lighting themselves, M16 was “designed between 380nm - 840nm. Dorm Grow: G8-900 Full Spectrum LED G8LED 900:540 W Optimal 8-band spectrum IR and UV light475nm Blue, 440nm Violet, 610 nm Orange, 630 nm Red, 660 nm Deep Red, 380 nm Ultraviolet, 740 nm Infrared, 3000K White

Most LED grow light components are made in China or another Asian country. The grow lights themselves are then either assembled in China, USA or European counties with varying degrees of materials, skill and quality LEDs. You can have great LEDs, drivers and heat sinks which are poorly assembled.

Cheap - Poor spectrum, LEDs and build quality

Buy LED Grow Lights today These are trusted partners to delivery Best LED Grow Lights worldwide. These are trusted partners to delivery Best LED Grow Lights worldwide.

Mid price - Bands of spectrum, fans and reasonable quality

High end - Full spectrum, fan-less operation, excellent build quality

UFO type LEDs from many online sources and of course eBay. They may quote all kinds of huge Watts or ‘full spectrum’ but when you see big red and big blue LEDs in a cheap looking plastic housing you know this is the bottom end of the market. You will not be getting top shelf LEDs and results / yield will be drastically affected. We just don’t recommend these products at all. You are far better off buying a HPS/MH system and deal with the added electricity costs and ventilation issues.These usually look more the part with better housing, higher quality LEDs that may even include brands like Epistar and Bridgelux. In variably though these will not be full spectrum LED grow lights they will be 6, 8, 11 or 12 band models. These bands will cover sections (bands) of the whole PAR spectrum but will miss chunks here and there. The sun doesn’t miss any of the spectrum required to grow and flower plants correctly so why would your plants react to their full potential under them? They don’t. Mid price larger models will incorporate fans for cooling.These are more often the full spectrum models that cover approximately 420 to 750 nanometres, the PAR range. They include expensive white LEDs and in photos you will see some LEDs look like they are ‘dead’ – not true these are emitting in the far-red portion of the spectrum which is 710 to 850 nanometres, dimly visible to some people eyes. Look for high end components such as brand name LEDs from Epistar, Bridgelux or Cree. Thermal engineering is a key to design with the best being fan-less. LED grow lights that are high Watt and fan-less are designed well because they have dissipated the heat created by the LEDs perfectly using rapid heat sink materials. Then there are self protecting power supplies, UV protected and angled TIR lenses and not to mention the warranty, two years is not enough. LED grow lights with these features offer excellent results with thick and juicy buds.

LEDs pros and cons

LEDs have far lower energy consumption running at approximately 60% of an equivalent HID;

There is no filament to burn so LEDs have longer bulb times of 50,000 to 60,000 hours versus HIDs which start dropping output considerable at 2,000 to 3,000 hours;

LEDs are smaller and faster to emit light and are physically more robust so they relatively shock resistant being solid state components;

LEDs’ offer far less heat output, in fact the good ones run pretty much ‘cold to touch’ while HIDs run very hot. LEDs reduce your fire risk considerably;

LEDs can focus their light output with the use of lenses rather than disperse the light like HIDs that require reflectors;

Precise current (power) management is required with LEDs when compared to HIDs. However, LEDs have the power management built in while the HID lamps rely on external ballasts which also add another 100 to 150 Watts of power consumption;

LEDs are more expensive to start a grow with when compared to HID but they are cheaper over the long term;

LEDs are instant on and instant off, they do not need to ‘warm up’ like HID lamps;

LEDs can be dimmed also if required;

LEDs are safe, classed as ‘Class 1 LED product’ as they do not contain mercury like compact fluorescents;

LEDs powerful enough for lighting big areas like rooms or greenhouses require more precise current and heat management but are now used in some large areas over CFL and HID lighting.

Brief history of LEDs

How do they work? LED grow lights produce light by passing a current through a semiconductor material. The movement of electrons within the semiconductor releases energy in the form of photons, i.e. light.LEDs once just came red in color, they were the little low lights in the corner of every TV. These days LEDs have advanced massively, they are now available across the spectrum from ultraviolet through the visible right into infrared wavelengths with very high light output.The first observation of ‘electroluminescence’ was in 1907 by a British experimenter from Marconi Labs named H. J. Round. Then twenty years later, way back in 1927 a Russian named Oldeg Vladimirovich Losev created the first LED but no practical use for it was found. It took until 1955 for semiconductor alloys, namely gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium antimonide (GaSb), indium phosphide (InP) and silicon-germanium (SiGe) to show infrared emissions at room temperature as firstly observed Rubin Braunstein working with RCA (Radio Corporation America) . Then in 1961 Texas Instruments patented the idea.

How are LED colors made?

The semiconductor material has a p-n junction which is the interface between the two types of semiconductor materials, n-type and p-type, known as ‘n’ and the ‘p’. This is the active site whereby the electronic action of the LED takes place. The color of the light emitted or its wavelength is dependent on the ‘band gap’ energy of the materials forming the p-n junction.In 1962 -Nick Holonyak Jr., considered by some the father of LEDs, working within General Electric (GE) reported the first visible spectrum LED showing red color. Craford, then graduate student of Holonyak, created the first yellow LEDs and improved the overall brightness of his red and orange LEDs tenfold in 1972.The Monsanto corporation, yes the seed guys who sued USA farmers, were the first to mass produce visible spectrum LEDs, firstly as indicators, in 1968.We had the first high powered blue LED (not the first blue) created by Shuji Nakamura of the Nichia Corporation in 1994 which was based on the semiconductor alloy InGaN or Indium gallium nitrite, your new word for the day?This quickly led to the development of the first white LED using Yttrium aluminium garnet or ‘YAG’, which is a phosphor coating to mix ‘ down-converted ’ yellow light with blue which produces a visible white light.Moore’s law which saw the doubling of chip performance every 18 months to two years, applies similarly within the LED industry with a doubling in performance ever 36 months since the late 1960’s due to the improvements in semiconductor and optics.

Full spectrum LEDs vs. 3 band, 5 band, 11 band

As with many plant species, marijuana also has light-mediated development – photomorphogenesis. The blue spectrum stimulates vegetative growth and the yellows, ambers, reds and far-red spectrum stimulates pre-flowering and flowering (reproductive growth). Therefore, growing marijuana to maturity will use the light wavelengths from approximately 420 to 730 nanometres (nm), covering both chlorophyll A and chlorophyll B absorption peaks (Photosynthetically Active Radiation, or PAR for short).LEDs are manufactured using different semiconductor materials to create LEDs which emit light of different wavelengths. Using LED grow lights that emit the proper spectrum is essential to obtaining high yields.In the earlier days of LED grow light technology, your main options were red and blue diodes or more expensive white LEDs. The white LEDs, commonly called full spectrum LEDs, provided a much closer match to the natural spectrum of sunlight (the PAR spectrum) than the individual diodes which emitted light at a single wavelength.As you can see from the table below, there are now many different possible LED diodes that can be produced using different semi-conductor materials.What wavelength or spectrum your LED grow lights offer your marijuana is of paramount importance to your yield. The most expensive LEDs are white, offering a broad spectrum of light like the sun covering much of the visible light spectrum (PAR). You need white LEDs! If you see an LED grow light with just red and blue lights you are not going to achieve a high quality grow at all as the white LEDs are so much closer to mimicking the sun. The table below outlines the different LEDs versus the color and wavelength they produce.

How to make high intensity white LEDs (WLEDs)

Use a single LED that emits three primary colors of red, green and blue and mix the colors perfectly to form a white light. These are known as ‘multi-color white LEDs’ or ‘RGB LEDs’ and are more complex to manufacture than the phosphorus type explained below. Multi-color LEDs are at the forefront of LED development because with the right tweaking they can offer nearly any color light we want by mixing primary colors. These are the best type of white LEDs;

Or use a phosphor based semiconductor material to convert a blue or even a UV light into the broad or full spectrum white light your plants require. These WLEDs are known as phosphors based white LEDs which are also the easiest to manufacture and therefore the cheapest to buy;

There is a third method of making white LED grow lights using zinc selenide (ZnSE) but this is in its early stages.

There are many commercially available LED units that have spectra specifically balanced LEDs for the grow room. This is generally achieved by using a mix of red and blue then white, ambers and far-red ranges so that they cover the entire spectrum;

When you see LED grow lights advertized as 3, 5, 6, 11 or 12 band LEDs this means they offer a spectrum with gaps, maybe something like this: 440nm, 470nm, 525nm, 640nm, 660nm, 740nm. So there will be peaks and troughs in the spectrum produced rather than one continuous full or broad spectrum. These ‘6, 11, 12 etc band’ products operate in some but not all of the spectrum required for a successful, fast, big yield crop. These are not full spectrum grow lights;

Quite often LED grow light companies are reselling someone else’s product configuration and they simply don’t know what LEDs are mounted in the system;

Many leading LED producers now use an assortment of different diodes in place of white LEDs. These manufacturers state that by choosing individual diodes they can match the PAR spectrum more closely than a white led. White LED lights do have peaks and troughs in their spectrum, as do spectrums composed of individual band diodes. When choosing an LED grow light it is important to consider the spectrum it covers and how closely that spectrum matches the PAR spectrum. There is more good information at LED grow light expert on this.The more closely the LED matches the PAR spectrum the more efficient it is. There is less light that cannot be used by the plants which means less waste. An efficient LED grow light saves on electricity and boosts yields. In addition, less light is lost to heat, which decreases the cooling requirements in the growroom.Color rendering index, CRI, basically means how faithfully the color is produced, you may know the term from using Photoshop. While luminous efficiency is discussed later on. If your LED grow light is constructed using LEDs from brand name suppliers such as Cree or Bridgelux, then these issues will be minimized and cause little affect. It is far easier to get good solid color rendering and luminous efficiency with the multi-color or RGB white LEDs.Did you know that LEDs are now available is very short wavelengths with near UV 375-395 nanometres and more expensive models that achieve wavelengths closer to 240 nm. The absolute wavelength depths of LEDs are known as ‘deep UV’ with labs using diamond to produce 235 nm, boron nitride at 215 and aluminium nitride right down at 210 nm.

LED efficiency versus HID lamps

LEDs are ‘luminous efficient’, which means they produce visible light very efficiently from electricity. For example in 2002 Lumileds manufactured a 5W LED with a luminous efficacy of 18 – 22 lumens per Watt, compare that to the traditional incandescent bulb which at around 80 Watts offers 15 lumens per Watt (lm/Watt). Nichia released a white LED 140 lm/W in 2010. Since then Cree have increased that right up to 254 lumens per Watt at a color temperature of 4,408 K (Kelvin) using the Cree XLamp® which uses silicon carbide technology and runs at 350 mA. Note these figures are in controlled labs and are only the chip, so in real life after the LED has its plastic shell and is mounted these figures will be much lower but they are still better than the HPS lamps with standard HPS lamps running at approximately 100 lm/Watt.These days, good LED grow lights will save a grower around 50% off their electrical bills. Growing with 2 x 250W (true Watts drawn not potential draw) equals a total power bill of 500 Watts per hour. This setup will offer better but comparable growing to a 1000 Watt HID (HPS or MH) which also requires a 150 Watt ballast. So when you include the ballast and potential ventilation system the savings are more like 60% or more.

High powered LEDs (HPLEDs) – 1W, 2W, 3W & 5W

Normal LEDs used in electronics consume a tiny 30-60 milliwatts (mW) of power at very low amperage; note the word ‘milli’ in there. However high power LEDs running at between 500 milliwatts to over 500 Watts (Yes! Think industrial lighting) are driven from 100’s of mA (milliamps) to over an Ampere. In 1993 the first highly bright blue LEDs were manufactured by the Nichia company and were based on silicon carbide. It wasn’t until 1999 that Philips Lumileds introduced the first 1 Watt LEDs to the market in far larger semiconductor die sizes.

So what is the difference between 1Watt and 3Watt LEDs then?

The 1W and the 3W can tolerate running at a range of power outputs up to and over there named Wattage. So a 3W LED can run at say 1W but it will also be able to run at say 4W too. Why? Well it’s because the names given to these LEDs (1W, 3W, 5W) are only ever a guide as to the power possibilities of the LED. However a 3W LED is built on a larger semiconductor die size when compared to a 1W LED so it is built to run at higher Watts, this why it is named a 3Watt LED.

IMPORTANT – Advertized Watts vs. actual Watts draw.

All LED grow lights run well below their potential Watts. If you have 100 X 3W LEDs the potential is 300 Watts but the actual draw will be closer to 150 Watts. LEDs are usually driven at anything from between 50% to 65% of their potential. If you run a 1 Watt at 1Watt continuously or a 3W at 3Watt you have a greater chance of color shift and will also cut its life (hours) down considerably, just as you would running a car at high revs all the time.Let’s get this straight; don’t be fooled into thinking that just because your LED grow light has 150 x 1W LEDs it as an output of 150 Watts. No, it does not. Well, you hope it doesn’t as the bulb time will be severely limited if you power it at full capacity at all times. Your LED grow light will have an output closer to 55% to 65% of its full capacity; the same concept applies to all LED grow light diodes.Again, if you see a light advertised as 450 Watts using 150 x 3W LEDs its actual draw will be more like 250 Watts.If the company selling the lights does not advertise the Volts and Amps then you have to wonder why and assume they are run at 60% of capacity. We have compared a couple of popular LED grow light models further down this page on their actual draw versus their advertised.

Heat – Thermal management of LED grow lights

Another happy result of LEDs having no filament is that they are far more efficient than other light sources and LEDs produce far less heat. With traditional HID’s, up to 95% of energy is wasted as heat or radiation, whereas LEDs run relatively cool they do still produce some heat. That heat difference means HIDs should be placed two or three feet above the plant canopy while LEDs can be placed extremely close, usually around 12-18 inches, helping prevent ‘stretch’ and directing the light exactly where it’s needed.Even though LEDs are far more energy efficient and waste a lot less heat than HIDs there are still heat issues associated when running high powered LEDs. LEDs are cool to touch mainly because they do not produce heat in the form of infrared (IR) radiation. The higher the Watts the less energy efficient they become because they turn more and more electricity into heat which is wasteful and needs management.Where does the heat come from? The heat originates at the semiconductors p-n junction due to its slight inefficiencies when electrical activity is not turned into light. The p–n junction in turn heats the soldering point and that heats the metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) which then needs to be directed into a heat sink so it dissipates into the atmosphere.The three areas focused on for heat transfer are convection; which uses a moving fluid such as water or air to cool the device, conduction; whereby heat is transferred from one solid to another until there is no more and the last is radiation but that isn’t used with LEDs.The best LEDs use heat sinks to control heat. The heat sink medium provides a path from the LED to the medium which dissipates the heat. If you are using a smaller LED light (under 700 Watts) look for a model that uses passive cooling through heat sinks. The best thermal management within high powered LEDs uses heat sinks that include materials such as aluminium, copper, thermoplastics and at the high end of the cost scale, graphite. The heat sink material needs to incorporate a large enough surface area to work so this is why you see the classic ‘fins’ shape layered next to each other to the top of some high end LED grow lights.Because properly designed heat sinks require a large surface area, they are not always the most practical way of cooling large LED grow lights. Some high quality larger lights use a combination of passive heat sinks and fans to efficiently cool their lights. However it is possible to have a fan-less system which if designed well with big fin like heat sinks is optimum as it removes the chance of fans breaking and airflow being required.Thermal management of LEDs is a science in itself. There are a variety of methods, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Fans add extra moving parts to your system and have the potential to break down if they are poorly made. Choose fans that are rated for a lifetime that exceeds that of the LEDs. Passive cooling systems require airflow and many cannot be mounted to a ceiling. Larger Wattage LEDs that use only passive heat sinks are not always fully cooled. Poorly cooled LEDs degrade quickly from excess heat. Look for a well-built LED grow light that uses high quality components regardless of the cooling technique.

LED grow light lens – Boost light & direction

There are many types of lenses and reflectors available to harness the LED’s output and direct it where it will do the grower the most good. A simple, well-designed reflector is usually suitable to do the job, but Total Internal Reflective (TIR) lenses more fully and accurately collect and guide the light;

Make sure you choose a reflector or lens product with an output that meets your needs. An LED’s light output is usually a cone with a 160 degree angle. Some products have 120 degree lenses but we find a LED lens with an angle of 90 degrees is just about perfect at directing light deep into the plants. However, too wide a lens spreads the luminous intensity over too great an area, it wastes light, either providing too little power to your plants, too wide a coverage area or both. Some LED grow lights have no lenses and obviously, these are a waste of valuable light, and your money;

Narrowing the lens or reflector increases the power delivered to your plants significantly, up to 400-500%, but narrows the effective coverage area. A good trade-off for both problems is to use a medium output angle, from 60-90 degrees. The grow light manufacturer should provide effective coverage charts for their products and some will even perform photometry evaluations for your specific grow area, telling you exactly where to place your light(s) for maximum effect.

Actual Watts

What this means for you:

Efficiency and Spectrum

1. Intensity of Light: Measured by a PAR meter.

Measured by a PAR meter. 2. Accuracy of Spectrum: The PAR curve shows the wavelengths of light that a plant can use. Any light which hits a plant that is not in these wavelengths is reflected. This reflected light = wasted energy in any LED grow light.

What this means for you:

PPF and PPFD: What Do They Mean

LEDs only look like their finished product when the ‘die’ or ‘chip’ is set or encapsulated in a resin or plastic which is known as potting. This plastic shell helps out in many ways. It holds the very delicate system together, mounting the LED is made far easier in products and it acts as a lens or refractive intermediary to boost the light from the semiconductor. As you can imagine there are a lot of different methods of potting these chips to make LEDs – some cheap and some expensive which result in different light output.Light extraction of grow light LEDs is just as important as the semiconductor materials being used. Most materials have very high refractive indices so that light is reflected back and out of the LED.A 1000 Watt LED does not have the same intensity as a 1000 Watt HID. Whenever you are working with LEDs, you need to consider the Actual Watts, which we discuss in depth here Most LEDs are not named based on their actual Watts, which leads to confusion. If you purchase an 800W LED its actual Watts are will be around 450 or 500. It is a replacement for a 600W HID, but not for an 800W HID.When replacing an HID with an LED, choose the size of the light based on actual Watts. Remember that an LED is more efficient and will replace an HID with higher actual Watts. Currently the only LED grow lights being named for their actual Watts are those from Black Dog.LED grow lights are becoming more and more efficient. They can do this in two ways:The spectrum of an LED grow light should match the PAR spectrum as closely as possible for maximum efficiency.Some manufacturers offer graphs to help you see how their spectrum matches the wavelengths plants use, like this one from Platinum LED. The three lines show the absorption peaks for chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B and carotenoids. The colored peaks show the spectrum that Platinum LED’s lights use. As you can see, they’ve tried to match the absorption peaks for photosynthesis so no light energy is wasted.

Terms like PAR, PPF and PPFD are now commonly referred to by manufacturers and reviewers as important specs of LED light units. But what do they really mean?

It’s easy to get confused between what PPF and PPFD are and how they are used when they describe lighting fixtures. Inconsistencies in the industry are widespread, but the reality is not so complex.

The definition of PAR, PPF and PPFD:

The

region is the sum of all the energy that is required to support plant growth and development.

PAR levels are at their highest during summer middays and drop down to zero in the night.

PPF (Photosynthetic Photon Flux): The total number of photons emitted per second in the lamp’s PAR region. PPF is measured in µMol/S.

PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density): The total number of photons emitted in the lamp’s PAR Region per m2S. The difference between the two is that PPFD represents a field measurement (in this case the light footprint at a certain distance from the source of light). PPFD is measured in µMol/m2S.

Ultimately, the discussion boils down to the terms

and

is used to describe the production of power or energy without a spatial correlation.

on the other hand, applies to the production of power/energy over a specific area that light covers.

When reviewing PPFD measurements of a LED lighting fixture, we should always take into account the following data: the

of the lamps at the time of measurement and

across the light footprint in order to get our growing priorities straight and avoid inconsistencies. This is precisely why it is tricky to list PPFD measurements when reviewing LED grow lights: it depends on

,

and

.

How Much PPFD Does Your Grow Really Need

Measuring the PPFD of your LED grow light is one of

. Light intensity is

for your plants and you should be aware of the relevant values in the

and

wavelengths to get the best yield.

Minimum PPFD Values

In order for your plants to reach at least

amount of growth,

:

255 - 350 μMol/m2/s on a 24/24 light cycle

383 – 520 μMol/m2/s on a 18/24 light cycle

510 – 695 μMol/m2/s on a 12/24 light cycle

Medium

Anything

. Be aware though that

! Generally, the longer the light cycle=the lower the PPFD value you should aim for.

High

The optimal PPFD values that you should always aim for for are between

-

/

/

, provided that you

run a 24-hour light cycle.

Too High

Anything

can be

for your plants. Try to maintain the suggested manufacturer distances above the canopy in order to find the sweet spot for your crop and adjust the lights at the slightest sign of light burn.

Be aware that PPFD readings will vary greatly depending on the

and the

. The farther from the center of the light, the more the PPFD measurements will drop.

How to use all that information as an indoor grower?

Advanced growers can use this information to get the best out of their garden and optimize their plants’ light intake. It is very important to have accurate canopy PPFD values, especially if you use

Take the PPF value provided by the manufacturer;



Divide the result by the canopy surface in square meters. That number is the intensity you would expect over that surface area;

Use that value to calculate how much CO2 your plants would require in an environment with a relative humidity of about 50-70%.

CO2 supplements since the two correlate. So, in order to measure PPFD values you should:

To put it more simply, the PPFD formula is this:

Although the above might seem like a treatise on mathematics, it is actually not hard to calculate!

PPF and PPFD are useful measurements in LED lighting. However, as with all aspects regarding advanced physics and light engineering, certain inconsistencies occur as the technical details get simplified to reach the average consumer. On the other hand, we exist to help you make smarter decisions!

What’s Better than PPFD?

When investigating a grow light you want to consider the entire footprint; the larger the footprint, the greater the area that receives considerable amounts of PAR spectrum light.Some manufacturers provide graphs showing the change in the amount of light reaching the plant throughout the footprint of the light, like this great image from California Light Works.As you consider each of the lights on our Top 10 LED Grow Lights for 2016 list, keep in mind that any single piece of information we’ve provided is only part of the story. We’ve given you the best information available. It is up to you to put the pieces together and choose the light that is best suited to the size and style of your grow.If any of the terms used in these reviews are unfamiliar to you, check out our grow light glossary for help.

2018 LED Grow Light Review

Best LED Grow Lights for 2018

Our Top Picks

Best LED Grow Lights for 2018 - Indoor Hydroponic Marijuana Grows

LED grow lights have gone a long way since they started appearing in the hydroponic marijuana scene. Although earlier models were weaker and largely unreliable, every year we see more and more manufacturers entering the race, improving the quality of the LED grow units on the market while driving the prices down. Full-spectrum fixtures are now the norm on the market but that wasn’t always the case. The first LED grow lights that were available for indoor gardens only ran at blue and red spectra, which are inefficient for full-cycle grows. This made LEDs great for supplemental lighting but not much else. Nowadays, however, things have changed. Serious companies devote a significant part of their time in scientific research, in order to discover the perfect bands of light that will achieve the optimal spectrum for plant absorption and growth. Models released in the last few years have seen improvements in light intensity and penetration. Improved lenses, combined with stronger 5W chips make newer generation LEDs a must for every indoor grower, as they can produce bigger yields for the same amount of light compared to older units. Nevertheless, not all LEDs are made equal. There are a lot of manufacturers on the market and not all of them offer quality products. Luckily, we’re here to help you! Listed below are the best models you can currently find on the market as of winter 2018. Each review contains a short description and detailed specs for each LED grow light. Read them all and see our top picks at the end of the article!

Model: Diamond Series EX-Veg 300 LED Grow Light

Detailed Specs

Actual Draw in Watts: Avg. Power Draw: 283W;

Avg. Power Draw: 283W; Cost per True Watt: $3

$3 Total Power Output: Total Power Output: 375W;

Total Power Output: 375W; Total LEDs: High Output 5W CREE XT-E LEDs;

High Output 5W CREE XT-E LEDs; LED Brands: 5W CREE XT-E2 LEDs – 46% Brighter than other Blue LEDs

5W CREE XT-E2 LEDs – 46% Brighter than other Blue LEDs Spectrum in nm: 50+ Wavelengths of Intense Blue Light: Relative intensity of 50% or higher from 430nm to 480nm. Peak Wavelength: 434nm;

Heat Management: Two Whisper Quiet 120mm Fans;

Two Whisper Quiet 120mm Fans; Dimensions: 19.5″x 12” x 3″ (495x304x76mm)

19.5″x 12” x 3″ (495x304x76mm) Weight: 17lbs (7kg)

17lbs (7kg) Coverage: Total Coverage: 30 sq.ft. (1.67 sq.m.)/ Core Coverage 16 sq.ft. (121 sq.m.)

Total Coverage: 30 sq.ft. (1.67 sq.m.)/ Core Coverage 16 sq.ft. (121 sq.m.) Extras 1 x DIAMOND SERIES EX-VEG 300; 1 x Exclusive LED Grow Guide; 1 x 75″power cord in 110v US (220v and international plugs available); Hanging cables, hanging rope ratchet, and daisy chain cord.

Assembled in Hiwasse, Arkansas

Warranty: 3 Year Warranty and free shipping to most of the US

Model: Diamond Series XTE 300 LED Grow Light

Drawing inspiration from the commercial success of the Diamond Series, Advanced LED presents us with thea USA-made full spectrum LED grow light, equipped with high output 5W LEDs from CREE., while the XTE 300 claims athan their other 5W counterparts currently on the market.

The XTE also proves

as the unit is cooled via heat dissipation and needs no fans. Its

thus ensuring protection from heat and lower costs. The XTE allows you to be in full control of your spectrum output and intensity and stands as a real replacement for a 500W HPS or MH fixture.

With this product comes an array of extra gadgets that include an

,

, rope ratchet and daisy chain cord. These features make the process of using the lamp hitch-free. The light is suited for commercial plant use as well as for home operations. It includes fixture and power cords and comes with a 3-year warranty.

Detailed Specs

Actual Draw in Watts: Avg. Power Draw: 252W;

Avg. Power Draw: 252W; Cost per True Watt: $3.42

$3.42 Total Power Output: Total Power Output: 372W;

Total Power Output: 372W; Total LEDs: High Output 5W CREE XT-E LEDs;

High Output 5W CREE XT-E LEDs; LED Brands: Premium 5W and 3W LEDs from CREE and OSRAM – 79% Higher PAR than other 5W grow lights!

Spectrum in nm: Premium 5W and 3W LEDs from CREE and OSRAM – 79% Higher PAR than other 5W grow lights!

Heat Management: ColdFlo Heat Dissipation Technology

Dimensions: 19.5″ x 12″ x 3″(495x304x76mm)

Weight: 18lbs (7.5kg)

18lbs (7.5kg) Coverage: Total Coverage: 14 sq.ft. (1.28 sq.m.) / Core Coverage: 9 sq.ft. (0.91 sq.m.)

Extras 1 x DS XTE 300 Grow Light 1 x Exclusive LED Grow Guide; 1 x 6ft power cord in 110v US (220v and international plugs available – contact us after you place the order) Also included: hanging cables, hanging rope ratchet, and daisy chain cord.

Where Assembled Hiwasse, Arkansas USA

Hiwasse, Arkansas USA Warranty: 3 Year Warranty, Hassle Free Returns, and Free Shipping to the Lower 48 States

Model:Apollo Horticulture LED PANEL 400W

Detailed Specs

Actual Draw in Watts: 192W;

192W; Cost per True Watt: $1.52

$1.52 Total LEDs: 80x5W Epistar LEDs

Spectrum in nm: 430nm, 475nm, 620nm, 630nm, 660nm & 730nm

Heat Management: Two large 4.5-inch fans

Voltage: 110V – 1.8A / 220V – 0.88A

Vegetated Coverage Area: 6-7 sq.ft. (1.8-2 sq.m.)

Flowering Coverage Area: 5-6 sq.ft. (1.5-1.8 sq.m.)

LED Brands: Epistar 3W Chips with 50,000-hours lifetime

Dimensions: 13.2″ x 13.2″ x 3.75″ (335x335x95mm)

Weight: 15lbs (6.8kg)

Extras : Power Cord and Stainless Steel Hanging Clips Included

Warranty: Limited 2 Year Warranty

Apollo Horticulture doesn’t need any special introductions among seasoned growers. Their lights offer a solid solution to those who don’t want to spend a small fortune for a decent grow light. This particular model features 100x3W Epistar LED chips and a 6-band spectrum (excluding UV). This model does not require ballasts and allows for greater flexibility in tight space and it offers much more than its price would suggest. The unit provides a full spectrum of light for proper plant nourishment through all stages of growth including veg, flower, or even seedling or clone stage. There are two different modes of growing that you can select the panel to operate in. The vegetative growth mode uses a spectrum of 430-475nm, 620-630nm, 660nm, and White. The flowering mode uses a spectrum of 430-475nm, 620-630nm, 660nm, 730nm, and White. In terms of heat management, the GL100LED is equipped with three quiet cooling fans and heat sinks. One thing that should be noted though is that the actual power draw is around 192W. Apollo Horticulture is transparent about this and they state it clearly on their product page. All in all, if you don't care about the slight humming of the 2 large fans, this panel is a decent choice.

Model:BESTVA X5 1000W New LED

is an interesting choice, offering a high output light for a competitive price. This unit utilizes the Chip-On-Board technology, meaning multiple Epistar chips are packed together, making them appear like small light boxes. Small as they are, these arrays can provide

Each COB LED array uses a

in a group, minimizing heat generation and risk. Whatever heat is generated, is dissipated to an external heat sink cooled by fans. It is worth mentioning that COB LEDs do not need lenses to amplify their viewing angle.

The X51000W COB LED induces heat that is conveyed from the ceramic and aluminum underlayer to an

at the top of the panel.

This unit is suitable for vegetative, and bloom stages of plant growth and has an expected

. Its price makes it a great choice for beginners.

Detailed Specs

Actual Draw in Watts: 200W±2% ;

; Cost per True Watt: $0.97 ($2.27)

Input Voltage(V): AC85V-265V

AC85V-265V Total COBs: 5pcs

5pcs Power per COB: 200W

200W LEDs Brand: Epistar

Spectrum in nm: Red(620-630nm;650-660nm); Blue(440-450nm;450-460nm); Orange(600-610nm); IR(730nm); White(3500K;6000K), UV(395-410nm )

Heat Management: 20 ±50degrees cooled by fans lifetime

Dimensions: 12.2”x8.26”x2.36” (310x210x60mm)

Extras : 1 x Hanging Kit, 1 x 6ft Power Cord, 1 x User Manual

Warranty: Limited 2 Year Warranty

Made in China

Warranty: 3 years

Model:BIOS Icarus 660W Gi LED Grow Light

This industrial-grade LED grow light by

shows that they mean business! The

model stands as a real replacement to a

fixture and offers up to

with almost half of the energy. The lighting source is sustainable, eco-friendly and mercury-free thus providing an efficient method for plant growth.

was designed for use in

,

,

, and retrofit existing HID.

The 660W is using

white LEDs,

and

to aid plant development. Finished with powder coated extruded aluminum, the 660W is a capable lighting system that provides a 16 sq.ft. (1.5 sq.m.) coverage area with no daisy chains and a Y-fit Gripple hanger. In a few words, this grow light is destined for the more serious grower rather than the newbie.

Detailed Specs

Actual Wattage: 660W ;

; Cost per True Watt: $2.65

Voltage(V): 100-277VAC & 249Total COBsisc;">5pcs PAR/s): PAR Photon Efficiency (µmol PAR/J):

100-277VAC & 249Total COBsisc;">5pcs PAR/s): PAR Photon Efficiency (µmol PAR/J): Photosynthetic Photon Flux (µmol PAR/s): 1221 µmol/s

1221 µmol/s PAR Photon Efficiency (µmol PAR/J):1.85 µmol/J

Optimal Mounting Height: 18″-24” (46-61 cm) above canopy

18″-24” (46-61 cm) above canopy Optimal Footprint: 16 sq.ft. (1.5 sq.m.)

16 sq.ft. (1.5 sq.m.) Coverage Area 16 sq.ft (1.5 sq.m.)

16 sq.ft (1.5 sq.m.) Average Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (across 4’x4’ area): ~800 µmol/(m2 · s)

~800 µmol/(m2 · s) Spectrum: Broad “White” Full Spectrum; for vegetative growth and flowering

Fixture Dimensions: 40” (101.6 cm) long x 32” (81.3 cm) wide

40” (101.6 cm) long x 32” (81.3 cm) wide Fixture Weight: 45 lbs (20 kg)

45 lbs (20 kg) Housing and Finish Powder coated extruded aluminum

Powder coated extruded aluminum Mounting: Y-fit Grapple Hangers

Y-fit Grapple Hangers Gripple Hanger Dimmability: 0-10 V

0-10 V Rated Power Factor: >90%

>90% Certifications: UL1598, UL 8750; TÜV SÜD America, RoHS, FCC

UL1598, UL 8750; TÜV SÜD America, RoHS, FCC Warranty 5 Year Limited

Model: California Lightworks SolarStorm 440

Coming from the reputable California Lightworks, SolarStorm440 is designed to suit all the stages of plant development.

The SolarStorm series offers

, which, according to many growers is essential to develop higher potency buds. Using

to extract more potent buds is a verifiable truth, however, it is a technique most well suited to seasoned growers due to high levels of risk involved. In fact, this is quite a big feat for CLW as they seem to advertise it a lot on their website.

No other LED grow light in the market covers the UVB spectrum because LED diodes are narrowband and focus their light in a narrow spectrum.

The SolarStorm 440 can replace a

system and it is an amazing grow light for medium home growing operations. Overall, the

that pays for itself in a short time. However –and we can't stress this enough- be careful around UV-B lighting. It is very harmful to humans and you should never operate the lights without

(provided for free alongside the product by some distributors).

Detailed Specs

Actual Draw in Watts: 350W ;

; Cost per True Watt: $2.56

Total number of LEDs: 144

144 LED Brands OSRAM SSL

OSRAM SSL Operating Voltage : 90-277 VAC, 50/60Hz

90-277 VAC, 50/60Hz Total Power Consumption: Veg Mode 235W Bloom Mode 320W Bloom Mode + UVB 350W

Power Factor 0.99

Typical Current::1.46A (@240V) – 2.92A (@120V)

LED color spectrum (dominant wavelengths): Deep Blue 440nm Blue 470nm Red 620nm Deep Red 665nm Bloom Mode + UVB 350W UVB 285-315nm

Type of LED driver : Custom Built - Constant Current Mode

Custom Built - Constant Current Mode Number of LED drivers : 4

4 Max power per driver : 100 Watts

100 Watts Coverage Area: Bloom (16”-24” distance) Up to 3’ X 3’ (90x90cm) Veg (Up to 5’ above plants) Up to 6’ x 6’ (180x180cm)

Dimensions: 15” X 18” X 5”

15” X 18” X 5” Weight: 18 lbs (7.5kg)

18 lbs (7.5kg) LED Expected Life Span: 80,000+ Hours

80,000+ Hours LED Expected Output: After 50,000 Hrs > 90%

After 50,000 Hrs > 90% Cooling Fan Life Span: 50,000 Hrs MTBF

50,000 Hrs MTBF Operating Temperature: -15°C to 40°C (5°F to 104°F)

-15°C to 40°C (5°F to 104°F) Made in California, USA

Warranty: Limited 3-year warranty

Model:Cirrus LED T500 LED Grow Light

Let us start by clarifying that this grow light from

is not for beginners. It is quite pricey and it is targeted at people who want to cut costs in the long run. After all, the T in T500 stands for Titan! With

,

and

, the T500 certainly justifies its high price tag!

The T500 is a replacement for a

. Titan lights emit a full-spectrum light that includes

and

wavelengths. Most of the light is in the red and blue ranges, which is exactly the light plants need most.

The T500 only uses

of power due to its unique

array, that drastically

and

. The mCOB arrays setup is a relatively new technology that gives you

than any standard diode. As a result, canopy penetration is easier and closely matches the results you would get from a standard HPS fixture, as the light from

and reaches all parts of the plant.

Detailed Specs

Actual Wattage: 500W ;

; Cost per True Watt: $4.49

Total LEDs: 36 mCOB arrays

36 mCOB arrays Spectrum in nm: Full Spectrum including UV and IR

Heat Management: XL heatsinks

XL heatsinks Coverage: 5 sq.ft. (0.4 sq.m.)

Build Quality:

Dimensions : 19.25″ x 27.25″ x 3.8″ (488x692x96.5mm)

19.25″ x 27.25″ x 3.8″ (488x692x96.5mm) Weight : 52lbs. (23.5kg)

52lbs. (23.5kg) Extras : 110-volt power cord, hanging cables, and the Cirrus Leaf app

110-volt power cord, hanging cables, and the Cirrus Leaf app Made in the USA

Warranty 5 Year Limited

Model:Galaxyhydro 3W series - 300W LED Grow Light

A well-known and beloved option among affordable grow lights, the Galaxy Hydro 300W is currently discounted at under $100 and offers quite a lot for its low price tag.

First of all, it combines 9 different bands including both UV and IR. It’s a full spectrum that covers all the way from 430 to 730 nanometers, and that fact makes it usable for all stages of plant growth with proper photosynthesis.

In terms of power usage, things get a little murky as this grow light actually uses about 140W (and not 300W as advertised). That being said, many manufacturers are guilty of similar marketing tricks, so that’s why it pays to be careful when choosing a grow light. Still, it is a good choice for beginner growers.

A really cool feature of the GalaxyHydro 300W LED grow light, is that it is dimmable. This feature allows you to adjust the intensity of the light. This is with a simple touch of a dial that’s located on the top of the panel. This is pretty handy, especially if you are among the growers that prefer to adjust the dimming settings rather than adjusting the hanging settings of your light fixture between growth stages!

In terms of heat management, the GH 300 has two UL-approved cooling fans plus Sunflower radiator system.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 135W±5%

135W±5% Cost per True Watt: $0.577 ($1.85)

$0.577 ($1.85) LED Brand: Epistar

Epistar View Angle of LEDs: 90°and 120°mixed

90°and 120°mixed Worldwide Voltage: AC85~265V

AC85~265V Spectrum: 430nm, 450nm-470nm, 620nm-630nm, 740nm, white

430nm, 450nm-470nm, 620nm-630nm, 740nm, white Frequency: 50/60 HZ

Coverage: 5 sq.ft. (0.4 sq.m.)

Dimensions : 16”x8.5”x 2.5” (406x215x63mm)

16”x8.5”x 2.5” (406x215x63mm) Efficient Heat Dissipation: UL approved two cooling fans plus Sunflower radiator system.

UL approved two cooling fans plus Sunflower radiator system. Certificates: CE, ROHS, FCC

Replaces a 250-W HPS/MH

Lighting Coverage 25 sq.ft. (2.3 sq.m.) at 24" above the canopy

25 sq.ft. (2.3 sq.m.) at 24" above the canopy Warranty 2 years

Model:Global Star Gs- 100x6W(600w)

Yet another instance of an Amazon-favorite from China,

is an extremely cheap LED grow light, especially taking into account that this unit is

and promises quite a lot, despite its price tag. When asked about the power draw of their grow light, the company responded:

We use an Intelligent temperature control system power supply. When the temperature is higher, the current will become low. The power is lower than the start. The power of the Leaf switch is from 96W-119W. The Flower Switch is from 95W-116W.

The light is

and features a switch for

and

settings. The fans are not loud, and the light is not very bright, especially if we take the

draw into account. Also, you don’t get any warranties from the company (which does not have an official website). All in all, this grow light is a decent choice for beginners, although you might consider saving up for a higher quality unit if you are a more experienced grower.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 95-119W ;

; Cost per True Watt: $1.4 - $1.11

LED chips: 100x6W

100x6W Input Voltage: AC85-265V

AC85-265V Spectrum in nm Switch-Veg Spectrum: 630nm(red), 66nm(red), 470nm(blue), 450nm(white), 7000K(white), 4500K(white) Switch-Bloom Spectrum: 630nm(red), 660nm(red), 610nm(orange), 430nm(royal blue), 585nm(yellow)



Heat management: 4 Quiet Cooling Fans

4 Quiet Cooling Fans Best Work Time : 8-10 hours/day

8-10 hours/day Dimensions : 13.28" x 13.28" x 2.8" (337x337x71mm)

13.28" x 13.28" x 2.8" (337x337x71mm) Weight : 11.6 pounds (5.2kg)

11.6 pounds (5.2kg) Coverage Area 15~20 Square Feet for Vegetated Stage / 10~15 Square Feet for Flowering Stage

15~20 Square Feet for Vegetated Stage / 10~15 Square Feet for Flowering Stage Working Temperature range 0-131ºFahrenheit (-17 to 55ºC)

0-131ºFahrenheit (-17 to 55ºC) Extras 1 x Stainless Steel hanging kit, 1 x Power Cord

Model:HLG 550

HLGorHorticulture Lighting Groupwas founded in 2016 after Johnson Grow Lights, and Northern Grow Lights merged. Using their collective expertise, they designed their trademark "Quantum Boards" that promise brighter and more efficient indoor plant lighting activities. This lamp is the best bet for vegetables as its actual draw in watts of 250-515w, and total LEDs of 1152 provides the ideal capacity for practical horticulture lighting. The HLG 550 provides the best canopy light penetration with diffused light and a recommended 18-28 inches mounting height.

The HLG replaces a single 1000W HPS/MH lampIn total, there are four lights on the fixture, each one using a customQuantum Board,withSamsung LEDs.It's flowering footprint in 4.5’ x 4.5’ or 4’ x 5’ is perfect for any environment, as it complements the ability of the system to aid rapid growth in plants.

In terms of heat management, the HLG 550 features passive cooling, that gives it an edge which protects plants from being overexposed to heat. This lamp is built from first-rate anodized aluminum. It is also dimmable via the HydroPods WiFi Dimming Module.

The HLG 550 is crafted to make an impact as portrayed by its detailed specifications ranging from power to dimensions and an impressive 30 sq.ft. vegetative footprint.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 250-515W

250-515W Cost per True Watt: $4,19-$2.03

$4,19-$2.03 Total LED: 1152

1152 LED Brand: Samsung 561C

Samsung 561C Spectrum: Standard 3000K Full Spectrum, others are available upon request;

WiFi Dimming Module Available

Total PPF Output: 1265

1265 Heat management: Passive Cooling

Passive Cooling Veg Coverage: 6’x6’ (182x182cm)

6’x6’ (182x182cm) Flowering Coverage:20 sq.ft. (1.85 sq.m.)

Efficiency: 161 Lm/W

161 Lm/W Efficacy 2.4 μmol/j

2.4 μmol/j Dimensions Clear Anodized Aluminum, LE Green, and LE Red

Clear Anodized Aluminum, LE Green, and LE Red Made in the USA

Warranty 3 years

Model: Super Grow LED FATPHARM250

FATPHARM250 Super Grow LED is an industrial grade grow light designed for maximum efficiency. The 2018/2019 model offers over 1,400 PPFD at 12".

Manufactured in a commercial LED factory along with millions of high-bay LEDs with similar solid state blood lines, FATPHARM250 is full spectrum, and it is ideal for use from seed to harvest. Its robust fanless heat management system allows for greater flexibility and power savings. Ruggedly built with anodized aluminum chassis, the FATPHARM250 is fully packed with a constant self-protecting power supply, and its real draw in Watts of 250W/120VAC@2.1A gives it the capacity it needs to function at the most efficient level.

The FATPHARM250 comes with clear instructions and diagrams showing a variety of potential grow room set-ups. If you have any questions, Super Grow LED's in-house lighting engineers are happy to help at any time.

The FATPHARM offers an impressive 30 sq.ft. vegetative footprint.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 250W / 120VAC@2.1A

250W / 120VAC@2.1A Cost per True Watt: $2.20

$2.20 Total LED: 150x3W

150x3W LED Brand: Bridgelux & Epistar

Spectrum in nm: Full spectrum – 380 to 780 nanometers with supplemental chlorophyll (A+B) absorption peaks

Heat Management Fan-less thermal management, no fans due to high-quality heat sinks, thermal bond and highest quality metal clad printed circuit boards (MCPCB)

Fan-less thermal management, no fans due to high-quality heat sinks, thermal bond and highest quality metal clad printed circuit boards (MCPCB) Flowering Coverage: 16 sq.ft. (1.5 sq.m.)

16 sq.ft. (1.5 sq.m.) Vegetative Coverage: 30 sq.ft. (2.7 sq.m.)

30 sq.ft. (2.7 sq.m.) Build Quality: Rugged industrial construction with anodized aluminum chassis

Rugged industrial construction with anodized aluminum chassis Peak photon delivery in μmol: 1400μmol @ 12”

1400μmol @ 12” Dimensions: 22” x 14” x 7” (558x355x177mm)

22” x 14” x 7” (558x355x177mm) Weight: 23lbs with hangars (10.5kg)

23lbs with hangars (10.5kg) Lifespan of 12+ years or 50,000 hours

Extras: Yo-yo hangers

Yo-yo hangers Warranty 3 years

Model: LTC Black Diamond v2 LED

The Black Diamond V2- 115W LED grow light by Lil' Tomato Concepts is one of the most energy efficient grow lights on the market. Although it is great for small crops, its price tag might deter newbies and small-time growers from buying.

Regarding build quality, the Black Diamond stands true to its name and is made from a lightweight and durable material This LED grow light only draws 115W while putting out full spectrum, white light over a 16 sq.ft. area.

Another cool fact about the Black Diamond is that the end LED bars arerotatable for targeted lighting. Due to its exceptional design, the 48x3W Luxeon diodes byPhillipsdo not require noisy and power-consuming cooling equipment! The heat sinks do an adequate job and the LEDs are guaranteed to last 70,000-100,000 hours! The Black Diamond V2 comes with a 6-foot over-molded power cable and quality-constructed hangers.

A great choice for those who have both the budget and the need for quality.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 115W

115W Cost per True Watt: $7.66

$7.66 Voltage: 110-240V

110-240V LED Brand: Bridgelux & Epistar

Spectrum: Full spectrum; 5500K (330nm-770nm); for all phases of growing

Full spectrum; 5500K (330nm-770nm); for all phases of growing PAR: 330nm-770nm

330nm-770nm Heat management: Heatsinks - The unit does not get hot enough to require additional cooling equipment

Heatsinks - The unit does not get hot enough to require additional cooling equipment Input Currency at 120V: 0.89A

0.89A Efficacy: 102 lm/W

102 lm/W Number of LEDs: 48 x 3W

48 x 3W Lifespan: 70,000-100,000 hours

70,000-100,000 hours LEDs brand: Philips

Philips Coverage : 16 sq.ft (1.4 sq.m.)

16 sq.ft (1.4 sq.m.) Total Lumens: 11810lm

11810lm Dimensions: 17.5" x 17.3" x 5.1" (444x439x130mm)

17.5" x 17.3" x 5.1" (444x439x130mm) Weight: 6lbs (2.7kg)

6lbs (2.7kg) Extras: 6-foot over-molded power cord; Hangers

6-foot over-molded power cord; Hangers Warranty 5 years

Model: PRO MAX600

ProMaxGrow is among the most reputable manufacturers of LED panels and hasfrequented our lists for many years now. The MAX600 is designed to emulate natural sunlight and do not emit this familiar red/blue tint. This, not only is better for plant growth but also enables you to check on your plants’ status directly, rather than removing them from your grow space (which can be harmful).

The MAX600 consists of 6 boards, containing 384 LEDs placed in a 120º hood. This angle enhances coverage and ensures equal light distribution. Another pro is that it generates virtually no heat and thus, it requires no cooling fans. You just plug it in, point it at your plants and forget about it until harvest time. The full-spectrum it offers is great for both vegetative and flowering stages.

However, it should be noted that there is no information available on the brand of their LEDs , a fact that stirred controversy among cannabis growing forums. Also, while the company claims that this fixture replaces a 1000W HPS/MH panel, we believe that 600W is a far more realistic proposition.

These lights are designed by Eco-Lite Products , a company with more than 30 years’ experience in manufacturing specialty lighting for a variety of industries. The PRO MAX600 LED fixtures are entirely assembled in the United States..

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 130 (120VAC@1.09A)

130 (120VAC@1.09A) Cost per True Watt: $6.70

$6.70 Total LEDs: 384 custom LED diodes with a 50,000-hour lifespan.

384 custom LED diodes with a 50,000-hour lifespan. Spectrum in nm: Full spectrum; for germination, cloning, vegetative growth, and flowering; CRI: >90

Spectrum: Full spectrum; 5500K (330nm-770nm); for all phases of growing

Full spectrum; 5500K (330nm-770nm); for all phases of growing Heat management: Fan-less thermal management

Fan-less thermal management Flowering Coverage: 4-9 sq.ft. (0.4-0.8 sq.m.)

4-9 sq.ft. (0.4-0.8 sq.m.) Build Quality: Rugged industrial construction with anodized aluminum chassis, designed by Eco-Lite products.

Rugged industrial construction with anodized aluminum chassis, designed by Eco-Lite products. Peak photon delivery in μmol: 1000μmol @ 12”

1000μmol @ 12” LEDs brand: Bridgelux and Epistar

Bridgelux and Epistar Dimensions: 25.1" x 15.1" x 6.5" (637x383x165mm)

25.1" x 15.1" x 6.5" (637x383x165mm) Weight: 18lbs (7.5kg)

18lbs (7.5kg) Lifespan: 50,000 hours

50,000 hours Extras: Fixture and ratchets

Fixture and ratchets Assembled in the USA

Warranty 5 years

Model: 2018 SPYDERx

Fluence SPYDRx is the newest version of BML Lighting Spyderx. At 340W (actual: 330W), this indoor grow light has an average Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density of around 455 µMol/S That makes a good solution for both commercial and full-cycle home growing operations without CO2 supplementation.

Fluence claims that their spectral wavelengths are specially designed for particular photomorphogenic plant responses such as photoperiodic signals, chlorophyll A and B absorption, xanthophyll carotenoid pigments, and anthocyanin accumulation in plant tissue.

Confused? Well, Fluence is really big on scientific research! Their goal was to create a customized full spectrum that will be perfect for complete physiological plant growth. To do this, they had to reinvent their own products. According to the people at the company themselves, their previous models, with a red (700nm)/blue(400nm) spectrum, coincided with peak Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B absorption areas, however, they left out of range other critical photoreceptors for plant growth.

Determined not to repeat mistakes of the past, Fluence developed their own full-spectrum range, the Fluence PhysioSpec Indoor.This spectrum is tailored for full-cycle growth , regardless of the development stage of the plant. In addition, the contrast was specially engineered to allow you better control over your plant’s health.

Fluence grow lights are designed and built in Austin, TX and they are good for operation at temperatures from -40°C (-40°F) to 35°C (95°F) when suspended and up to 30°C (86°F) when surface mounted. Operating temperature ranges between 25°C (77°F) to 30°C (86°F) above ambient.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 330

330 Cost per True Watt: $2.72

$2.72 Output: 730 umol/s, 2.15 umol/J

730 umol/s, 2.15 umol/J Total LEDs:

Spectrum in nm: PhysioSpec Indoor™ Full-cycle spectrum

Heat management: Passive Cooling

Passive Cooling Coverage: 16 sq.ft. (1.4 sq.m.) at 6” from the top of the canopy

16 sq.ft. (1.4 sq.m.) at 6” from the top of the canopy Build Quality: Anodized, extruded aluminum alloy chassis with integrated heat sink for longevity and passive, natural convection thermal management (no fans or moving components).

Anodized, extruded aluminum alloy chassis with integrated heat sink for longevity and passive, natural convection thermal management (no fans or moving components). Dimensions: 42” x 44” x 4.6” (106x111x11cm)

42” x 44” x 4.6” (106x111x11cm) Weight: 22lbs (10kg)

22lbs (10kg) Working Temperature: Suitable for operation in still air ambient temperatures from -40°C (-40°F) to 35°C (95°F) when suspended and up to 30°C (86°F) when surface mounted. Operating temperature ranges between 25°C (77°F) to 30°C (86°F) above ambient.

Suitable for operation in still air ambient temperatures from -40°C (-40°F) to 35°C (95°F) when suspended and up to 30°C (86°F) when surface mounted. Operating temperature ranges between 25°C (77°F) to 30°C (86°F) above ambient. Lifetime: 100,000 hours at 70% of max power

100,000 hours at 70% of max power Made in Austin, TX

Warranty 3-year warranty

Model: Mars Pro II Epistar™ 320 LED Grow Light

Mars Pro II Epistar 320 LED Grow Light is the evolved version of the well-known Mars Pro Epistar 320. Only this time, instead of a remote control, it comes with veg and bloom switches to control the lights between different growth phases!

Of course, this is not the only thing that changed in this new edition. Under the hood, Mars Hydro upgraded the fans, the power supply and the LEDs (320 Epistar chips) to provide a more powerful product. The Epistar LED chips offer a great output for small to middle-sized grows. This model is equivalent to an 800W HID fixture.

All of the components are housed in a reflector cup design to ensure proper light distribution, while, as with all Mars Hydro products, the build is modular, meaning you can swap, upgrade and expand to your heart’s content! Heat is managed via the dual cooling fans and aluminum heat sinks.

Mars Hydro has a reputation for creating affordable and relatively high quality grow products and all of their lights are specially designed to fit their grow tents, for more discreet home operations.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 115

115 Cost per True Watt: $5.04

$5.04 Power Output: Bloom: 700~760w | Growth: 500~530w

Bloom: 700~760w | Growth: 500~530w Total LEDs: 320 x Epistar™ HI-LEDs; 100,000-hour lifespan (20+ years if LED lights are on 57% of the time)

Spectrum in nm: 440nm, 460nm, 630nm, 660nm, 2700K-3000K

Coverage: 16 sq.ft. (1.4 sq.m.) at 6” from the top of the canopy

16 sq.ft. (1.4 sq.m.) at 6” from the top of the canopy Heat management: Aircraft-grade aluminum heat sinks; Dual ball bearing cooling fans

Aircraft-grade aluminum heat sinks; Dual ball bearing cooling fans LEDs Brand: Epistar

Epistar Dimensions: 23" x 23" x 4" (59cm x 59cm x 10cm)

23" x 23" x 4" (59cm x 59cm x 10cm) Weight: 36 lbs (16.5kg)

36 lbs (16.5kg) Extras: Power cord, Hangers

Power cord, Hangers Warranty 2 year

Model: MEIZHI Reflector-Series 600W LED Grow Light

MEIZHI is an Amazon retailer from China, offering affordable grow lights similar to Global Star and Galaxy Hydro Similar to the above, you get a surprising amount of power and extras for a much lower price. Quality is indeed an issue, but then again, experienced growers are not the target group for these products.

The MEIZHI has a lifespan of 50,000 to 100,000 hours depending on usage, and it provides a 12-band spectrum. The MEIZHI reflector is a full spectrum light, using heat sinks and fans for heat dissipation. It can replace a 600W HID fixture, while it offers a surprising amount of brightness and light penetration with a PAR value of 1120umol.The unit features a VEG/FLOWER switch and is not dimmable.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 277

277 Cost per True Watt: $0.52 ($0.97)

$0.52 ($0.97) Total LEDs: 120x5W Epistar LEDs

120x5W Epistar LEDs Spectrum in nm: 12 bands full spectrum, bloom and growth switches to control spectrum, MEIZHI 600W led grow lights could fit for indoor and greenhouse hydroponic plants sprout, seedling, veg, budding, flowering and ripening all stages. IR available but no UV.

Heat management: Heat sinks plus two fast speed and quiet cooling fans and dense vents around four sides, which help to dissipate the light heat.

Heat sinks plus two fast speed and quiet cooling fans and dense vents around four sides, which help to dissipate the light heat. Coverage and Consumption: MEIZHI 600W grow lights could fit for nine sq.ft. (0.8 sq.m.) growing area at 18" above the canopy, while it only consumes 277W ±5%@AC110V.

MEIZHI 600W grow lights could fit for nine sq.ft. (0.8 sq.m.) growing area at 18" above the canopy, while it only consumes 277W ±5%@AC110V. Par Value: 1120umol

1120umol Frequency: 50-60HZ

50-60HZ Input Voltage: AC85-265V

Amp: 2.528A@AC110V 1.285A@AC220V

2.528A@AC110V 1.285A@AC220V Lumen: 16503Lm ±5%@AC110V 16308Lm±5%@AC220V

16503Lm ±5%@AC110V 16308Lm±5%@AC220V Lifespan: 50,000-100,000hours

50,000-100,000hours LEDs Brand: Epistar

Epistar Dimensions: 5.4” x 14.9” x 19” (137x378x482mm)

5.4” x 14.9” x 19” (137x378x482mm) Weight: 11.95 pounds (5.5kg)

11.95 pounds (5.5kg) Extras: 1 x Free Hanging Kit, 1 x Free Power Cord

1 x Free Hanging Kit, 1 x Free Power Cord Made in China

Warranty 1 year

Model: Neonica Growy LED 118 30W

The Growy company is, in fact, a branch of the Polish company Neonica Polska, which specializes in LED lighting. It offers industrial products to Poland and some European countries, mainly in the form of bars. All its products are made in Poland.

The company has been specializing in the production of LED lighting systems since 1995. They exclusively use CREE and OSRAM chips, which they rigorously test in laboratory environments.

Although the company is still not as popular as others, its 30W model is a great choice for small crops, as it packs quite a punch for its size. Also, heat emission is negligible, allowing for placement near the plants. Neonica has been working on their own special LED sequence, that, according to their claims, reduces the time of vegetation. It is well worth noting that the unit is also self-cooled and requires no fans to dissipate heat.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 30W

30W Voltage: AC 90-264V/50-60Hz

AC 90-264V/50-60Hz Spectrum in nm: Specially selected LED sequence enriched in 430-453 nm and 642-662 nm wavelength to suit perfectly the needs of plants on the chlorophyll "A" and "B". No UV emission.

Heat management: a self-cooling housing with an anodized aviation aluminum alloy which does not require active cooling by fans, reduces energy requirements and extends the lamp life up to at least ten years of continuous use.

a self-cooling housing with an anodized aviation aluminum alloy which does not require active cooling by fans, reduces energy requirements and extends the lamp life up to at least ten years of continuous use. Build Quality: Robust housing made of anodized aluminum provides excellent heat dissipation through gravity exchange (passive cooling)

Robust housing made of anodized aluminum provides excellent heat dissipation through gravity exchange (passive cooling) LEDs Brand: CREE & Osram

Dimensions: 17.6”x3”x2,75” (447 x 75 x 70 mm)

17.6”x3”x2,75” (447 x 75 x 70 mm) Made in Poland

Warranty 3 year

Back to the Chinese Amazon grow lights, Roleadro 400W, is a COB LED light sold byGalaxyHydro.

This is a full spectrum light that offers an inexpensive solution for all phases of plant growth. Weighing 6.45 pounds with a two-year warranty and 30-days money back policy, this fixture has a lot to offer for its price. Although we are not essentially dismissive of LED fixtures manufactured in China, these grow lights are not recommended not recommended for those who want something more out of their crops. On the other hand, they will allow newbies on a budget to enter the world of growing smoothly and without worry.

The COB of LEDs promises an improved color uniformity and PAR value, while at the same time reducing heat and risk of failure. The unit is fan-cooled (with fans reaching 55DB in max power) and has a reflector that controls light distance and area.

Finally, we should point out the manufacturer’s commitment to customer satisfaction: they are very active on Amazon, and they answered all our questions quickly and clearly.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 200w±5%

200w±5% Cost per True Watt: $0.55

Total LEDs: 2x200W COB LEDs

2x200W COB LEDs LEDs Brand: Epistar

Epistar Input voltage: AC85-265v

AC85-265v PAR: Blue led around 450 nm (best for germinating) red led around 650 nm for flower and bloom

Spectrum in nm: Full Spectrum from 380nm-780nm.

Full Spectrum from 380nm-780nm. Heat management: UL approved two cooling fans

UL approved two cooling fans Build Quality: Modular design

Modular design Coverage 16 sq.ft.(1.5sq.m.)

16 sq.ft.(1.5sq.m.) Dimensions: 5.5” x 9.4” x 14.2” (139x238x360mm)

5.5” x 9.4” x 14.2” (139x238x360mm) Weight: 6.45 pounds (2.5kg)

6.45 pounds (2.5kg) Extras 1 power cord, one stainless steel hanging hook

1 power cord, one stainless steel hanging hook Made in China

Warranty 3 year

SimuLightLED-9614G is a 1,000 HID replacement unit. These lights are full-spectrum, dimmable, programmable and entirely full-spectrum, dimmable, programmable and entirely customizable with individual Veg, Grow, and Flower channels.

The most striking feature about these lights is its highly efficient fixture with optics that help in giving direction to the light for improved penetration and more rapid growth; this fixture can be utilized in the various stages of plant growth.

The grow lights can be controlled remotely, and they are daisy-chainable as well. The remote control extra is welcome for bigger crops, as it allows a more hands-off experience. Made of aluminum and glass, this fixture is quite durable. Its low heat output reduces the need for cooling and ventilation. These lights can be used in greenhouses, plant factories, and nurseries.

The lights also come with a 36” control cable which is optional but gives room for the user to chain up to eight lights , enabling their operations under the same program.

Detailed Specs

Actual Draw in Watts: 540W

540W Cost per True Watt: $2.40

$2.40 PAR Output Center 1 foot 1,352 µmol/m2/s 2 feet 899 µmol/m2/s 3 feet 485 µmol/m2/s 4 feet 333 µmol/m2/s

Spectrum: Enhanced Full Spectrum, engineered growth, and flowering. The center COB provides a full spectrum of high power lighting optimized for plant growth. The supplemental LED have wavelengths of 390nm, 430nm, 460nm, 620nm, 660nm, 740nm, and white.

Enhanced Full Spectrum, engineered growth, and flowering. The center COB provides a full spectrum of high power lighting optimized for plant growth. The supplemental LED have wavelengths of 390nm, 430nm, 460nm, 620nm, 660nm, 740nm, and white. Build Material: Aluminum and Glass

Aluminum and Glass Dimmable: </strongYes – 3 channel

Beam Angle: 78°and 105°

78°and 105° Lifespan: 50,000 hours

50,000 hours Dimensions: 21” x 15” x 3” (533x381x76mm)

21” x 15” x 3” (533x381x76mm) Weight: 15.3lbs (7kg)

15.3lbs (7kg) Options: Remote Control, Daisy Chain Cables

Remote Control, Daisy Chain Cables Warranty: 2 years limited

The aptly named GOLDENi 600 is an ambitious project by Smart Grow Systems. What they offer is a lightweight and powerful LED panel, which is also completely remote controlled! In terms of spectrum, the company has developed their own Smart Grow Golden Glow , which mimics the sun's natural light.

The Smart Grow GOLDENi 600 LED is ideal for SoG and SCRoG methods of growing, offering even light distribution and a flexible (but sturdy) design. The unit is lightweight (5.1 lbs) and thin (1' thick) and features a user-friendly remote driver power supply.

The Smart Grow Golden Glow spectrum imitates the sun’s PAR levels , with a spectrum mix that is perfect for cloning, vegetative and blooming growth stages. By eliminating the purple/ magenta 660nm red light chips which were harmful to cloning and early vegetation, the new Golden Glow spectrum promotes healthy plant growth throughout the entire grow cycle.

Detailed Specs

Cost per True Watt: $2.41

$2.41 Total LEDs: 1680 Samsung LEDs mounted on an aluminum PCB; 50,000-hour lifespan

Spectrum in nm: 'Golden Glow' warm white spectrum; for seedlings through harvest

'Golden Glow' warm white spectrum; for seedlings through harvest Heat Management: Passive cooling

Passive cooling Build Quality: Aluminum

Aluminum Coverage: 10.6 sq.ft. (0.9 sq.m.) at 10" (254mm) above plants

10.6 sq.ft. (0.9 sq.m.) at 10" (254mm) above plants LED Brands: Samsung

Samsung Operating/input voltage: 110VAC @ 5.45A; 240VAC @ 2.5A

110VAC @ 5.45A; 240VAC @ 2.5A Dimensions: 41" x 21" x 1" (104x53x2.54cm)

41" x 21" x 1" (104x53x2.54cm) Weight: 5.1 lbs (frame), 7.8lbs (LED Driver) (2.2kg-3.5kg)

5.1 lbs (frame), 7.8lbs (LED Driver) (2.2kg-3.5kg) Extras: Luminaire, V-hangers, 8' driver leash, 110-120v plug

Luminaire, V-hangers, 8' driver leash, 110-120v plug Built in the USA

Warranty: 3 years

The Australian-based Unit Farm is a qualified player in the LED grow light scene. For over 9 years they have been producing a lot of OEM product for various organizations and companies all over the world.

Their experience is obvious, as they have done a pretty good job in creating a great all-rounder with the UFO-160 LED grow light , which incorporates high-output CREE and Osram LED chips.

The specially designed reflectors blend the wavelengths while directing the light down to your plants. All Unit Farm models feature a switch between Growth and Bloom modes to conserve energy and aid the plant according to its development.

As far as quality goes, Unit Farm LED grow lights are an affordable and reliable alternative compared to the many other LED grow lights on the market.

Detailed Specs

Actual Draw in Watts: 360W (±5%@AC120V) - 350W (±5%@AC240V)

360W (±5%@AC120V) - 350W (±5%@AC240V) Cost per True Watt: $2.13 - $2.2

$2.13 - $2.2 LED Brands: CREE and Osram

CREE and Osram Spectrum in nm: 450~475nm 620~630nm, 650~660nm, and white

450~475nm 620~630nm, 650~660nm, and white Heat Management: Active cooling via aluminum heat sinks and cooling fans

Active cooling via aluminum heat sinks and cooling fans Lumens: 17540 Lm±5%@AC120V 17174 Lm±5%@AC240V

17540 Lm±5%@AC120V 17174 Lm±5%@AC240V PAR Value: 2028.6umol

2028.6umol Amperage: 2.99A/120V 1.483A/240V

2.99A/120V 1.483A/240V Max Coverage: 36 sq.ft. (3.3 sq.m.)

36 sq.ft. (3.3 sq.m.) Dimensions: 18.3" x 13.4" x 3.14" (465x340x80mm)

18.3" x 13.4" x 3.14" (465x340x80mm) Weight: 17lbs (8kg)

17lbs (8kg) Built in the Australia

Warranty: 3 years

Model: MarsHydro Reflector 480W

MarsHydro is a well-known brand in the hydroponic growing world, often associated with affordable LED grow lights. However, this drop in price does not necessarily equal a lack of quality.

The Reflector Series is a popular series among growers. This particular product comprises of 96x5W diodes and has an actual power draw of 200W. Mars Hydro are upfront about the actual wattage and they clearly state it on the product description.Each LED chip features a reflector (hence the name) that mixes the emitting light and distributes it equally all over the canopy.

The spectrum of the Mars Hydro Reflector uses 10 bands of light (430-440nm, 450-475nm 620-630nm, 650-660nm) including white and infrared (730nm) range, which is invisible to the naked human eye.

The full spectrum of light will allow you to grow your plant from seedling to the vegetative stage and flowering without much effort.

Even though it is not fancy, the heat management is adequate in this model. LEDs run way cooler than traditional HPS/MH light systems, they still need to be cooled and in this unit this is done via a quiet fan, running as loud as a PC. This fixture comes with a 2-year warranty and there are dedicated repair centers in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Detailed Specs

Actual Power draw: 200W@110V - 190W@220V

200W@110V - 190W@220V Cost per True Watt: $0.87 ($0.95) - $0.91 ($1)

$0.87 ($0.95) - $0.91 ($1) Total LEDs: 96x5W

96x5W LEDs Brand: Epistar

Epistar Spectrum in nm: 430-440nm, 450-475nm 620-630nm, 650-660nm, and white Real IR spectrum: 730nm (invisible to humans)

430-440nm, 450-475nm 620-630nm, 650-660nm, and white Real IR spectrum: 730nm (invisible to humans) Heat management: Cooling Fans

Cooling Fans Lumens: 17540 Lm±5%@AC120V 17174 Lm±5%@AC240V

17540 Lm±5%@AC120V 17174 Lm±5%@AC240V PAR Value: 2028.6umol

2028.6umol Amperage: 2.99A/120V 1.483A/240V

2.99A/120V 1.483A/240V Veg. Coverage Area: 8.75 sq.ft. (0.81 sq.m.)

8.75 sq.ft. (0.81 sq.m.) Flowering Coverage Area4.5 sq.ft. (0.4 sq.m.)

Dimensions: 18.3" x 13.4" x 3.14" (465x340x80mm)

18.3" x 13.4" x 3.14" (465x340x80mm) Weight: 10lbs(4.5kg) /12lbs (5.6kg)

10lbs(4.5kg) /12lbs (5.6kg) Made in China

Warranty 3 year

Our Top Picks

All of the LED grow lights we presented above are trustworthy solutions for your indoor garden. That's why we made three top picks, one from each price category. Starting from LED lights that market at or below $500, we decided to go with the

Mars Hydro Reflector

480

. This

has a

and a really

. MarsHydro is very responsive to messages and they will be happy to answer whatever question you might have. In all, this is a solid option for beginners or growers on a tight budget.

Moving on to the $501-$900 category, we picked the full-spectrum

SuperGrow LED SK 450

. Completely

and made with

this unit offers amazing value for money at about $860, making it a great all-rounder choice. A single unit will replace a

, for a drastically reduced cost, while all models come with a

.

Finally, for the last category, we saved the place for the most luxurious of the LED grow lights we presented: The

Cirrus T500

. Built for commercial purposes and advanced growers, this unit has the ultimate specs:

for optimal light intensity and penetration. This behemoth retails at $2,299 and surely offers enough to match the price.

There are many LED grow lights on the market, so there is a chance we missed a great unit. We'd love to hear about your favorites! Tell us which light you would like to see featured on this list and we will get our hands on one.

Best LED Grow Lights for 2017

We have rounded up the best and newest LED grow lights we have found across the world. We aim to review only well built, high (broad full) spectrum LEDs with an eye on fan-less hat management. We alsoand ask them questions you guys want to know the answers too. Here we go, in no particular order.

Dorm Grow G8-600B G8LED Bloom Only/ G8-900 Veg/Flower

Models

G8-600B 600W Bloom Only

G8-900 900W Veg/Flower

Actual Draw in Watts

G8LED 600W Bloom Only Actual Power Draw: 380Watts 3.5Amps @ 110V 1.7Amps @ 220V

One of the most active grow light manufacturers in the US,, is back with the newest iterations of their critically(the most recent being in 2016, when they wonaccording to “High Times” magazine for theirmodel). Designed to offer specialized support to your plants depending on their grow phase, the all-newand the, succeed in creating a perfect combination ofand, suited both to professional and amateur growers. Also, the company’s knownmakes a return, offering a reliable supplemental lighting for flowering seasons.TheLight comes as a replacement to the successful 450W model and is specially designed for theof a plant’s development. It covers an area ofand is larger than its predecessor. It offers an optimal rate of 8 bands of the color spectrum, with an emphasis on. That being said, it is important to clear up that this grow light, according to their status (vegging/flowering).The company’s flagship model, theis a great all-rounder solution to any serious grower. Using an actual power draw of, this full-spectrum grow light has an output of, that can easily replace more powerful. It covers an area of- about 12 fully grown plants) and it can penetrate aboutinto the canopy. Like most of the modern "plug 'n' play" grow lights, the G8-900 comes with a Vegetative /Flowering switch, which turns the blue and red diodes on or off depending on your needs.For those who want a little extra “oomph” in their yields, this light truly shines (pun intended) when used alongside a. This supplemental light can be added to your fixture and deliver some extra red wavelengths in your growth, offering a great return on the “yield per Watt” scale.All of the Dorm Grow products come with a 2-year warranty, 24/7 support and a 90 Day money back guarantee.While it is an almost standard marketing practice for manufacturers to not release the actual power draw of their products, this is not true for Dorm Grow.Below you will find comprehensive tables about the wattage of each model

G8LED G8-900 Veg/Flower Actual Power Draw: 540Watts 4.9Amps @ 110V 2.5Amps @ 220V

Total LEDs and Spectrum

G8LED 600W Bloom Only

G8LED G8-900 Veg/Flower

Spectrum:

Thermal Management

Coverage and Build Quality

G8LED 600W Bloom Only

Flowering Coverage: 5'x4' (1,5x1,2m)

No. Plants Coverage: 6-10 mature plants

Dimensions: 21”x14”x3” (53x35x7 cm)

Made in USA

Diodes by Bridgelux

Weight: 20lbs / 9kg

G8LED G8-900 Veg/Flower

Veg Coverage: 6'x4' (1,8x1,2m)

Flowering Coverage: 6'x4' (1,8x1,2m)

No. Plants Coverage: 8-12 mature plants

Dimensions: 24”x14”x3” (61x35x7 cm )

) Made in USA

Diodes by Bridgelux

Weight: 22lbs / 10kg

Warranty

2 Year Full Warranty

90 Day money back guarantee

The G8-600B is ideal for theof your plants and therefore offers an increased UV lighting and emits more red wavelengths.: 740nm, 660nm, 630nm ,610nm, 580nm, 475nm, 460nm, 440nm, 380nm, 6000kThe G8-900 can be used as one-size fits all solution, although some experimenting might get you more bang for your buck (if you know what you are doing. Otherwise,and you're golden! Just remember to pull turn the switch when flowering starts!Most Efficient for cannabis photosynthesis.740nm, 660nm, 630nm, 610nm, 580nm, 460nm, 440nm, 380nm, 6000k740nm, 660nm, 630nm, 610nm, 580nm, 460nm, 440nm, 380nm, 6000kDue to the 3W Bridgelux diodes used in all Dorm Grow products, the lights

Neonica – Growy LED-254-200W

Model by Neonica

Actual Draw in Watts

Total LEDs and Spectrum

Thermal Management

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Coverage and Build Quality

Dimensions: 56.3” x 5.5” x 4.2”;

56.3” x 5.5” x 4.2”; Expected Lifetime: 50,000 hours;

50,000 hours; Voltage: Voltage AC 90-264V/50-60Hz;

Voltage AC 90-264V/50-60Hz; Special selected high-quality LEDs from OSRAM;

Robust housing made of anodized aluminum provides excellent heat dissipation through gravity exchange (passive cooling);

Modern design with handles for easy installation in line or stand alone;

Designed and manufactured in Poland.

Warranty

Comments

Hailing from Poland, Neonica recently introduced their very promising Growy LED series. Although it is among the very few European grow lights manufacturers, the company has been working hard to increase its presence in the world market. They are not newbies in this game either: they have been specializing in the production of LED lighting systems since 1995, having secured some very solid partnerships along the way: “Among few in Europe we have special machines able to produce a variety of LED solutions: led strips, led lamps, led tubes, led bulbs, led modules and led lighting for industrial applications. High qualified staff, know-how and expanded photometric laboratory allow us to develop and improve a whole range of products. High innovation of our solutions and their quality is appreciated both by thousands of satisfied users, industry experts and international leaders of the market.Thus Neonica Polska has permanent access to high-tech LED chips and our products are tested not only for necessary certifications in national laboratories but also in order to ensure world’s highest quality.”Their credentials are surely impressive, but what about their products?Although in this case we will be presenting the 200W model (which stands as a true replacement of a traditional HPS600W fixture), LED fixtures from Neonica company come as a pleasant surprise: they significantly increase vegetative growth, boosts flowering and budding. Though not very well known in the US, these Polish guys work really make up on their company’s obscure reputation by focusing on their products sophisticated components and build quality.The Growy-254. However, its 200W Watts draw is designed to and will replace a 600W HPS fixture. Of course, we have approached the people at Neonica with some questions regarding the true Watts intake, but haven’t received an answer as of yet. The lack of detailed information on the web only made matters worse. Based on our own calculations, the actual wattage is around 185W.Growy 254 features a carefully selected LED sequence enriched in 520-540nm and 595-615nm wavelength to suit perfectly the needs of plants on the chlorophyll "A" and "B". Its LEDs do not emit much heat radiation so that the lamp can be installed very close to plants without having to worry about their condition.Also by working at a much lower temperature Growy LED fixtures drastically decrease the consumption of water needed to grow. Growy LED uses specially dedicated OSRAM LEDs which guarantees maintenance-free use and high quality product. However, if you so wish, you can use different focusing optics, allowing for individual adjustment of Growy LED to a different style.The Growy series’ specially engineered housing with anodized aviation aluminum alloy does not require active cooling by fans, reduces energy requirements and extends the lamp life up to at least 10 years of continuous use.Neonica offers a 36-month warranty plan.Being a European company, Neonica’s Growy series is not especially well known among US growers. Information about their product series was scarce and their social media presence is scanty, to say the least (they have disabled comments in their YouTube channel and their FB page looks neglected). However, their website is regularly updated, so you can easily find out information about shipping details.

Pro Max Grow – MAX1200 – 250 Watts

Model

Actual Draw in Watts

Total LEDs and Spectrum

Do you use 'white' LEDs to get the spectrum?

Are the lights “dimmable” or able to select spectrum?

Thermal Management

Coverage

Build Quality

Build: Powder coasted white finish;

Dimensions: 11.5” x 22.5” x 29.9”;

Weight: 20 lbs.;

Expected Lifetime: 50,000 hours.

Warranty

Five Years Limited Warranty;

30 Day Money Back Guarantee;

Made in the U.S.A.

Comments

"After several tests with other grow lights, we found a favorite in the MAX600 from Pro MAX Grow Lights. Not only did our test plants thrive under the MAX600, with all nutrients tested, but they were also a huge money saver on our electric bills. When it comes to it, MAX Grow Lights are the best choice out there on the market."-Sheila Keller,MyGrowPhonics

"The Pro MAX Grow MAX1200 have outperformed consistently for our most discerning clientele. Product quality and yield are greater than ever with the Max1200."-Charles Allin, THC Global Consulting, Missoula, MT

"We rely on Pro MAX Grow MAX1200’s for our cannabis collection. We appreciate the cooler temperatures of Pro MAX Grow and the amazing cost savings on electricity."-Kim Ott , Green Lion Farms Seattle, WA

Pro MAX Grow LED products have a reputation for reducing grower’s expenditures, while simultaneously, increasing the size of their harvests. MAX1200 is the pinnacle of this philosophy. This LED panel has been designed to generate virtually no heat and therefore it does not require external cooling fans – a factor that significantly lowers energy costs. Also, it is worth mentioning that the technology between the ProMax grow lights, enables them to, meaning that you can just plug the light and just never change the settings. Plug’n’play, from seed to harvest!The lights themselves are designed by Eco-Light products, a company that has more than three decades of experience in specialty lighting manufacturing, all in US soil. Perhaps the fact that the peoplesays everything there is to know about them: your space cookies will finally be spacier than ever!It is a common theme for grow light manufacturers not to state the correct number of their products’ Watts draw so we asked the manufacturer and Christie Lunsford from ProMaxGrow told HTG:“The Max1200 is only 250W and it draws 250W. We use the most advanced LED diodes on the market which are significantly more efficient and allow Pro MAX Grow lights to produce more usable light power while drawing less wattage than traditional LED grow light fixtures that draw much higher wattage.” – Christie Lunsford ProMaxGrowTurns out that Christie was completely sincere in her answer. In fact, testers and reviewers concur that not only the company’s claims are true,The MAX1200 features 768 custom-made diodes that will last for more than 50,000 hours if the LED lights are on 57% of the time.regarding the LED lights quality and the color spectrum:“Pro MAX Grow’s Max1200 is a full spectrum “white” light LED Grow light. Our chip produces a white color in order to permit accurate plant health evaluation. However, within the white color that is projected, we hit the peak spectrums along with the ancillary spectrums required to produce quality, high yielding crops. Our cultivators love us for our full spectrum technology.”“Pro MAX Grow grow lights are dimmable. You cannot select a specific spectrum, because by choosing only one spectrum you are going to negatively impact the other spectrums and negatively affect the spectrum which would cause a gap in the band. While many grow lights require constant turning of switches to change from one spectrum of light to another, our advanced diodes integrate the necessary light waves required for both growth and flowering/vegetation so that one of our Max 600 or 1200 grow lights is all you need for growth and flowering.”The MAX1200's 768 full-spectrum, high-power white diodes emit an array of light that and will cover a 48" x 48" (16 sq.ft) area and could easily replace a much more expensive and power-consuming 1000+ Watts HID system. It goes without saying that this is suitable for all phases of plant development.The company’s CEO, Jeffrey Gasman, was even so kind as to email us a copy of the lab results from one of ProMax Grow’s clients, to highlight the effects of MAX1200 on the THC level of the plants:“.”Fans are not required; the operating temperature ranges from 40°F to 104°F without the need for thermal management.16 sq. ft. (48'' x 48'') ProMax claim that the MAX1200 gives you high PAR readings throughout your grow space and thus, it has an actual 4’x4’ grow area. That means that you can grow 12 good-sized plants in a space this size.MAX1200 reviews areTruthLighting-M16-760Watts-1.jpg

Lighting Science VividGro V2

Model by Lighting Science

Actual Draw in Watts

Total LEDs and Grow Light Spectrum

UV: 300-400nm;

300-400nm; Blue: 400-500nm;

400-500nm; Green: 500-600nm;

500-600nm; Red: 600-700nm;

600-700nm; IR: 700-800nm;

700-800nm; Visible: 400-700nm;

400-700nm; Blue: 400-500nm.

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Thermal Management

Coverage

Build Quality

Build: Rugged die cast aluminum housing and optical grade weather resistant polycarbonate cover;

Rugged die cast aluminum housing and optical grade weather resistant polycarbonate cover; Dimensions: 1077(L) x 603(W) x 110(H)mm 42.4"(L) x 23.74"(W) x 4.33"(H)

1077(L) x 603(W) x 110(H)mm 42.4"(L) x 23.74"(W) x 4.33"(H) Input Voltage: 100-277 VAC, 50/60 Hz;

100-277 VAC, 50/60 Hz; Weight: 64 lbs.;

64 lbs.; Expected Lifetime: 60,000 hours.

Warranty

Comments

“This grow light has far exceeded our expectations and "wish list". We have tested and light metered virtually every other LED grow light on the market and none of them reach the PAR levels that this one does. The price is the lowest we've seen for this amount of light output as well, showing an efficiency of 1.84 umol/j. We even got utility rebates for it. This is a win-win grow light. Save energy, save money, increase light output and yield over traditional grow light sources”. - User Review

“Hi there, first of all I'm a great researcher and me and my friend Google can find amazing things, after a ton of release I found out that the vividgro v1 had one of the highest efficiency led on the market, and they had just release this monster so I bought five.

I have just recently started to use one of them and I’m at awe, never seen any growth like this before anywhere. But destine look so bright for the eye, but I'm sure it is made specially for plants not for eye.” - User Review

Another space-traveler, the VIVIDGRO V2 by the Florida-based company Lighting Science, promises to take your growing to the next level. This high-end fixture was built by the same brilliant minds that helped astronauts aboard the. VividGro is incredibly energy efficient and it is optimized for all horticultural activities, so feel free to grow a healthy batch of tomatoes (along with your MJ) with this.“Plants are all about photosynthesis, and LEDs offer an unrivaled source of optimized solid state lighting that’s used to fuel plant cultivation and propagation. The nurturing of plants in an indoor environment, supported by LED light, helps to control many of the elements influencing the growth of the plant,” said Randy Mortensen, leader of the Agricultural Business Unit at Lighting Science. “As the urban population centers continue to flourish and higher demand is placed on growth of specific plants, such as in the cannabis industry, indoor horticulture will require more quality, energy efficient lighting, like that provided by our VividGro V2 LED Grow fixture.”This model uses a passive, fan-less cooling method, that is both quieter and more energy efficient. It is also making use of an advanced thermal technology that provides maximum light intensity with increased PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation), needed to enhance growth, development and yield, with a proven 45% reduction in energy costs. Note that the, so check with your energy provider for specific instructions and info.The VividGro V2 hascan easily act as a true replacement to a 1000W HPS/Metal Halide fixture. According to the guys at Lighting Science, that’s because HPS and MH grow lights weren’t designed for horticultural purposes in the first place and can, in fact, be harmful to marijuana plants. The solution to this problem was the development of a light with a spectrum, coverage and temperature specifically designed to ensure plant growth (and not object illumination).312 High Power LEDs; 60,000-hour lifespan (10+ years if LED lights are on 57% of the time). V2 uses seven-band wavelength spectrum and their color bands are at:V2 can deliver about 1081 µmol at a 24"-30" distance.VIVID GRO V2 offers a broad light spectrum – tailored to maximize photosynthetic absorption efficiency. The light is engineered to penetrate down into and across the canopy, without sacrificing PAR efficacy.VIVIDGro2 uses Aluminum Heat Sinks without fans, a system that significantly cuts down energy costs (and unwanted noises).16 sq. ft. (48'' x 48'')Lighting Science offers a five years limited warranty on this product.

Truth Lighting - M16 - 760 Watts

Model by Truth Lighting

Actual Draw in Watts

Total LEDs

Grow Light Spectrum

Thermal Management

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Coverage

Build Quality/Specs

Operating frequency: 50Hz/69Hz;

50Hz/69Hz; Input Current: 580-630mA;

580-630mA; Working Temperature: 4°F to 140°F (4.4°C to 40°C);

4°F to 140°F (4.4°C to 40°C); Life Span: 50,000 hours;

50,000 hours; Input Voltage: AC85~264V;

AC85~264V; LED Beam Angle: 90º;

90º; Net Weight: 0 lbs. or 19kg/pc.

0 lbs. or 19kg/pc. Dimensions: 6” x 23.6” x 2.6”

Warranty

Comments

Truth Lighting has. By looking at the M16, we can definitely say that this was time well spent.All models of the series (M6, M9 and M16) feature an original 25 diode module layout, that distributes patterns of light in a 4x4 array. This system ensures that your plants will always absorb the optimal amount of light. Whether on vegging of flowering period, the M16 has been proven to easily outperform 1000W HID setups.Perhaps one of the best points about any of Truth Lighting LED panels is that. In the unlikely event of a failure, every part is easily replaceable (although failure is not a very common occurrence with Truth Lighting products). However, the real highlight of the M16 is the achievement of a full spectrum at a surprising 3”-6” above the garden’s canopy. This compares to most traditional LED panels, that require the grower to keep it around 2”-3” above. This feature allows growers to have more vertical space – and grow larger plants. According to the manufacturer,The M16 is also incredibly easy to set up: unbox it, hang it up, turn it on and you’re ready to go. Its footprint is around 5”x5” for flowering and vegging and its spectrum is fully customizable for both phases of plant growth. If you need to expand or modify your setup, more modules are available through Truth Lighting. When combined with the traditional benefits of LEDs such as energy savings, safety, durability and life span, Truth Lighting LEDs quickly become the obvious choice for cultivation professionals concerned with the quality of their product and the health of their plants.The people at Truth Lighting claimed that 760W is the actual output of the product. Truth Lighting insisted that they are “highly against the misleading marketed wattage selections by most competitors” and if we are to judge by the reviews all over the internet, their stance is highly appreciated by the grower community as well.However, we have to mention that reports from reviewers and growers, suggest that 714W might be a more realistic expectation for this setup.400 x 3W Bridgelux/Epistar/Epiled LEDs; 50,000+ hour lifespan (10+ years if LED lights are on 57% of the time)Multiple; for vegetative growth and flowering. According to Truth Lighting themselves, M16 was “designed between 380nm - 840nm. These fixtures were specifically tailored for fueling cannabis through its entire life cycle”. The spectrum on this light is trying to focus on chlorophyll a and b, with a strong spike in the blue and two spikes in the reds around 640 and about 660 nanometers and in the low blues at 450 nm.The fixture is cooled by an arrangement of 6 x 120mm internal Thermal Management fans that are quiet as much as they are effective in providing fresh air to the aluminum heat sinks. These keep the unit running at internal temperatures of 86 to 100.4ºF.At a two-foot distance from the top of the canopy, the M16 already has a PAR of 781.72 µmol.25 sq. ft. (60'' x 60'') at 24" above plants. Truth Lighting tells us that their fixtures do not have dimmers, but dual power switches which allow for partial illumination of the fixture, or as they put it:“The M16 is capable of running with only six Modules at a time or 10 modules at a time or all 16 modules for full power. The M9 is capable of running with four modules or with five modules and then full power with all nine modules illuminated. The M6 is 3” and 3”.The warranty package of the M16 is also very impressive and includes a three-year manufacturer guarantee of your investment. Practically, this means that if anything fails, you can contact the company and they will have you covered.Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of positive reviews to be found on the web about the M16:“I bought one of these, and it is simply amazing. Runs cooler than a 525W NextLight LED and puts out SO much light. Very substantially built.It's my favorite high-end LED, with the best coverage. I keep it about 12" above my plants, works great. I'm using it for both veg and bloom cycles, with no issues. Big deep green leaves, huge thick buds. AAAAAAA+” - Amazon review"The Truth LED Lamp is one of the most impressive LED systems on the market." - High Times“Hands down the best LED on the market. I don't normally write reviews but believe me when I tell you that all other lights pale in comparison to the Truth Lighting LED. Read about the light in High Times and decided to purchase. So happy I did.” - User Review

2016 LED Grow Light Review

#1: Black Dog

Model: Phytomax 800 LED Grow Lights

Black Dog is trying to set the record straight about LED grow lights. They have started by naming all their lights accurately based on their actual Watts.

“We focus on true footprints and true results. Part of our challenge is to educate people. Everything is based on research and trials. There is a lot of misinformation being spread out there which we are trying to fight our way through.” Patrick at Black Dog

Actual Draw in Watts

Total LEDs

Grow Light Spectrum

Fans

Lens

Peak Photon Delivery in µmoles

Coverage

Vegetative Stage: 7’ X 7’ with light hung 40 inches above plants

Flowering Stage: 5’ X 5’ with light hung 29 inches above plants

Build Quality and Materials

21” X 21” X 7”

Weight: 50 lbs

Expected Lifetime: 50,000 hours

Warranty

90 day money-back guarantee

First 3 years: all parts, all labor. You’re covered no matter what happens.

3-5 years: all parts are covered.

5 years+: call Black Dog for trouble shooting and support.

User Comments

They strive for transparency, which starts with disclosure of the actual Watts and carries all the way through to their stellar warranty, which is the best available.At 800 Actual Watts, their Phytomax 800 is a true replacement for 1000W HID lights. In fact, it kicks any 1000W HID light’s a$$.The Phytomax 800 is one of few LEDs named for its actual Watts instead of its LED Watts. The actual draw is 800 Watts, with an LED Wattage of 1710W.There are 342 high output 5 Watt LEDs. They have LEDs from five top manufacturers, because no single manufacturer makes diodes covering the entire PAR spectrum and UV and IR light.Black Dog LED's proprietary full-cycle Phyto-Genesis Spectrum™ is full spectrum without gaps between 375 nm and 735 nm.The spectrum spikes to match the PAR spectrum as closely as possible.It covers UV light which increases THC and CBD content, boosts terpenes and flavonoids for better taste and boosts antioxidants, vitamins and pigmentation of buds.The spectrum also includes near infrared (NIR) light to boost photosynthetic activity.Black Dog uses one of the most effective active heat management set-ups in the LED industry, with ultra-qui