Where can I buy 1000 Watt LED Grow Lights?
I have been asked many times in the last couple of months about 1000 Watt LED Grow lights . . . do they exist, are they necessary, where can I buy them etc.
The conclusion I have come to is that many are still confused about the power of LED grow lights and how they compare watt for watt for standard HPS and MH grow lights? I will try to clear up some common questions about LED grow lights to help you determine if they are the right choice for you.
Most importantly, you must realize that you cannot compare LED Grow Lights to HPS or MH on a watt-per-watt basis. For example, a 1000 Watt HPS light must not be compared head to head against a 1000 watt LED grow light because the LED light would blow it out of the water every time. To keep things fair (well, sort of) you must compare the 1000 Watt HPS to a 600 Watt LED grow light and here is why. It all comes down to the yield a given light/plant combination will produce. In this case, a much lower-powered LED grow light will produce the same or better yield than its HID counterpart.
Why You Probably Don't Need 1000 Watt LED grow lights
The reason lies in the relative efficiency of the light waves produced by each kind of light. An HPS grow light produces light in the full spectrum with a bit of an emphasis on yellow/orange range. In addition it emits a tremendous amount of heat - the resulting efficiency is on the order of about 15% which means 85% of the light is wasted because it is un-usable for photosynthesis or is lost as heat.
In contrast, the best LED grow lights will emit light at very specific wavelengths in red, blue, and red-orange bands. Nearly all of the light produced is light that is used directly in some stage of photosynthesis and plant growth. In addition, there is very little heat produced and, therefore, wasted by an LED grow light so the overall efficiency exceeds 90%. This means that a 600 watt LED grow light can match or outperform a 1000 Watt HPS in terms of yield - eliminating the need for expensive ballasts, heat removal systems, and replacement bulbs, all while saving you money on electricity.
Comparison of LED grow lights to HPS/MH
Here is a quick run-down of the wattage of LED grow lights that are available, showing its HPS counterpart for comparison. This is just a guideline, not hard-and-fast rules. When you are looking to buy the best LED grow lights, click the links below to be directed to our partner site.
| HPS Wattage | LED Wattage |
| 400W | 90W |
| 600W | 180W |
| 1000W | 350W |
| 2400W | 700W |
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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
HI
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO GET THE SAME AS A 1000 WATT BULB
Hi Fern – While you could get a 350Watt LED grow light to equal the output and growing potential of a 1000W HPS, studies have shown that using 2x 180W lights are more effective.
Thanks,
Mathew
I have one 1000 watt light above 12 plants. Would like to add a 350 watt LED.
Can they be used together?
Art
Art –
Yes – they can be used together however, what is your foot print? You may be better off getting 2x180W LED grow lights instead . . .
Mathew
Footprint is 6′x6′. The 1000Watt is HID
Art
Art –
Are you growing in the entire 6×6 area or do you have a walk way? In any case, you would do better with multiple 180W LEDs instead of the 350W. If you are just looking to supplement the HID, 2x180W would be fine. If you want to replace the 1000W HID, then I would use 4x180W LED grow lights.
Thanks,
Mathew
Hi,i’m from the UK and have been reading the information on the 350W and sounds really interesting that i’m thinking of purchasing one. At the moment i have a friend that is doing a 7 week grow which he has reduced down from 12 week grow using normal lights but using cuttings that are about 12 inches so he’s not starting from seeds. The feed has also been slightly altered and he can get 4 to 5 Oz per plants . What i would like to know is by using the 350W LED but using the same method as my friend is it possible to achieve the same results as him or possibly even better meaning more yield per plant and reducing the time limit even less? Reading the information about the area the LED would cover,how many plants would you suggest to do and would 2x180W be better than 1x350W in this case? Money is not an issue and i would be very grateful for your reply.
Hi Mo –
I don’t know about you, but everyone I talk to in forums seems to be shooting for the magical 1g/watt ratio with either HPS or LED lights. Over the last couple of months I have seen very exciting results from the Magnum 357 LED grow light – results in excess of 3g/watt with similar grow periods. Some guys I talk to have actually changed their grow schedules to reduce the veg time while increasing flowering and are getting tremendous results.
To answer your question directly – you are better off with 2 x 180W than a single 350W. The reason is because plants respond better when light coverage overlaps from one unit to the next, resulting fewer low spots. For my money though, I would opt to get 2 x 357 Magnums for slightly more than 2 x 180W. I have seen better production on taller plants with these lights and should anything go wrong with them, they have user replaceable parts and great customer service.
Each of the Magnums can comfortably cover 2×2 to 3×3 space – the number of plants you fit in that space depends upon the overall height you wish to achieve. You could easily do an SOG with 25-30 plants or you could keep the plants in the 3-4 ft tall range and grow 6-8 of them. . . its just a matter of growing preference.
Thanks,
Mathew
Hi…I have a 2′x3′x6′ cab ….would the 357 magnum be too much light? I have a16 plant hydro setup….I will run co2 soon as i get monitor/controller. Is there such thing as too much LED light? Thank you for your blog. I am brand newbie and your info is so helpful.
OH, hey, sorry about my question. It seems you answered it for Mathew. But, is there such thing as too much led light? Thanks and sorry I didnt read very well.
mark
Hi Mark –
Glad you found your answer!
As for too much LED light – YES, you can over power your grow space – but a single Magnum in your 2×3 space would work out fine. You would want to keep the light a bit higher when your plants are young, lowering the light as they mature.
Check out the indoor growing supplies store on this site if you are looking for a CO2 controller/monitor. Otherwise, check out eBay for a newer product called the Exhale CO2 cultivator – it is a vented bag with mycelial mass inside that emits CO2. Its a pretty cool, low cost, effective way to introduce CO2 for a smaller space.
Also check out this post on how to grow weed if you are looking for in depth info.
Thanks!
Mathew
Hi, I know this question has been asked again and again and I yes I have read your article, however I have been using hPS and MH lights all my life and this is completely new to me.
Ok so heres the question, lets say I were to have 15 plants 5 ft X 5 ft space. How many would I need to replace a 1000 watt hps and a 400 watt hps? (space wise and yield wise)
Thank you in advance and my best regards.
Tristan –
Is that 5×5 space ALL grow space – meaning are you using all 25 ft for growing, no walkway, etc? Do you currently use 1400W for that space?
What I would do is put 4 of the 357 Magnums in this space and you will easily be able to match the 1400W setup you have now and perhaps even get better yield.
Thanks!
Mathew
Hi,
I am planning to grow Chilli plants inside the newly constructed gowth chamber(13metersx3meters) so i need grow lights, so kindly suggest me which lights i have to use
and suggest me where it is available in India.
Arjun –
Check out the 357 Magnum and the 126W Penetrator from Hydro Grow LED. Both are great lights and available to ship to India. Just FYI, the Magnum ships free!
Thanks,
Mathew
Hello,
I am interested if using LED lights in a commercial production of lettuce would be more profitable then using HID. I plan on making a multy level system, about one meter per level and using HID lights would produce too much heat. This is for food production inside of a building, no natural light.. I’d love to hear your sugestions.
Thanks,
roman
Roman –
I know of a few commercial grows that are experimenting with LED for greens . . . using Aerofarms. Right now the focus of LED grow lights is on penetration power and flowering – they seem to be leaving out the commercial greens growers which I think is silly. Contact me and I can talk to you more about this . . .
Mathew
Hello,
I currently have about 50 plants under 8 500W HPS bulbs.
The space i have is about 20ft x 10ft.
I would like to purchase a LED setup instead because the heat in the room is getting a bit much.
How many magnum 357s would I need to match what I already have?
also is it okay to use the LEDs alone through flowering?
Jesus –
How tall do you finish your plants?
Mathew
im wanting to grow 12 plants in a 3×1 m area how many leds would you recomend thanx
Michael –
Assuming you mean that your grow space measures 3m x 1m (9×3 ft?) then I would go with a light that delivers a solid 180-250W per 3×3 space . . . so you would need 3 lights. It also depends on the type of plant, number plants, and overall finished height you want to reach.
Thanks!
Mathew
My only concern with LED lighting is canopy penetration for taller plants. LED lighting is great for small/short plants, clones or while in veg but there is no way a LED light will penetrate as deep as a 600W or 1000W HPS for flowering tall, dense plants. I may pick a few up for cloning and vegging but I’ll stick with HPS for flowering….for now.
Hey Jeff –
Keep in mind that canopy penetration refers to the projection of light over distance . . . sending that light in between the leaves and branches of the canopy, not powering the light through a solid object (the leaves and branches). Given the right lights, penetration is not that difficult to achieve.
How is this for flowering taller plants . . .
http://www.myhydroponicgardening.com/commercial-medical-marijuana-grow-using-illuminator-led-grow-lights/
Cheers!
Mathew
Thanks for the link, Mathew. However, that video confirms my previous post. Let me explain further:
1) He admits that the LED lights don’t have the intensity and don’t penetrate as well as HPS at 2:04
2) Internodal stretch is evident at 1:13, 1:20 and 7:47 which indicates low light penetration and intensity as mentioned in point #1. That stretch *may* be partially explained by the use of fluorescents during the veg stage but that doesn’t explain it all based on the video that you linked and the many pictures I’ve seen of non-HID grows.
3) Those plants are not all that “tall,” they’re only 3-4 feet based on the 5 gallon buckets they’re grown in. Many plants can reach over 6 feet tall, even indoors, depending on strains, genetics, and veg time.
Don’t get me wrong, there are clear benefits of LED grows, many of which were mentioned in that video. I’m not saying that people can’t have quality grows with LED, I’m just saying that, so far, HPS still works “better.” I’m hoping that the next leap in LED (or other lighting) technology will make HID obsolete but, I’m saying, we’re just not quite there yet. LEDs are better now than they used to be but they’re still not king of the hill.
Hope that helps…
Hi there,
Thanks for the great thread, very useful.
I’m setting up an LED grow in my loft working on a 12 week germination to harvest time frame. I’m new to LED lighting but have grown cannabis for medical use for myself and some relatives under HPS. My grow space is 120cm x 80cm and I’m looking at 1 x 180w LED. It will be an ebb and flow hydro set up and I’m thinking I could get 10 plants under it? My questions are: is this possible, and do you have any suggestions. Also, will the heat emitted from the LED ligh be enough to keep the inside of a grow tent at a high enough temp when in the loft over winter?
Very grateful for the help
George –
Keep your grow space to no more than 90cm x 80cm and you will do just fine with the 180W LED. You could get 10 plants in there as a SOG setup with no problem though 9 plants would give better symmetry (3×3).
The light would probably only add 5-10 degrees above ambient temperature if completely sealed in, even less if vented . . . so it just depends on the temp in the loft.
Cheers,
Mathew
hi i have a 4metre x 4metre room what led lighting would you reccomend
Rob –
Lighting depends more on the type of plants, height of plants when finished, number of plants, etc. Also what is the actual coverage you need – i.e. will plants be covering the entire 4×4 m space or will there be walkways that aren’t covered?
Mathew
Mathew,
I’m a little dissapointed that you didn’t approve my post in reply to your video, I guess LED lighting isn’t good enough to take criticism nor debate yet either.
Good luck…
Hey Jeff –
Nope – I have no problem with your criticisms! Just lost that other comment in sea of spam I get
I will respond to it soon!
Thanks,
Mathew