Are LED Grow Lights Better than HPS Grow Lights? 2020 Updated
One of the deciding factors in choosing between LED grow lights and HID grow lights is that LEDs typically cost far more than an equivalent HID system.
For many, this is the only factor that matters and this is the main reason HID lighting continues to enjoy huge popularity. That said, a select few companies are now making good lights that cost very little.
But the initial cost of the light(s) is not the only cost you need to take into consideration. You need to take into account the complete cost. LEDs have become hugely popular, despite having been much more expensive than HID, until recently.
Advantages of LEDs over HPS
Efficiency - LED diodes are very electrically efficient, which could save you money over time (though the jury is still out when it comes to whether LEDs get better yields than HPS watt-for-watt). Additionally, where an HPS bulb needs to be replaced every few grows to maintain its brightness, individual LED diodes keep their brightness practically forever. With an LED grow light, it’s almost certain something else will break on the lamp before any diodes start losing their brightness.
LED Grow Lights Come With Built-In Cooling – Along the lines of being totally plug-and-play, most LED lamps have heatsinks and small built-in fans to help disperse heat up and away from the lamp, which lets them run cooler. On the flip side, even a small HPS bulb needs extra help for cooling, usually by venting out hot air using a fan and ducting.
Customized Color Spectrum – It is known that the color spectrum of light affects how plants grow. Unlike other grow lights which are pretty set in their color spectrum, each LED diode can be configured to emit light of a very specific color spectrum chosen by the user. This means that LED grow light color spectrums can be adjusted and customized in a modular way that’s impossible to achieve with any other grow light.
Yield - LED lights have been tested on yield time and time again. Overall, most indoor growers that use HPS lights achieve a yield of .5 grams per watt. For comparison, LED lights usually achieve 1g to 1.5g per watt, making them up to three times more effective. With each harvest, you will have three times the product that you would otherwise!
Lifespan - The average HPS setup lasts for around 10,000 hours. That is a long time when it comes to growing, but LED lights take it so much further. An LED light setup can last you 50,000-100,000 hours. That works out to 15 YEARS of quality indoor growing that is cheaper, more efficient, and easier than ever. A lot of people try different combinations of red and blue to get the perfect blend for their own purpose.
Versatility - LED lights, compared to HPS lights, are much more versatile. The bulky HPS lights don’t offer much in terms of versatility. LED lights, however, can be positioned around your plants and relatively close, due to the lack of heat that comes off of them.
Type Of Light - The type of light that LED lights put out as well is specifically tailored for the flowering and vegetative stages of growth. HPS lights put out the entire wavelength, but LED lights focus on blue and red spectrums that fit the needs of the plant and makes sure that every bit of light is used specifically for a phase of the growth process.
Which Option is Better?
Should you be using HPS or LED grow lights? Both options have merit. There are pros and cons of each. However, unless you are growing in frigid temperatures, you’re better off using LED lights. There are simply more advantages. LED lights offer long-term savings, energy efficiency, and do not require extra equipment. While the upfront cost of LED lights does tend to be higher than HPS grow lights – you may be shocked by just how affordable high quality options have become. The market has expanded enough that you’ll find a wide variety of options available. With the long-term savings, investing in a quality LED lighting system is the way to go. Whether you need LED lights for a large-scale grow or small operation, we have something to fit your needs!
For many, this is the only factor that matters and this is the main reason HID lighting continues to enjoy huge popularity. That said, a select few companies are now making good lights that cost very little.
But the initial cost of the light(s) is not the only cost you need to take into consideration. You need to take into account the complete cost. LEDs have become hugely popular, despite having been much more expensive than HID, until recently.
Advantages of LEDs over HPS
Efficiency - LED diodes are very electrically efficient, which could save you money over time (though the jury is still out when it comes to whether LEDs get better yields than HPS watt-for-watt). Additionally, where an HPS bulb needs to be replaced every few grows to maintain its brightness, individual LED diodes keep their brightness practically forever. With an LED grow light, it’s almost certain something else will break on the lamp before any diodes start losing their brightness.
LED Grow Lights Come With Built-In Cooling – Along the lines of being totally plug-and-play, most LED lamps have heatsinks and small built-in fans to help disperse heat up and away from the lamp, which lets them run cooler. On the flip side, even a small HPS bulb needs extra help for cooling, usually by venting out hot air using a fan and ducting.
Customized Color Spectrum – It is known that the color spectrum of light affects how plants grow. Unlike other grow lights which are pretty set in their color spectrum, each LED diode can be configured to emit light of a very specific color spectrum chosen by the user. This means that LED grow light color spectrums can be adjusted and customized in a modular way that’s impossible to achieve with any other grow light.
Yield - LED lights have been tested on yield time and time again. Overall, most indoor growers that use HPS lights achieve a yield of .5 grams per watt. For comparison, LED lights usually achieve 1g to 1.5g per watt, making them up to three times more effective. With each harvest, you will have three times the product that you would otherwise!
Lifespan - The average HPS setup lasts for around 10,000 hours. That is a long time when it comes to growing, but LED lights take it so much further. An LED light setup can last you 50,000-100,000 hours. That works out to 15 YEARS of quality indoor growing that is cheaper, more efficient, and easier than ever. A lot of people try different combinations of red and blue to get the perfect blend for their own purpose.
Versatility - LED lights, compared to HPS lights, are much more versatile. The bulky HPS lights don’t offer much in terms of versatility. LED lights, however, can be positioned around your plants and relatively close, due to the lack of heat that comes off of them.
Type Of Light - The type of light that LED lights put out as well is specifically tailored for the flowering and vegetative stages of growth. HPS lights put out the entire wavelength, but LED lights focus on blue and red spectrums that fit the needs of the plant and makes sure that every bit of light is used specifically for a phase of the growth process.
Which Option is Better?
Should you be using HPS or LED grow lights? Both options have merit. There are pros and cons of each. However, unless you are growing in frigid temperatures, you’re better off using LED lights. There are simply more advantages. LED lights offer long-term savings, energy efficiency, and do not require extra equipment. While the upfront cost of LED lights does tend to be higher than HPS grow lights – you may be shocked by just how affordable high quality options have become. The market has expanded enough that you’ll find a wide variety of options available. With the long-term savings, investing in a quality LED lighting system is the way to go. Whether you need LED lights for a large-scale grow or small operation, we have something to fit your needs!
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