Investing in cheap LED grow lights is an excellent way for home growers to maximize plant growth in an affordable and efficient way. LED technology has advanced tremendously in recent years, allowing even budget-friendly options to outperform older lighting systems in most key areas.
Lower Energy Costs
One major perk of Cheap Led Grow Lights is significant energy savings compared to alternatives like HPS or metal halides. They convert over 90% of energy into usable light rather than wasting heat, slashing electrical costs without sacrificing performance. This makes LEDs ideal for keeping expenses low in a home grow room.
Compact Size
Another advantage of affordable LED grow lights is their compact, lightweight size that allows easy installation in tight indoor spaces. This gives home growers more placement flexibility compared to bulky HID fixtures. LEDs also don’t require external ballasts, further reducing the footprint.
Easy Installation
The plug-and-play design of most cheap LED grow lights eliminates hassles like wiring ballasts. Their lightweight build makes mounting easier as well. This simplicity enables faster setup compared to complex HID systems.
Low Heat Output
Cheap LED grow lights generate much less heat than other types, preventing issues with high temperatures in confined grow tents or small rooms. Their solid-state technology is highly efficient at directing energy toward the light itself rather than wasting it as heat. This cool operation provides a safer, more stable environment.
Full Spectrum Light
While less powerful overall than high-end horticultural LEDs, cheap grow lights still provide the full spectrum output vital for indoor plant growth. This includes warm red and cool blue light that fuels photosynthesis, plus small amounts of other wavelengths for more complete coverage.
Customizable Lighting
Many budget LED grow light models offer switchable spectrum modes that alter the ratio of red, blue, and white light. Users can customize the output to suit each stage of plant growth for optimal results. HPS and metal halides lack this precise color tuning capacity.
Promotes Faster Growth
The combination of full spectrum light in a concentrated, energy-efficient package allows cheap LED grow lights to facilitate faster plant growth cycles compared to fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. Their output better replicates natural sunlight to energize plant processes.
Long Lifespan
High-quality LED chips used in even affordable grow lights boast extreme durability and can operate effectively up to 50,000 hours or longer before degrading. This extraordinary lifespan exceeds most other lighting technologies by orders of magnitude, minimizing the need for frequent bulb replacements.
Durability
LED technology is inherently resilient against impacts and vibrations that easily damage fragile glass HID bulbs. Cheap LED grow lights using quality components are built to last many seasons in demanding indoor farm environments.
Continuous Operation
The incredible lifespan of value-priced LED grow lights allows leaving systems running 12+ hours daily to provide continuous light coverage. More durable than other lamp types, constant operation is no problem. This gives growers more flexibility for maximizing output.
What to Look for in Cheap LED Grow Lights
While less expensive than high-end horticultural models, all LED grow lights are not equal. When shopping for cheap options, keep an eye out for these key features to ensure quality and performance.
Light Spectrum
Plant growth relies on light wavelengths within the photosynthetically active range, primarily blue and red. Verify the LED chipsets used in budget grow lights deliver these critical colors. Avoid purple-heavy lighting lacking adequate red spectrum output.
Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)
PAR indicates how much light energy a fixture emits within the 400-700 nanometer range plants use for photosynthesis fueling growth. While less intense than pricier models, cheap LED grow lights should still provide ample PAR levels for home gardens.
Adjustable Color Mixing
Check that budget grow lights offer switchable spectrum modes altering the ratio of blues and reds or adding white light as needed during each growth stage. This color tuning capacity optimizes the output to match plant needs for better results.
Light Intensity
While lacking the extremely high intensity of commercial LED grow lights, cheap models must still provide enough power to adequately penetrate the plant canopy. Assess output levels to ensure sufficient PAR at all levels, not just directly under the lights.
Measured in Watts
A cheap LED grow light’s wattage indicates total power draw, but not actual brightness. However compare relative intensity between models using watts as a baseline. Generally 200-300W fixtures provide enough illumination for home grows.
Coverage Area
Consider the recommended coverage area for potential cheap grow light models, usually indicated in dimensions for a typical hanging height. Match this range to your actual grow tent or room size for good edge-to-edge lighting distribution.
Build Quality
While pricing is lower, cheap LED grow lights designed specifically for horticulture should still feature durable construction. Review materials and components to gauge overall quality and anticipated longevity in indoor farm conditions.
Heat Management
Check that budget LED grow light fixtures incorporate rugged aluminum heatsinks, cooling fans, or both to maintain optimal temperature ranges. Units lacking sufficient thermal controls risk failure or rapid decline in light intensity.
Water Resistance
Indoor gardening environments pose threats like splashing nutrients or spilled water. Ensure cheap LED grow lights provide adequate waterproofing including sealed joints and coated electronics that withstand continuous humidity exposure.
Recommended Cheap LED Grow Light Models
Focusing on the most important performance attributes reveals these top cheap LED grow lights delivering results similar to models triple the cost.
Viparspectra XS1500
The Viparspectra XS1500 only draws 150 watts but leverages new mid-power LEDs to output intense 1500 μmol/m2/s PAR rivaling commercial fixtures. It provides highly adjustable red, blue, and white spectrum ratios plus standalone veg/bloom modes optimizing growth cycles from seed to harvest.
MARS HYDRO TS 600W
Trusted brand MARS HYDRO packs impressive performance into their popular TS 600W budget LED grow light. Using advanced LED chips and lenses, it achieves up to 550 μmol/m2/s PAR across a 2’x2’ area. Convenient daisy-chaining simplifies expansion to cover larger spaces.
BESTVA DC Series 2000W
BESTVA stretches dollars further than the competition without sacrificing intensity. The DC Series 2000W model offers dial-in spectrum controls and achieves up to 645 μmol/m2/s PAR by utilizing efficient full-spectrum LEDs in a high-density arrangement for penetrating canopy penetration at a bargain price point.
Phlizon Newest 600W
Employing the latest lighting innovations to maximize energy efficiency, the 2020 Phlizon Newest 600W LED touts intense PAR levels up to 800 μmol/m2/s from only 95 watts of power draw. Ultra-compact and lightweight, it works in virtually any small indoor garden while slashing electrical expenses.
Setting up Your Cheap LED Grow Light System
Installing cheap LED grow lights properly ensures sufficient coverage and intensity to reveal their full cultivation capabilities. Here are some tips for maxing out budget fixtures.
Determine the Grow Space
First take careful measurements of the tent, room, or other defined garden area the LED grow light system will illuminate to determine its physical footprint. Accurately gauging dimensions provides a baseline for calculating equipment needs.
Measure the Area
Use a tape measure to quantify the length, width, and height of your rectangular grow space. For irregular areas, sketch the perimeter and divide into geometric shapes as needed to calculate totals for the more complex zone. Quantifying the exact physical parameters prevents issues with under or over-lighting certain portions.
Adjust Number of Lights
Factor the grow area’s total dimensions and recommended coverage ranges per light model together to choose the ideal quantity of LED grow light fixtures required to blanket the entire garden with uniform illumination. Too few units cause weak penetration while overlapping excessive lights wastes energy.
Hang the Lights Properly
Proper lighting positioning both maximizes intensity for the plants and optimizes operational efficiency to reveal the full potential of cheap LED grow lights. Follow manufacturer guidelines but also observe the plants themselves.
Height Recommendations
LED grow light makers suggest ideal hanging heights based on testing for the highest PAR readings at the canopy level. However plants respond differently so also adjust according to observed performance. Raise fixtures incrementally if leaves show light burn or lower to increase penetration.
Secure the Fixtures
Use heavy-duty adjustable hanging kits to securely mount LED grow lights overhead according to recommended positioning. Secure all connections and check stability regularly for safety. Dangling electrical cords also pose risks for damage so anchor everything neatly off the floor.
Connect Ballasts and Timers
While LED grow lights themselves lack bulky ballasts, most affordable systems incorporate external drivers converting current appropriately. Connect these components securely in compliance with electrical codes and manufacturer guidance to avoid hazards.
Also utilize 24-hour timers controlling the lighting schedule to maximize plant growth cycles through consistent illumination periods avoiding unnecessary downtime. Match durations and intensity to growth stages for ideal results. Cheap LED grow lights offer home growers remarkable flexibility – dialing them in properly lets users enjoy expansion-level production on a budget!
Conclusion
Cheap LED grow lights bring advanced horticultural lighting technology within reach of home gardens and smaller operations by concentrating usable spectrum and intensity into affordable plug-and-play systems. When shopping for LED grow lights on a budget, prioritize full spectrum output with adjustable color mixing, ample PAR intensity for the given coverage range, and durable waterproof construction over raw power draw numbers or flashy features alone.
Top contenders like the Viparspectra XS1500 or MARS HYDRO TS 600W balance high performance with reasonable pricing, making the most of low electricity costs and long 50,000+ hour lifespans. Setting up budget LED grow lights properly with attention to the grow space itself and ideal positioning enables unlocking their full potential for driving vigorous growth cycles with minimal operating expenses. The bottom line? Advancements in LED efficiency means even cheap grow lights now outperform antiquated lighting technologies, helping home cultivators and small farms operate more productively at lower cost.
FAQ
What are the main advantages of cheap LED grow lights?
The primary benefits of affordable LED grow lights are major energy savings, compact size for flexible placement, full spectrum light adjustable to plant growth stages, durable construction with long lifespans up to 50,000 hours, and concentrated intensity driving faster growth cycles.
How much do cheap LED grow lights cost?
Pricing for quality cheap LED grow lights suitable for home growing typically ranges from about $100 on the low end for entry-level models up to $300 or slightly above for advanced commercial-grade fixtures packed with the latest top-bin LED chips and innovative optical designs that maximize usable light.
What PAR level should cheap LED grow lights provide?
While less intense than premium commercial LED grow lights with extreme 1000+ μmol/m2/s ratings, decent budget models should still deliver at least 300-600 μmol/m2/s PAR or more to sufficiently penetrate plant canopies for vigorous growth in home tents and small spaces. Prioritize intensity over headline wattage claims alone when comparing affordable options.
How are cheap LED grow lights constructed?
Cheap LED grow lights utilize durable aluminum bodies and waterproof silicone sealing for the housing containing the LED chips and circuit boards. Quality budget models mount these electronics on effective heatsinks and incorporate quiet cooling fans for heat dissipation and optimal spectrum output during continual indoor operation.
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What size spaces can cheap LED grow lights cover?
Standard coverage recommendations for quality affordable LED grow lights suitable for home grows generally range from about 2’x2’ for entry-level 150W fixtures up to a 4’x4’ canopy for more advanced 300W models. Expand illumination by combining multiple lights in larger spaces.
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