LED Upgrade - mental dilemma

[ToughCall]

Hello, hello,

Curious how long fellow growers keep their LEDs prior to upgrading to brighter/newer style lighting.
I've had no issues upgrading perfectly good fans for better ones (ex AC Infinety).
LEDs however are a large investment.

The newer Spider Farmer's PPFD, PAR & uMols are better than my original SF4000 & 3 - SF2000. I also checked out Mars Hydro's SP line which would be a nice improvement for the 3x5 vs the 2 - SF2000's I have in there currently.

So the question is, is the yield improvement worth it?
I currently get about 2.3g per watt + or minus a few tenths.
Mars advertises 3 grams per watt, but a lot of factors go into their marketing (SF too).
I like clean neat environments with tech, and I grow more for the pleasure and sense of accomplishment it brings - especially when the outcome is exceptional.

Any feedback or thoughts to consider on cost justification/ROIto pause an unnecessary purchase?

Thanks,

[Easy-T]

If its still working and getting the results you want,personally wouldn't change wait till it needs changing

[Easy-T]

How does the SF and mars compare to hlg boards

[CityDweller]

There is a newer version of the electric sky I use. It looks amazing and I really want to upgrade. But then I check the PAR in my groom and am reminded I have more light than the plants can use. I think I am on 3 years now with these lights. When the PAR drops below what I need to grow I will upgrade. Cheers!

[V8]

I had the SF4000 in my 3.3x3.3 and upgraded to the SE5000 and the diffrence is there. A new bar style light smashed the light spread and creates good par even in the corners of the tent vs the SF series. The SE series has removable drivers so you can have the driver outside the tent if needed. Bar style enables you to have fans over the light. But remember with more light and better spread you need to be on top of your RH/temp and airflow.

Its an big investment so i would make sure that all the other boxes are checked before upgrading. Temp,vpd,rh,training and so on.

V8

[CityDweller]

I had the SF4000 in my 3.3x3.3 and upgraded to the SE5000 and the diffrence is there. A new bar style light smashed the light spread and creates good par even in the corners of the tent vs the SF series. The SE series has removable drivers so you can have the driver outside the tent if needed. Bar style enables you to have fans over the light. But remember with more light and better spread you need to be on top of your RH/temp and airflow.

Its an big investment so i would make sure that all the other boxes are checked before upgrading. Temp,vpd,rh,training and so on.

V8

Your torturing me V8. The newer version of my light also advertises a better spread and improved wavelength. It's really tempting.

[V8]

Your torturing me V8. The newer version of my light also advertises a better spread and improved wavelength. It's really tempting.

Well if you want to fill your tent a bar style is the way to go. My side buds with a bar light is way thicker then with a board.

Buds at the sides where smaller and weaker with a board. With bar its another story:




This did not happen with thr board light. The sides where weaker and smaller.

And beeing able to remove the driver you can run fans over the light increasing your grow surface under the light since the fans are over.



V8

[Mac]

Had my 1st HLG 260w Kit about 5 years now and my V2 about 3 years, 24/7 365 for the majority of that. No plans to change till they pop and then it will be more HLG going back in

[CheapHomeGrown]

If the LED's are putting out the right amount of light to cover your plants with a good light spread, I don't see how you can get better results by upgrading your lights as plants can only use so much light.

[CityDweller]

If the LED's are putting out the right amount of light to cover your plants with a good light spread, I don't see how you can get better results by upgrading your lights as plants can only use so much light.

Spectrum i think. I have seen a difference in my plants when switching from HPS to CMH and then to LED. Better spectrum balance grows better weed. With each upgrade my weed got stickier.