LED Grow Lights for Cannabis: LED vs HPS Costs and Trade-offs

When comparing LED grow lights for cannabis with HPS equipment, separate the technology from the claims made for a particular fixture. The useful comparison covers documented light output, electrical input, spectrum, controls, service life and ownership costs. Neither an LED label nor an advertised wattage proves a particular harvest outcome.

This article focuses on the equipment decision and the GLMX720 model featured in the original. The older application notes remain at the end as marked review material; their crop-specific settings have not been newly validated.

Why compare LED and HPS?

HPS means high-pressure sodium, and MH means metal halide. Both are discharge-lighting technologies. LED means light-emitting diode. The US Department of Energy's control-system explanation distinguishes discharge systems using ballasts from LED systems using drivers.

Compare complete systems, including their control gear and optics, rather than treating a lamp's rating as the whole installation. State whether the decision concerns replacing existing equipment or specifying a new purchase. Keep installation and service costs visible in either case.

Keep broad technology research separate from the offered model. The site's general HPS versus LED article covers the wider comparison; the questions here help examine the specific documentation behind a purchase.

GLMX720 720W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light

GLMX720 is a 720W full spectrum waterproof LED grow light, which is tailor-made for indoor cannabis cultivation.

• Fine-tuned full spectrum for whole growth cycles of cannabis

• High PPF and Efficacy: 1940μmol/s, 2.7μmol/J

• Uniform light distribution, and superior thermal conductivity

• 120º wide beaming angle design, effective flowering footprint up to 5ft(1.5m)x 5ft(1.5m)

• Industrial grade IP65 waterproof protection(LED Bar)

• Modular Design, versatile for various indoor growing applications

• 0% – 100% Dimmable

The listing identifies a full-spectrum bar fixture with a supplied driver and an IP65 rating. Its safety wording explicitly says the rating is not for submersion and distinguishes the driver, plug and dimming connections. 

Why choose LED grow lights for your cannabis?

Growing weed indoors with artificial lights has a clear advantage in producing a higher and better yield. Because most top-quality weed cultivars that have the highest market values have been developed from generations of genetic optimization in indoor environments, and many of these delicately-breed cultivars are unsuitable for field cultivation.

For many years, HID has been used as a standard lighting solution for indoor cannabis plants in direct use, and is currently in use in many commercial installations. However, in the past year, we have also seen the growth of the present day, and the commercial cannabis industry has been planting high-quality LED lighting, so the current crop quality has been consistent with the public performance. A large number of copies have been produced over a long period of time.

Higher Yields, Better Quality

Unlike HID lights like MH and HPS, the spectrum of the LED grow lights can be delicately tuned to generate the desired response of the plants during the whole growing cycle and to optimize the yields in both quantity and quality.

In the past few years, TheOneGrow has been the first global weed planter to launch 15 pieces of LED light distribution research, HID lighting, and other competitive lighting technology, and now we have the most effective indoor weed is light distribution. When the light is full, the color of the purple color reaches the red outside light, and the proportion of the color is proportional to the growth of the color. Tsuzozoic sacrifice (like) THC, CBD).

More Light, Less Cost

A high performance LED grow light can generate the same or even higher light output than a traditional HID light with 50% less electricity consumption. Moreover, comparing to HID lights with a replacement cycle of 10,000-20,000 hours, LED grow lights can sufficiently work for more than 50,000 hours with less than 20% light loss.LED grow light is also much more stable and trouble-free, requiring less routine maintenance than other systems. The long term cost savings combining lower energy cost and less maintenance overheads allows cultivators to focus on plant improvements.

LED plant growth lamps have a high heat capacity and a high yield, so HID commercial plant growth lamps have low yields and are easy to add because they can control the climate during cultivation. The grower has a low heat capacity and the LED light is not placed close to the plant, but the plant is exposed to a large amount of light. Various types of methods, different types of planters can be used to save heat and air, and since vertical cultivation methods can be used, the vertical cultivation method can greatly increase the space utilization rate, which has increased the number of commercial cannabis plants.

How to use our LED grow lights with your weed?

VANQ GLMX series LED grow lights are designed to meet the lighting requirements for both professional commercial growers and home hobby grow tent growers.

Indoor Warehouse with A Single Tier

• Recommended model: GLMX720

• Installation methods: Hanging. Every GLMX720 LED fixture comes with a hanging kit including stainless steel wire ropes, hooks, adjustable ratchet rope hangers.

• Hanging Height: The GLMX720 fixture is recommended to be 18 inches above the canopy during early vegetative stage, 12-18 inches above the canopy during late vegetative stage, and 6-12 inches above the canopy during flowering stage.

• LED fixtures quantity calculation: Each GLMX720 can effectively cover a 5ft x 5ft area during both vegetative and flowering stages.

• PPFD Level: Recommended PPFD level is 700-900 µmol/m²/s during vegetative stage, 800-1000 µmol/m²/s during flowering stage.

• CO2 Enrichment: 1200-1500 ppm during both vegetative and flowering stage

• Photoperiod: 18/6(18 hours of light, 6 hours of dark) during vegetative stage, 12/12 during flowering stage.

Home Growers with Grow Tent

• Recommended model: GLMX720 

• Installation methods: Hanging. Every GLMX720 LED fixture comes with a hanging kit including stainless steel wire ropes, hooks, adjustable ratchet rope hangers.

• Hanging Height: The GLMX720 fixture is recommended to be 18 inches above the canopy during early vegetative stage, 12-18 inches above the canopy during late vegetative stage, and 6-12 inches above the canopy during flowering stage.

• LED fixtures quantity calculation: Each GLMX720 can effectively cover a 5ft x 5ft area during both vegetative and flowering stages.

• Grow Tent Size: At least 4ft x 4ft, 6ft x 6 ft is preferred for low stress straining.

• PPFD Level: Recommended PPFD level is 600-800 µmol/m²/s during vegetative stage, 700-900 µmol/m²/s during flowering stage.

• CO2 Enrichment: Not necessary.

• Photoperiod: 18/6(18 hours of light, 6 hours of dark) during vegetative stage, 12/12 during flowering stage.