T5 HO Fluorescent vs LED Replacement Bulb Grow Lights for Shelves -Hydroponic Lettuce Test & Review

In the world of fluorescent grow lights, T5 tube lights are efficient and reliable for plant growth. An inexpensive investment, they work well in grow racks for small-scale gardeners as well as commercial grow operations, working well for seed starting, lettuce production and culinary herbs.

But the bulb lifespan is not so great and continual advancements in LED technology has resulted in a maturing market of super-efficient grow lights. LEDs may have higher upfront costs, but they offer many advantages: Mercury-free, Recyclable, Longer Product Life, Less Heat Generation & Improved Electrical Efficiency.

These LEDs are my NEW recommendation instead of the ones in this video:

AMAZON PRODUCT LINKS (# CommissionsEarned):
► https://amzn.to/3ltUZPY (LED Bulbs ONLY -as Shown in Video)
► https://amzn.to/32zeKvE (LEDs + Fixture -If You Don't Already Own a T5 Ballast)
MUCH better price and even MORE efficient!

Or check out this option:
► Spider Farmer SF300/SF600: https://youtu.be/RXbR-hcXeQ4c
LED LIMITATIONS:

Not all LEDs are designed to operate in the same form factor. Many SMD Panels, UFOs, Par38 & COB designs require 12 or more inches of vertical clearance to achieve proper light distribution. In contrast T5 fluorescents create uniform light while running cool enough to be placed within a few inches of plant canopy. What types of LED lights can be placed very close to your plants, just like T5s?

On Ebay and Amazon you can find some low watt panel LEDs that claim to offer adequate growth. I've tried a couple. And my testing showed how a 5 star review on Amazon doesn't really count for anything these days. Previous video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtRWbltewB0

My real-life testing has shown this LED form factor to be a high quality solution. I'm happy I had the opportunity to share this cool T5 upgrade with you guys.

This LED light is a 4 foot bulb that is designed to plug directly into an existing T5 ballast! By swapping out your old fluorescents, you can get the same great growth at a mere 45% of the original electrical consumption. So in a 4 bulb configuration, you can drop from 205w to just 92w (actual consumption)!
TEST BED:

T5 Fluorescent / 2ft x 4 bulbs (6400k) - 96w (86w actual)
Coverage area: 22.5" x 13.5" = 304 sq in

T5 LED Direct Replacement Tube / 4ft x 4 bulbs - 120w (92w actual)
Coverage area: 46" x 13.5" = 621 sq in

Distance: Lights were placed 6" from soil surface.

Plant Set Up: Red Sails leaf lettuce grown from seed in Kratky's hydroponic trays.
- Seeds from Botanical Interests: http://shrsl.com/?efe4
RESULTS:

Of course, energy savings is useless, if the light doesn't perform. But after comparing my 2 foot T5 fluorescent with this 4 foot system, I'm happy to say that this light has done really well! In expending 7% more power, I observed at least 43% more growth. And there was potential for even more. :-) If compared to a 4 foot fluorescent system, I'm sure these LEDs would be able to keep up with no problems!
RECOMMENDATIONS:

For small scale hobbyists, the upfront price is fairly competitive. You need to analyze how many months out of the year you'll be running them. The lights are excellent quality and they perform very well. But if you're just starting out, you might want to look elsewhere, especially if you don't already own a T5 fixture.

On the other hand, if you already own a T5 fluorescent grow light, switching to the LEDs will enable you to grow year round at a reduced operation cost. I personally am considering growing hydroponic lettuce throughout the Winter since the electrical costs will be so much less!

If you're running a full time operation and have been relying on T5 grow lights, I recommend running the numbers and seeing how quickly these lights could pay for themselves. If you're in a warm climate, don't forget to account for reduced cooling costs. LED T5s make MUCH less heat. How quickly will these lights pay for themselves in energy savings? That depends on your electrical rates and the hours you run these on an annual basis. Watch this video for a more thorough explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhb4oK-9kNY
#GrowLights #IndoorLighting #LEDGrowLights #IndoorGardening
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Видео T5 HO Fluorescent vs LED Replacement Bulb Grow Lights for Shelves -Hydroponic Lettuce Test & Review канала AlboPepper - Drought Proof Urban Gardening