BESTVA BAT W200 Dimmable LED Grow Light VS Sonlipo SPE2000 LED Grow Light
With so many types of grow lights and systems available, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one will best suit your needs. In this article, we will give you a comprehensive explanation of how to choose the right supplemental lighting for your indoor garden.
Why is Light Important for Growing Indoor Plants?
The importance of light comes down to one word — photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process plants use to turn light energy into chemical energy, helping them grow, resist disease, synthesise nutrients, and, most importantly, develop dense, resin-laden buds!
Most indoor plants are photoperiodic, and, in the wild, flower according to the seasonal changes in light exposure. Indoor lighting needs to mimic these conditions; so, for light coverage, you’ll want to stick to the following schedule (hours of light/hours of darkness):
• Seedling: 20/4
• Vegetative: 18/6
• Flowering: 12/12
Given how long lights will be running from start to finish, you’ll want to commit to a unit with running costs that match your budget.
BESTVA BAT W200 Dimmable LED Grow Light
Features:
BESTVA grow light provides highly efficient full spectrum with a healthy red-to-blue ratio to drive photo synthesis. Light energy between 500–599nm, previously thought wasted, penetrates deeper into the plant canopy promoting photo morphogenic responses. High color rendering “white” light aids to rapidly identify potential threats to your crop and provides superior working conditions and safety for personnel. Ideal for both flowering and vegetative production. Bar light design and aluminium material on the back contribute to better airflow and great heat dissipation. This growing light comes with a detachable driver and long power cord, thereby reducing ambient heat in your growing space for extended lifespan. With the waterproof circuit board, worry free of the moist environment. Easy installation.
Sonlipo SPE2000 LED Grow Light
Features:
The SPE2000 professional plant grow light is specially designed with dimmable spectrum of VEG, BLOOM and V&B modes, which are suitable for each growth stage of plants, and Effectively promotes plant leaves, stem growth, and flower yield. It consists of 660nm red light, 740nm (IR), 390nm (UV), 3000K, 4000K, 5000K and 6000K white light spectrum, infinite close to natural sun light. Spectrum and light intensity control via VEG, BLOOM switch and dimmer knob. Lampshade edge curved reflective design that effectively gathers light, reduces light loss to aisles and walls, increases light intensity by 30%, and increases energy usage. Aviation aluminum and easy cooling stripe design, multiple air vents, to achieve excellent heat dissipation and no noise, make the lamp last longer.
Factors to consider when choosing the best grow lights
There’s a lot that goes into the decision-making process when choosing which type of light a grower should use, including the cost, quality, intensity, and desired spectrum.
Here we’ll go over the main factors to consider when choosing grow lights:
Cost and efficiency
Facility layout
Light spectrum
Let’s look at each of these in detail:
1. Cost and efficiency
In general, the cost to purchase HIDs is lower than for LEDs, but prices on LEDs are decreasing. Plus, many companies offer rebates, helping to offset the upfront costs. But when calculating capital expenditure, you also must consider the net running costs of lights, including how much power they consume and how much heat they give off.
“Plain and simple, LEDs are extremely energy efficient,” says Delaney. “When talking about efficiencies, it’s not just about the light itself but more in terms of environmental variables. LEDs throw off considerably less heat than other lights, such as HPS. This has a dramatic impact on cutting cooling costs, making it more efficient all the way around.”
That said, as Kirk notes, some growers rely on the heat from HID lamps to provide warmth to their facility. “If a grower is replacing HPS lamps — which often provide heat for the grow room due to their low efficacy — with LEDs, which run cooler, they’ll need to properly compensate by adjusting the HVACD [heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and dehumidification] system to add heat to the room.”
2. Facility layout
Another key consideration is the space that cultivators are working with. With vertical farming increasing in popularity, growers are now able to produce high yields within a limited footprint. Plants are grown in tiers, which means a multi-level lighting system is required to supply all plants with the right amount of light.
HPS lamps are usually unsuitable in this scenario, as they tend to be large and give off a lot of heat. On the other hand, LEDs have a slim profile, fit easily into racking systems, and don’t emit much heat. As such, they can be strategically placed to ensure that all plants have the right amount of light, no matter their position on the racks.
3. Light spectrum
Plants require different levels of light intensity and spectrum composition depending on their cultivar as well as their stage in the growing cycle. Recent advancements in research mean that lighting manufacturers and growers are now equipped with more in-depth knowledge in this area and are tailoring lighting systems accordingly.
As mentioned, LED lights offer more control here, but not all LEDs are made equal. This is definitely an area where you need to do some research and find out what the different lighting manufacturers are able to offer.
Conclusion
I know it is tough choosing the best LED grow lights for indoor plants. We had the same problem because we wanted something that would be beneficial for indoor plants and some vegetables that we grow in our garden.
After testing several LED grow lights, we found the perfect match that blends well with your plants. But initially, the cost was too much because we didn’t even have a checklist to follow when buying these grow lights.
So, like any amateur, we made decisions based on the hypes we heard on the market. And the experience didn’t turn out to be well.
The good news is, you won’t have the same experiences as an expert indoor grower because what you’ve just finished reading is the guide we wish we had when we started indoor gardening.
In other words, you can trust us, and everything will be fine. We’ve spent lots of hours reviewing these products so that you won’t end up choosing the wrong LED grow light. I hope this guide was resourceful to you.
