May grow lights sold today are using either 1W chips or 3W chips. The names of these diodes can be misleading and confusing to say the least. The problem that these names have is that people automatically assume that a 3W diode pulls 3x the amount of energy than a 1W diode. This is not the case. The amount of energy used by each depends on the amperage used to drive the diodes. A 1W is driven by 350mA while a 3W is driven at 700mA.
LED manufacturers have labeled the 3W led as 3W despite the fact that they only draw twice the amount of energy as a 1W LED. This marketing tactic seems misleading but nonetheless, this is how the manufactures choose to label their products. So always remember that a 3W LED is actually a 2W LED since it only pulls 2W of power.
As LED manufactures continue to use confusing labeling of their various LEDs, many people may fall into the trap of thinking that 3W LEDs are a lot less efficient than 1W LEDs. This is far from the truth. 3W are slightly less efficient and this can be revealed when comparing the ratio of power consumption to lumen output between the two LEDs.
LED manufacturers have labeled the 3W led as 3W despite the fact that they only draw twice the amount of energy as a 1W LED. This marketing tactic seems misleading but nonetheless, this is how the manufactures choose to label their products. So always remember that a 3W LED is actually a 2W LED since it only pulls 2W of power.
As LED manufactures continue to use confusing labeling of their various LEDs, many people may fall into the trap of thinking that 3W LEDs are a lot less efficient than 1W LEDs. This is far from the truth. 3W are slightly less efficient and this can be revealed when comparing the ratio of power consumption to lumen output between the two LEDs.
Much testing has been done on 3W diodes with regards to being used in grow lights. For some lights, it only takes 550mA or about 1.53W of power to light up a 3W LED. This is because some choose to decrease the amount of head and increase the lifespan of the LED by not running them at the rated 700mA. By doing so, it runs cooler and lasts longer.
Be wary of companies that claim 3W LEDs in their grow lights. 3W grow lights aren't bad, they have their place, but do dig into whether or not they consume the power the specs outline. For example, some 345 x 3W lights might consume 540W of power while others 3W lights might consume much less if they are made with 180 x 3W LEDs. Some companies might make great claims but take shortcuts when it comes to making up for the fact that 3W LEDs only draw 2W of power.
It's important to know that between the handful of LED manufacturers, each one specializes in a certain number of colors. This allows each company to be number one in a certain corner of this large market. So while there are some who say only certain brands of LEDs are the best, know what no one company can produce all the different colors of LEDs needed for a full spectrum grow light.
In today's LED realm, there are a handful of major companies who are well known for LED efficiency. The other companies are trying to keep up but it seems the gap is widening. The most efficient LED manufacturers include Cree, Osram, Seoul, and Luxeon. These big dogs are in constant battle for first place and the competition only pushes the technology further along.
Over the past several years the company who has owned the title of "highest lumen per watt LED manufacturer" the most, is Cree. Cree continuously achieves unmatched levels of light output throughout the industry, and is recognized as one of the leading pioneers of current LED chip technology. When companies are only interested in having the best, Cree is what they use! The only downside with companies like Cree, is that they have one of the highest cost to performance ratios in the industry, and a ver
Be wary of companies that claim 3W LEDs in their grow lights. 3W grow lights aren't bad, they have their place, but do dig into whether or not they consume the power the specs outline. For example, some 345 x 3W lights might consume 540W of power while others 3W lights might consume much less if they are made with 180 x 3W LEDs. Some companies might make great claims but take shortcuts when it comes to making up for the fact that 3W LEDs only draw 2W of power.
It's important to know that between the handful of LED manufacturers, each one specializes in a certain number of colors. This allows each company to be number one in a certain corner of this large market. So while there are some who say only certain brands of LEDs are the best, know what no one company can produce all the different colors of LEDs needed for a full spectrum grow light.
In today's LED realm, there are a handful of major companies who are well known for LED efficiency. The other companies are trying to keep up but it seems the gap is widening. The most efficient LED manufacturers include Cree, Osram, Seoul, and Luxeon. These big dogs are in constant battle for first place and the competition only pushes the technology further along.
Over the past several years the company who has owned the title of "highest lumen per watt LED manufacturer" the most, is Cree. Cree continuously achieves unmatched levels of light output throughout the industry, and is recognized as one of the leading pioneers of current LED chip technology. When companies are only interested in having the best, Cree is what they use! The only downside with companies like Cree, is that they have one of the highest cost to performance ratios in the industry, and a ver
It's important to know that between the handful of LED manufacturers, each one specializes in a certain number of colors. This allows each company to be number one in a certain corner of this large market. So while there are some who say only certain brands of LEDs are the best, know what no one company can produce all the different colors of LEDs needed for a full spectrum grow light.
In today's LED realm, there are a handful of major companies who are well known for LED efficiency. The other companies are trying to keep up but it seems the gap is widening. The most efficient LED manufacturers include Cree, Osram, Seoul, and Luxeon. These big dogs are in constant battle for first place and the competition only pushes the technology further along.
Over the past several years the company who has owned the title of "highest lumen per watt LED manufacturer" the most, is Cree. Cree continuously achieves unmatched levels of light output throughout the industry, and is recognized as one of the leading pioneers of current LED chip technology. When companies are only interested in having the best, Cree is what they use! The only downside with companies like Cree, is that they have one of the highest cost to performance ratios in the industry, and a very limited spectral offering.
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In today's LED realm, there are a handful of major companies who are well known for LED efficiency. The other companies are trying to keep up but it seems the gap is widening. The most efficient LED manufacturers include Cree, Osram, Seoul, and Luxeon. These big dogs are in constant battle for first place and the competition only pushes the technology further along.
Over the past several years the company who has owned the title of "highest lumen per watt LED manufacturer" the most, is Cree. Cree continuously achieves unmatched levels of light output throughout the industry, and is recognized as one of the leading pioneers of current LED chip technology. When companies are only interested in having the best, Cree is what they use! The only downside with companies like Cree, is that they have one of the highest cost to performance ratios in the industry, and a very limited spectral offering.
About the Author:
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