LEDs can produce the exact wavelength of light that plants need to grow, and if desired, just about no other wave length. Compare this to fluorescent lights, the majority of which is UV light, which worse than being an inefficient wavelength for plant growth, it can actually damage the plants! Where these LEDs gain their efficiency (because they are not as bright as HPS lights) is in their concentration into a wavelength that is ideal for plants.
The problem is that it is hard to guarantee that the LEDs will be the right wavelength, and the technology to do so is still expensive. When I ordered the GlowPanel, I wasn't sure if these were the correct LEDs. Boy did the prove that they are!
The results have been amazing. I live in Maine where it is currently winter and where we only receive about 10 hours (or less) of weak sunlight a day. This year, I decided to continue growing some plants indoors when it got cold. If anything the plants have thrived after being brought out of the sunlight and into the light of the GlowPanel (where they get 20 hours of light a day!). I have never grown any kind of plant under indoor lighting, but those who have and have seen the results of the GlowPanel are mightily impressed.
You can place the GlowPanel incredibly close to your plants since it doesn't get any warmer than room temperature. It won't burn your plants. And the closer the proximity, the greater the intensity of light. This is another big plus over high temperature HPS lights. The downside is that keeping the distance low means that the light will cover less area. That said, my light is ~12inches away from the top of my plants, they receive ample light, and it covers about 2x2 feet, with about 6 plants under the lights.
All in all, if you are looking for a low-energy-cost, low-heat lighting for indoor plants, I highly recommend the GlowPanel 45.
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I initially bought from the same company the 14 watt grow panel and am still using this for seed sprouting and growing but then purchased the 45 watt panel. The 45 watt panel has been growing marigolds and basil now for about 3 months and the plant continue to grow and look healthy. I have set the lights next to each other and the sprouts under the 14 watt light panel grow toward the 45 watt panel.The lights burn cool and bright and are easy to set up. They come with a hanging kit which is easy to use.
Now, after about a month of use with the 45 watt system, two rows of LED's stopped working. The customer service was excellent! I emailed and got a response the same day. I ended up buying a new one, sent my broken light to the company(about 12$ shipping) and once they received the broken unit, credited me back for the purchase. So I was out the 12 $ but had a new unit sunning my plants in about 1-2 weeks.
I would recommend this system to anyone thinking about indoor growing. The main benefits are its simplicity and efficiency its probably comparable in price to the t5 systems but the leds last longer, are lower wattage and either don't require a balast or it is already built in.
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These 27 watt LED panels work perfectly for cuttings. I have one panel over a 2' x 2' area and within about 7-10 days it turns stems into healthy plants with amazing root systems. Once rooted I pot them up and move them into a 2' x 4' area with three of these lights overhead. The plants grow better under 81 LED watts then they have under a 250 watt HID. When it is time for the plants to flower I add two full spectrum Compact Florescent Lamps between each panel. This is still a fraction of what the HID's cost to flower plants.Honest reviews on Sunshine Systems LEDGP45 GlowPanel 28 Watt 45 LED Grow Light
Sunshine Systems GlowPanel 45 is the REAL DEAL. If you are used to the HPS or other lights that have more white light, it would seem weak in brightness but it works. Very efficeint light. I believe it has 104 5mm? LEDs maybe 108 (cant remember). The blue LED leans toward the violet side and the red LED is more pink, covering the proper spectrums and leaving out the other more visible spectrums. On the other hand, the coverage area of 5 SQUARE feet 2.5ft x 2.5ft is slightly over exagerated, the coverage is more in the 3.9 to 4.1 square foot good coverage range. Outside that the plants lean in toward center. Inside the plants turn a bright, vibrant, green. I have only had it for about a month and had to stop the growth cycle due to pests and "other" issues but they were healthy, vigorous plants. I have had two other LED panels of similar sizes. I would recomend this panel over any panel on Amazon under 160$ maybe as much as 300$. The GlowPanel 45 makes the 225 led panel look silly weak. GLOW YOUR OWN!Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sunshine Systems LEDGP45 GlowPanel 28 Watt 45 LED Grow Light
This LED panel does work (my seedlings grew like crazy) but, as other reviewers have mentioned, there are some QC/durability issues with the product and, more importantly, they do NOT last very long. Not recommended.Pros:
* Silent
* Runs cool
* Relatively cheap
* Profile is ideal for shelf mounting
Cons:
* You are likely to receive a non-functional unit (about 50/50 from my experience).
* If you receive a working unit, it will probably only last for 3-6 months.
Details:
I purchased 5 of these grow lights and received 3 non-functional units. On the 3rd lemon, I decided to investigate rather than sending it back. The lid of the panel is held in place with latches and glue --easily removed. Turns out it was just a loose electrical connection (crimped, rather than soldered) and easily fixed with pliers. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. (This reviewer will not be held responsible for anything. Plus, you will void your warranty.)
My units were operating on a 18/7 cycle. They deteriorate rapidly once you start using them. Within a week, one or two LEDs were dead or flickering. After a month, there were blocks of three LEDs that were flickering, dead or dimmer than normal. After 2 months, I noticed that the blue LEDs were significantly dimmer than before. After 3-4 months, there was so little blue left that the unit was practically unusable. The difference is obvious if you place a new unit next to an old one.
Unless you are willing to lose your investment within a year, I would recommend looking for more reliable grow lights.
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