What is the importance of having reliable LED grow lights?
Glad you asked. The importance of having reliable LED grow lights is what we will go over today together with you, throughout this article. Tag along!
Plants are modulated by changing grow light conditions. Inconsistent light will act in detriment of a quality crop, affecting the evenness of growth, and every other aspect of crop quality.
Preventing these problems by choosing reliable LED fixtures will provide you with optimal plant growth.
What you will be able to read throughout this article:
- What makes a LED fixture and why are they not all made the same?;
- Brand Trust & Reputation;
- Choosing LED with Consciousness;
- Quality control;
- Light fixture reliability: Quality, quantity and consistency;
- What issues can arise from unreliable LED fixtures?;
- Final Thoughts;
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s).
What makes a LED fixture and why are they not all made the same?
LED fixtures have come a long way since their inception. Technological advancements have made it so that assembly lines and factory production methods kept constantly improving, ever since they first hit the market.
However, are all LED fixtures alike? Definitely not! These engineering and technological differences in the way they are built and assembled generate tiers of quality and function.
Today, we will focus on the reliability of LED grow lights, and how fundamental they are for achieving consistent, efficient, high quality results with predictability in your indoor gardens.
We are set on a quest to ensure you make the most out of your favorite crop and hobby!
Brand Trust & Reputation
Trustworthy LED brands (such as Lumatek) go to great lengths to guarantee that their factories and manufacturing processes work seamlessly, and yield fixtures that have no perceptible variance in their function or form.
We apply state-of the art production practices to guarantee that we can help you, the grower, receive a unit that will perform at the best of its qualities and that stands the test of time.
…but can all brands take pride in ensuring the same degree of dedication to their end product and complete customer satisfaction? Most certainly not.
A great degree of divergence exists between manufacturers of horticultural lights in this regard. Now, how does this concern you as a grower or hobbyist?
Well… stress, uncertainty, danger, incapacity to repeat the desired results, time, and the investment of other resources (just to name a few): every single one of these topics heavily resonates with LED grow light reliability, in one way or another.
Choosing LED grow lights with consciousness
By deciding to go for a wise and educated LED fixture choice, you can stray away from having to deal with cumbersome situations such as those previously mentioned.
If grow lights of questionable origin are used, problems will occur at any given time, especially when you’re seeking performance.
It is about reducing all the FUD (fear, doubt and uncertainty) to a bare minimum by placing your trust in a brand that is able to deliver a product that is compliant, correctly assembled, tested, and that will meet the requirements that you need: one that offers stellar performance.
Quality control
Lesser grade LED fixtures are built cheaply by cutting corners during the manufacturing process. This includes little to no quality control, that is, the complete opposite of what is known as reliability.
Certain manufacturers are known to avoid compliance through questionable practices, placing you at risk by offering you a product with little, or even worse, a complete lack of certification. Moreover, in the event of having any issue that requires manufacturer assistance (as it can happen with any electrical appliance), they need to be there for you effectively to provide you with the customer support you deserve. Not every brand can offer these services as promptly as they should, we advise you to do your due diligence and to decide for those who can.
By choosing to go along with dubious LED fixtures and brands of questionable practices, you are placing yourself at risk, increasing the chances of running into problematic situations that simply could have been avoided by making better choices in the first place.
Light fixture reliability: Quality, quantity and consistency
Whichever is your crop of choice, stress related responses to incorrect lighting system management are a common place throughout the horticultural space. Compromised yield, intersex tendencies, incorrect and sluggish plant growth… there are a plethora to name. We will go over them for you, so that you never (hopefully) have to run into them yourself!
Energy Efficiency (*technically efficacy, but general public/hobby sector refers to it as such*)
Leading industry brands run meticulous in-house and third party tests to ensure that the performance of their products meets the advertised numbers.
It is then vital for a dependable brand to be your first choice, one that offers insight into their products with credibility. This can be achieved through accurate data presented via product data sheets (aka spec sheets).
Sustainability
Reliable LED fixture sourcing from manufacturers with good business and production practices contributes to promoting sustainable farming and reducing environmental impact.
What issues can arise from unreliable LED fixtures?
A myriad of troubles occur from malfunctioning low-quality LED units. The better solution to every single one of them is a prudent choice of light fixture from a reputable brand (such as Lumatek).
1. Night Cycle Interruptions
These are known to compromise the flowering stage, leading to abnormal and undesirable plant architecture and a low-grade end product.
Furthermore, anecdotal evidence suggests that this slight variations triggers intersex tendencies in the most sensitive varieties, with recent scientific findings suggesting a similar case scenario.
2. LED Flickering and Incorrect Diode Behavior
LED flickering and incorrect fixture shielding, together with design and assembly flaws, can lead to, among other things, dimmed out diodes even when the timer sets off. This is another factor that can trigger plant stress responses, which are uncalled for, and can and will eventually result in the aforementioned problems.
3. LED Beam Angle
The promised light distribution becomes compromised and plant growth ceases to be uniform in the way that was to be intended. The final yield will be jeopardized and the chance of running into other crop-related problematic situations increases, such as the opportunist fungi that find these conditions benefitting (Botrytis cinerea, Erysiphales sp.)
4. Lesser Quality Diodes
These will not offer the same degree of dependability as those from leading manufacturers (such as Osram). Despite the advertised efficacy and spectrum, often they will fail to deliver those exact same specifications.
The issue of counterfeit branded diodes present in cheaper fixtures is also an increasing point of concern.
5. Dangers To the Growing Space and Household
Bad quality control practices and non-compliant equipment (that lacks the necessary and supplementary certification), with a greater chance of malfunctioning, will place you at a higher risk when they do fail to work as they should.
Given the nature of these apparatus, you will be leaving them unattended for lengthy portions of time.
These aspects combined pose great hazard to you and your household.(H4) 6. Disappointment, Frustration and Demotivation
Failing to keep your plants alive and with utmost health, or to deliver your crop from A to B without running into issues, might come around and lead you to accumulate a whole lot of frustration and disappointment, specially due to malfunctioning equipment during a crucial stage!
Each and every step you can take to ensure the reduction of this probability should be welcomed. This way, you can nurture the best possible experience together with your plants and fully enjoy the results of your efforts.
These are all obstacles that place themselves between you and a successful grow cycle, which can be completely avoided or greatly mitigated by carrying out the right practices.
Final Thoughts
A great deal of importance must be attributed to the reliability of horticultural LED grow lights. After all, they influence the outcome and success of your indoor plant cultivation efforts directly.
Choosing to buy a proper LED fixture from a respectable, trustworthy, and proven provider will place you on track to success… so you get the most out of your favorite plants!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Question – What factors does LED grow light reliability influence?
Answer – LED fixture reliability directly influences plant growth, energy efficiency, crop quality, yield, sustainability, risk mitigation, precision light control, and optimized resource utilization, among several other related aspects.
Q. – Why is it important to choose reliable LED grow lights?
A. – Only by choosing well-built and dependable LED fixtures you can achieve high quality results in a predictable manner that remains consistent.
Q. – Are all horticultural LED diodes built the same?
A. – Most certainly not. They vary greatly in their performance and role, efficacy, quality of spectrum, and durability.
Q. – Counterfeit branded LED exist? How come?
A. Unfortunately, yes. Just like it happens with every other market that is in high demand, lower class counterfeit parts appear to supply companies or individuals that have less than desirable business practices. Only by choosing a quality manufacturer you can be sure that the advertised diodes are of legitimate origin.
Q. – Why is certification important for LED grow lights?
A. – It is by complying with the necessary national and international laws and guidelines that a given product is known to be safe for use. Horticultural LED fixtures are no different. By having the necessary certificates in order, you can be sure that they are safe electrical appliances that can be relied upon. Regarding LED fixtures, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is of particular concern, as it interacts with other electronic appliances, leading them to malfunctioning.
