LED Grow Lights

What is an LED grow light?

An LED grow light is an electric lamp built to feed plants, not people. It uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce the colors plants use for photosynthesis, the process that turns light, water and carbon dioxide into the sugars a plant grows on. Plants do most of that work with light between about 400 and 700 nanometers, so a good grow light is designed to deliver plenty of light in that range and as little wasted energy as possible.

Because LEDs are small and easy to control, makers can shape the spectrum, dim the output and spread the light evenly over the plants. That is why LED grow lights have become the default choice for indoor gardens, seed-starting shelves, grow tents and commercial indoor farms.

Why growers choose LED grow lights

• Less power for the same light. Many modern LED fixtures turn electricity into plant light more efficiently than traditional HID lamps, so they cost less to run.
• Less heat aimed at the plants. An LED fixture carries its heat away from the side that faces the plants, so the canopy can sit closer to the light.
• One light for every stage. A full-spectrum LED can be dimmed and used from seedling to harvest instead of swapping lamps.
• Instant on and off. LEDs reach full output straight away, with no warm-up and no long cool-down after a power cut.
• Control. Dimming, timers and spectrum choices let you match the light to the crop.

What to look for in an LED grow light

Wattage alone does not tell you how well a light will grow plants. Look at the whole picture:

• Efficacy. Measured in micromoles of light per joule of electricity (µmol/J). Higher means more plant light for the same power. See our comparison of LED vs HID grow lights.
• Spectrum. Full-spectrum white light gives plants every color they use and lets you see their true color. Read about full spectrum LED grow lights.
• The diodes. The LED chip decides much of the light quality and lifespan. Learn about Samsung LM301B LED grow lights.
• Coverage and intensity. A light has to cover your space evenly. See how many LED grow lights you need.
• Build quality. Water resistance, a dependable driver and a real warranty protect your investment.

My LED grow lights

My LED Grow Lights use Samsung LM301b/h LEDs: affordable and dependable world-class LED technology.

• Roughly half the power of traditional HID lights. A 1000w HID light actually uses closer to 1100w, while My LED Grow Lights use roughly half the power of traditional HID's and compare well against florescent, blurple and older LED lights.
• Full-spectrum white light. A more natural color to the human eye than the blue of MH lights or the yellow and red of HPS lights, so you can spot pests and disease early.
• Built for wet rooms. IP65 (water-resistant) or IP67 (waterproof) ratings, and waterproof connections on every wiring harness.
• Easy power. Works on 120v or 240v and detects the voltage you plug into, then converts to the proper setting automatically.
• Full control. A dimmer switch gives you full control of light intensity, and the lights turn on and off like any switched or dimmable home light, with no long cool-down after a power cut.
• A 3-year warranty is standard unless otherwise noted in the product description.

Whether you are growing food, ornamental plants or medicine, My LED Grow Lights aims to provide the safest high-quality lights and products available. Our values are simple: we care about our customers and are committed to honesty and integrity.

Short answers

For quick answers on power, voltage, waterproofing and the warranty, see our LED grow light FAQs.

Reduce your carbon footprint and your energy bill

Lower power means a lower electric bill and a smaller carbon footprint. The key idea is that electricity is charged by the kilowatt-hour, not by amperage, so lower wattage is what lowers your bill. Our guide to whether LED grow lights save electricity shows the arithmetic.

Sources

• Michigan State University Extension: LEDs vs. HPS
• Samsung LED: LM301H EVO