Hey @yoshi I used that light meter app under my 400w hps, and the meter was saying it’s partly cloudy from the plants right up until about 3 or 4 inches from the light, at that point it read that it was in full sun.
Just wondering how accurate you have found the light meter app to be?
It’s several you can play with but at 18 inches with my LED panels on full power the meter be maxed out bright sunny day , but don’t just settle for one app , search to see if one measure HPS spectrum ?
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I have that same light, Viparspectra 450w, got it on amazon for $139. I then bought another one that looks identical but the frame is blue color, the 450w Meizhi light (was on ebay for $89 shipped so had to snag it).
I’m using both on my first grow (Blue Dream) using a 2 x 4 tent.
The build quality of the Viparspectra feels superior, looks really fancy actually. Also saw pics from an electrical engineer who opened it up to see the guts and everything was tidy and neatly done/soldered.
Anyways both look good. With both switches on (veg and bloom) both lights are exactly the same. With only the Veg on I like the Meizhi better. It turns on the blue LEDs, the white LEDs, and even 4 of the red LEDs. It gives about 70% output with the Veg switch on, very usable (that’s what I’m using now, and the Viparspectra is sitting until plants grow bigger or enter flowering). When you turn on the Bloom switch, it adds all the remaining red LEDs for a nice redish boost in light power. I like it.
The Viparspectra puts out more of a 50 / 50 light powet on each Veg or Bloom channel. Swiitch on strictly blue and some white LED in Veg, or strictly read and some white LEDs in Bloom mode. I feel like I would only use this at full on with both switches on, as the Veg only mode feels kind of weak compared to the 450 Meizhi light.
The Meizhi light has a label with actual numbers for light output and power consumption. It consumes195W +/- 5w, and emits 12.000 Lumen (11900 something). So if you light a 2x2 square with it, you get about 32300 Lux, which is within range what you get from outdoor sunlight, not bad. And only 195w consumption. Pretty awesome.
I got two of these for my 2x4 tent so I will get about 32300 lux in the entire tent.
Here is a pic of the Viparspectra 450w with some random plants, only Bloom switch is on (before I got my seeds =)) (I actually love this lamp for my house lighting, haha, the bloom channel gives a bright white/redish light like a sunset, great to wake up in the morning and have some coffee next to it, or a joint, or both).
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Hey @Iva I know you are very knowledgeable on led so could you give me some advise?
Won’t sat company but it’s a 4pc Cree cxb3590 kit all I need is some al.angle to make fame it has f13838 led I’ll Angelina 90 degree reflector 4 pc Blake anodized al passive pincushion heat sinks rated 60 watt power dissipation each.
Well they want $399 could you give me some advice
Edit, I could also get their 4pc of citizen clu0481212 3500k $299
is that 399 USD ? if so its alittle high but not too bad
Via KingBrite they are 38 per LED heat sink mount and simple reflector + 40-60 for a power supply
You will need to add angle iron, some wire and a power plug for your country this for me is under $15
Shipping will be another cost
I built mine with the cheaper power supply for just under 260 USD with 5 LEDs running at about 55%
The clu0481212 are just as good as cree but are not used as much so this can makes some mounting options harder to find. I have been thinking of building a new veg based light using 4 of these running at around 30% and leaving them at 50% on a dimmer switch so I only use 60w to run a 3x3x5 veg space (fridge) 
and still have a heap of light.
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Coming soon to stores near you? The “Iva wanna weed lights”… Order yours today, while supplies last.
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Hey is the agromax lights any good ? Anybody with experience. 7 band 340watt something, intensity series
I’m new been following u guys seem to be the best on here…
I’m now a huge fan of DIY cobs 
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Hello @Aquaponic_Dumme
If possible can you post a link or some other info on dyi cob lights
I’m a fan of the cob since my last light purchase I pick up two 400 watt cob lights but if I could build them myself I would
Just overwhelmed with the info when I look it up and don’t really know where to start
Thanks in advance countryboy
Hope this helps, cheers
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Thanks @Aquaponic_Dumme super informative video will watch the rest of the series when I get a chance I think I’m going to try a build one instead of buying off the shelf model I work with electric in my trade line voltage and low voltage control wiring and what not so I think this will be up my alley
And I’m assuming it would be cheaper to built say a 1000w setup the purchasing a quality high end type off shelf
Thanks again brother 
Peace Countryboy
So far i am shocked with this VIPARSPECTRA led (in a good way). I had given up for the cold season, i may be indoors but my grow is in a basement garage that can get pretty cold.
I’ve lost 9/10 of my ILGM seeds (likely all my fault) but this game is a learning process.
On my 10th seed it is loving the VIPARSPECTRA. I started around 24"…but with experimenting have brought it down to 10 - 12"… The growth is actually a few weeks with just a small seedling WWAF that i thought wouldn’t make it but after lowering the light it the last 10 days or so growth has exploded.
As a former pro IT and auto tech, i also enjoy the DIY projects, but when it comes to these lights, goals and cost savings of building your own light… I am choosing to buy, mostly for the warranty… When i was researching buying a light, i found (within my price range) VIPARSPECTRA to have the best warranty term of 3 years… Many others had 1-2 years.
Now how will the warranty service be if needed?
If it is used, I will certainly post here to let everyone know.
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Not sure what your working with but a oil filled type heater would help with temp and you could build a small room or box with 2inch insulation foam board
? In your garage to hold in heat since you only have 1 plant left😢
I have a small heater in my grow box to keep temps up around 78 day time temps with the oil type fires and not an issue
Just a suggestion @BrockSamson it would be worth the small investment IMO
Happy growing bro
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Thanks for the heads up on this
Hey my friend. Does Black Dog sell the lights your talking about? I’m using 1000w full spectrum LEDs on top but looking for two side lights.
No they made by Advance Led Lighting they pricey but they very strong lights. Mezhi lights work good and very cost efficient, viparspectra is good and Mars hydro.
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Okay yoshy thanks for the information. Happy growing.
The first Advance photo is the model I have which I run 2 XTE 200 's in a 2x2x5 tent with a 400 watt No name brand which is about a 124 actual watts, and the second picture Advance spectrum I think is a complete different manufacturer, and they also have advance platinum model also which is different as well. From my understanding is Mike and Paul started together in business and separated but both had rights to the brand name from what I’ve learned. The platinum Led is a great product, the spectrum Maxx I heard is good, but Advance XTE and DS XML lights are very intense strong lights and I have 2 XTE and a DS XML model which really pack on weight and resin trichomes. Now if you growing in soil you might want to add that recharge cause that stuff is unbelievable for soil plants.