G8LED 900 Watt MEGA LED Grow Light Review
G8LED 900 Watt MEGA LED Grow Light
Continuing our grow lights in detail review series, we take a look at the G8LED 900W Mega LED, last year’s winner of the best LED grow light award from High Times magazine. Here’s what we thought.
The first thing that strikes me is the sheer power of this model. The G8LED provides the same growing power as a 1200W HID, which is a seriously good return given the consumption.
It’s a grow light for those who want to step-up to big time, managing large scale projects of up to 24 plants at a time.
Specs
The G8LED 900W has all the specifications you need for a high-performance, large scale grow light. Red and Blue light-band LEDS are supplemented with infrared and UV bulbs.
Inside the panel are zener diodes which prevent burnout or electrical surges, a real issue on bigger projects.
Unlike most grow lights, the G8 has no veg or bloom switcher. Instead, they provide a full spectrum light that is dynamic enough to support both stages.
The G8 is a big unit running 8 (yes 8!), high-powered, whisper quiet cooling fans. You can switch this on for 24 hours and the LEDs run cool enough to touch. With less specs than many of its competitors, the G8 is opting for a simple, but extremely, effective approach.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Wattage | 900W |
| Covarage Area | 4 x 6 foot |
| Dimensions | 20″ x 12″x 3″ |
| Weight | 23 lbs |
| Lifespan | 100,000 hrs |
| Switches | Veg/Bloom |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Coverage
Coverage can sometimes be a tricky measurement in terms of visualising how many plants you can grow. The truth is, plant sizes vary depending on the strain, the stages of growth and the conditions that you provide. I believe that a single plant needs a minimum of one square foot to cover all the stages of its growth.
The high-powered LED light source means the G8 operates the same coverage in both phases of growth. A huge, 24 square foot.
What really gets me excited though, is the ability of those lights to pierce the canopy. The G8LED 900W penetrates a canopy up to 60 inches deep. That level of coverage is simply not rivalled by any competitors in the market today.
Strength and Efficiency
This unit easily replaces a 1200W HID whilst running on just 540W. Taking into account the coverage, and penetration, the G8 is incredibly efficient.
Electric bills normally tend to spiral in large scale projects. The G8LED 900W could save you hundreds of dollars every month.
Versatility
With a unit this powerful, you’ll need to hang it high. Light burning can be a costly issue with larger lights. G8 recommend at least 24 inches above the canopy which means you’ll need a lot of head room.
The coverage doesn’t reduce, so this unit has got you covered for all stages of growth. No need to move your plants, or your light source during crop production. For a unit this size, it’s very flexible with minimum hassle to set up or maintain.
Value
When we’re thinking about value, we have to consider the size of the unit. The G8 may seem steep but with the amount of crops you can grow, and the extremely low running costs, it’s a steal.
Additional Info
You don’t need an additional ballast to run this light, just plug it into the wall and it’s ready to go. The lights are expected to last up to 50,000 hours. A 2-year warranty as standard with an excellent customer support line should you need some help, or advice.