Do you think LEDs are a good idea?

[RWeb]

So the question is are LED's a good idea? guys, try Googling LED Lightbulbs....eg. a 7.5W LED Lightbulb is the equvalent of a 60W Incandescent, and they last 40x the life of a incandescent. Cost? WELLL that's something of a different topic (they are more expensive)...

HOWEVER....would LED lightbulbs be easier on the eyes? Well I dont know since I dont have any, but my guess is that they would be.

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[Moontanman]

So far my experience with LEDs has been somewhat less than ideal. The spectrum is far to narrow, the bulbs they sell are not as bright as advertised and the things are outrageously expensive.

[stereologist]

I would have to agree with Moontanman. I even have an LED headlamp for camping. The light takes a bit getting used to. The illumination is not what I would expect. I am wondering if the narrow visible light band leads to seeing difficulties, or if the rated output includes invisible parts of the spectrum or nearly invisible parts of the spectrum such as long reds near the infrared end of the visible spectrum.

[freeztar]

They are quite a bit more expensive than incandescents or CFL, but they are coming down in price.

This company claims to have developed a LED array that delivers full spectrum light, or any K rating desired (within limits).

Full Spectrum LED Grow Light

LEDs seem to be a great idea in the long run, but I agree that they are currently too expensive, despite their longevity.

[Boerseun]

What's the pollution footprint of the LED production process? It doesn't help that they use a lot less energy than normal bulbs, last ten times as long, but produces ten times the pollution in production.

So - anybody know?

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by freeztar

LEDs seem to be a great idea in the long run, but I agree that they are currently too expensive, despite their longevity.

There was an interesting discussion of these in a Poll thread "How many Indoor Plants do Hypographer's Grow" or similar. I can't find it so may have the name wrong
There is a good link to a Chinese manufacturer of LEDs in a post by HB.

You could go to the electrical shop, buy a stack of different spectrum leds, and knock a light up yourself?