The Top 5 Fan-less LED Grow Lights

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LED grow light technology is still new and rapidly evolving. While LEDs are much more efficient than traditional HPS/HID grow lights, they still output heat.

To manage this, most LEDs have built-in fans to move the heat away from the diodes and keep them from overheating and getting damaged. While this method of heat management works, it has a few drawbacks.

First, the fans themselves have a lifespan and can break or be damaged. Every additional component in your light is a potential point of failure. If the fan breaks then it has to be fixed or replaced if you want to continue using the light during your grow.

Fans also accumulate dust, dirt, and other buildup from your grow room. This means they have to be regularly cleaned in order to operate effectively. Many grow lights don’t account for this in their design and make it difficult or impossible to easily clean the fans. If you’re using one light then this is a minor issue, but if you’ve got more than this can be a huge pain.

Finally, while most fans are advertised as “silent”, many end up being pretty noisy, which can be annoying.

Many LED manufacturers are catching on to these issues and some of their latest designs have eliminated the need for fans entirely.

They do this in a few different ways such as adding much larger heat sinks, opting for newer hyper-efficient low heat output diodes, and increasing the overall surface area of the light to reduce areas of highly concentrated heat.

On top of not requiring a fan, these lights tend to have a lower overall heat output, run more efficiently, and have a longer lifespan compared to LEDs with internal fans. 

Here are some of the best options for fanless LED grow lights: 

1) Spectrum King SK402

Wattage: 460 Watt

Price: $799.00

Recommended Coverage Area:

  • Veg: 36 sq ft (6 ft x 6 ft)
  • Flower: 16 sq ft (4 ft x 4 ft) 

The SK402 is the newest and most popular light by Spectrum King. The all around white coating gives better intensity on the outer edge of your canopy. Perfect for plants that are particularly sensitive while only using a fraction of the energy. Safety Certified and IP65 Rated. With water resistant housing the SK402 LED Grow Light is perfect for wet and humid environments. Guaranteed to lower your overall ambient room temperature.

You can choose to add a manual dimmer which enables turning the power down to as low as 10% power for more control when needed.

 The features include 

  • Full spectrum LED, that runs with a blinding intensity
  • Low heat levels - solves temperature issues, particularly in summer
  • Great as both supplementary lighting and as a standalone
  • Speeds up vegging times
  • Features a level of light penetration that gets deep into the canopy
  • Built using Cree LEDs
  • Built to last - engineered to the highest standards
  • Highly energy efficient
  • Ridiculous PAR rating!
  • 50000 hour lamp life
  • Wide-angled for a better light spread
  • UL listed.

 2) NextLight Mega 

Wattage: 650 Watt

Price: $1525.50

Recommended Coverage Area:

  • Veg: 49 sq ft (7 ft x 7 ft)
  • Flower: 16 sq ft (4 ft x 4 ft) 

Another best seller. The NextLight Mega produces a high intensity full spectrum light designed to efficiently replace any DE 1000w HPS on the market. This bright white LED grow light is named the “Mega” not for its size but for the increased production and large footprint it will supply to your canopy. Using only 650 watts, this light is perfect for growers looking to cover larger areas using less.

NextLight’s full spectrum provides the same sun-like qualities plants love without the negatives of high energy requirements and high heat. Using NextLight’s full spectrum you will see faster growth, tighter internodal spacing and increased production overall.

The Mega is designed to meet the needs of commercial and home growers alike. The excessive power consumption, bulb replacements and heat are the biggest problems indoor growers face. The NextLight Commercial Series alleviates all of those issues. Coming in at 2.15 PPF/Watt, the Mega is one of the most efficient lights on the market. On top of that, they have some of the best service and support available and the Mega is even DLC certified and UL listed - perfect for a commercial grow operation.

3) Electric Sky ES300

Wattage: 300 Watt

Price: $695.00

Recommended Coverage Area:

  • Veg: Up to 3' x 6’ 
  • Flower: Up to 2.5’ x 5’’

The Electric Sky ES300 is a 300 watt wideband grow light that uses the newest spectrum and light distribution technology. The patent-pending GS1 spectrum grows plants faster in veg and creates larger flower yields. Industry-first linear lenses send light in two directions, providing both downward intensity and side-to-side uniformity to avoid hotspots. Beginner and expert growers will appreciate the ability to fine-tune the canopy of light by adjusting the positioning of units to create the perfect Electric Sky for any garden size.

  • Exclusive & scientific “GS1” Spectrum contains a special color ratio that tells your plants to grow big leaves & stems for exponentially faster vegetative growth.  Growers frequently report 2x growth speed vs Metal Halide and T5 light sources.
  • Wideband LED technology activates the hidden “supercharger” in plants for massive flowering results.  Older “white” and “purple” LEDs miss a color region that HPS Bulbs and new Wideband LED technology can reach. 
  • Replaceable LEDs and components. Replace yourself or send in to them for an upgrade to a brand new light for a fraction of the cost.
  • Industry-first linear lenses focus light in an “aisle” for evenly distributed yet powerfully intense light above and below the canopy.  Large “sweet spot” vertically and horizontally. Grow “Higher and Wider” even in small areas.

4) Horticulture Lighting Group HLG550

Wattage: 515 Watt

Price: $1049.00

Recommended Coverage Area:

  • Veg: 36 sq ft (6 ft x 6 ft)
  • Flower: 20 sq ft (4.5 ft x 4.5 ft or 4 ft x 5 ft)

The HLG500 indoor horticulture LED Lamp is designed to replace a single ended 1000W HID. Each lamp uses 4 custom designed high efficiency white light Quantum boards. With a total of 1152 Top Bin Samsung LM561C S6 LED's, this fixture produces 1160 PPF with just 510 Watts.

The HLG550 is one of the most affordable fan-less lights if you are on a budget. 

Top features include:

  • High efficiency white light Quantum boards
  • White lLight full spectrum for better results
  • Better canopy light penetration with diffused light
  • Ideal for veg and bloom
  • Dimmable Power Supply included

5) Spectrum King 140 Closet Case

Wattage: 140 Watt

Price: $349

Recommended Coverage Area:

  • Veg: 16 sq ft (4 ft x 4 ft)
  • Flower: 9 sq ft (3 ft x 3 ft) 

Another great light from Spectrum King. The Closet Case is just what the name says, a dedicated LED light for smaller spaces with full spectrum capability. It works great as a light for a single plant and is perfect in tight spaces where heat output can be hard to manage.

Cool running and using only 140 Watts the Closet Case is an LED grow light built to the highest standards. Complete spectrum output will ensure your plants are happy and healthy. 

Features include: 

  • A great light to keep your plants going strong also designed to work for the entire grow and flower cycles.
  • Replace your old T5 banks, CFLs and any HPS up to 250w with these high efficiency LED grow lights built for closets, tents and smaller grows
  • Rugged IP65 Rated waterproof housing makes it perfect for harsh environments
  • Efficient heat sink minimizes radiant heat, which can be problematic in small tent environments.
  • Specially designed 90-degree reflectors spread light evenly to your plants.
  • Each light ships with a six-foot power cord, hanging clips and bracket for easy installation.
  • Safe for outdoor use

Compared to traditional LED grow lights, fan-less LEDs are more efficient, easier to maintain, have a longer lifespan with less that can break, and run completely silent.

If you're looking to upgrade your current LED grow lights or are making the switch from HID lighting, you should definitely consider the advantages of forgoing the fan!

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  • Trevor
Comments 1
  • Chris Benak
    Chris Benak

    Best Flowing Light on the Market 2.42 PPF and producing equal to or exceeding HPS in yield and Flower Characteristics.

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