SF1000: Hands-On LED Grow Light Review

We recently got our hands on an SF1000 LED grow light from Spider Farmer and tested it out.

If you follow GardenBoss.org, you already know that we’re fully on board the indoor growing craze of the 21st century.

That said, It’s more aggravating, and expensive in the long-run, to try indoor gardening without really decent equipment, especially when it comes to stuff like lights.

Seriously. Just think about it. Indoors, you have to replace the power of the actual SUN when it comes to growing plants of any sort.

Not just any old light is up to that task, something beginners tend to find out the long and painful way… by buying cheap equipment and having to replace it over and over.

That’s why researching and investing in the right equipment matters. Don’t get fooled by cheap prices and big sales pitches.

Save yourself valuable time and money by shopping around, investigating a bit, and making the right investment the first time around.

While you’re at it, take a good look at the growing equipment over at Spider-Farmer.com(or check them out on Amazon if you prefer), for some of the most reliable entry to pro-level growing gear around.

But first, continue reading below and explore the whole truth about the SF1000.

About the SF1000 Hanging LED Grow Light

The SF1000 is an entry-level hanging grow light from the Spider Famer SF series.

At first appearance, it is made from high-end components, such SAMSUNG diodes and a Mean Well driver, has a pretty hefty price, and comes with a nice warranty.

But, we’ve taken a much closer look than simply at the mere surface of this LED grow light. In this article, we share everything we learned about the SF1000, whether good, bad, or ugly!

What’s in the Box

Full Specs

The full specifications for the SF1000 have evolved since the light’s first appearance on the market several in 2015.

Below is the most up-to-date and accurate specs available:

• Light Spectrum: White 3000k, Blue 5000k, Red 660nm, and IR 760nm
• Number of Lights: 218
• Light Coverage: 2ft x 2ft Flower and 3ft x 3ft Veg
• Frequency: 50-60Hz
• Noise: Zero
• Input Voltage: AC100 – 277V
• Heat: low output
• Max Yield: 2.5g/Watt
• Power Draw: 100.5W@AC12 0V/98.8W@AC240V/98.39W@AC277V
• Amps: 0.8274A@AC120V/0.4246A@AC240V/0.3739A@AC2 77V
• Lumens: 16439@AC120V/16327@AC240V/16292@AC277V

SF1000 Grow Light: the Breakdown

The break-down section of the article is the part where we pull out the microscope and inspect every little aspect of the product we’re reviewing and then convey the information to you, the audience, in simple English that you don’t need to be a hydroponic farmer or indoor gardener with 20+ years of experience to understand.

So, then! Let’s get started with the breakdown of this popular grow light from Spider Farmer.

Brightness

One of the first things we noticed about the SF1000 is that it’s awfully bright for an LED indoor grow light. But, many 100w grow lights actually seem brighter.

However, in exchange for not putting off quite as much light as some 100w grow lights do, this one is more energy-efficient thanks to not having to divert power to an inline fan or cooling system of some sort.

Further, to be fair, the light is much brighter than most of the non-brand 100w lights we’ve used. It is more than bright enough for almost any indoor grow ops including soilless growing methods like deep water culture and Kratky hydroponics.

Durability

Seeing as we’ve just recently gotten our hands on this light, we can’t speak much on the long-term durability of the unit just yet.

That said, we fully expect to report back next year that the light has been in full use and is still functioning just fine.

Why would we assume such a thing about a product we’ve just barely finished testing? Simple. So, far? Everything about the light seems high-end and heavy-duty, from the diodes and driver right down to the power cord.

There’s also the warranty to consider, which we discuss more below. Most manufacturers don’t even bother providing any assurance beyond the first few months, or one year, on products that aren’t durable in general.

Ease of Use

To be honest, most LED grow lights are pretty simple to use and this one is no exception.

There is no real installation involved and no confusing controls to worry about either.

Simply open the box, remove the light, clip on the ratcheting hanger system, plug the power cord in, place the light, and you’re ready to rock and roll.

Setting up a professional-grade indoor grow light doesn’t get much easier than this, folks.

Power Consumption

As advertised, the SF1000 draws approximately 100w and puts out more light than an old-school 1000w light.

When it is first powered on, however, it only draws around 92W to 95w for a bit.

Once it’s warmed up and running though, the power consumption gradually increased and then tops out at 100w, as promised by Spider Farmer.

Components

One of the main aspects of the SF1000 that sets it apart from other lights of a similar fashion, in our mind, is that it consists of high-quality components literally from top to bottom.

The light features a long-lasting and durable metal aluminum cover that backs and PCB loaded with high-end SAMSUNG LM301B diodes. The unit is powered by a Mean Well driver.

All these high-end parts are carefully crafted together and hang from a lightweight but well-built ratcheting hanger system.

Instructions

Another aspect that stood out to us about this light is that the manufacturer actually provides rather detailed instructions with it.

Most of the lights we’ve gotten our hands on don’t come with a user manual, let alone instructions on how to both install and use the product correctly.

In our opinion, this speaks volumes of how much time, effort, and faith Spider Farmer has invested in this light.

Price

The current prices for the various versions of the SF1000 range between $80 and $180, which is a bit expensive compared to both non-brand LEDs and other brand-names entry-level grow lights.

But, before you write this light off of your to-buy list, based on the cost of it, consider this: the light comes with all high-end parts, is expertly crafted by a well-known manufacturer, includes instructions, and even comes with a multi-year warranty.

Warranty

All the best products come with warranties. The SF1000 includes a five-year warranty, which speaks for itself.

Personally, we tend to avoid purchases for growing equipment over the price of $50 that doesn’t include a warranty of at least a year or two.

Further, if you actually have an issue with your light, Spider Farmer has an excellent customer service reputation. All you need to do is got in touch with them and let their professionals help you out.

Basic SF1000 Grow Light vs the Upgraded Version

Basic SF1000

The basic version of this light is available directly from spider-farmer.com as well as retailers such as Amazon. It has all of the same great specs as the upgraded version, minus the dimmer switch and daisy chain.

SF1000 with Dimmer and Daisychain Plug

The updated version includes a Mean Well driver, full dimmer switch, and daisy chain plug in addition to the standard specs of the SF1000. It’s also available via the Spider Farmer website and Amazon.

The Good Stuff

The quality of the SF1000 is quite apparent given the number of pros that we found. Here’s our list:

• No real assembly is required
• Made well with no wires showing
• Includes basic ratcheting hanger system(easy to adjust height)
• Lightweight PCB and aluminum backing plate
• Mean Well driver
• Daisy chain capability(for larger grow setups)
• Heavy-duty power cables
• High-end SAMSUNG diodes
• Water resistant silicone coating over the diodes
• Draws only 100W(possibly 5W or so less)
• Less power converted away from the lights(due to no fan)
• Detailed instructions on installation and usage
• Runs extremely queitly(no buzzing or humming)

The list of advantages is just the cherry on top, honestly. This list of pros is half the size of the one we jotted down in our notebook as we were testing and researching the SF1000.

Now… on to the stuff we didn’t like!

The Bad Stuff

As with anything in life, you gotta take the bad with the good. Here are the main potential drawbacks we discovered with the SF1000:

• It is not as bright as some similarly priced LED lights(but more effective, power-wise)
• All the white diodes may not be SAMSUNG LM301Bs
• The protective silicone layer is rather thin(easy to damage or scratch)
• The unit may run better in lower working temperatures or with a fan

Compared to the sheer amount of good stuff, coupled with the fact that no product is perfect, the cons don’t even begin to measure up.

FAQS About Spider Famer’s SF1000 Series

How many watts is a Spider Farmer SF1000?

This light draws between 95w and 100W directly from a wall outlet. You won’t even notice it on your electric bill. In fact, it may cause a drop in your power bill if you’re replacing old lights that draw too many watts.

Is Spider Farmer a good company?

Spider Farmer is a multinational company headquartered in California, USA. They were founded in China, where most of the production probably still takes place.

How do you hang a Spider Farmer SF1000?

Hanging an SF series grow light from Spider Farmer is as simple as it can be. All you need to do is attach four clips to the backing of the light and suspend it from the rods in your grow tent. The easy-to-use ratchet hanger design allows you to effortlessly raise and lower it while it is hanging.

What We Think About the SF1000 Grow Light

Bargain! That’s our final verdict.

Whether upgrading from a generic light that came in the complete indoor grow kit, or shopping for the best light to install in the grow tent you just set up, we find the SF1000 is an affordable alternative to high-end quantum boards and other over-priced LED lights for growing indoors.

The light is geared towards micro to medium-sized grows, such as for use in grow tents and hydroponics systems. But, thanks to its daisy chain ability, it works for larger commercial operations as well.

Even more importantly, if anything happens to your light, you’re covered with a five-year warranty and great customer service.

Do you have experience with the SF1000? If so, we’d love to hear all about it in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading!

Note: This is NOT a sponsored post.

Suggested Reading: Hanging LED Grow Lights: Beginner’s Guide