California Lightworks SolarSystem 550 vs Horticulture Lighting Group HLG 550 V2 B Spec LED Comparison

California Lightworks SolarSystem 550 vs HLG 550 V2 B Spec LED Grow Light Comparison

Choosing the right LED grow light for indoor and hydroponic cultivation can be overwhelming, especially with evolving regulations and so many fixtures claiming high efficiency and top-tier yields. For serious growers, every watt, photon, and dollar matters—both for legal compliance and long-term cost-efficiency.

In this side-by-side LED grow light comparison, we break down two highly respected fixtures: the California Lightworks SolarSystem 550 LED and the Horticulture Lighting Group HLG 550 V2 B Spec. Both are powerful full-spectrum LED grow lights, but they are optimized for different grow stages and grow room strategies. Below you’ll find data-driven specs, spectrum notes, cost analysis, and practical conclusions to help you decide which fixture fits your indoor or hydroponic grow best.

SolarSystem 550 vs HLG 550 V2 B Spec: LED Grow Light Specs Comparison

The table below summarizes key technical specifications for both LED grow lights, including wattage, efficiency, PPF, coverage, and control options. These metrics are especially important for hydroponic growers designing precise, high-density canopies.

LED Specification	SolarSystem 550 LED	HLG 550 V2 B Spec
Wattage (Input Power)	400 W	240–480 W
Voltage Options	90–277 V	90–277 V
Efficiency μmol/J [380–780 nm]	2.3 μmol/J	2.55 μmol/J
Total PPF Intensity [380–780 nm]	888 μmol/s	1175 μmol/s
Amps	3.3 @ 120 V | 1.65 @ 240 V	100–277 VAC 50–60 Hz
Recommended Mounting Height	24" – Flower, 30" – Veg, 36" – Seedling	24–32" above canopy
Coverage Footprint – Veg	6' x 8'	6' x 6' at 36"
Coverage Footprint – Flower	3' x 4'	N/A (veg-specific)
Length	18"	26"
Width	8.5"	20"
Height	4"	3"
Weight	13 lb	20 lb
Warranty	5-year	3-year
Controllable	Yes, with optional fully programmable central controller	No (basic dimming only)
DLC Listed for Energy Rebates?	No	No
IP Rating	IP65	N/A
UV and/or IR Spectra?	UV and IR capable	No
Dimming	Yes, 3-channel 0–100%	Yes, manual or 0–10 V option
Cooling	Active heat management	Passive

Vegetative vs Flowering: Which LED Grow Light Fits Your Grow Strategy?

Key result: The biggest practical difference in this comparison is grow-stage flexibility. The HLG 550 V2 B Spec is designed specifically for vegetative growth, while the SolarSystem 550 can be used for both veg and flowering.

If you run a single room where veg and flower happen in the same space, the SolarSystem 550 is the more versatile LED grow light. It covers both stages without swapping fixtures, which simplifies your setup, reduces hardware redundancy, and keeps your canopy under a consistent fixture from start to finish.

If you operate with dedicated veg and flower rooms, the HLG 550 V2 B Spec becomes more attractive. It focuses its output on the vegetative spectrum, delivering strong PPF (1175 μmol/s) and higher listed efficacy (2.55 μmol/J) to harden plants before they move into your flowering environment. For hydroponic growers, that stronger veg phase can translate into better structure, more tops, and higher potential yields once plants transition under your bloom lights.

Spectrum Differences and Their Impact on Plant Performance

The two fixtures also differ significantly in spectrum customization and how you can tune light quality to your plants’ needs.

SolarSystem 550 Spectrum & Control: With an advanced controller, the SolarSystem 550 allows growers to independently adjust red/deep red, natural white, and blue/deep blue channels. This level of spectrum control is especially useful for:

• Fine-tuning veg vs flower recipes in the same room
• Stress management and plant steering (more blue for tighter internodes, more red for aggressive flowering)
• Gradual spectrum shifts to ease plants into flower rather than shocking them

HLG 550 V2 B Spec Spectrum: The HLG 550 V2 B Spec provides a full-spectrum, high-efficiency white output optimized for vegetative growth using Samsung LM301B diodes and added 470 nm blue. You don’t have separate channels to program, but you get a strong, consistent veg spectrum right out of the box—ideal if you want simplicity and reliable veg performance without advanced programming.

In practice, the SolarSystem 550 favors growers who want spectrum control and multi-stage flexibility, while the HLG 550 V2 B Spec favors growers who want a powerful, purpose-built veg LED grow light with minimal setup complexity.

Early Product Feedback & Yield Expectations

Although both models are relatively new to the market, early feedback suggests that both LED grow lights deliver strong value over time. They require a higher upfront investment than many entry-level fixtures, but their efficiency and build quality help recover costs through:

• Lower ongoing power consumption compared to legacy HID lighting
• Higher usable PPF directed at the canopy
• Improved yield per watt when paired with solid environmental control

Typical expectations for quality LED grow lights in this class are around 1–1.5 grams per watt, assuming good genetics and dialed-in environmental and nutrient management.

From a GrowersHouse customer review:

“I did a side-by-side grow next to grow into different tents and my California 550 luminaire blew the black dog off the map” — Ronnie D.

While this is anecdotal and not a controlled lab test, it does reflect the kind of real-world performance many growers are seeing when upgrading to higher-end LED grow lights like the SolarSystem 550.

Cost Comparison: Fixture Price and Monthly Operating Costs

Below is a side-by-side cost breakdown for the SolarSystem 550 and HLG 550 V2 B Spec, including fixture cost and estimated monthly operating cost at different power levels and photoperiods (based on $0.13/kWh and typical veg/flower schedules).

	SolarSystem 550	HLG 550 V2 B Spec
Fixture Cost	$849	$849
Adapter for Controller	N/A	N/A
Controller	$189 (optional)	N/A
Cost to Run per Month @ $0.13/kWh (12–16 hr DLI)	$18.72/month at 12 hours/day @ 400 W $24.96/month at 16 hours/day @ 400 W	$11.23/month at 12 hours/day @ 240 W $14.98/month at 16 hours/day @ 240 W $22.46/month at 12 hours/day @ 480 W $29.95/month at 16 hours/day @ 480 W

 

Discussion: Both LED grow lights sit at the same base price point of $849, which is reasonable given their build quality and use of high-end components (including Samsung diodes and weather-resistant materials). The SolarSystem 550 requires an additional investment if you want the full programmable controller, but in exchange you gain fine spectrum and timing control across multiple fixtures.

From an operating-cost perspective, both systems remain under roughly $30/month to run at listed settings. For hydroponic growers focused on grams per watt and cost per gram, these operating numbers are very competitive, especially compared to older HID systems that consume more power and require frequent bulb changes.

How to Maximize Savings on High-End LED Grow Lights

For many growers, the question isn’t just “Which LED grow light is better?” but also “How do I reduce my upfront LED cost?” Big-ticket fixtures like the SolarSystem 550 and HLG 550 V2 B Spec are long-term investments, so every discount helps your payback period.

One of the simplest ways to save is to stay connected with suppliers who specialize in controlled-environment agriculture and regularly run promotions on LED grow lights. Email subscribers and community members are typically the first to hear about limited-time sales, bundle deals, and clearance pricing on previous-generation models—often with the same proven spectrum and performance.

Controller Capabilities and Grow Room Integration

SolarSystem 550 Control: If you need advanced control, the SolarSystem 550 clearly stands out. When paired with its programmable controller, you can:

• Set timers and custom light schedules
• Adjust individual spectrum channels (red, white, blue)
• Manage multiple zones or rooms from a single controller
• Daisy chain multiple fixtures using standard phone cords

For commercial or multi-room hydroponic facilities, this kind of central control can streamline dial-ins, reduce labor, and support more advanced lighting recipes over the full crop cycle.

HLG 550 V2 B Spec Control: The HLG fixture offers manual dimming and optional 0–10 V control but does not have the same level of integrated programming or multi-channel spectrum control. This is perfectly adequate if your veg room lighting strategy is stable and you prefer “set-and-forget” simplicity.

Key Takeaways for Hydroponic Growers

For hydroponic and indoor growers designing or upgrading their lighting systems, the practical conclusions of this comparison are:

• Choose the SolarSystem 550 if you want one LED grow light that covers both veg and flower in the same space, with programmable spectrum control and centralized management across multiple fixtures.
• Choose the HLG 550 V2 B Spec if you have separate veg and flower spaces and want a powerful, efficient, veg-optimized LED grow light with higher PPF and efficacy for the vegetative stage.
• Both fixtures deliver competitive efficiency, strong canopy penetration, and reasonable monthly operating costs under $30/month, making them solid long-term investments in a professional or advanced hobby grow.

FAQ: SolarSystem 550 vs HLG 550 V2 B Spec

Below is a quick reference table answering the most common questions growers ask when choosing between these two LED grow lights.

Question	Answer
Can the HLG 550 V2 B Spec be used for bloom/flower?	No. The HLG 550 V2 B Spec is specifically designed for vegetative plants. Its spectrum is optimized for veg, not for full-cycle bloom use.
Which is better for yields overall?	They serve different roles. The SolarSystem 550 can drive yields through the entire cycle (veg and flower), while the HLG 550 V2 B Spec maximizes veg performance only. With quality LEDs like these, you can generally target about 1–1.5 grams per watt, assuming good genetics and properly managed environments.