LED UK Set Up Advice

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DariaUK

Member
Hey Folks

I've been asking questions on the forum and getting more confused. I'm a plug-and-grow kind of gal, mathematically challenged, and all the expert advice is having my head spinning. You're all geniuses.

Anyway, I need to upgrade from my CFL set-up and have decided LED is probably the way to go because HPS is going to be too hot for my space.

I'm looking to cover a 1.5mSq area. I couldn't dream of doing DIY. Is there a trusted UK source where I could purchase from a good LED kit that I can just hang and plug in? (And is it going to be better than CFL?)

Sorry to ask if you, but I'd be so grateful for easy/beginner answers - like how much W and will I only need one light.

Thanks so much.

Head-spinningly yours, Daria
 
StonerCol

StonerCol

Well-Known Member
DariaUK said:
Hey Folks

I've been asking questions on the forum and getting more confused. I'm a plug-and-grow kind of gal, mathematically challenged, and all the expert advice is having my head spinning. You're all geniuses.

Anyway, I need to upgrade from my CFL set-up and have decided LED is probably the way to go because HPS is going to be too hot for my space.

I'm looking to cover a 1.5mSq area. I couldn't dream of doing DIY. Is there a trusted UK source where I could purchase from a good LED kit that I can just hang and plug in? (And is it going to be better than CFL?)

Sorry to ask if you, but I'd be so grateful for easy/beginner answers - like how much W and will I only need one light.

Thanks so much.

Head-spinningly yours, Daria
Click to expand...
Hi Daria....do you have a budget for your lights? If we know roughly what you want to spend then it'll help people to give ideas. You can go anywhere from roughly £50 to £1500 per light - obvs with varying results.
:peace: :weed: (:
 
canadian1969

canadian1969

Well-Known Member
StonerCol is right we need more info. Budget being the primary concern.

1.5sqM is about 16 sq feet (4x4) for the yanks.
Is that in a tent or linear like a long bench etc?
SOG, SCROG, Soil , Hydro, DWC, airponics? How were you growing with CFLs?

In any event if we assume a 4x4 tent you will be needing anywhere from 400-800 actual watts of LED. Dont fall for the "equivalent to 1000 watt HPS" marketing BS, always look at the specifications for the Actual Power Draw.

Check out Horticultural Lighting Group
 
StonerCol

StonerCol

Well-Known Member
canadian1969 said:
Check out Horticultural Lighting Group
Click to expand...
Although these need a small bit of DIY it is a very simple job and you shouldn't be put off by that fact. Plenty of people here to guide you through it step-by-step if required.
Also I think the guys at HLG - @robincnn or @Stephenj37826 - might put your lights together and ship them to you assembled but obvs you'll need to check with them. They are very helpful and have some proven products. Half the battle with LED's as @canadian1969 says is cutting through the BS. With HLG's lights there is no BS to cut through.
 
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kushedy

Well-Known Member
I don't think there is anything prebuilt in the UK that is supplied ready to go. A friend in the UK approached Timber Grow Lights recently & they said they wouldn't ship to the UK as in their experience the lights would get damaged in transit. There are a few outfits in the EU but they are very expensive for what you get.
Quantum Board types would probably be the way forward but they do involve some DIY unless as StonerCol suggested you can get them to assemble for you.
 
StonerCol

StonerCol

Well-Known Member
canadian1969 said:
Budmaster is in the UK, dunno if they are still stuck on Blurples tho
Click to expand...
Not to mention that they are relatively expensive and not particularly efficient @lukio is/was using Budmaster so he can give you the low-down. I'm sure he is more impressed with his Quantum Boards though.
 
canadian1969

canadian1969

Well-Known Member
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DariaUK

Member
Hey all - thanks for replies. Budget would be £500 max. It's half a room, screened off. Good thick walls - keep the room cool in the summer, warm in the winter.

Thanks for keeping it simple for this simpleton!!!
 
canadian1969

canadian1969

Well-Known Member
So $650 USD,
pretty much impossible at retail prices , at 35 watts per square foot (minimum recommended LED flower power) you need 560 watts
Take tax and shipping (VAT) into account you are probably at $1 / watt, retail is usually 3-5 $ per watt.

You could do your space nicely with this
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/products/hlg-550?variant=32385529682
but its easily twice your budget by the time it hits your door.

How many plants do you want to grow?
 
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kushedy

Well-Known Member
Unfortunately there isn't anything decent pre-built for that money. Not that your budget is to be sniffed at. In your first post you said you are trying to cover a 1.5msq area.
In your last post you say half a room & peeps are talking about a 5x5 area. I don't know if I am being dumb here (probably) but isn't 1.5msq closer to 4 x 4 (16 square foot).
Not ideal but 8 cobs running at 50w each. Ideally either a little more wattage or a few more cobs. I know quantum boards are all the rage & meant to be very good but aren't cobs a more cost effectove option at the moment?

Anyway bottom line is that this is not do'able as a prebuilt unit in the UK. For that budget & space you would have to DIY which realistically is not easy for a lot of people.

There is one other option that has sprung to mind but these are relatively new & untested long term. Kingbrite has released its own line of LED fixtures. They are one cob & driver per fixture attached to a heat-sink (plug & grow).
The citi 1212 models are $51.25 per unit prebuilt plus shipping (realistically around $100 shipping). For 8 that is $510 including shipping which is just over £390. You would have to pay import tax but Jerry is pretty good at marking the exterior paperwork competitively to minimise the import tax you pay so maybe another £50.

Bear in mind though that is 25w per square foot. Some growers seem to be able to produce really well with 25w per square but most aim for between 30-40w per square foot. 30-40w per square foot almost guarantees results even if your not a great grower. If you have the right strains & have got your growing style down big time 25w per square foot will do it though.

Sorry DariaUK when trying to do this on a budget there is not an easy uncomplicated way (from my point of view anyway). We've all been there. At the end of the day when you are going to invest a serious amount of wedge you want to get the most for your money so figures have to be crunched to an extent.

What do the rest of you think of the Kingbrite option? Any of you know anyone who has tested them?
 
StonerCol

StonerCol

Well-Known Member
kushedy said:
Unfortunately there isn't anything decent pre-built for that money. Not that your budget is to be sniffed at. In your first post you said you are trying to cover a 1.5msq area.
In your last post you say half a room & peeps are talking about a 5x5 area. I don't know if I am being dumb here (probably) but isn't 1.5msq closer to 4 x 4 (16 square foot).
Not ideal but 8 cobs running at 50w each. Ideally either a little more wattage or a few more cobs. I know quantum boards are all the rage & meant to be very good but aren't cobs a more cost effectove option at the moment?

Anyway bottom line is that this is not do'able as a prebuilt unit in the UK. For that budget & space you would have to DIY which realistically is not easy for a lot of people.
Click to expand...
Pretty much what I was thinking.
There maybe another option.
http://hanspanel.com/led-growlight-180-watt
Now one of these on its' own won't be enough. 2 even still probably not BUT if you're able to increase your budget over time then you could buy 1 or 2 initially and buy a 3rd when funds allow. They are made in The Netherlands so no import duty to worry about. They use excellent technology - Cree - so you won't have to worry about whether they will do the job, unlike buying cheap lights from eBay/Amazon. These Hanspanels are used reasonably widely in Europe and they have rave reviews.

If you can decrease your grow space a little - you said it is in a box room with a partition? - then that would make a difference. If it is down to 4x4 from 5x5 it won't impact massively on the number of plants but will increase the Watt per sq. ft. 30 W per foot in a 4x4 = 480 whereas 30W in a 5x5 = 750. A good light coverage in a 4x4 will give you a greater yield than mediocre coverage in a 5x5.

Hope this helps! :peace: :bigjoint:
 
freemanjack

freemanjack

Well-Known Member
DariaUK said:
Hey all - thanks for replies. Budget would be £500 max. It's half a room, screened off. Good thick walls - keep the room cool in the summer, warm in the winter.

Thanks for keeping it simple for this simpleton!!!
Click to expand...
PM me daria, sounds like you need my services, i don't build commercially but build professional rigs for mates etc, i'm based in london and can just about manage a pound (gbp) a watt so could get your light built for you within your budget. Check out some of my builds, stick 'jack freeman leds' into youtube and look for the glowing apple!
:bigjoint:
 
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kushedy

Well-Known Member
Hey @freemanjack, just had a look at your vids on youtube. Very interesting. I know someone in London who's got a 3x3 grow space, interested in LED grow lights but is electronically challenged. Are you considering doing panels for any & all?
 
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DariaUK

Member
Oh wow. What amazing people all of you are! @freemanjack - I will indeed DM you. Before I do I'm going to have my partner measure the exact size of my space because I think I might be a little bit off (I think it could be smaller than I first said - and I think too I might have messed up with my metric measurements). When I asked my partner just now over the phone, he said it's more like 4'6" x 4'6" - but, as I said, we'll take exact measurements and get back to you. When I DM you @freemanjack I'll give you more specifics about my space. Thanks again freemanjack and big-up thanks too to StonerCol, kushedy, canadian1969! You're all amazing!
 
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