Cobs or QB which has better coverage

[wietefras]

I think I'm gonna go with quantum boards... 320watt kit. I feel that it best suits my growing style. The 260watt XL kit. That comes with two boards and a 41" heatsink. That there is two big of a space between the boards. The boards are only 11.25" that's 22.50" inches of used heat sink. That leaves 18.5" gap between boards. Give or take 1/2" I think the 320 kit with 3 boards on 36" heat sink would give alot better coverage

Imagine how much better coverage you get when you spread the lights out even more like you do with COBs.

If you are looking for something easy to put together then go for QB's. If you are looking for better coverage it's COBs (1 per sqft or even less). Or far better still, led strips. Just go through some of the led strips threads that are appearing here. Very easy to build your own frame with those too and probably something like half the price of a QB light.

 

[3GT]

Imagine how much better coverage you get when you spread the lights out even more like you do with COBs.

If you are looking for something easy to put together then go for QB's. If you are looking for better coverage it's COBs (1 per sqft or even less). Or far better still, led strips. Just go through some of the led strips threads that are appearing here. Very easy to build your own frame with those too and probably something like half the price of a QB light.

Summarized the thread nicely. You the man

 

[terran]

I keep reading that strips are cheaper than QB's. When I piece it ll together using the LED Gardened article, they appear to cost more. Then when trying to figure wattage, they don't add up the same as his figures.
Anyway this whole argument seems mute when one can acquire both or all 3. One takes up the slack of the other. Penetration, yes they do, and coverage, yep.

 

[whytewidow]

I am a little at odds though as it's weird how the 320 kit and the 260 have the same size heat sink,with 2 different specs on flower foot print.I don't see how adding another board to the middle gives that much bigger of a foot print.But i don't really know squat on lighting.

I was wondering the same thing. I may go with rapidled cob setup or timber. Jus worried about heat in the summer time with cobs

 

[Gorillaglue4u]

I was wondering the same thing. I may go with rapidled cob setup or timber. Jus worried about heat in the summer time with cobs

I have not put mine together yet but I got 700 watts of cob lighting (9 cobs 3 drivers) for 550 with everything needed except the frame.

 

[coreywebster]

Cob = trees style hobbies hummmm

Quantum = scrog work hard

I just switch to cob citezen 1212 gen 5
3000k 90 cri and some timber vero 400watts 3000k mix 3500k

Funny because my QBs "penetrate" deeper than my COBs.
No need to scrog with either.

 

[Dave455]

I like that they can be put where ever you want.I may still get some to put at the end of my lighting so i can use more of my space.




I am probably getting this also for my veg tent.It's overkill for a veg setup for me but if i ever get a wild hair up my ass and say i wanna flower the tent out i can as it supposedly covers 5x2.5 for flower and that is the size of my veg tent.

I am a little at odds though as it's weird how the 320 kit and the 260 have the same size heat sink,with 2 different specs on flower foot print.I don't see how adding another board to the middle gives that much bigger of a foot print.But i don't really know squat on lighting.

better bet do DIY frame and put six QB 132 mixing 2700k and 3500k. sweeet !!!

 

[vertnugs]

Funny because my QBs "penetrate" deeper than my COBs.
No need to scrog with either.

No scrog is what i like to hear.I have my first QB setup with a big girl under it,decided NOT to scrog and just see how things go.Lazy fucker i am.

better bet do DIY frame and put six QB 132 mixing 2700k and 3500k. sweeet !!!

You referring to the 320 or the autocobs?Guessin you meant in place of the autocobs being you mentioned the 2700k boards.

The flexibility of the autocobs is what i'm lookin for.

 

[dubekoms]

I'm using both ATM and I'm a happy camper. If I had to choose I would go with whatever's cheaper.

 

[whytewidow]

Have you guys checked out photon fatom boards. Fusion board and wavy boards. 50 bucks each. Pretty cheap. Same as qb no heatsink needed.

 

[whytewidow]

I have not put mine together yet but I got 700 watts of cob lighting (9 cobs 3 drivers) for 550 with everything needed except the frame.

I thought about running 6 or 7

 

[whytewidow]

I have not put mine together yet but I got 700 watts of cob lighting (9 cobs 3 drivers) for 550 with everything needed except the frame.

I can build a frame myself

 

[coreywebster]

Have you guys checked out photon fatom boards. Fusion board and wavy boards. 50 bucks each. Pretty cheap. Same as qb no heatsink needed.

I don't think they are the same, but similar. Not needing a heat sink would mean they are running softer.
I have seen some folks using them, look alright. I do prefer HLG but I would since I have first hand experience with them.

Which ever direction you take I'm sure you will love the results. COBs, strips or boards = Happy days..

 

[CobKits]

I was wondering the same thing. I may go with rapidled cob setup or timber. Jus worried about heat in the summer time with cobs

heat produced for xx watts between cobs and strips and boards is all within a few percent.

 

[hybridway2]

No scrog is what i like to hear.I have my first QB setup with a big girl under it,decided NOT to scrog and just see how things go.Lazy fucker i am.




You referring to the 320 or the autocobs?Guessin you meant in place of the autocobs being you mentioned the 2700k boards.

The flexibility of the autocobs is what i'm lookin for.

Anyone looking for AutoCobs, I highly recommend the ones BigSmo makes. Pretty sure he is the AutoCob originator. Great guy!

 

[hybridway2]

I keep reading that strips are cheaper than QB's. When I piece it ll together using the LED Gardened article, they appear to cost more. Then when trying to figure wattage, they don't add up the same as his figures.
Anyway this whole argument seems mute when one can acquire both or all 3. One takes up the slack of the other. Penetration, yes they do, and coverage, yep.

I found a pretty big difference between using cobs w/ & w/o lenses in how the final product came out.
If I could use lenses on all my cob lights, I deff. Would.
I feel the lenses allow for allot less drop in par #'s as as depth increases. Never did test that w/ my par meter when I had it to be sure but from what I've seen I like using lenses.

 

[whytewidow]

heat produced for xx watts between cobs and strips and boards is all within a few percent.

I believe I've been emailing you today I'm the one who setting up the six citizen 1818 cobs

 

[whytewidow]

I found a pretty big difference between using cobs w/ & w/o lenses in how the final product came out.
If I could use lenses on all my cob lights, I deff. Would.
I feel the lenses allow for allot less drop in par #'s as as depth increases. Never did test that w/ my par meter when I had it to be sure but from what I've seen I like using lenses.

So lenses and not reflectors I'm going to be running 6 citizen cluo48-1818s 4@ 3000k 90cri gen6 and 2@ 2700k 90cri

 

[vertnugs]

Anyone looking for AutoCobs, I highly recommend the ones BigSmo makes. Pretty sure he is the AutoCob originator. Great guy!

Have you seen the price on the optic1??Fookin nuts.I to feel BigSmo gear is fairly priced.Was stuck for a while on what to make as my first led purchase,i went with the hlg 600h.The autocobs are on my list to add to the QB.My space is 5x7 so i think the hlg600h in the center with 3 autocobs on each end should do me right.

Smos plants look great AND he grows some good size plants.His gardens were some of the first i saw with led growing some nice size plants.

 

[nfhiggs]

I keep reading that strips are cheaper than QB's. When I piece it ll together using the LED Gardened article, they appear to cost more. Then when trying to figure wattage, they don't add up the same as his figures.
Anyway this whole argument seems mute when one can acquire both or all 3. One takes up the slack of the other. Penetration, yes they do, and coverage, yep.

QB 135 kit: $185. 288 LM561C diodes @ 135W. Good for a 2x2 space but like most small footprint board based lights, it has a hot spot in the middle with the edges/corners falling off.

6 Samsung Single row 22" F series strips plus Meanwell LRS-150-24 power supply from Arrow - $105. 432 LM561C diodes @ 150W. Fits perfectly in a 2x2 space with almost perfect uniform coverage. 50% more diodes, running at 10% more total power equals higher efficiency for almost half the cost. No heatsink needed and frame can be made for about $10.