HLG 100 V2 or QB96 Elite V2 in 2x2 tent?

newbie2323

newbie2323

Well-Known Member
Hey guys and gals, I want to upgrade the lights in my 2x2 tent for my next (2nd) grow. I currently have a 170w Chinese light w/ 2 COBs + 24 LEDs.

I can't decide whether to go the easy route with the HGL 100 V2 kit, or spend a little more cash and effort on a QB96 Elite V2 DIY setup.

Im thinking benefits of the HLG 100 over the QB96 would be price, a larger footprint, narrower form factor good with the limited height of my grow area, and it's plug n play.

Disadvantages are the fixed 100 watt output, no 3500K option ideal for veg/flower (?).

I'd like to just get the HLG 100 (3000K), but only if I wouldn't be sacrificing quantity and quality at harvest.

Thoughts? Anyone here have experience with both lights?
 
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pulpoinspace

pulpoinspace

Well-Known Member
the hlg 100 would work in a 2x2 but i think 100w is a little bit on the low side. 30w/sqft is a good number, so that would mean you'd want 120w at least.

the HLG 135 kit would be a good option, as its 150w and dimmable:

https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/kits/products/135w-qb-v2-rspec-led-kit
you can get it pre-assembled here for $25 more:
https://growerslights.com/products/horticulture-lighting-group-135-watt-quantum-board-led-kit?variant=28609434976308

getting yourself a Qb96 engine and (the same from above) Hlg-120h-54b or (even more powerful) 150h-54b would run you about $50 bucks cheaper:
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/quantum-boards/products/qb96-elite-v2-quantum-board-engine +
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/MEAN-WELL/HLG-150H-54?qs=3IPTn0w/0t9s3wjeRV0dWQ==
but its not a kit so you'd have to source wire, wagos, and a way to hang them yourself.

the spectrums would be very very similar if you went the rspec

tl:dr if $150 is your absolute maximum budget the HLG100 will work, but you can get a better light at that price if you DIY, and ready to hang for just a few dollars more.
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
Just had a delivery of 14 double-row 4-footers and ten 2-footers a few minutes ago.
Also got 5 drivers, going to be a busy weekend building stuff.

Some of my designs will bite you in the arse at 6"... I like as much headroom between the LED and plant (by design) as possible, I want at least 200ppfd still at about 36 to 48inches from the light for when I grow big plants.
 
newbie2323

newbie2323

Well-Known Member
ANC said:
Just had a delivery of 14 double-row 4-footers and ten 2-footers a few minutes ago.
Also got 5 drivers, going to be a busy weekend building stuff.

Some of my designs will bite you in the arse at 6"... I like as much headroom between the LED and plant (by design) as possible, I want at least 200ppfd still at about 36 to 48inches from the light for when I grow big plants.
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Holy $hit man. You lighting up a stadium? That's a lot of firepower. :cool:
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Unless you're willing to buy 4 96's you could pit them in parallel on the driver and split that wattage between them to get some quaaaaality light.
newbie2323 said:
Yep, my thoughts exactly. I'm thinking I'll go with the RSpec rather than the 3000K spectrum since my goal is quality over quantity.
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PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
newbie2323 said:
Thanks for the info! The HLG 135 rspec is just what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...
I just started using some boards and am really impressed. I put them a little too close at first since I didn't realize how powerful they really were. I have 2 hlg 260 Rspec's, 2 100's, and a 135 Rspec in my approximately 3x8 closet and it's bright as hell in there. Here are a few pics of the lights. I know those cords are messy, but I planned on taking out the 2 100's when it cools down a bit since I have cmh lights right above those now, and I planned on turning them back on for both led and cmh. But now I'm actually thinking I should just run with led only this time to see how that works, and next time do both led and cmh.
IMG_3639.JPG
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yummy fur

yummy fur

Well-Known Member
newbie2323 said:
Hey guys and gals, I want to upgrade the lights in my 2x2 tent for my next (2nd) grow. I currently have a 170w Chinese light w/ 2 COBs + 24 LEDs.

I can't decide whether to go the easy route with the HGL 100 V2 kit, or spend a little more cash and effort on a QB96 Elite V2 DIY setup.

Im thinking benefits of the HLG 100 over the QB96 would be price, a larger footprint, narrower form factor good with the limited height of my grow area, and it's plug n play.

Disadvantages are the fixed 100 watt output, no 3500K option ideal for veg/flower (?).

I'd like to just get the HLG 100 (3000K), but only if I wouldn't be sacrificing quantity and quality at harvest.

Thoughts? Anyone here have experience with both lights?
Click to expand...
I like the QB96's but I've also been impressed with the performance and footprint of the new Mars TS2000L so if you are looking for plug and play and cheap price no frills but good performance then the Mars is worth considering too. You can see it in action in my DIY shallow water culture grow.
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Here my plants are at 2 1/2 weeks from the switch from t5 to quantum boards. They are still adjusting a little to the intense light, but are getting better. I also was under feeding the outer bigger ones, but have been giving them more nutes lately. I've realized that they need more nutes under this light. I plan to switch to flower in a couple weeks and then I can see what these boards can do for my buds vs cmh. So far I'm impressed. I haven't flowered with them yet, but if I had a 2x2, I would get a 135 Rspec, or 2 if you want to get crazy like I tend to do. But I might try 1 first, since you could always add another. I'm still learning and it's my first time running leds, so I don't want to give you too much advice. Good luck man.
8-17Closet.jpg
 
hybridway2

hybridway2

Amare Shill
ANC said:
Don't even think about that... honestly... I just run 3000K and I never wanted my plants to grow faster with good Samsung LEDs
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I dont understand. Many of you swear your plants grow so good do to the name diode brand you use. When reality is they will grow just as good w/ equal efficiency under double the the cheap chips.
So, to each his own, doesn't matter.
Longer lasting more efficient, sure. Effect plant growth, Naw.
 
B

Brad Paisley

Member
PadawanWarrior said:
I just started using some boards and am really impressed. I put them a little too close at first since I didn't realize how powerful they really were. I have 2 hlg 260 Rspec's, 2 100's, and a 135 Rspec in my approximately 3x8 closet and it's bright as hell in there. Here are a few pics of the lights. I know those cords are messy, but I planned on taking out the 2 100's when it cools down a bit since I have cmh lights right above those now, and I planned on turning them back on for both led and cmh. But now I'm actually thinking I should just run with led only this time to see how that works, and next time do both led and cmh.
View attachment 4380913
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Click to expand...
What did you find was the best height for the 135
 
newbie2323

newbie2323

Well-Known Member
Which app are you using to measure the light? I'd like to compare it to my light meter and see how accurate it is.
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Brad Paisley said:
Nice sounds like you’re vegging. Do you ever get it closer? Heard 50000 is ideal.
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They have been getting adjusted to the intensity after moving them out of my t5 tent, and I actually just flipped em a few days ago. Some plants in there are getting up to 45000 now, but a couple aren't ready for that much light yet. So I have the lights at different heights depending on how they respond. The free app I have been using is called"Lux Light Meter". I just have been using it to get a rough estimate since I don't know how accurate it is, but it seems to work pretty well with my Galaxy S7 phone.
 
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