Light opinion sf-2000

[PJ Diaz]

I know I've been tempted to buy a couple of those just for the hell of it, but I really don't need to buy anymore lights right now. I went a little crazy when the V1's were on sale, and still in stock. Those QB96's would be like $62 a piece after the promo code. I gotta stop thinking about it, or I'll wind up buying even more lights I don't really need, lol.

Sure you do. The 96's have added red.unlike the V1's..

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Sure you do. The 96's have added red.unlike the V1's..

I have Rspec's too. But I went a little nuts when the V1's were super cheap so I have a bunch of those now too. This is an addictive hobby.

 

[Rocket Soul]

Sure you do. The 96's have added red.unlike the V1's..

Bear in mind that this might be the last chance of owning a qb96, i think theyre clearing them out and then thats it, at lleast that was the v1 deal...

 

[Fordprefect42]

If youre happy to do minimal diy, as in turning screws and pushing in wires into easy connectors and if youre tent is high enough for say 18" hanging height then the hlg qb96 is a good and flexible option: its 69$ /62 with RIU10 code discount and it runs up to 160w as is, all you need is drivers which isnt to bad, 35ish for 240w of xlg. I wouldnt sleep on them as i think they are on clearance and on its way out of stock. You could do 1 per 2x2 section on 120w, using a 240 driver for a sort 4x2 cover to start. the more of them you get the lower you can put the wattage per light: the better it will run.
If you get 6 of them and 2 meanwell xlg-240-h-A (or AB if you can score them) you would end up around 500, have enough lights to run almost the whole tent on high or whole tent at mid intnesity: all youd have to do is get another driver if you wanted to upgrade.

Hlg is hands down a better company than SF with 100% better aftersales, also sponsors here on riu so they take care of their customers and show a lotta love

So one other question if you don’t mind. Pricing this out all told with a couple drivers, 6 qb96 boards, some aluminum angle and miscellaneous connectors I’m guessing my all in price will be maybe a bit under 500 for the setup. That would save me about 100 bucks over the sf-4000 for similar wattage. I assume there are advantages related to custom placement as well as cost. Are there other advantages in terms of spectrum, penetration or anything else that makes it a better rather than just cheaper set up?

 

[Rocket Soul]

So one other question if you don’t mind. Pricing this out all told with a couple drivers, 6 qb96 boards, some aluminum angle and miscellaneous connectors I’m guessing my all in price will be maybe a bit under 500 for the setup. That would save me about 100 bucks over the sf-4000 for similar wattage. I assume there are advantages related to custom placement as well as cost. Are there other advantages in terms of spectrum, penetration or anything else that makes it a better rather than just cheaper set up?

Better spread equals better penetration. Penetration as defined by most, is somewhat of a myth. You can have big buds under the cannopy with enough roots and healthy plant as long as youre cannopy gets enough light. Lollipopping the bottoms and selecttive pruning of "sucker" branches also help. 6 qbs are 6 points of light which you can organise any way you want and control intensities more independently. Sf4000 or any of the 550 clones have hot spot in the middle, and weak in sides and corners.

Spectrum: thats going to be similar afaik. Red supplemented whites.

Longevity: hlg will last and they will stand by their product. Theyre on the forum. Check out the difference in heatsinking, thats key to make a led last. SF are china made, which can mean anything. Ive had plenty of stuff from over there and dont get me wrong: every single diode still works. But i run them on nominal power levels, a sf4000 at around 200w instead of 400ish. In the same sense, 6qbs on 80w per is also quite soft. They go up to 300w each, but 160w would be absolute top of what id rec.

Capacity//future: with 6 qbs you could comfortably run 960w, no extra air cooling needed. In case you got something bigger.


The joy of DIY:. Nothing beats the first time you light it up, and when you realize you can adapt your lights to your grow and not the other way around. And when you start hitting high numbers its great to feel its YOUR light.

Get whatever you want, but if you can diy it,just do it. You wont be disappointed. Nor in performance or satisfaction. And the technnical part is easy. First thing i did was 6m2 and i diid have anyone to show me. Just make some frames, screw in screws, push a wire into the connector and your done pretty much. The hlgg qb thread is full of people which will love to help in case you got stuck. Or tag me

 

[Fordprefect42]

Better spread equals better penetration. Penetration as defined by most, is somewhat of a myth. You can have big buds under the cannopy with enough roots and healthy plant as long as youre cannopy gets enough light. Lollipopping the bottoms and selecttive pruning of "sucker" branches also help. 6 qbs are 6 points of light which you can organise any way you want and control intensities more independently. Sf4000 or any of the 550 clones have hot spot in the middle, and weak in sides and corners.

Spectrum: thats going to be similar afaik. Red supplemented whites.

Longevity: hlg will last and they will stand by their product. Theyre on the forum. Check out the difference in heatsinking, thats key to make a led last. SF are china made, which can mean anything. Ive had plenty of stuff from over there and dont get me wrong: every single diode still works. But i run them on nominal power levels, a sf4000 at around 200w instead of 400ish. In the same sense, 6qbs on 80w per is also quite soft. They go up to 300w each, but 160w would be absolute top of what id rec.

Capacity//future: with 6 qbs you could comfortably run 960w, no extra air cooling needed. In case you got something bigger.


The joy of DIY:. Nothing beats the first time you light it up, and when you realize you can adapt your lights to your grow and not the other way around. And when you start hitting high numbers its great to feel its YOUR light.

Get whatever you want, but if you can diy it,just do it. You wont be disappointed. Nor in performance or satisfaction. And the technnical part is easy. First thing i did was 6m2 and i diid have anyone to show me. Just make some frames, screw in screws, push a wire into the connector and your done pretty much. The hlgg qb thread is full of people which will love to help in case you got stuck. Or tag me

Thanks so much. All really helpful. I’m actually in negotiations with my wife on this. I want to build a light and she wants to buy one. I want to just buy a new gorilla tent and she wants to build a small room. Trying to negotiate so I get to build my light and she gets to build her room.

 

[Federucci]

I would recommend the 600W Rspec kit and add supplemental lighting in the future to keep it as simple as possible. It can be had for under $700 shipped and would meet most of your initial requirements. Trying to think of solid options closest to your budget, but as ole pappy used to say, "Buy once, cry once".

 

[Fordprefect42]

Better spread equals better penetration. Penetration as defined by most, is somewhat of a myth. You can have big buds under the cannopy with enough roots and healthy plant as long as youre cannopy gets enough light. Lollipopping the bottoms and selecttive pruning of "sucker" branches also help. 6 qbs are 6 points of light which you can organise any way you want and control intensities more independently. Sf4000 or any of the 550 clones have hot spot in the middle, and weak in sides and corners.

Spectrum: thats going to be similar afaik. Red supplemented whites.

Longevity: hlg will last and they will stand by their product. Theyre on the forum. Check out the difference in heatsinking, thats key to make a led last. SF are china made, which can mean anything. Ive had plenty of stuff from over there and dont get me wrong: every single diode still works. But i run them on nominal power levels, a sf4000 at around 200w instead of 400ish. In the same sense, 6qbs on 80w per is also quite soft. They go up to 300w each, but 160w would be absolute top of what id rec.

Capacity//future: with 6 qbs you could comfortably run 960w, no extra air cooling needed. In case you got something bigger.


The joy of DIY:. Nothing beats the first time you light it up, and when you realize you can adapt your lights to your grow and not the other way around. And when you start hitting high numbers its great to feel its YOUR light.

Get whatever you want, but if you can diy it,just do it. You wont be disappointed. Nor in performance or satisfaction. And the technnical part is easy. First thing i did was 6m2 and i diid have anyone to show me. Just make some frames, screw in screws, push a wire into the connector and your done pretty much. The hlgg qb thread is full of people which will love to help in case you got stuck. Or tag me

Alright so I just bought 6 of the qb96 boards. God help me

Do the A drivers have a dimmer screw? Are there advantages over a B with a dimmer switch?

 

[Rocket Soul]

Alright so I just bought 6 of the qb96 boards. God help me

Do the A drivers have a dimmer screw? Are there advantages over a B with a dimmer switch?

Go for a or ab, which drivers are you looking at?
B have a disadvantage, fixed voltage wont work well with these Qbs.

 

[PJ Diaz]

So one other question if you don’t mind. Pricing this out all told with a couple drivers, 6 qb96 boards, some aluminum angle and miscellaneous connectors I’m guessing my all in price will be maybe a bit under 500 for the setup. That would save me about 100 bucks over the sf-4000 for similar wattage. I assume there are advantages related to custom placement as well as cost. Are there other advantages in terms of spectrum, penetration or anything else that makes it a better rather than just cheaper set up?

You don't necessarily need angle aluminum. You can just hang each 96 individually from those cheap wire hangers. They just screw right into the side of the heat sink with the provided screws, and you can get them cheap on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Hanging-Holders-Outdoor-Aquarium/dp/B07Q3TV3VK/ref=pd_sbs_86_1/134-7144989-8082221

 

[Rocket Soul]

Thanks so much. All really helpful. I’m actually in negotiations with my wife on this. I want to build a light and she wants to buy one. I want to just buy a new gorilla tent and she wants to build a small room. Trying to negotiate so I get to build my light and she gets to build her room.

Get her to build with you! A family that builds led together, stays together. I brought my wife in on the last one and she was really good. She actually made me parts i couldnt source during covid confinement.

 

[Fordprefect42]

Get her to build with you! A family that builds led together, stays together. I brought my wife in on the last one and she was really good. She actually made me parts i couldnt source during covid confinement.

Possible. She helped with some of the diy ebb and flow and had some good ideas. Looking for the meanwell xlg240h-AB’s. Is there a decent source for those? Found one place where I can get 2 for about 100 bucks with shipping.

 

[Fordprefect42]

You don't necessarily need angle aluminum. You can just hang each 96 individually from those cheap wire hangers. They just screw right into the side of the heat sink with the provided screws, and you can get them cheap on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Hanging-Holders-Outdoor-Aquarium/dp/B07Q3TV3VK/ref=pd_sbs_86_1/134-7144989-8082221

Interesting idea thanks although the aluminum does sound kind of cool.

 

[pulpoinspace]

if its a 5x5 i would go with a 600h-54 or two 320h-54
if its a 4x4 i would go with a 480h-54 or two 240h-54

i have 6 qb96 in a 4x4 i run them at 480w and im happy with the results

for framing i strongly recommend T-slotted aluminum extrusions. makes for a really nice finished look.

 

[Rocket Soul]

Possible. She helped with some of the diy ebb and flow and had some good ideas. Looking for the meanwell xlg240h-AB’s. Is there a decent source for those? Found one place where I can get 2 for about 100 bucks with shipping.

Try octopart for quotes:

XLG-240-H-AB Mean Well - Off-Board Modules - Distributors, Price Comparison, and Datasheets | Octopart component search

Find the best pricing for Mean Well XLG-240-H-AB by comparing bulk discounts from 18 distributors. Octopart is the world's source for XLG-240-H-AB availability, pricing, and technical specs and other electronic parts.

octopart.com

 

[Rocket Soul]

if its a 5x5 i would go with a 600h-54 or two 320h-54
if its a 4x4 i would go with a 480h-54 or two 240h-54

i have 6 qb96 in a 4x4 i run them at 480w and im happy with the results

for framing i strongly recommend T-slotted aluminum extrusions. makes for a really nice finished look.

Those will also work but a bit more pricey, also generally unavailable in AB version. Xlgs work fine and can run anything from 27-57V.

 

[PJ Diaz]

Interesting idea thanks although the aluminum does sound kind of cool.

The one thing about an angle aluminum frame is that you become locked into the layout and have to keep all the lights at equal height. If you have plants grown at different stages, or different heights due to genetics, it's nice to raise only the light(s) above the taller plants and keep the other lights lower.

 

[Nizza]

to get away from angle iron builds there is X channel and fittings . The fittings cost a bit and so does the channel but it allows for modular building and your able to recycle material and reuse it easier because of the way the fittings slide into the channel and how it lets you move things

personally If I built a rack for all my leds I woulduse the X channel and then mount my heatsyncs to them

 

[Rocket Soul]

If youre doing multi strains and uneven cannopy just hang those badboys in hangers. @ 80w a piecee youure looking at minimum 18" aand thatssfor flower unless you dim a bit

 

[Fordprefect42]

The driver/powersupply i reced is 240w. That is only enough power for about a 4x2, no matter if you use 3 or 6 qb96. The way these connections work is that they share rhe power. 2 means 120 each, 3 means 80, 6 means 40w each.

Each qb will be fine up to 160 with no extra heat management. But best not over 120w.

Do you have a position on lenses? Hlg has a specific rec for the qb96. Assume that will protect the board and get me some light dispersion. Worth it?

Busy ordering parts. It’s like I’m my own personal Santa.