8 bulb x4' t5 died , led for veg?

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stoobeey

Well-Known Member
Okay so my light literally just blew out I presume the ballast has died inside I've had it for about 4 years anyway I'm trying to decide if I'm just going to buy another one or if I can upgrade to an LED the t5 is 410w I believe or around there. I'm not trying to spend 500$ on my veg I already have a 680w led for flower that I just got
 
Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
Do you use the full 8x4 for veg?
There's no way a single fixture is going to give you reasonably even light over an 8x4 area ... that's a LOT of plants in veg.
There are numerous good lighting choices, but it really depends on how large a veg footprint you really need.
 
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a mongo frog

a mongo frog

Well-Known Member
stoobeey said:
Okay so my light literally just blew out I presume the ballast has died inside I've had it for about 4 years anyway I'm trying to decide if I'm just going to buy another one or if I can upgrade to an LED the t5 is 410w I believe or around there. I'm not trying to spend 500$ on my veg I already have a 680w led for flower that I just got
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Yea don't buy another T-5. Pretty sure 250-320 watts slaughter a 430 watt T-5 8 bulb. At least it did for me.
 
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stoobeey

Well-Known Member
Bosgrower said:
Do you use the full 8x4 for veg?
There's no way a single fixture is going to give you reasonably even light over an 8x4 area ... that's a LOT of plants in veg.
There are numerous good lighting choices, but it really depends on how large a veg footprint you really need.
Click to expand...
I veg in my spare closet so the size of the light works very well. I usually veg 4 gals at a time. Right now it's 1 auto in a 5gal (bit she'll get moved to the flower tent in next week or so when the other one finishes) then a nl clone and 4 seedlings that aren't feminized.
I don't have but about 2ft of depth in the closet so even a 3x3 isn't going to work well for me.

Building isn't out of question either tho I'd have to get a new soldering gun. Etc
 
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stoobeey

Well-Known Member
Bosgrower said:
Do you use the full 8x4 for veg?
There's no way a single fixture is going to give you reasonably even light over an 8x4 area ... that's a LOT of plants in veg.
There are numerous good lighting choices, but it really depends on how large a veg footprint you really need.
Click to expand...
The area is basically 4' x 2' the light is 4 ft w 8x54w bulbs
 
osowhom

osowhom

Well-Known Member
it has to either be the ballast or a loose wire those are the only components of a t5 that and sockets and lamps thats it and now with all commercial building going led there is a huge used supply of t5 stuff
 
Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
At your budget this is probably the best option for you even if it's a few dollars more. Also, no shipping or tax that I'm aware of. Try contacting Mary Ni at [email protected] She may be able to give you an additional discount. I don't use their lights but she discounted some tents for me.
 
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stoobeey

Well-Known Member
osowhom said:
ballast are 45 bucks if the t5 has been doing you good i would stick with it dont buy a blurple please
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been hunting for a ballast all morning online. every one says it handles 2 or 4 , nothing handles 8 lamps, so i figure fuck it might as well semi ugrade and switchg to LED and save more power draw.
i already know not to buy a blurple . my flower led is growers choice 680.

pretty damn sure its the ballast, not a wire.. considering it made a huge pop this morning i initally thought was a breaker tripping, but was not
 
Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
If you really want to stay with T5, consider this
 
osowhom

osowhom

Well-Known Member
stoobeey said:
been hunting for a ballast all morning online. every one says it handles 2 or 4 , nothing handles 8 lamps, so i figure fuck it might as well semi ugrade and switchg to LED and save more power draw.
i already know not to buy a blurple . my flower led is growers choice 680.

pretty damn sure its the ballast, not a wire.. considering it made a huge pop this morning i initally thought was a breaker tripping, but was not
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well is your fixture a 2 ballast it may be 2 4 lamp ballasts if thats the case the odds are they didnt both burn out did you open it up and look but yeah the led will save on electric so maybe it is time just shop carefully
 
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stoobeey

Well-Known Member
Bosgrower said:
If you really want to stay with T5, consider this
Click to expand...
lol thats what died

trying to find some help on or find builds of some samsung f series strips in the 4' format . i think either 2 or 3 is plenty, but all these builds for that size space are using 2' and 1' which makes no sense to me if i can buy 2 or 3 strips instead of 6 or 8. less bullshit to deal with
 
GrassBurner

GrassBurner

Well-Known Member
qb288 bspec absolutely smokes it in my 2x3, bit overkill if you ask me. Haven't been able to turn it all the way up to 120 watts without plants complaining. Fixing to move the 288 to a 2x4 and see how it does. You can pick up 2 with a heatsink for under $200 from HLG, use the discount code riu10. Pick up a 240 watt driver and you're golden :blsmoke: Its about the same price to buy 288s single, with single heatsinks. Will give you more options as far as spreading the light.
 
pinner420

pinner420

Well-Known Member
GUY just told me just bypass ballast and wire each end up and put LED replacement in. 24 watts each dont remember cost though...
 
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