Cobs, strips, or quantum boards?

[migenetics]

With spring and summer coming up around the corner I'm finally looking to upgrade from hps this year for the warm months. My question is with boards, do you have to buy a whole new light if they blow or do they sell the drivers/boards individually if something blows? I could easily replace a single cob/strip for 30$ but 600-1000$ for a new light seems like a risk I'm not ready to take. What would you do in my situation? Heat being the second biggest concern with cost of replacement being first. Thanks for any and all help.

 

[drsaltzman]

You’re gonna get a wide range of opinions.
I’ll start by saying I grow with COBs.
Last week ordered QBs, threw em in the tent, then threw them back in the box and sent them back the next day and ordered two more Timber COB rigs.
They all work, depends on your growing style.
For me, COBs have the best penetration and you don’t have to have the perfect canopy to get a great yield.

 

[migenetics]

You’re gonna get a wide range of opinions.
I’ll start by saying I grow with COBs.
Last week ordered QBs, threw em in the tent, then threw them back in the box and sent them back the next day and ordered two more Timber COB rigs.
They all work, depends on your growing style.
For me, COBs have the best penetration and you don’t have to have the perfect canopy to get a great yield.

Yeah, my canopy is never perfect, I try to run at least 4 different strains at a time.

 

[FastFreddi]

You’re gonna get a wide range of opinions.
I’ll start by saying I grow with COBs.
Last week ordered QBs, threw em in the tent, then threw them back in the box and sent them back the next day and ordered two more Timber COB rigs.
They all work, depends on your growing style.
For me, COBs have the best penetration and you don’t have to have the perfect canopy to get a great yield.

Timberrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
FF

 

[youraveragehorticulturist]

You can get individual boards and drivers if you want to. They have more diodes that a Cob or Strip, so boards cost a little more.

If you go through a top notch manufacturer (Gavita/Timber/HLG) you get a 3 year warranty.

 

[ilovereggae]

If you buy a pre-built lamp fixture and one of the boards or driver dies while under warranty, you could get it replaced.

If you went with a DIY Kit you still get some warranty, but also the flexibility to use whatever components you want, swap boards, drivers etc.

A strip build is the most modular, cost effective, and best spread in my opinion. But like a lot of people said it all depends on your grow style. I know a lot of people love cobs and they are a great choice. Timber definitely has a great reputation and customer service.

Another option would be HLG's cob "replacement", the QB96.

 

[Isawthelight]

Cobkits.com has all the repair parts for qb and cob based systems.

 

[MidnightSun72]

You’re gonna get a wide range of opinions.
I’ll start by saying I grow with COBs.
Last week ordered QBs, threw em in the tent, then threw them back in the box and sent them back the next day and ordered two more Timber COB rigs.
They all work, depends on your growing style.
For me, COBs have the best penetration and you don’t have to have the perfect canopy to get a great yield.

What sort of science is based on? How would a 600W cob rig have better penetration than a 600W board build, or a 600W strip build?

Also cobs tend to have a low luminous efficacy so actually out of those 3 options I'd expect the cobs to yield the least because they would like provided the least Umols/J.

 

[migenetics]

Thanks for the fast replies folks. The room is 4x8 btw and what about heat....I imagine cobs put out the most heat but maybe I'm wrong. My math says 18 cobs for my area or 2 hlg6** or 8 4 foot strips. Definitely don't want to start any arguments about what is best as I'm sure everyone has an opinion on that. I just can't do another summer with hps!

 

[ilovereggae]

Thanks for the fast replies folks. The room is 4x8 btw and what about heat....I imagine cobs put out the most heat but maybe I'm wrong. My math says 18 cobs for my area or 2 hlg6** or 8 4 foot strips. Definitely don't want to start any arguments about what is best as I'm sure everyone has an opinion on that. I just can't do another summer with hps!

cobs and boards sound right. but with strips the benefits come when u run them soft. 40-50W per 4 ft strip (depends on model/brand used) is ideal. I would plan for 24-30 strips if you go this route. If you run them soft enough you may not even need heatsinks.

 

[MidnightSun72]

Thanks for the fast replies folks. The room is 4x8 btw and what about heat....I imagine cobs put out the most heat but maybe I'm wrong. My math says 18 cobs for my area or 2 hlg6** or 8 4 foot strips. Definitely don't want to start any arguments about what is best as I'm sure everyone has an opinion on that. I just can't do another summer with hps!

Given equal wattage they will all release the same amount of heat into the tent. That is 3.41 BTU per watt spent in the tent (this includes fans too, dehumidifer, anything) . A cob heat sink might get hotter but most LEDs are sweet in that they aren't heating the leaf so you can get away with a hotter tent in fact you depend on it.

 

[drsaltzman]

What sort of science is based on? How would a 600W cob rig have better penetration than a 600W board build, or a 600W strip build?

Also cobs tend to have a low luminous efficacy so actually out of those 3 options I'd expect the cobs to yield the least because they would like provided the least Umols/J.

Why does it have to be about science?
I never claimed it was scientific.
I said “for me”.
It’s based on experience.
This is my experience.
YMMV.
I like how my plants grow below the canopy with COBs.

 

[drsaltzman]

Given equal wattage they will all release the same amount of heat into the tent. That is 3.41 BTU per watt spent in the tent (this includes fans too, dehumidifer, anything) . A cob heat sink might get hotter but most LEDs are sweet in that they aren't heating the leaf so you can get away with a hotter tent in fact you depend on it.

COBs certainly warmup a tent more than QBs or strips.
And as you say, it’s a benefit.
But nowhere near HPS levels of heat.
OP would be served well heat wise with either.

 

[migenetics]

If you buy a pre-built lamp fixture and one of the boards or driver dies while under warranty, you could get it replaced.

If you went with a DIY Kit you still get some warranty, but also the flexibility to use whatever components you want, swap boards, drivers etc.

A strip build is the most modular, cost effective, and best spread in my opinion. But like a lot of people said it all depends on your grow style. I know a lot of people love cobs and they are a great choice. Timber definitely has a great reputation and customer service.

Another option would be HLG's cob "replacement", the QB96.

Would I need the same amount of the qb96's as I would cobs? Its about $70 a pop(includes the thermal tape and heat sink) without the drivers. I think I can get the cobs for around 50 with tape, reflector and heat sink. So about a $300 difference in price assuming I need the same amount. Thanks a lot everyone for the help

 

[ilovereggae]

Would I need the same amount of the qb96's as I would cobs? Its about $70 a pop(includes the thermal tape and heat sink) without the drivers. I think I can get the cobs for around 50 with tape, reflector and heat sink. So about a $300 difference in price assuming I need the same amount. Thanks a lot everyone for the help

I am not an expert on the qb96 or cobs. I use boards and strips. maybe @PJ Diaz could help.

 

[PJ Diaz]

Would I need the same amount of the qb96's as I would cobs? Its about $70 a pop(includes the thermal tape and heat sink) without the drivers. I think I can get the cobs for around 50 with tape, reflector and heat sink. So about a $300 difference in price assuming I need the same amount. Thanks a lot everyone for the help

I am not an expert on the qb96 or cobs. I use boards and strips. maybe @PJ Diaz could help.

The number of QB96's really depends on how hard you drive them, and how much headroom you have. The great thing about QB96's is that they are effective driver in a range anywhere between 50watts and 200watts, but the harder you drive them, the more distance you need between the light and the canopy, while also increasing the coverage area. If you're looking for minimal initial cost, you can get away with 1 QB96 for every 4 square feet (2x2 space) when driven around 125watts, but you also need a good 2-feet at least from the top of plants, or you might stress them. QB96's will have a better spread and spectrum than COBs any day of the week, and are also generally more efficient. For your 4x8 space you can get away with 8 QB96's ($640 total) and 4 Meanwell XLG-240-H-A drivers ($200 total), plus the cost of wire, connectors, and simple cable hangers will get you all done for under $1k. Personally I like more QB96's driven a bit softer, so I'd add 4 more and pair them 3 per driver instead of the above 2 per driver, which would increase the total cost by a bit over $200 more.

 

[migenetics]

The number of QB96's really depends on how hard you drive them, and how much headroom you have. The great thing about QB96's is that they are effective driver in a range anywhere between 50watts and 200watts, but the harder you drive them, the more distance you need between the light and the canopy, while also increasing the coverage area. If you're looking for minimal initial cost, you can get away with 1 QB96 for every 4 square feet (2x2 space) when driven around 125watts, but you also need a good 2-feet at least from the top of plants, or you might stress them. QB96's will have a better spread and spectrum than COBs any day of the week, and are also generally more efficient. For your 4x8 space you can get away with 8 QB96's ($640 total) and 4 Meanwell XLG-240-H-A drivers ($200 total), plus the cost of wire, connectors, and simple cable hangers will get you all done for under $1k. Personally I like more QB96's driven a bit softer, so I'd add 4 more and pair them 3 per driver instead of the above 2 per driver, which would increase the total cost by a bit over $200 more.

Headroom isn't a problem. I'm also not trying to be cheap but when I did the math on 18 QB96's my stomach puckered a little . Last question I promise, is 12 perfect for a 4x8 or should I plan on getting 16 eventually? Thanks

 

[PJ Diaz]

Headroom isn't a problem. I'm also not trying to be cheap but when I did the math on 18 QB96's my stomach puckered a little . Last question I promise, is 12 perfect for a 4x8 or should I plan on getting 16 eventually? Thanks

If headroom is a non issue for you, just stick with 8 of them, one for every 2x2 space. Personally I am constrained by headroom, so I need to spread out the light more and get the units closer.

 

[Beehive]

Cobs. Because if a LED burns out on a board. It's soldering time. That's if you have the skills to micro solder.

If a chip burns out on a COB. Its 4 screws and 18 bucks.

Efficiency? It's all you'd want. Plus you can station cobs to fit the grow space. You don't have to follow the footprint of a led board. Dark spot? Stick another cob on the rack. The possibility to expand your setup. $50 at a time.

 

[PJ Diaz]

Cobs. Because if a LED burns out on a board. It's soldering time. That's if you have the skills to micro solder.

If a chip burns out on a COB. Its 4 screws and 18 bucks.

Efficiency? It's all you'd want. Plus you can station cobs to fit the grow space. You don't have to follow the footprint of a led board. Dark spot? Stick another cob on the rack. The possibility to expand your setup. $50 at a time.

A QB96 is 4 screws and $50. I hope the choice as to which lights to purchase doesn't come down to a $32 difference in possible future repair.