First time, 4x4 led grow, don’t know what led to choose

I

iGrow420710

Active Member
Hi there,

As already mentioned I can’t decide what LEDs to go for. Looking at kind led, advanced platinum led or optics led.. also thinking if I should go with 1 big one or 2 smaller ones

Any help would be high appreciated

P.s sorry if this is in the wrong place
 
Humple

Humple

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
Hi there,

As already mentioned I can’t decide what LEDs to go for. Looking at kind led, advanced platinum led or optics led.. also thinking if I should go with 1 big one or 2 smaller ones

Any help would be high appreciated

P.s sorry if this is in the wrong place
Click to expand...
What's your budget? The brands you've listed really aren't worth spending money on, but we can certainly try to help you find something worthy.
 
E

ecargsid

New Member
Hey guys, just want to piggyback on this thread and not create my own since I'm also looking for lighting solutions for a 4x4 grow. Hopefully OP doesn't mind, otherwise I'll delete and start my own thread.

Anyway, heres my situation:

First time grow, started 2 seeds Jan 15 in a 4x4. Didn't know if I'd enjoy growing, so I just went with the Viparspectra 300. Fast forward a couple months and those 2 seeds are showing pre-flower and are ready to make the switch to 12/12 but the Viparspectra and hlg 65 which I added just won't cut it for flowering. I plan to buy a new tent maybe 2x4 to use for veg and turn the 4x4 into a flower tent. I would like to be able to build something modular so I can start flowering the 2 plants and then add more lights as more of my plants/cuttings mature.

Budget for the initial investment will be $400 max, obviously cheaper the better. I've been going over videos from youtubers like growmau5 and greengene but its a lot of info to take in. Debating whether I should just get the HLG 300 for now while I figure out the proper DIY specs for my needs. Could also just get a cheap blurple but that feels bad because I will probably just replace it and never use it again, whereas the HLG 300 will be used. What would you guys suggest?

Also, any recommendations for tools I will need would be great as well.
 
Domzy4

Domzy4

Member
Hlg and quantum boards are one of the best choices for very little diy work. Cobs and strips require more work and research/parts.

A diy quantum board kit will have everything (or nearly everything ) you need to get from veg to flower and then some!

If there is one thing you shouldnt try to cheap out on, its the lighting. Thats just my opinion though :)
happy growing!
 
I

iGrow420710

Active Member
Humple said:
What's your budget? The brands you've listed really aren't worth spending money on, but we can certainly try to help you find something worthy.
Click to expand...
I don’t really have a budget, I will be raising money for whatever is required.. after a long while of research I narrow down to those 3 brands and can’t decided if 2 lights are going to be better than one for spread and pat or if one big one would be better due to over kill
 
The Loafter

The Loafter

Well-Known Member
Go with the hlg kit for now. Through horticulturelightinggroup.com you can find an authorized supplier who will assemble the kit for you, or you can save the 30 usd and get your first "diy" horticultural light build experience. Also cheaper than the 300 or 550, just no government grant for green lighting I guess
 
Humple

Humple

Well-Known Member
ecargsid said:
Hey guys, just want to piggyback on this thread and not create my own since I'm also looking for lighting solutions for a 4x4 grow. Hopefully OP doesn't mind, otherwise I'll delete and start my own thread.

Anyway, heres my situation:

First time grow, started 2 seeds Jan 15 in a 4x4. Didn't know if I'd enjoy growing, so I just went with the Viparspectra 300. Fast forward a couple months and those 2 seeds are showing pre-flower and are ready to make the switch to 12/12 but the Viparspectra and hlg 65 which I added just won't cut it for flowering. I plan to buy a new tent maybe 2x4 to use for veg and turn the 4x4 into a flower tent. I would like to be able to build something modular so I can start flowering the 2 plants and then add more lights as more of my plants/cuttings mature.

Budget for the initial investment will be $400 max, obviously cheaper the better. I've been going over videos from youtubers like growmau5 and greengene but its a lot of info to take in. Debating whether I should just get the HLG 300 for now while I figure out the proper DIY specs for my needs. Could also just get a cheap blurple but that feels bad because I will probably just replace it and never use it again, whereas the HLG 300 will be used. What would you guys suggest?

Also, any recommendations for tools I will need would be great as well.
Click to expand...
The HLG-300 would be a very good start, yes. Add a second when you can afford it and your 4x4 will be ready to rock for years to come.
 
Humple

Humple

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
Would you say qb or hlg 550 is better than some of the brands I mentioned?
Click to expand...
Better than all of the brands you mentioned. By such a large margin that it makes those lights seem like toys. Check out the HLG-600 at growerslights.com - you can buy it pre-assembled if you're not comfortable with DIY. That will be all your 4x4 ever needs.
 
The Loafter

The Loafter

Well-Known Member
For the 4x4 go with minimum 4 boards if going with quantum board. The more the merrier

8 boards if qb120 or 132 ( 8 hlg 65)
 
regoob eht

regoob eht

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
Would you say qb or hlg 550 is better than some of the brands I mentioned?
Click to expand...
The hlg550 is quantum boards.. It's 4 of the qb288. Qb96 = 96 diodes, qb120=120 diodes, qb132=132 diodes, etc. The 550 would be a beast of a light. If youre not very good at DIY, 550 is great. If youre comfortable with building a fixture from aluminum, the smaller boards are great for spreading the light out.
Ledgardener.com is a great resource for help.
 
E

ecargsid

New Member
Humple said:
Better than all of the brands you mentioned. By such a large margin that it makes those lights seem like toys. Check out the HLG-600 at growerslights- you can buy it pre-assembled if you're not comfortable with DIY. That will be all your 4x4 ever needs.
Click to expand...
I'm actually looking at the HLG 260 watt kits they have. Would getting 2 kits be equivalent to an HLG 550? Also, they have 3 variants - 260 watt, 260 xl, 260 xw. Is any version superior in terms of spacing and light distribution if I plan to get 1 now and another one down the road for a 4x4 tent?
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
ecargsid said:
Hey guys, just want to piggyback on this thread and not create my own since I'm also looking for lighting solutions for a 4x4 grow. Hopefully OP doesn't mind, otherwise I'll delete and start my own thread.

Anyway, heres my situation:

First time grow, started 2 seeds Jan 15 in a 4x4. Didn't know if I'd enjoy growing, so I just went with the Viparspectra 300. Fast forward a couple months and those 2 seeds are showing pre-flower and are ready to make the switch to 12/12 but the Viparspectra and hlg 65 which I added just won't cut it for flowering. I plan to buy a new tent maybe 2x4 to use for veg and turn the 4x4 into a flower tent. I would like to be able to build something modular so I can start flowering the 2 plants and then add more lights as more of my plants/cuttings mature.

Budget for the initial investment will be $400 max, obviously cheaper the better. I've been going over videos from youtubers like growmau5 and greengene but its a lot of info to take in. Debating whether I should just get the HLG 300 for now while I figure out the proper DIY specs for my needs. Could also just get a cheap blurple but that feels bad because I will probably just replace it and never use it again, whereas the HLG 300 will be used. What would you guys suggest?

Also, any recommendations for tools I will need would be great as well.
Click to expand...
If you're willing to DIY, look into Samsung F series LED strips. Same exact diodes that the Quantum boards use but spread out in a strip for better uniformity. 10 of the 44" single row strips will cover a 4x4 with 500W of high efficiency LED light for well under $400, depending on your driver selection.
 
bizfactory

bizfactory

Well-Known Member
nfhiggs said:
If you're willing to DIY, look into Samsung F series LED strips. Same exact diodes that the Quantum boards use but spread out in a strip for better uniformity. 10 of the 44" single row strips will cover a 4x4 with 500W of high efficiency LED light for well under $400, depending on your driver selection.
Click to expand...
What would you suggest for mounting / cooling each strip? square aluminum or an actual heatsink?
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
bizfactory said:
What would you suggest for mounting / cooling each strip? square aluminum or an actual heatsink?
Click to expand...
I use 3/4" architectural aluminum channel. Costs about $10 for 8 feet.

Edit: I have a new build I am working on using .601 profile heatsink from heatsink USA.
 
E

ecargsid

New Member
nfhiggs said:
If you're willing to DIY, look into Samsung F series LED strips. Same exact diodes that the Quantum boards use but spread out in a strip for better uniformity. 10 of the 44" single row strips will cover a 4x4 with 500W of high efficiency LED light for well under $400, depending on your driver selection.
Click to expand...
Definitely willing to learn to DIY if those numbers are right. 500W of LED for under $400 seems too good to be true. Can you point me to a good tutorial that would help me learn how to get started on a project like this?
 
I

iGrow420710

Active Member
The Loafter said:
Go with the hlg kit for now. Through horticulturelightinggroup you can find an authorized supplier who will assemble the kit for you, or you can save the 30 usd and get your first "diy" horticultural light build experience. Also cheaper than the 300 or 550, just no government grant for green lighting I guess
Click to expand...
Ok, I would need to get something that is already built, what is the best one to go for? Like what would be better than this?

Just out of interest would you go hps or led? And why?
 
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