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

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ecargsid

New Member
Awesome! Thanks for the help guys, got some homework to do before I pull the trigger, but I like the options that have been mentioned. @op, thanks for letting me sneak in your thread!
 
The Loafter

The Loafter

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
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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Well these leds are apparently 2x efficiency of hps. Started with 400w hps. Could have done better with it prob but I didn't have everything needed for an hps set up.
Grabbed 2 mars 300 then jumped on 4 more. They grew a bit better with the lack of adequate climate control. Eventually some diodes burnt out, aft3r I realized they were junk.

Soon after purchasing the 6 mars 300 I found riu again.

Followed graumau5 and the round table and b3ing the cheap Bastard i am I switched to 16 clearance cxb2530 cobs.

Way better through the whole cycle than either the mars lights or the hps.

Now using quantum boards, almost 150% boost from the cxb2530s and can't stop wanting more..

In one 4x4 area im using 2 260w xl kits. 12/12 (4 total boards 520w)

In an other 4x4 I have 1 (2.board) 260w xl diy sourced and another ~ 250 with 4 boards and no heatsinks, 24/7 (6 boards ~510 watt)
 
Humple

Humple

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
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?
Click to expand...
For pre-built fixtures it doesn't really get better than an HLG light. Two 260 watt units or a single HLG-600 (pre-built from growerslights.com) is about as good a price-to-performance bargain as you can find. For DIY'ers, you can't really beat the Samsung strips that others have mentioned here.

As for HPS vs LED - in my opinion, as long as you're not on too limited a budget, the only reason to choose HPS would be if you need the heat.
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
ecargsid said:
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?
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Ten 44" single row strips from Digikey - $239
Two 360 watt Meanwell LRS-360-48 power supplies from Arrow - $57
Five pieces 8 ft long 3/4" aluminum U-channel available at most hardware stores ~$50-$60
One 8 ft long 3/4" aluminum angle - $10

Figure another $20-$40 for miscellaneous stuff - Thermal compound, connectors, wire, etc.

Total - $376-$396.

Here is the strip fixture I built for a 2x4:
0616172229.jpg
 
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iGrow420710

Active Member
The Loafter said:
Well these leds are apparently 2x efficiency of hps. Started with 400w hps. Could have done better with it prob but I didn't have everything needed for an hps set up.
Grabbed 2 mars 300 then jumped on 4 more. They grew a bit better with the lack of adequate climate control. Eventually some diodes burnt out, aft3r I realized they were junk.

Soon after purchasing the 6 mars 300 I found riu again.

Followed graumau5 and the round table and b3ing the cheap Bastard i am I switched to 16 clearance cxb2530 cobs.

Way better through the whole cycle than either the mars lights or the hps.

Now using quantum boards, almost 150% boost from the cxb2530s and can't stop wanting more..

In one 4x4 area im using 2 260w xl kits. 12/12 (4 total boards 520w)

In an other 4x4 I have 1 (2.board) 260w xl diy sourced and another ~ 250 with 4 boards and no heatsinks, 24/7 (6 boards ~510 watt)
Click to expand...
Oh wow okay. What would you dream set up be for your 4x4?

I was thinking could I get away with using 2 hlg550 or 2 hlg600? How comes the hlg600 is cheaper can’t figure it out? Also I am from UK and this is all from U.S
 
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iGrow420710

Active Member
Humple said:
For pre-built fixtures it doesn't really get better than an HLG light. Two 260 watt units or a single HLG-600 (pre-built from growerslights com) is about as good a price-to-performance bargain as you can find. For DIY'ers, you can't really beat the Samsung strips that others have mentioned here.

As for HPS vs LED - in my opinion, as long as you're not on too limited a budget, the only reason to choose HPS would be if you need the heat.
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For some reason HLG 600 is cheaper than 550 :/ need to try get this in UK. Was thinking either 2 550 or 2 600.
 
Humple

Humple

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
For some reason HLG 600 is cheaper than 550 :/ need to try get this in UK. Was thinking either 2 550 or 2 600.
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Well the HLG-600 is basically a kit light, but growerslights.com will put it together for you (for a small fee), so that's part of it. Also, if I recall correctly (and I may have this bit wrong - @Stephenj37826 could set me straight if I'm off base here), the HLG-550 has some certification(s?) that the kits can't get, and that sort of thing is attractive to commercial growers.

And unless you're planning two 4x4 spaces, you don't need two of these lights. Not unless you want to beat the shit out of your plants. That would be WAY TOO MUCH light in a 4x4. Roughly 500w of high-quality LED is what people are finding is the best fit for a 4x4.
 
Humple

Humple

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
What would you dream set up be for your 4x4?
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I imagine you're asking only about pre-built fixtures, correct? If I were setting up a 4x4, and I were choosing a pre-built, there's no question: HLG-600. Cheaper than the 550, and a little more headroom (for those especially robust strains that can take a LOT of light).

However, if I were truly setting up a 4x4 now, I'd go DIY, and for DIY, nothing beats strips for the cost. Samsung F Series Gen 3 is the current King of the Hill.

That said, I fucking love my Quantum Boards - perfect for those who want to DIY, but aren't into the amount of work that goes along with strips. The light in my avatar is a 4xQB120 (60'ish watt 120 diode Quantum Board); runs up to 250w, but I have it in a 2.5x2.5, so I typically don't run it higher than 200w. I actually built two identical fixtures (in identical tents). Spent less than $1/watt on these things, and they'll be growing my meds for many years to come, without having to think about changing bulbs or reflectors, or any of that mess.

Edit: actually, if I had to buy rather than build, I might opt for two 260w lights from HLG instead of the HLG-600. I guess it would depend; I like the simplicity of a single fixture, but the versatility of two would also be attractive. But basically, either option would kick ass.
 
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iGrow420710

Active Member
Humple said:
I imagine you're asking only about pre-built fixtures, correct? If I were setting up a 4x4, and I were choosing a pre-built, there's no question: HLG-600. Cheaper than the 550, and a little more headroom (for those especially robust strains that can take a LOT of light).

However, if I were truly setting up a 4x4 now, I'd go DIY, and for DIY, nothing beats strips for the cost. Samsung F Series Gen 3 is the current King of the Hill.

That said, I fucking love my Quantum Boards - perfect for those who want to DIY, but aren't into the amount of work that goes along with strips. The light in my avatar is a 4xQB120 (60'ish watt 120 diode Quantum Board); runs up to 250w, but I have it in a 2.5x2.5, so I typically don't run it higher than 200w. I actually built two identical fixtures (in identical tents). Spent less than $1/watt on these things, and they'll be growing my meds for many years to come, without having to think about changing bulbs or reflectors, or any of that mess.

Edit: actually, if I had to buy rather than build, I might opt for two 260w lights from HLG instead of the HLG-600. I guess it would depend; I like the simplicity of a single fixture, but the versatility of two would also be attractive. But basically, either option would kick ass.
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Humple, thank you so much for all this information you have saved me a tonne of money.

I have decided to either go for 2x 260w, or 1 550 or 1 600, going to look into which would be more beneficial and efficient for the plants.

EDIT: I stand mistaken; either the 550 or the 600 but need to find a way to a UK supplier. Also need to figure out what Kelvin to go for
 
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V

Viceman666

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
Humple, thank you so much for all this information you have saved me a tonne of money.

I have decided to either go for 2x 260w, or 1 550 or 1 600, going to look into which would be more beneficial and efficient for the plants.

EDIT: I stand mistaken; either the 550 or the 600 but need to find a way to a UK supplier. Also need to figure out what Kelvin to go for
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If same light will do veg and flower ill go anywhere between 3000k and 4000k. Id probably go with 2x260w instead of hlg 550 or 600 just because the "diy" is so simple a few screws and couple wires.. but there is already a ton of video on how to.. it will take you 15-30 min maximum to build and youll be able to put the 2 set of boards a big wider than the hlg 550 or 600 and get a little better uniformity.. but any of them really is great!
 
I

iGrow420710

Active Member
Viceman666 said:
If same light will do veg and flower ill go anywhere between 3000k and 4000k. Id probably go with 2x260w instead of hlg 550 or 600 just because the "diy" is so simple a few screws and couple wires.. but there is already a ton of video on how to.. it will take you 15-30 min maximum to build and youll be able to put the 2 set of boards a big wider than the hlg 550 or 600 and get a little better uniformity.. but any of them really is great!
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Not great with electrics so would go with ether hlg 550 or 600. But thinking to buy 2 one for veg and one for flowering; 5000k for veg and 2700k for flowering or would this be silly.
 
I

iGrow420710

Active Member
Viceman666 said:
If same light will do veg and flower ill go anywhere between 3000k and 4000k. Id probably go with 2x260w instead of hlg 550 or 600 just because the "diy" is so simple a few screws and couple wires.. but there is already a ton of video on how to.. it will take you 15-30 min maximum to build and youll be able to put the 2 set of boards a big wider than the hlg 550 or 600 and get a little better uniformity.. but any of them really is great!
Click to expand...
Humple said:
I imagine you're asking only about pre-built fixtures, correct? If I were setting up a 4x4, and I were choosing a pre-built, there's no question: HLG-600. Cheaper than the 550, and a little more headroom (for those especially robust strains that can take a LOT of light).

However, if I were truly setting up a 4x4 now, I'd go DIY, and for DIY, nothing beats strips for the cost. Samsung F Series Gen 3 is the current King of the Hill.

That said, I fucking love my Quantum Boards - perfect for those who want to DIY, but aren't into the amount of work that goes along with strips. The light in my avatar is a 4xQB120 (60'ish watt 120 diode Quantum Board); runs up to 250w, but I have it in a 2.5x2.5, so I typically don't run it higher than 200w. I actually built two identical fixtures (in identical tents). Spent less than $1/watt on these things, and they'll be growing my meds for many years to come, without having to think about changing bulbs or reflectors, or any of that mess.

Edit: actually, if I had to buy rather than build, I might opt for two 260w lights from HLG instead of the HLG-600. I guess it would depend; I like the simplicity of a single fixture, but the versatility of two would also be attractive. But basically, either option would kick ass.
Click to expand...
Just having a look at optic 8+ vs hlg 550, I don’t know why but optic 8 seems better, I am pretty new to the whole quantum boards but pls correct me if I am wrong.

A84D5CD7-BC52-4725-BD97-24E50C784AD0.png AEDF1773-FB9F-42C3-8F69-020DE898DF64.jpeg
 
V

Viceman666

Well-Known Member
iGrow420710 said:
Just having a look at optic 8+ vs hlg 550, I don’t know why but optic 8 seems better, I am pretty new to the whole quantum boards but pls correct me if I am wrong.

View attachment 4102285 View attachment 4102286
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i just looked at the optic 8 and looks like they are using cob cxb3590 run at 50watt (max 137).. I think either option will work great.. your ppfd chart are a bit off because the quantum is showing to be running at 449w while hlg550 will run at 510w (mind you you can dim too). Both light will do about the same. Hlg will provide maybe a slightly more even reading than the optic 8 but that would be minimal.. both are great choice it looks like
 
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