First Time DIY - Seeking Advice

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nonameguy321

Member
After reading/learning/educating, looking for input on the following builds for a veg/flower setup:

OPTION 1

Samsung F-Series

+Pros: few strips required. Easy assembly.
-Cons: less efficient

OPTION 2

Samsung Q-Series

+Pros: more efficient than F-Series
-Cons: more materials required to build, more expensive

OPTION 3

Samsung H InFlux

+Pros: most efficient
-Cons: 3500K OOS everywhere, more expensive

Question: 3000K and 4000K are available - does it make sense to alternate those if 3500K remains out of stock?

OPTION 4

Pacific Light Concept Strips

+Pros: these sound awesome
-Cons: they're OOS and "might" come soon. Would choose these over H Influx if given the option.

OPTION 5

QB288 v2's or QB324 v2's

+Pros: easy assembly, good efficiency
-Cons: less reliable (Alibaba), less even spread of light

----

Each option is essentially the same price to build once everything is factored in. Being a first DIY, would anyone mind giving feedback? Key points would be, upper-mid level lights, power efficiency is a factor. Drivers will not be cheaped out on, Meanwell or HLG.
 
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Chip Green

Chip Green

Well-Known Member
How big of an area are you building for? The minimal differences in efficiency on some of those options, in an area less than the size of a warehouse, is basically neglible. All good options really.
I'm still rolling out fabulous results, cycle after cycle, with Gen1 Bridgelux EB strips, and really have no intention of ever shutting them down, despite their "terrible" efficiency, with an embarrassingly low 150(ish) lumens per watt.....
Splitting hairs.
 
N

nonameguy321

Member
Certainly not warehouse sized. You make a good point, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers but at the end of the day each solution is very good as far as efficiency goes. Splitting hairs indeed.

Let's remove that from the equation, what are your thoughts then?
 
whytewidow

whytewidow

Well-Known Member
F series and H inFlux_ strips absolutely grow the shit outta herb. And so does eb strips. I have all 3. Some mixed spectrum, some not.

Choosing between those 3. You cant go wrong with any of them.
 
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Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
nonameguy321 said:
After reading/learning/educating, looking for input on the following builds for a veg/flower setup:

OPTION 1

Samsung F-Series

+Pros: few strips required. Easy assembly.
-Cons: less efficient

OPTION 2

Samsung Q-Series

+Pros: more efficient than F-Series
-Cons: more materials required to build, more expensive

OPTION 3

Samsung H InFlux

+Pros: most efficient
-Cons: 3500K OOS everywhere, more expensive

Question: 3000K and 4000K are available - does it make sense to alternate those if 3500K remains out of stock?

OPTION 4

Pacific Light Concept Strips

+Pros: these sound awesome
-Cons: they're OOS and "might" come soon. Would choose these over H Influx if given the option.

OPTION 5

QB288 v2's or QB324 v2's

+Pros: easy assembly, good efficiency
-Cons: less reliable (Alibaba), less even spread of light

----

Each option is essentially the same price to build once everything is factored in. Being a first DIY, would anyone mind giving feedback? Key points would be, upper-mid level lights, power efficiency is a factor. Drivers will not be cheaped out on, Meanwell or HLG.
Click to expand...
Nothing to fear o. This day n age with DIY, they make it so easy to do with wagos and a few screws.
 
Sir420

Sir420

Active Member
I'm also into the DiY builds & have been studying for months now to be able to say I have a little understanding of building my own light! My priority is efficiency over everything. I think the most efficient light is to get lm301b strips from DIGIKEY and I am trying to create a 5x5 space light with 8-900 ppf at top of canopy. My frame will be almost wall to wall to spread even light & my GOAL is to make this fixture reach the highest ppfd with the lowest amount of watts possible. They say use 480 watts in 4x4 but I seen a guy pull over 2lb with only 364watts! ... So with the most efficient lights on the market (lm301b) can I make that 2lb with like 330-350 watts??
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Sir420 said:
I'm also into the DiY builds & have been studying for months now to be able to say I have a little understanding of building my own light! My priority is efficiency over everything. I think the most efficient light is to get lm301b strips from DIGIKEY and I am trying to create a 5x5 space light with 8-900 ppf at top of canopy. My frame will be almost wall to wall to spread even light & my GOAL is to make this fixture reach the highest ppfd with the lowest amount of watts possible. They say use 480 watts in 4x4 but I seen a guy pull over 2lb with only 364watts! ... So with the most efficient lights on the market (lm301b) can I make that 2lb with like 330-350 watts??
Click to expand...
Again. NOPE
 
whytewidow

whytewidow

Well-Known Member
Sir420 said:
I'm also into the DiY builds & have been studying for months now to be able to say I have a little understanding of building my own light! My priority is efficiency over everything. I think the most efficient light is to get lm301b strips from DIGIKEY and I am trying to create a 5x5 space light with 8-900 ppf at top of canopy. My frame will be almost wall to wall to spread even light & my GOAL is to make this fixture reach the highest ppfd with the lowest amount of watts possible. They say use 480 watts in 4x4 but I seen a guy pull over 2lb with only 364watts! ... So with the most efficient lights on the market (lm301b) can I make that 2lb with like 330-350 watts??
Click to expand...
That 2lb mark has alot.more variables than just the light. You need to have a perfect run. Vpd set absolutely perfectly. No swings. No nutrient problems, the right strain. The type of grow. It's not just bc you build the baddest light possible. You have to be able to grow too. Not saying you cant. But it has alot more to do with than just lighting.
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Sir420 said:
They say use 480 watts in 4x4 but I seen a guy pull over 2lb with only 364watts! ... So with the most efficient lights on the market (lm301b) can I make that 2lb with like 330-350 watts??
Click to expand...
What lights did he use?
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
whytewidow said:
That 2lb mark has alot.more variables than just the light. You need to have a perfect run. Vpd set absolutely perfectly. No swings. No nutrient problems, the right strain. The type of grow. It's not just bc you build the baddest light possible. You have to be able to grow too. Not saying you cant. But it has alot more to do with than just lighting.
Click to expand...
This^^^^!!!! A hundred times over!
You asked this question several times and this is the best answer. Your complete focus on efficiency is pointless unless you thought out how are you going to maintain the environment necessary to take advantage of those last measly %. Ok, say you make a crazy efficient light. But then you realize you need a 500w heater to get your grow space up to 80F. Those 500$ you spent on chips in order to drop light wattage from say 480 to 430w are totally wasted if you then arent arent abable to get decent environmental controls like fans and fancontroller.
@Sir420
 
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