Grow room build using Alibaba? Advice and thoughts?

KezuSajai

Member
I am looking to turn a room into a grow space. Height is probably just above 10 feet. Width is around 6.5 feet, length is around ten feet. There is a wall vent for extraction, a radiator that can be turned on or off as needed and a boiler in there that sticks out about a foot and a half.. There is also a window on one wall that is about 4 feet long with a few opening slots.

I tried my hand at growing in rented accommodation, but the property had issues with fluctuating temperatures, humidity and some of the rooms developed mold due to this, even when using a tent, the place was just not stable and without much money to throw into the place, I called it off and decided to wait until I was in a more agreeable environment.

After checking out HLG and other places for Quantum Boards, I decided to check out a site I used to use for sourcing cheap electronics called Alibaba, I came across tonnes of trade assured sellers, with 4.7-5 out of 5 star review, with hundreds of reviews. Kingbrite and Meiju seem to be the most reputable. You can get a HLG 550 Rspec for around 400 including shipping, or a 1000w 3000k or 3500k with added IR diodes board with drivers and heat sink for about 500.

I also checked out AC units, as the prices at the local hydro shops were eye watering. Again for a couple of hundred you seem to be able to get a stand alone AC unit. Although I am not sure what kind of shipping charges would apply, however I can't see it being as expensive as an AC from a store.

My idea was to run a 24/7 room for autos. I recently got to sample some Mephisto and I was blown away by the flavor and smell. I understand some experienced and knowledgeable growers prefer the photo-periods, however the ability to just have a single room and add new plants whenever I want and not have to worry about light schedules and temperature changes that come with it etc is a big bonus for me as a new grower and someone looking for the most simple setup.

I am going to give myself a few months to really plan this out and figure out the costs and get advice on what to but, how to set the layout up, intake and exhaust fan sizing, where I can/should vent the air in and out etc.

From a very basic standpoint, I Know I will need:

Mylar or other reflective sheeting
Insulation and blacking out material for large window
Material to block light from escaping from the room into the rest of the place
Ceiling hangers for multiple lights
Grow lights
Air conditioning unit
Intake fan/ducting
Exhaust fan/ducting
Fans for air circulation

I am looking to keep costs to a minimum at around 1200-1400 euros maximum.

I will update with pictures and links to lights etc and might start a grow room build log.
 
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Gond00s

Well-Known Member
if u want it done nice and right your gonna wanna have a minisplit installed and to probably use qbs because their the most efficient on the market u can buy them from hlg because u can guarantee your not getting bad chips but for the whole room ballpark figure I would like to say 2000 euros or a little bit over for just the lights if u diy and prob another 2400 for the minisplit If your always gonna use the room very very needed I even want one I just cant atm but in the future u bet my ass im getting one but their is a lot to go into building a grow space just go look around the forums and see what other people do but if u don't cheap out youll like your result im typing this fast because I got work ill be on around 4
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member

These cover some real estate.
You only need to buy boards only, no heatsinks needed. Cheaper shipping, less weight. I think they can send up to 6 boards in one package.
Each board Can be run up to 200 watts without heatsinks.
I run them at 150 watts. All's needed is some aluminium L angle for frames, wire and wago connectors.
Buy the drivers locally in case of warranty issues. Meanwell hlg320h 48A per 2 boards.
They're ~ 29" long x ~ 10" wide. So 2, end to end covers your 6.5 ft width covered.
Info on fotop boards below.
You'd need to fire them off an email for a quote for boards only but the s6 boards are relatively cheap compared to when they first came out.



Another useful link for Alibaba boards.

Hope that helps
 

KezuSajai

Member

These cover some real estate.
You only need to buy boards only, no heatsinks needed. Cheaper shipping, less weight. I think they can send up to 6 boards in one package.
Each board Can be run up to 200 watts without heatsinks.
I run them at 150 watts. All's needed is some aluminium L angle for frames, wire and wago connectors.
Buy the drivers locally in case of warranty issues. Meanwell hlg320h 48A per 2 boards.
They're ~ 29" long x ~ 10" wide. So 2, end to end covers your 6.5 ft width covered.
Info on fotop boards below.
You'd need to fire them off an email for a quote for boards only but the s6 boards are relatively cheap compared to when they first came out.



Another useful link for Alibaba boards.

Hope that helps
Hey Moflow, thanks but I am looking for LM301B with IR/UV. Have any experience with the Kingbrite lights? They are offering 2 x LM301B + Epistar 660nm (UV IR) 600W for 750 euros including shipping. year warranty on the boards and 5 years for the drivers. I know I can buy it all separately, but for my first lights, I would rather not have to build myself.


I have also been gifted a 1200W (570 from wall) burple LED with lots of blue light. So about 1700 watts should be sufficient for the grow space right?

LM301B 3.jpgLM301B 2.jpgLM301B 1.jpg
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
The 1200w of baba should cover 40ft, the blurple maybe 3x3-3x4ft.
Obviously you wont be growing wall to wall with 65 square foot unless your tom cruise from mission impossible

If your going down the baba route then go into not expecting that warranty to mean anything , especially on the drivers.
 

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
@fragileassassin any updates on your alibaba lights? Saw your response in an old thread, would be interested to hear how they are doing?
Still going strong. I just changed the setup around to this and cut the flower setup in half. Adding my light controller box to the breaker panel tonight and will have plants under them again by the weekend.
They work, stay fairly cool, and the plants seem to love them compared to my veg T5s.
20200109_123446.jpg
 

KezuSajai

Member
Still going strong. I just changed the setup around to this and cut the flower setup in half. Adding my light controller box to the breaker panel tonight and will have plants under them again by the weekend.
They work, stay fairly cool, and the plants seem to love them compared to my veg T5s.
View attachment 4457078
Quality looking setup you have there, what is your space and how many watts you running? How much did your setup run you total? I take it you pull pretty big yields in a space that big with that many boards?
 

KezuSajai

Member
Maybe walk before you run?
I initially invested halfheartedly into my last hobby and looking back on it, I would of been much better off and would of ended up spending much less, had I just invested in it properly from the start. I don't really see the point in buying a small setup when I will want to invest in a bigger one soon after.
 
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fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
Quality looking setup you have there, what is your space and how many watts you running? How much did your setup run you total? I take it you pull pretty big yields in a space that big with that many boards?
6x9 area roughly. just shy of 1300w at the wall. about $1200-1300 all in with shipping and material costs for hanging them. from meijiu.
I count my yield in pounds.
I tried a similar spread over a 10x10, but it was not enough. cramming them into nearly half the space and its plenty.
 

BudgetMessiah

Well-Known Member
I have very limited experience, so please take my advice with a grain of salt. But I would think that for a large setup with ceiling lights, photoperiod plants would be better suited. Photos grow in veg, then you flip the lights and they stretch for a few weeks, and then they flower. Autos grow until they start to flower, then they keep growing as they flower, and after a few weeks they stop growing and just flower. They're very similar, but I think because of the more vertical nature of the autoflowers I've seen, they're ideal for smaller sidelit setups.
Not that you can't pursue your plan with autos and be highly successful and perfectly happy with the results. I think you might just be doing it the hard way.
 

Father Ramirez

Well-Known Member
Oy. So many words or am I just tired?
Grow, don’t think too hard. The plants don’t need you as much as you think.
Enjoy the aroma of flowering cannabis. Allow the naturally occurring anti oxidants and terpenes emitted from live plants, and vaped or smoked flower to preserve your health. It will if you’re not excessive elsewhere.
Enjoy getting high
Start growing
Keep growing
 
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