Help me pick an LED for a 3x3 perpetual

Feeling overwhelmed by choices and options and opinions. I think I've whittled my choices down, I guess this post is just to see what you folks think, if there's others options Im not thinking of, or maybe talk me into doing DIY after all. but for the size of space it doesn't seem like I'm saving a ton of money like you can with larger DIY projects. Note that power efficiency is a big factor in my decision making here as this will be running 20/4 or 24 hr perpetual, so I'd rather not run 200+Watt if I can help it. My hope is to get the most bang for my buck running between 100-150W. Or is that not going to be enough for a 3x3 and I should be thinking bigger...?

So I'm currently leaning towards this Optic PhatSlim 1XL
Pros: 104w draw, high efficiency light
Top bin Samsung LED LM301H used
8 CREE XPE 660nm Deep Red LEDs & 4 CREE XPE 460nm Royal Blue LED
372 LEDs in total.
10 year warranty!

Cons: bare minimum for light coverage area
Not sure if 104w is going to be enough for flowering.

The other option I'm eyeing is an HLG 135W QB V2 RSPEC kit
Pros:
Same LM301H LEDs and has 16 Osram SSL 660nm Deep Red LED (but no blue)

Cons: no Blue diodes
higher power draw with fewer total LEDs
3 year warranty is only for pre-assembled units from HLG.

Pricing is comparable for each, looking at around $300 CAD after taxes when all is said and done. I'm also talking to customer service reps at each company to see if I can squeeze a better deal out of them, so that may sway my decision in the end if that comes through.

Would love to hear what you folks think. any other suggestions are very welcome. Thanks in advance!

You'd need like three of those to have enough coverage for a 3x3. It's way overpriced for what you get IMO. You're better off with 2 QB96s connected to a HLG-320H-54A. It would be less expensive, and more bang. You just have to put the parts together.

With LEDs buy once cry once.

You are going to want true 400watt minimum in a 3x3.

Timber grow lights are great

I have a 1.5x1.5 veg spot with 110watts of led. It’s ok for veg.

Bookush34 said:

With LEDs buy once cry once.

You are going to want true 400watt minimum in a 3x3.

Timber grow lights are great

Click to expand...

280watts of quality LED in a 3x3 is plenty.

PJ Diaz said:

You'd need like three of those to have enough coverage for a 3x3. It's way overpriced for what you get IMO. You're better off with 2 QB96s connected to a HLG-320H-54A. It would be less expensive, and more bang. You just have to put the parts together.

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Hmm, really you think I need to be running 300w? I've got an older 200w Amazon special in it right now and even that feels like overkill, so I was think of trying to achieve similar brightness using better LED/less power you know? I'll perhaps go back and think about the DIY path again.

Bookush34 said:

With LEDs buy once cry once.

You are going to want true 400watt minimum in a 3x3.

Timber grow lights are great

Click to expand...

That seem like major overkill...

The Timber PadawanWarrior suggested is a nice one. For 9 square feet that you want to light you should have a min of 35 watts per square foot so a 315 watt draw. You can grow bud with less but if you are going to go through the work you might as well get the most yield possible. Good luck with your decision.

PJ Diaz said:

280watts of quality LED in a 3x3 is plenty.

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I'm running an 220w Amazon special right now and it is working ok for me. my hope here (perhaps misguided) was to achieve similar brightness with a better spectrum using less power.

WintersBones said:

Hmm, really you think I need to be running 300w? I've got an older 200w Amazon special in it right now and even that feels like overkill, so I was think of trying to achieve similar brightness using better LED/less power you know? I'll perhaps go back and think about the DIY path again.

Click to expand...

A 200 watt will work but the buds won't be as dense or full as they would with a better light.

WintersBones said:

Hmm, really you think I need to be running 300w? I've got an older 200w Amazon special in it right now and even that feels like overkill, so I was think of trying to achieve similar brightness using better LED/less power you know? I'll perhaps go back and think about the DIY path again.

Click to expand...

30watts of quality LED per square foot is what's recommended, so you'd want 270watts at least.

PadawanWarrior said:

Model 4VS

This high powered 4 COB LED light fixture features Bridgelux Vero29 COBs and dual Meanwell drivers for maximum uptime. Remote driver placement helps with managing heat and custom color temperatures are available. Innovative design for use in a 3 x 3 to a 3.5 x 3.5 foot coverage area.

timbergrowlights.com

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Looks nice but a bit out of my price range and again feels like overkill for a 3x3 no?

WintersBones said:

Looks nice but a bit out of my price range and again feels like overkill for a 3x3 no?

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The joy of having too much power with a dimmer is it will accommodate a larger space if you decide to go that way one day. I would think you would run that light dimmed in your space. I get the price range thing, good lights can cost a ton. Or they can be DIY'd, depending on your preference.

WintersBones said:

Looks nice but a bit out of my price range and again feels like overkill for a 3x3 no?

Click to expand...

No. You don't have to run it full power. If it's outta your price range fine. You could always get a couple QB96's and a driver, and then add 2 more 96's later and that would be basically the same thing as the Timber.

10% off using code "RIU10".

PJ Diaz said:

30watts of quality LED per square foot is what's recommended, so you'd want 270watts at least.

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I guess I'm just being overly optimistic with these new LEDs lol. Thanks for the heads up.

Doug Dawson said:

The joy of having too much power with a dimmer is it will accommodate a larger space if you decide to go that way one day. I would think you would run that light dimmed in your space. I get the price range thing, good lights can cost a ton. Or they can be DIY'd, depending on your preference.

Click to expand...

Good points, and I am willing to spend a bit more if it means getting something I'll be happy with for a long time. i want to know I'm good for while, which is why I hesitated diving into the DIY thing and why I'm trying to avoid brands like Mars Hydro and the Chinese brands etc.

PadawanWarrior said:

Model 4VS

This high powered 4 COB LED light fixture features Bridgelux Vero29 COBs and dual Meanwell drivers for maximum uptime. Remote driver placement helps with managing heat and custom color temperatures are available. Innovative design for use in a 3 x 3 to a 3.5 x 3.5 foot coverage area.

timbergrowlights.com

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I love lights made in the USA, but my wallet speaks Chinese. lol Covid woes.

Hence I have 311w of spider farmers in my 2x4.
However I do plan on upgrade eventually. Gonna get a few grows out of them.

PadawanWarrior said:

No. You don't have to run it full power. If it's outta your price range fine. You could always get a couple QB96's and a driver, and then add 2 more 96's later and that would be basically the same thing as the Timber.

10% off using code "RIU10".

QB96 Elite V2 Engine

QB96 Elite V2 is a white LED Board with boosted red spectrum. Each Board is powered by 64 high power white LED, 16 630nm Red LED and 16 660nm Deep Red LED.

horticulturelightinggroup.com

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I was eyeing up those QB96s but wasn't sure how many I'd need. Good point about being able to add more down the road as well, I hadn't considered that. Maybe that's what i should be thinking about after all.

WintersBones said:

I was eyeing up those QB96s but wasn't sure how many I'd need. Good point about being able to add more down the road as well, I hadn't considered that. Maybe that's what i should be thinking about after all.

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I feel your pain with the price point. I just bought an HLG 600, it hurt. I am only legally able to grow 4 plants so I want to get the very best out of them I can so I spent more but it took quite a while to be able to do it. I think the biggest problem some have with lights is not going bigger in the beginning. What often happens is you start with a $100 light. Than you buy another or a $200 because it didn't perform as you wanted. Eventually you buy a really good light and realize you spent way more in the long run. Especially when you factor in the time and effort to grow. That said you can grow good weed under cheaper lights, it doesn't need to be optimal to succeed. It does have to be optimal to get an optimal end result thought. As growers it would be great if we could all just buy the best but sadly most of us have life to pay for.