HLG, Cobshop, etc?

So finally getting my 630w CMH tent running at good temps and the farthest from ballast bulb socket stops working. Solistek, tried spare bulb i knew was working. Still nothing so im amazon returning this thing and getting my 350$ back.

Looking around it seems the best options would be HLG or COBshop.net.
Is there any other budget friendly LEDs, no blurples.

One thought i had was to buy this unassembled.
https://growerslights.com/products/horticulture-lighting-group-260-watt-quantum-board-led-kit

then later i can add a second one or surround it with these
https://cobshop.net/shop?olsPage=products/autocob-55


I have seen these two brands used on instagram by many many growers and get dank results. Ive never ran LED.
Can you still get good hard nugs on an LED?

Cyproz said:

Can you still get good hard nugs on an LED?

Click to expand...

Yessir you can, It's a bit different than running HID lamps jus have to take some time to get things dialed in... Do some reading on this sub all the info you need is here..

For some the transition is a struggle and for others its not even noticeable. I suspect its the individuals environment that's different.

But yeah you can grow just as solid buds with LED as any other type of quality light.

There are all sorts of LEDs like atrium and solskin which are similar to HLG (board based). Then there are COB systems like autocob, timber grow lights, hortibloom if on a budget.

HLG sell boards with heat sink without drivers for a good price, so you could build one cheaper.

One thing though, you cant replace a 630cmh with a 260w Quantum board. Assuming your in a 4x4 for that 630 you would want two 260w hlg kits to light that space well.

Personally I would repair the 630 cmh. Its probably a lose wire.

Have you considered a DIY build?

for $350 i think you could build a quality light to cover your space nicely...Ledgardeners template for 4x4 is 4 double row f series and a 480w driver.

f series Strips are $48 each x 4 $200usd ....theres many other options to choose from, some cheaper. (Cutter strips,bridgelux)
meanwell hlg-480h-48a driver $137 usd

Obv you still need wire and wagos and something to build a frame, so maybe not quite $350($400 probably), if you did go this route and spent a few extra bucks up front, your gonna end up with a very good light for much cheaper than buying the same quality from any company.


**** this only applies if your American, us Canadians are spending much more on the same parts

The so-called "auto cob" (I hate that term) is the simplest lamp to assemble. Go to Component Distributors, Inc. (CDI) and order these:
HBG-60-1400 driver for 36V CoBs, or HBG-60-1050 for 50V CoBs
ModuLED Mega 13450-B-HBG heatsink. These are pre-drilled and tapped.
HBG-60 Connector set
BJB 47.2033.50 CoB holder (not necessary, but advised) Order a few, in case you make a mistake, they're cheap and not made to release and reuse.
Citizen CLU048-1212 for 36V, or CLU048-1812 for 50V. You can choose others, but these are the cheapest.
You will need metric M3-6 screws for the CoB (ask CDI for them, or order from ebay, Amazon.)
Thermal paste. Amazon, or ebay. A pad will work, but the paste is a better choice.
A male plug, or an extension cord of your choosing, 18/2. There is no ground wire on the HBG-60 driver.
All that is needed is a Philips screwdriver, though needle nose pliers will make insertion of the DC wires easier.
You'll save $50 off each one by assembling it yourself. They're about 63W.

I am really happy with my HLG boards. They are really well built and a well though out design (hence everyone trying to copy it), and as so many here on RIU and abroad can attest, they work very well. A couple other things to add to the equation: First, accessibility, as busy as @Stephenj37826 is trying to build and run a company, he's pretty good about answering questions about his (and other) products and contributes a lot to the knowledge base of the grower community. Secondly, and very importantly, they are really good about standing behind their products. If You want an amazing run, and don't want to mess around with building a custom rig, the new R-Spec 550 is the luminaire to get IMO.