LED build suggestions

Ok so I need to figure out a light for new 4x4 tent grow. $500 max budget. Can I build a high quality light to rock this tent or run a pair of 400watt hps I have access to for free?
New to growing and have the ability to build lights with direction.
I'm also more than happy to try chinese-built components if other people have had success with them. I don't need to use name-brand especially if I can get much better bang for my buck with a light

13 F-series gen 3, driven by a HLG 320H-24B. Cost around $300 US. Add around a $100 in aluminum and misc. parts and you'll have a light that'll kill it in a 4x4 for around $400.

You could also use bridgelux eb Gen 2 strips. Cost ya $9 a strip. Order from Digikey.

glad you found your way over to the led section.

Skoal said:

You could also use bridgelux eb Gen 2 strips. Cost ya $9 a strip. Order from Digikey.

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Only diff is it takes to 2 eb gen 2's to equal the light output of the sammy f-series.
2390 lumens from the eb's compared to 4400 lumens for the sammies from the same size strips.

ledgardener calls for 4 of the 4` f series on a 480w driver

they want 12 eb series gen 2s on 480w driver.

4` fseries strips cost $39 usd
4` bxeb strips cost $13.44 usd


you can just as easily up the # of strips and use a 600h or 2 x 320 drivers as was recommended to me

jarvild said:

Only diff is it takes to 2 eb gen 2's to equal the light output of the sammy f-series.
2390 lumens from the eb's compared to 4400 lumens for the sammies from the same size strips.

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Ya those double rows are pretty sick, i ordered 30 of them to build 2 fixtures to put above my 4x8 table.

Just finished ordering these bxeb strips for a different build, went the cheaper route on this one.

So are these lights going to perform better than 2 400 watt hps bulbs?

Skyryder55 said:

So are these lights going to perform better than 2 400 watt hps bulbs?

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from what ive gathered, yes

550watts of qbs or strips seem to be competing with 1000watts of hps. So they should def perform better than 800 watts, not too mention , not having to deal with the heat issues 800watts of hps will create, that many watts in a 4x4 may require some cooling.

Obv its also grower dependent, the light only does so much lol

I'm a brand new grower but want to give myself the best shot possible Done a couple basic outdoor grows
What kind of life should I be expecting from these setups?

Skyryder55 said:

I'm a brand new grower but want to give myself the best shot possible Done a couple basic outdoor grows
What kind of life should I be expecting from these setups?

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Keep them in good shape and your good for 5-6 years.

Does the spectrum diminish over time or the lights just stop working?

Skyryder55 said:

Does the spectrum diminish over time or the lights just stop working?

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I don't think too many have had them running that length of time to see what actually happens........lol
I'd imagine the spectrum would stay the same

Moflow said:

I don't think too many have had them running that length of time to see what actually happens........lol
I'd imagine the spectrum would stay the same

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@Skyryder55

if you want to know about the Chinese boards, this dude here ^^^ knows his stuff.

Skyryder55 said:

So are these lights going to perform better than 2 400 watt hps bulbs?

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My 320W systems with 3 simple strips blow a 400 out of the water.
It is not even a contender not to mention the horrible CRI figures,

diggs99 said:

@Skyryder55

if you want to know about the Chinese boards, this dude here ^^^ knows his stuff.

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This is the thread for china boards builds:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-chinese-quantum-board-knock-off-builds.971560/

I can attest, china boards work great if you set them up right. What a whole load of people miss out is that efficiency in led is function of quality and price. If you pay half price but double your boards you can get similar efficiency as HLG.

Moflow said:

I don't think too many have had them running that length of time to see what actually happens........lol
I'd imagine the spectrum would stay the same

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I'm on 2 years of continues 12/12 now with my first build.

Lol, these strips are very well built, they will function even if one LED dies... I whacked one with a screwdriver when I build the first one... I can probably just reflow the solder. but its been working for 2 years of 18/6.
It is only now getting the upgrade of current balancing resistors like I added to my other lights.

https://www.samsung.com/led/lighting/mid-power-leds/3030-leds/lm301b/

Application Notes
Case Sudy failures

https://cdn.samsung.com/led/file/resource/2017/11/Case_Study_Discoloration_Rev.1.0.pdf
If you don't read it nothing will go wrong!

Yea, they as hard as nails , nearly...