LED for single autoflower

Hey guys!

I'm interested in growing (for now) a single plant under a 2x2 tent, most likely an autoflower.
I've been reading about COB's and QB's and my budget is around 150€ (up to 200€ if worth it).

I'm interested in keeping my electricity bill down, so the lowest wattage i can go without sacrificing yield the better!
So far I've come up with these:

- TGL Star 60 55w (either Citizen CLU48 CRI97 3k or 4k, or Cree CXB 3070 3500k) - 109€ (CREE CXB3590 3500k version available for 159€)
- Optic 1 COB 54w 3500k (CREE CXB3590) - 139€
- Optic Phantom 1 54w 3500k (180 LM301H + 4 CREE XPE Deep Red + 2 CREE XPE Royal blue) - 139€

On paper these sound good (especially the Phantom) but I've read mixed opinions about Optic as a company and there's no reviews on the Phantom or the TGL's...

- HLG 100 V2 (192 LM301B) (unsure if 3k or 4k for full cycle) - 159€
- HLG 65 V2 (120 LMB301B) - 100€~120€
- ISH75 V (150 LM301H) - 90€~100€
- DYILED UK QX-75 (120 LM301H + 6 LM351H deep red + 2 730nm far red ) - 100€~120€

I've heard great things from the HLG 100 V2, but I'm wondering if any of the smaller models listed above would be sufficient for my needs. Particularly interested in the bottom 2 models for the leds used + price + European suppliers, but i can't find any info on them (much like the Phantom).

I'm leaning heavily towards the Phantom 1 for the leds + power usage + price of the lamp, with the ISH75 V being a close second.
Can anyone offer some input on this?

Thanks in advance!

I can feel your pain about the cost of appropriate lighting, but spending a tad more at the outset will save you money and headaches as you gain experience. If you're willing to consider HLG and have even modest DIY skills, look at 135W QB V2 Rspec LED Kit. It's probably around 210€.

This might do well for you, enquire about the enhanced spectrum

I have a couple of the HLG 100 V2 boards and you can't go wrong with them. You can always add more later if you plan to upgrade your setup.

Bos grower has best idea 135 HLG r spec. I hear a lot of issues with optic. I have one optic on it’s way I ordered like 3 weeks ago, shipping from them is bs. Wish I bought HLG. Optic get bad rep on here

@FADING-SILHOUETTE I'm pretty sure just picked up the Phantom 1 a couple months ago and might be able to tell you about it.
For a 2x2 Tent, 4 square feet, you'd want up to 120w of quality leds like those lm301b/h's. The rule of thumb is ~30w/square foot of quality(E.G. LM301's) leds. With older gen cobs you'd want around 40w/sq.ft.

If it was me, I'd do what Bosgrower said and get the 135w RSpec kit. I'm actually running two of the rspec boards dimmed on a 120h-54a in a 2x2 for even coverage. That being said, the hlg 100 v2 would likely work just fine for you, but the rspec kit would give you some room to add another board for better coverage or whatever. I've not ever owned the HLG 100 but it looks like it's an all in one unit you can't add to really but i'm not positive.

Thanks for the swift input guys!
I can find the HLG 135w R Spec around 200€-250€ in Europe (some even assemble) and I'm sure I could DYI it. I'll look into it.

Invisible Sun Tech has the ISH150 V with 300 LM301H on 2 boards pieced together with a Meanwell XLG 150 for around the price of the HLG 100, how would that hold up?
Didn't find any bad rep on Invisible Sun Tech online (seem like an European HLG competitor?)

The Phantom 1 seems really good on paper though (comparable to the HLG 100 consuming half power and costing less?).

198 $ total for HLG 135w RSpec, here In the US. they only have the assembled version. Diy is sold out. I’m going alibaba next for veg tent since HLG sold out of what I wanted

Dont focus only on type of diode, focus on how many diodes and run at what wattage per chip.
Most people look down on lm561cbt if you run i as i was intended, at .2 per chip or 60ish watts per board they are about efficient as lm301b/h (its the same diode, different marketig and binning procedure only) when run at .4w/120w per board. Leveraging diode count will lead to the same efficiencies as higher spec diodes, but also mean better spread, lower hanging height, and lower temperature at the diode which means it lasts longer.

Viparspectra p1000 or p1500 is a good light for the price. The 1500 is slightly brighter they both have a dimmable switch the p1500 pulls 142 watts the p1000 102 watts at 100 percent brightness. They run at 40 c for the 1000 and 50 c for the 1500. That's with a fan blowing on them or they can climb up to 70 c for the driver with no air. I bought them and stuck them both in a 2x4x5 it sits at around 23 c with a 4 inch Ac infinity fan set to come on at 23 c air in the room is 21 c

The cost for power to run my setup is $7.62 a month. Depends on your power cost in your area mine is 16 cents to 21 for a kilowatt hour. So cheap power

Prices are Canadian. The light is also coated for moister protection

Rocket Soul said:

Dont focus only on type of diode, focus on how many diodes and run at what wattage per chip.
Most people look down on lm561cbt if you run i as i was intended, at .2 per chip or 60ish watts per board they are about efficient as lm301b/h (its the same diode, different marketig and binning procedure only) when run at .4w/120w per board. Leveraging diode count will lead to the same efficiencies as higher spec diodes, but also mean better spread, lower hanging height, and lower temperature at the diode which means it lasts longer.

Click to expand...

I was looking around for some of the f-series gen3 and came accross these on arrow at a real nice price. https://www.arrow.com/en/products/si-b8t521560ww/samsung-electronics I know they are 4000k, butam I reading this correctly that it's $8 for the double row strips correct? If so that seems a good price for the lm561c to leverage the diode count.

To be perfectly honest, I am have way too much stuff with no where to hang it, but I am contemplating grabbing a few that I can mix in with some leftover eb gen3 strips on a different driver (once I actually get around to it) or just build some open space fixtures for the future since they are seemingly great veg strips. I really need to stop getting ideas for things 10 steps down the road and just get on with what I have, but it's a fun sort of hobby in my early stages of exploring this diy.

I do exactly what you plan to - single plant in 2x2, knock off basic QB288 135w jobby think i paid maybe 140? Its been brilliant. Ive got 1.5g/w easily, actually both my grows i lost maybe 20% to mould (my fault, need more ventilation) so thats probably more like 1.7g/w.

The Loafter said:

This might do well for you, enquire about the enhanced spectrum

Click to expand...

Was checking up on those, look really damn nice the builds out of them.
Apparently they also have them in QB form eventhough they end up a bit more expensive (or sort of the same price as the 135w).
They do have the extra spectrum though (besides the LM301's).

i like to advocate (not affiliate, maybe one day) HLG although i do support local. The quantum board movement was to expose the bullshit information the blurple lights were trying to sell out on.

In the thread by one of the company's founders, this is explained: the first post welcomes people to evolve the technology and discuss the evolution. Diyleduk embrace that and has brought out some new innovations, which are likely near par with hlg. maybe not the new diablo 648(=18 red =666)

OK! The scope 150 v2 is a perfect fit for the tent i was looking at (Mars Hydro 70x70x160).
Still curious about the QB form of it though (QX150?). Can't find it in the website though.

@diyled Hey! What's the availability on the scope 150 or the QX150? (obviously not available haha, but ETA)
Was looking for scope 150 pictures but I see you've updated them on the website, looks amazing!
Is it also possible to know the max dimensions of the scope 150 (i assume 63x40)?
Thanks! Let me know if I should shoot you an email!

1 QB 288 in 2x2x3

qb100, 2x2x3, 2 plants

Popsai said:

Let me know if I should shoot you an email!

Click to expand...

Yeah please. I dont advertise here anymore.