QUANTUM BOARDS help me decide

callies

callies

Active Member
i have a odd shaped grow aria 2.5 ft by 1.5 ft by 5 ft

i think i want the
HLG V2 135 Watt Quantum Board DIY LED Grow Light Kit cost $359.95
but the recommended spread is 2x2 sqft and i feel like it wont have enough spread for the extra 0.5 ft and ill be disappointing

so then i am looking at the
HLG 260 V2 - QB 288 Quantum Boards DIY LED Grow Light Kit cost $525.00
and the recommended spread is 3x3 sqft or 2x4 sqft i feel like this is too much power for my needs and i will have to run it dimmed

am i wasting my money buying the 260 V2 - QB 288 just to run it dimmed
i pretty much will never build a bigger grow space so its not looking to future proofing my light i just want the most effective thing out of the two options

some things im thinking is if i run the 260 V2 -QB 288 dimmed it will put out less heat then running the 135 Watt at max??? am i right thinking that or will the QB 288 still be hotter because it has two boards ??

im also thinking the QB 288 will last allot longer if i permanently run it dimmed or is bad to run them dimmed permanently ??

im also thinking i could save even more on electricity if i run the QB 288 at 100 watts but keep it 12 inches to the canopy over running the 135 watts at 18 inches on full and maybe ill need to replace it quicker ??

the extra $160 ish is a decent chunk of money for me but if i have to buy a hole new 135 watt because im unhappy with the spread is even worse

what do yous think is my best option. i have enough to buy the 135w now but im not in a huge rush and can save the extra $160 if everyone thinks that the smarter option
 
L

Lethidox

Well-Known Member
i bought the hlg 320 v2 still waiting for it to come in for about a week now. bought it pre assembled and tested though thus why. other then that i think you should get as much lighting as you can in the small space. if the 260 can fit and nothing better then get those ones. i think the 288 is better if i recall but the sites i were looking at they were sold out or they came with like weird things so i just bought the 320's there is another 320 but the boards are 288's i think i'd run a 3.5k spectrum if only using one that is what many recommended i use since i don't have money to purchase 2 boards specifically for flowering and vegging alone
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Firstly where are you getting your prices from, I thought maybe your in Canada but even in Canadian Dollars the hlg 260w v2 is $447, the 135w kit is $230 Canadian.
In USD the 260w v2 is $330 and the 135w is $187.

The Boards are oblong so the 135w will cover a 2.5x1.5 space, I would say likely better coverage than a 2x2
 
Frank Cannon

Frank Cannon

Well-Known Member
I'd run with 4 or 5 x 2ft H_Influx 3000K 2fters in a staggered pattern bolted to a piece of 3mm ally plate, off a HLG-185H-48A driver . Mine have been unreal at 100w veg and full wick you will get 50w sqft..... Easy to build bro and not too expensive. My veg tent is not much bigger (i'm running 4000K but have seen results from 3000k strip builds and they are impressive) and you don't have a lot of height so the strips will help a bit there too. My 0.1c worth, I'm a newb to LED so take it for what its worth.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/5-x-5-light-set-up.978296/page-11

This thread is f#$5ing gold:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/strip-leds-in-the-garden-of-paradise.954799/
 
callies

callies

Active Member
coreywebster said:
Firstly where are you getting your prices from, I thought maybe your in Canada but even in Canadian Dollars the hlg 260w v2 is $447, the 135w kit is $230 Canadian.
In USD the 260w v2 is $330 and the 135w is $187.

The Boards are oblong so the 135w will cover a 2.5x1.5 space, I would say likely better coverage than a 2x2
Click to expand...
im in Australia https://www.quickbloomlights.com.au/products/horticulture-lighting-group-hlg-135-watt-quantum-board-diy-led-grow-light-kit

https://www.quickbloomlights.com.au/collections/horticulture-lighting-group-led-grow-lights/products/hlg-260-watt-qb-288-v2-quantum-boards-diy-led-grow-light-kit?variant=12114479710328

is that not the place i should order them from
 
callies

callies

Active Member
Frank Cannon said:
I'd run with 4 or 5 x 2ft H_Influx 3000K 2fters in a staggered pattern bolted to a piece of 3mm ally plate, off a HLG-185H-48A driver . Mine have been unreal at 100w veg and full wick you will get 50w sqft..... Easy to build bro and not too expensive. My veg tent is not much bigger (i'm running 4000K but have seen results from 3000k strip builds and they are impressive) and you don't have a lot of height so the strips will help a bit there too. My 0.1c worth, I'm a newb to LED so take it for what its worth.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/5-x-5-light-set-up.978296/page-11

This thread is f#$5ing gold:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/strip-leds-in-the-garden-of-paradise.954799/
Click to expand...
im far too dumb to understand most of that let along picking the correct parts but i have considered trying to but na far too dumb for that. if i could buy everything in a matching set driver framing and strips i could probably work it out though
 
Last edited:
callies

callies

Active Member
Lethidox said:
i bought the hlg 320 v2 still waiting for it to come in for about a week now. bought it pre assembled and tested though thus why. other then that i think you should get as much lighting as you can in the small space. if the 260 can fit and nothing better then get those ones. i think the 288 is better if i recall but the sites i were looking at they were sold out or they came with like weird things so i just bought the 320's there is another 320 but the boards are 288's i think i'd run a 3.5k spectrum if only using one that is what many recommended i use since i don't have money to purchase 2 boards specifically for flowering and vegging alone
Click to expand...
im in the same boat cant buy two light one for veg and one for flower but some rep told me i could just buy the board and swap then from 4000k to 3000k and use the same driver but fuck i dont want to do that . the 260 would be the max demotion of a light i could fit. im thinking ill have to get it but its a hard to decide.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
callies said:
im in Australia https://www.quickbloomlights.com.au/products/horticulture-lighting-group-hlg-135-watt-quantum-board-diy-led-grow-light-kit

https://www.quickbloomlights.com.au/collections/horticulture-lighting-group-led-grow-lights/products/hlg-260-watt-qb-288-v2-quantum-boards-diy-led-grow-light-kit?variant=12114479710328

is that not the place i should order them from
Click to expand...
Have you looked at the stuff on cutter.au?

https://www.cutter.com.au/product/solskin-thin-skin-kit/

Im a HLG QB guy, but cutter make awesome lights. I don't know much details other than they are highly efficient.

I would seriously consider speaking to mark @welight from cutter and getting his advise on what would be best for you. He can give you more info than I can on these.

Truth be told cutter don't get much press on here, for some part that's due to the amount of time they were developing these lights and in the meantime HLG were getting all the buzz.
 
callies

callies

Active Member
coreywebster said:
Have you looked at the stuff on cutter.au?

https://www.cutter.com.au/product/solskin-thin-skin-kit/

Im a HLG QB guy, but cutter make awesome lights. I don't know much details other than they are highly efficient.

I would seriously consider speaking to mark @welight from cutter and getting his advise on what would be best for you. He can give you more info than I can on these.

Truth be told cutter don't get much press on here, for some part that's due to the amount of time they were developing these lights and in the meantime HLG were getting all the buzz.
Click to expand...
i want a HLG QB because i have only hear really good things about them lights and that it should last 5 or more years but i am open to something else
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
callies said:
i want a HLG QB because i have only hear really good things about them lights and that it should last 5 or more years but i am open to something else
Click to expand...
Yeah I get where your coming from, I bought my QBs when they first came out and then got a 3rd one from a UK retailer I know.
I love them and its part love and part convenience for me. They perform well.
If I were not so far away I would happily run solskin boards too. But it aint worth it for me over here in England.


Im only telling you this because I don't want you to think because you don't hear about them as much that they are somehow an inferior board and it makes financial sense to me to go that option.
I must of recommended HLG to hundreds of people since I bought mine, will always praise them, but they are not the only option for high quality high efficient LEDs
 
jjng5

jjng5

Well-Known Member
@callies I'll do you one better -- why not purchase 1 x QB 324 V2 for $79 and then pick up a meanwell hlg-185h-54 for $50 and then be able to dim your light depending if you're in veg or flower. The 324 V2 is a little larger of a board (~12" x 8" versus QB288 11.25" x 6.83") and you're also getting more diodes too. The 324V2 is rated for higher wattage capabilities to boot. With a 185 watt driver I wouldn't run the board at full strength power without additional cooling. You could safely run it upwards of ~150-160 watts of power. This would give you the ability to run your space with slightly improved light spread and a higher intensity for flower; 160 watts = 42 watt per sq foot. Most people agree 25-30 watts / sq foot with these QB's is perfect. So keep that in mind too. If you wanted to buy the HLG-120 driver and run your board at 120 watt that puts you at 32 watts / sq foot and you would get better PPFD efficiency as well.
 
R

Ryante55

Well-Known Member
callies said:
oh that looks good. when you say upgraded driver do you mean HLG-240H-C2100B and not the HLG-185H-C1400B
it says sold out though
Click to expand...
Yes the 2100 last night it was just some mounting brackets they are waiting for I think it said it would ship in like 2 weeks
 
R

Ryante55

Well-Known Member
callies said:
im in Australia https://www.quickbloomlights.com.au/products/horticulture-lighting-group-hlg-135-watt-quantum-board-diy-led-grow-light-kit

https://www.quickbloomlights.com.au/collections/horticulture-lighting-group-led-grow-lights/products/hlg-260-watt-qb-288-v2-quantum-boards-diy-led-grow-light-kit?variant=12114479710328

is that not the place i should order them from
Click to expand...
If your in Australia order from cutter IDK why you would even consider hlg if you live in Australia
 
TEKNIK

TEKNIK

Well-Known Member
If you are in Australia then it's a no brainier, Cutter solskins have 3 channels not just 1 you can choose the spectrums you want. As they have a channel that can be designated to 660nm they outperform similar products. You can choose to use Nichia whites or Cree whites, Nichia V3 chips are the highest performance available. Even if you choose to use the Cree chips for the whites to save some coin because of the 3 channel of 660nm they will still out perform any similar products
 
callies

callies

Active Member
TEKNIK said:
If you are in Australia then it's a no brainier, Cutter solskins have 3 channels not just 1 you can choose the spectrums you want. As they have a channel that can be designated to 660nm they outperform similar products. You can choose to use Nichia whites or Cree whites, Nichia V3 chips are the highest performance available. Even if you choose to use the Cree chips for the whites to save some coin because of the 3 channel of 660nm they will still out perform any similar products
Click to expand...
they are not much cheaper ell looking on the website i see stuff being about the same cost as hgl plus to complicated but thanks
 
TEKNIK

TEKNIK

Well-Known Member
callies said:
they are not much cheaper ell looking on the website i see stuff being about the same cost as hgl plus to complicated but thanks
Click to expand...
You can run a single channel if it's too complicated for you. They produce these in Australia they are not an imported thing. Call them if you need help with anything.
 
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