Questions surrounding lights

Hey folks!

Longtime lurker first time posting. I apologize ahead of time if I'm in the wrong section/forum.

So I've got a 5x5 grow tent and I inherited some lights from a friend who moved out of country. The lights are:

3 X QB96 Elite V2
1 X 480W Meanwell driver

I've grown indoors before but never under QB's like these. I've since had one full growth cycle under them with decent results, all things considered (unknown genetics, plant shock when we lost power for two days and one curious puppy who just couldn't help himself).

However it's just not enough light for the amount of space I'm growing in. I've been doing some reading and have some understanding of what to look for but I'll be honest... I'm overwhelmed. I'd buy another QB96 and make it a set of 4 but they're impossible to find at a reasonable price compared to what's new nowadays. So I keep bouncing between the idea of stringing the 3 QB96's in a row and putting another 450-480W in the tent next to it for better coverage (turning down the intensity ofc) OR just buying a new fixture that is made for this type of space and sell these babies on kijiji.

Other fixtures I've considered: HLG 650R, HLG 700 RSpec FR, HLG Scorpion Diablo V1, Growers Choice ROI-E720, VOLT FL-1, Photontek x600W.

I'm growing Indica's and Indica-leaning hybrids in 5 gal fabric pots, ProMix HP/worm castings mix and using Gaia green supplements (top-dress).

I'd be grateful for anyone's opinions on this post. I'm in Canada but don't mind ordering from the USA if it means quality lights that'll last me a long time.

Thank you for your time!!

Check out kingbrite on Alibaba. To quality and good pricing fast shipping. I’ve bought from them many times with no problems at all. Good stuff

_MrPurple_ said:

1 X 480W Meanwell driver

Click to expand...

19 watts/sq ft ain't gonna cut it for bloom

The QB96 Elite V2 is 60w, correct? 60x3 = 180w, not near enough. IMO- 1,000w of LED in a 5x5 would be about right.

Hugo Phurst said:

The QB96 Elite V2 is 60w, correct? 60x3 = 180w, not near enough. IMO- 1,000w of LED in a 5x5 would be about right.

Click to expand...

No. They can be run up to 160 watts a piece with the right heatsink.

I'm running them full - so 160W each.

rkymtnman said:

19 watts/sq ft ain't gonna cut it for bloom

Click to expand...

Yes that's why I'm here... I got 0.8g/w and know I need more light for future harvests. Thus the question

So lets see, 3x160W= 480W, plus another 480W=960 watts. 960W divided by 25sq feet= 38.4 watts/sq feet, considering that the sweet spot for LED's is about 32W sq/ft, that's more than enough wattage for a 5X5 tent, if you run all the lights.

I'd go with a couple of triple heat sinks with 3 boards each and a 240w driver per set.

Then I'd probably dim the 96s fractionally.
The triple board set either side should put out at least 260w up to 280w and should be reasonable coverage

_MrPurple_ said:

Yes that's why I'm here... I got 0.8g/w and know I need more light for future harvests. Thus the question

Click to expand...

maybe run the qbs kinda in the center of the tent and put single strips along each side ?

or do you want to get rid of the qbs altogether?

Phytoplankton said:

So lets see, 3x160W= 480W, plus another 480W=960 watts. 960W divided by 25sq feet= 38.4 watts/sq feet, considering that the sweet spot for LED's is about 32W sq/ft, that's more than enough wattage for a 5X5 tent, if you run all the lights.

Click to expand...

The qb96 is not very efficient at 160w, about 2.2ppf/w at board, maybe 25% less efficient than other more recent HLG offerings. With 960 board watts that comes out to about 2100ppf which is about enough, but by no means overkill. Its not just the watts its the chips themselves and their efficiency

I run a 5 x 5 also. Lighting is Spiderfarmer sf4000=450 wall watts
King plus=250wall watts.
So 700 watts total. I do ok. Current situation.