Samsung lm301b or lm301h?

Hi everyone, i've been a lurker for quite a while here and seeing more and more grower switching to LEDs!

I'm in the process of upgrading my old 250watt HPS grow light to a quantum board and was originally looking at the samsung lm301b diodes but while I was researching I learned that Samsung has the newer lm301h diode.

It seems like it makes sense to buy the lm301h diode because they have improved light spectrum and intensity, I found Niemi LED who sells them https://niemiled.com/product/lm301h-260w-niemi-led-quantum-board/

Try www.alibaba.com

I would prefer to not by from China to be honest, looks like hlg and niemiled are in USA so probably going to stick with them..

HTCLSTForME said:

I would prefer to not by from China to be honest, looks like hlg and niemiled are in USA so probably going to stick with them..

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Yeah, I'd stay clear of China, plenty of threads posts in here where people have been scammed.

HLG is reputable, they properly support their products, and at least you know their chips are genuine Samsung.

Never heard of niemiled until now, but what I will say is their PAR chart for a 260W fixture is BS, Compare the PAR maps below for 1000W fixtures to see what I mean.



Now check out Niemileds chart, "what the heck" ROFL. Samsung diodes are efficient... But they're not that efficient!!!

Stephen from HLG has stated multiple times on podcasts that they are the SAME diodes-just marketing hype.

Exact same diode

They saay theyve done something with them to prevent sulfurization of the phosphor, maybe some protective sheet on the diode.

Rocket Soul said:

They saay theyve done something with them to prevent sulfurization of the phosphor, maybe some protective sheet on the diode.

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Yeah, it's funny they say that, because every spec on the two LEDs is identical and Samsung hasn't provided any data or test results on SO2 protection. We don't use Samsung diodes, but I was talking to an American horticultural LED board manufacturer in Hong Kong last week who does use them and also said LM301B and LM301H were identical. He said there was no anti-sulfurization on the H model, and that Samsung were telling fibs.

If the H model had separate protection, then this would obviously affect the flux bins - which are identical.

Samsung has been known to embellish the truth in the past, especially in regard to their stated efficiency (LPW) claims which have been tested by other manufacturers. I've got a Nichia report here showing Samsung chips had 5% less efficiency than claimed (214 LPW vs claimed 223 LPW). Take that with a pinch of salt if you will (Nichia is a rival manufacturer), but knowing Korean companies and their propensity to stretch the truth (there was a successful class action against Hyundai last year, for example, for inflating fuel efficiency figures), my money's on Nichia

Johnnycannaseed1 said:

Yeah, I'd stay clear of China, plenty of threads posts in here where people have been scammed.

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Hogwash. You’re lucky if you find more than a couple in the last five years.

Same unsubstantiated claims.

Go ahead link the scams. We’re waiting.

What like it's hogwash that the Chinese don't trust the Chinese, and all those babies died

And I guess it is hogwash that all their scamming, underselling knockoff goods, and Government subsidiaries, has finally put them in a debt bubble they will not be able to climb out of

And, sure, I guess it's hogwash that businesses have finally got sick of China's rip off antics and lack of respect for IP, to the point they are now leaving China in their droves, to quietly sink

Yep, it's all hogwash... Watch it an weep, you fool because it won't be long before the bubble bursts

The Economic Collapse Of China! $40 Trillion Dollar Dark Cloud Of Debt - China’s Yuan CRASH!

Guess the world corps have voted to SAY NO TO KNOCK OFF CRAP!!!

Still no links to scams regarding lights.

Still nothing but some weird hysteria. Lol

Save it for the politics section broski. We are talking lights. Not economics.

Rocket Soul said:

They saay theyve done something with them to prevent sulfurization of the phosphor, maybe some protective sheet on the diode.

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They have.... But it's also on the 301B.

DrKiz said:

Hogwash. You’re lucky if you find more than a couple in the last five years.

Same unsubstantiated claims.

Go ahead link the scams. We’re waiting.

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There are post here in this section where guys bought knock off boards and recieved different LEDs on two separate boards. Both were not lm301b.

Stephenj37826 said:

There are post here in this section where guys bought knock off boards and recieved different LEDs on two separate boards. Both were not lm301b.

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Correct. And was my point.

A couple cases over many years is no need for the constant hysteria posted by some people.

That’s it. A couple. Thousands of posts/members, tonnes of growers using Chinese lights. More being bought everyday. And only a couple issues aired.

Awesome. Power of internet. A company exposed. People know. That’s what happens. People post when they have an issue. Not many posts about issues though... lol. Funny, people do love to complain. Leads me to believe not much to complain about.

Not a rampant problem. Actually, that’s just showing proof how good those damn Chinese “knock offs” are, statistically.

Guys are posting and insinuating that people are getting ripped off in high numbers, that such cases are common.

This is simply not true. Buyer beware sure, but posting disingenuous statements does nothing to help people buy quality lights.

It’s pretty pitiful when guys come on to bash Chinese manufactures and spout the same rhetoric. The large majority of statements widely exaggerated, unfounded or completely unprovable.

Never posting sources or links, just the same script.

Whether they’re made in North America or China, the point is if you’re going to bash you better have an example to link, or it’s just heresay.

Are we trying to help people find a quality light for their budget, or are we just pushing product for sponsors or our ego/bias?

Have been buying from China for more than ten years. Find most of what I get from China to be of same or better quality than USA. The bias goes back to the 1950's when companies were specifying cheap plastic parts from China and then complaining about the quality. If you ask for crap you get crap.

fwiw, hlg is having a sale on their v1 288 boards. $29 each. Can't really beat that price. 2 of these will light a 3x3 and 4 a 4x4.

Sure, you need a heatsink (another $29/board), but it's still a good deal. Not the 301b, but still a good chipset.

greg nr said:

fwiw, hlg is having a sale on their v1 288 boards. $29 each. Can't really beat that price. 2 of these will light a 3x3 and 4 a 4x4.

Sure, you need a heatsink (another $29/board), but it's still a good deal. Not the 301b, but still a good chipset.

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Board + heatsink is 49. Its a brilliant deal. Buy 6 for a 4x4 and run them on 80 instead of 120 and between spread and running soft youll have performance similar to the 550.

As Green gene stated. The chips come off the SAME line and fork into two loads. One says H one says B. One box shows output in LUMENS for the main market, and the other (H) shows output in Umoles.

Not similar diodes. THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME DIODE. Anti sulfurization coating is on them both.

Airwalker16 said:

Not similar diodes. THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME DIODE. Anti sulfurization coating is on them both.

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Thanks for that info.