second led recommendation.

dr.smiley said:
Thanks for the info guys! I hadn't heard of quantum boards prior to this and after reading up on them they do seem like they would be best for my setup, however from what I'm seeing as I am pricing it out, it appears that for a 320 they are going to be $400+ to buy a kit. I realize if I want good results I'm going to need to spend some money, but it's a bit more than I was hoping to spend right now (I was hoping for something closer to the $100 range)

I've done a lot of reading on the growing end of things, but even so, with lack of experience, I'm a little nervous about putting a bunch of money into it until I know that I'm not just going to kill all my plants.

Is there any way i could get a powerful enough quantum board without spending several hundred on it?
Thanks again for the help and sorry I'm kinda needing this spoon-fed to me here.
Click to expand...

Looks like you have about 120w of LED with what you have. With your space and that tech including what you have now you want about another 180w , true watts, not the name of the light made up watts.
See what you can pick up in your budget.

I would avoid buying anything called japanwhatever quantum board, because, 1 Its a copy and, 2. You need a driver and possibly a heat sink. The driver is a big chunk of the money.

When you have a grow or two under your belt or when you have a better financial situation you can look at buying a proper Quatum board kit. I would recommend a 260w kit and no more, or its overkill in a 2x3 space. Or you can look at COBs, but that doesn't mean some shitty Rolando cob light, do the research and avoid amazon for COB lights.
Or you can look at building a strip build, check out LEDgardeners website.

A very rough guide.
Cheap blurple you want 50w per square foot.
Quality white efficient lighting like Quantum boards or Samsung strips or good COBs you want 30w per square foot.
 
L30nPh3lps said:
For the record any money that u dont spend now on ur lights u WILL end up spending in the future, and ull be respending every penny u spend on subpar lighting and trying to make it back on a subpar yield, do urself the favor and skip right to the end
Click to expand...
I definitely see where you're coming from. I'm just a little apprehensive about spending a bunch of money on what due to the legality and my lack of experience, may only be a one time grow. That said I don't really want to cheap out on it either because I don't want to spend all that time, money, and effort to yeild a small amount of low grade or something
 
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dr.smiley said:
I definitely see where you're coming from. I'm just a little apprehensive about spending a bunch of money on what due to the legality and my lack of experience, may only be a one time grow. That said I don't really want to cheap out on it either because I don't want to spend all that time, money, and effort to yeild an eighth of low grade or something
Click to expand...
Ull only ever get back what u put in, can u grow with a blurple? Sure i mean ull get stuff u can smoke, and it might not even be bad, but ur time is valuable, and no matter what ur still gonna be putting time and effort into ur plants, so why even worry about the one thing that is GUARANTEED to directly affect everything else, half the battle in getting lights in wading thru the falsely advertised garbage, and unfortunately almost all of us have had to do that... u dont have to!
 
L30nPh3lps said:
Ull only ever get back what u put in, can u grow with a blurple? Sure i mean ull get stuff u can smoke, and it might not even be bad, but ur time is valuable, and no matter what ur still gonna be putting time and effort into ur plants, so why even worry about the one thing that is GUARANTEED to directly affect everything else, half the battle in getting lights in wading thru the falsely advertised garbage, and unfortunately almost all of us have had to do that... u dont have to!
Click to expand...
You're absolutely right about all of that. With that being said, a lot of what you *need* is going to vary depending on your personal environment. If you live in the southwest and your air rn is warm and dry, you will have a much easier time than someone in the north or southeast who's battling humidity from summer.

Humidity will cause mold no matter how much you spent on your light. Heat from the summer left unchecked will cause heatstress and spike humidity whenever you water the plant. Having great lights out of the gate is obviously ideal, but you've got to take environmental stress into account as well. No one can speak to that except the person growing. [[ For example when I bought a hygrometer I was already mid veg and my apt's *base* rh ended up being like 85% so for me a dehumidifier is more of a concern. Yes, I needed a light but it was doing fine with CFLs of all things so getting the rh down was/is top priority. I needed to put money into saving for one. Light is much more forgiving and can be dealt with over time, but mold grows fast. ]]
 
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Bear420 said:
I have 2 CLW Solar System 550s So Called Blurple and I surely don't need and AC unit or Dehumidifier I don't know what they're talking about heat issues, My 550s don't put out hardly any heat. Not sure about the Mars Hydro,
Not sure why people are dissing those I know things are changing, But the ones I am using are great lights I am not in a little tent my room is big and my Blurple Solar System 550s are outgrowing my 3 600 hps and with hardly no heat at all.
I am surely not saying the QBs are bad because they're not, and either are the So Called Blurple I can testify to that.
My 550s, I have full control over with controller can turn reds up blues up whites up or down with a dusk to dawn feature one controller adjusts all lights up 1000 lights with one timer, I can't say enough about these lights.
Click to expand...
^. With you on the clw lights got an 880 and 1100 hardly any heat period ditched my 1000de for the 1100 won’t look back.
 
blowincherrypie said:
bro.. thats $12-1400 worth of light.. I hope theres "hardly no heat at all" for that price.. the "newer" clw are good lamps.. just overpriced as hell for what you get... and I kind of doubt they would outgrow the 3 600s but hey its your story
Click to expand...

Yes I agree they are a bit more money, No heat issues whatsoever and I've had these new CLW since May and they are outgrowing my 3 600 hps phantom ll, I don't lie here I have no reason too, been doing this a very long time, and believe me I was skeptical as shit, I talked to the REP, he convinced me to at least try them, 90 days return if I wasn't happy, I really had reservations, but I decided to go for it, with that 90 days and a 5 year warranty on LEDs and fans, how could I go wrong ?
So I did knowing I had some ready to go asap. I wasn't happy at first because i was more scared than anything switching after years of satisfaction with my 600s Well I don't want to go into much, but I few weeks into this grow I was shocked at how much better my ladies looked and how much more water they we using, These were some of the best i've grown in many years of doing this. better flavor, tighter nugs,all around more weight.
The Proof is there for me that these comercial 550s out grow my 600 hps all around.
 
StrawberryYields said:
You're absolutely right about all of that. With that being said, a lot of what you *need* is going to vary depending on your personal environment. If you live in the southwest and your air rn is warm and dry, you will have a much easier time than someone in the north or southeast who's battling humidity from summer.

Humidity will cause mold no matter how much you spent on your light. Heat from the summer left unchecked will cause heatstress and spike humidity whenever you water the plant. Having great lights out of the gate is obviously ideal, but you've got to take environmental stress into account as well. No one can speak to that except the person growing. [[ For example when I bought a hygrometer I was already mid veg and my apt's *base* rh ended up being like 85% so for me a dehumidifier is more of a concern. Yes, I needed a light but it was doing fine with CFLs of all things so getting the rh down was/is top priority. I needed to put money into saving for one. Light is much more forgiving and can be dealt with over time, but mold grows fast. ]]
Click to expand...
Yea for sure but u def need to tailor those other factors to ur end-game light, last thing u wanna do is get everything what u think is set-up and have to change it all once ur upgrade lighting
 
Mustangmike said:
^. With you on the clw lights got an 880 and 1100 hardly any heat period ditched my 1000de for the 1100 won’t look back.
Click to expand...
I hate to intrude on the OP post, but yes I couldn't be happier. I got the controller too, It's nice not to need a heavy duty timer and one runs them all. he wants me to try out the UV light, But I am not sure I need it these ladies are the best I've did in ever, If you haven't got your first crop yet you are going to be very happy. .
Keep me posted if you would.

As for the OP Your on the right track. Learn as much as you can and spend what you can, and everything will into place...
 
Bear420 said:
I hate to intrude on the OP post, but yes I couldn't be happier. I got the controller too, It's nice not to need a heavy duty timer and one runs them all. he wants me to try out the UV light, But I am not sure I need it these ladies are the best I've did in ever, If you haven't got your first crop yet you are going to be very happy. .
Keep me posted if you would.

As for the OP Your on the right track. Learn as much as you can and spend what you can, and everything will into place...
Click to expand...
I recommend the uv I used it and trike city just gotta burst it last couple of weeks too much of the uv light you’ll get some stress but just the right amount and potency ups without negatives. Approx 30% according to data, from experience it helps worth the money. I just harvested my first full run with them a while back and I agree quality is great worth it IMO.
 
L30nPh3lps said:
Yea for sure but u def need to tailor those other factors to ur end-game light, last thing u wanna do is get everything what u think is set-up and have to change it all once ur upgrade lighting
Click to expand...
Awesome point, I've been thinking of that too. I figure that even if my end game light puts off virtually zero heat, it's still a good idea to have a dehumidifier for curing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't rh more important then?

Tbh I dont even really need another AC, it's just a nice to have sort of thing. My priority rn is getting through this harvest and then my expenses will finally start to pay off and I can upscale. Eventually I want a continuous veg/flower cycle.
 
It’s all about the grams per wattage. I’m on my first grow and I’m using blurples. On these forums talking about lights is like talking about shoes imo. People are always gonna hate on the cheaper shit. I think when you’re on your first grow that it’s ok to use a blurple and then work your way up. Trust me, I’d love a Timber grow light but I can wait until the next grow. But yeah, because of the potential to grow almost 2 grams a watt I am definitely going in on something better next time.
 
I have a 300w mars blurple light just to germaate my beans, I would never considered trying to grow even 1 plant with that light, I use California light works, I bought a set 1 vegmaster, 1 bloom booster, set me back $1100, but in the end you get what u pay 4.
 
SNOLEPERD said:
I have a 300w mars blurple light just to germaate my beans, I would never considered trying to grow even 1 plant with that light, I use California light works, I bought a set 1 vegmaster, 1 bloom booster, set me back $1100, but in the end you get what u pay 4.
Click to expand...
Jeez that's a lot of money just to germinate. I don't have that kinda scratch for a personal stash. I use the sun, it's free lol
 
SNOLEPERD said:
I have a 300w mars blurple light just to germaate my beans, I would never considered trying to grow even 1 plant with that light, I use California light works, I bought a set 1 vegmaster, 1 bloom booster, set me back $1100, but in the end you get what u pay 4.
Click to expand...

I am running two 550s commercial with Controller, and I have one 600 watt HPS Growing side by side and the 550s are killing my 600 hps, I can't believe how good these CLW lights are working, I would of never thought that being a 30 year user of HPS lighting I was Super Skeptical all the reading I do here. about Blurple lighting, but have found Some work some don't , But I know from my experience these CLW 550s are the working great.
Side by side with my 600 hps these 550s are growing tighter,bigger,heavy,frosty,dank tasting bomb shit. I am going to show the comparison with the two systems I have going right now just to show People whom might be skeptical like I was, just to set their minds at ease. Also I have the new ones with the IR they work and work well.

The only downfall is the Price, But I called and got a deal I couldn't refuse with the 90 days if your not happy just return them and the full 5 years on the lights and fans.

Keep me posted on how you're doing and I'll do that same.
 
There is a trade off, for years I grew with MH & hps, I think they work better than an led, and now there so cheap they give them away, but the trade off is your light bill & allot of heat, once my led catches up I'm good, but it's still a trade off.
 
So I was in your situation a while back, thinking about how to get going, doing research, making plans. A Friend loaned me a 1000 hps and that worked, but the bill sucked and the heat issues etc. Then I stumbled on this megathread here https://www.rollitup.org/t/led-users-unite.240615/
I read a lot of the thread before deciding what to build. (Maybe skip towards the end and see what the latest greatest is) I copied a light another user was showing off, using the Bridgelux strips and a meanwell driver. I ended up with a light that's about the size of the hlg 550's for under $300. I understand that there are slightly better options, but I'm no electrician, the strips don't require heat sinks or fans, and are literally plug and play with solid core 18 gauge wire. I got everything from Digikey, Arrow, and amazon. Home depot provided the frame material.
I was so happy with how the plants responded that I built a second on for a veg area. This time I got smart and recycled an old fluorescent fixture to mount everything to and it cut the cost significantly.
It really is very, very easy to wire together. driver to + on the first strip, - of first strip to + of the next strip, repeat until last strip, negative to negative on the driver. three wires from the driver to your power cord, all color coded and easy to get right. If you can follow that, you now have all the skills required to diy. :bigjoint:
 
28354E32-6998-40C4-B7F5-3B912ABB5A4E.jpeg
Bear420 said:
I am running two 550s commercial with Controller, and I have one 600 watt HPS Growing side by side and the 550s are killing my 600 hps, I can't believe how good these CLW lights are working, I would of never thought that being a 30 year user of HPS lighting I was Super Skeptical all the reading I do here. about Blurple lighting, but have found Some work some don't , But I know from my experience these CLW 550s are the working great.
Side by side with my 600 hps these 550s are growing tighter,bigger,heavy,frosty,dank tasting bomb shit. I am going to show the comparison with the two systems I have going right now just to show People whom might be skeptical like I was, just to set their minds at ease. Also I have the new ones with the IR they work and work well.

The only downfall is the Price, But I called and got a deal I couldn't refuse with the 90 days if your not happy just return them and the full 5 years on the lights and fans.

Keep me posted on how you're doing and I'll do that same.
Click to expand...

C7A3842D-060B-4A79-BB26-A134A8F879BF.jpeg
 
coreywebster said:
Looks like you have about 120w of LED with what you have. With your space and that tech including what you have now you want about another 180w , true watts, not the name of the light made up watts.
See what you can pick up in your budget.

I would avoid buying anything called japanwhatever quantum board, because, 1 Its a copy and, 2. You need a driver and possibly a heat sink. The driver is a big chunk of the money.

When you have a grow or two under your belt or when you have a better financial situation you can look at buying a proper Quatum board kit. I would recommend a 260w kit and no more, or its overkill in a 2x3 space. Or you can look at COBs, but that doesn't mean some shitty Rolando cob light, do the research and avoid amazon for COB lights.
Or you can look at building a strip build, check out LEDgardeners website.

A very rough guide.
Cheap blurple you want 50w per square foot.
Quality white efficient lighting like Quantum boards or Samsung strips or good COBs you want 30w per square foot.
Click to expand...

Excellent advise. ^^^

White light is what you want, strips, cobs and boards. LED strips give the best light distribution!

If you can DIY, Samsung F-Series are the best. http://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/
If you can't build them yourself, look here! https://www.omegalight.net/shop

www.timbergrowlights.com
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com
www.rapidled.com
www.pacificlightconcepts.com/product/plc-330-l
www.Cobkits.com
www.bcblondes.com
www.diyleduk.co.uk
www.cutter.com.au
 
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