Switching to LED Need PRO Advice

Been growing for years using 600w HID. Finally moving on to LED for heat and stealth purposes. Im no novice grower so I would appreciate a seasoned growers advice on LED. I was going to make the jump to LED when Cree 3590's became popular, but I held out for better. I stopped growing for a year and now it seems like I've fallen way behind on the LED technology. Heres what I have. I use a small 40" x 36" closet. Don't worry about my environment, its dialed. Like I said, Im no novice. So it seems that 300-ish watts would be enough for the space. So the real question is, what would be an EXPERIENCED LED growers opinion on what light to get. Ive been seeing chilLED tech, Greengenes and some HLG lights that look promising. Budget around $500 somewhat flexible. Would like to purchase this week so any help from you veteran growers would be much appreciated. Thanks RIU

Not sure if It matters but, I have one 65 gallon pot running no till.

I dont know about being a pro...but I know quality.
Check Timber grow lights for one.
FF

You're going to want closer to 400watts. Even just getting a light made for a 4x4 as long as it'll fit, would be optimal as it can be dimmed and if you're in an open area or without reflective walls, the extra wattage will be very useful.
HLG, Timber, and a few others sell quality pre built fixtures. If you can screw a few screws in, plug a couple wires, and have a little bot of common sense, building one is easier now than its ever been. WORLDS EASIER than when you checked out COBs in '16-'17.

FastFreddi said:

I dont know about being a pro...but I know quality.
Check Timber grow lights for one.
FF

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Thanks I was checking them out. Was wanting to stay away from cobs if possible. They're not off the table though, if Icant find something I like better.

Airwalker16 said:

You're going to want closer to 400watts. Even just getting a light made for a 4x4 as long as it'll fit, would be optimal as it can be dimmed and if you're in an open area or without reflective walls, the extra wattage will be very useful.
HLG, Timber, and a few others sell quality pre built fixtures. If you can screw a few screws in, plug a couple wires, and have a little bot of common sense, building one is easier now than its ever been. WORLDS EASIER than when you checked out COBs in '16-'17.

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Im good bumping up to 400W. What ever I buy will have a potentiometer for in anyways, might as well have more watts just in case. Im definitely not afraid to build a DIY kit. I actually prefer it. So what's the consciences on Chilled Tech? Seems like a decent light. I like the efficacy of it. Im referring to the Growcraft X3. HLG 300L also caught my eye. Any thoughts?

HLG's new Diablo boards are their latest and greatest.

Seems that most lights are grouped according to driver wattage. Typical steps are 240, 320, 480 and 600 watts. Since your current space is around 10 sq ft, a 320 watt system would work. The other option would be using a 480 watt system and dimming that to 300-350 watts. I like the second option because, well just because. I like using diy because it allows me to fit the best combo for my space.

If I were you, I'd just browse the strips that are being used like bridgelux eb gen 2&3, Vesta's, or of course Samsung F series. Get as many as you wanna use to spread your light out, and use an HLG-480H-**AB driver. ** referring to the voltage of the driver to match your strips voltage

leighsean said:

Im good bumping up to 400W. What ever I buy will have a potentiometer for in anyways, might as well have more watts just in case. Im definitely not afraid to build a DIY kit. I actually prefer it. So what's the consciences on Chilled Tech? Seems like a decent light. I like the efficacy of it. Im referring to the Growcraft X3. HLG 300L also caught my eye. Any thoughts?

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If you want to diy check out the vestas, gives you dual channels 2700k and 5000k, both 90 cri. Gives you a lot of control over plant stretch/stalkiness. Don't bother comparing the efficacy on these, it shifts the red peak from 605 to 630 nm and with that more near ir and ir and that metric doesn't capture that. They grow well and give you the drivers seat when used with inventronics drivers for controlling cct.

Renfro said:

HLG's new Diablo boards are their latest and greatest.

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So I just went and checked those out. Assuming you were referring to the QB648 Diablo. They look promising. Can't find any vids on them, were they just released? Thinking about putting four of them together. Heres a link, would you guys mind helping me understand the power consumption of these? Looking at the data sheets confuses the fuck outta me lol. Thanks you guys

https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/all/products/qb648-diablo-slate-2-single-combo

leighsean said:

So I just went and checked those out. Assuming you were referring to the QB648 Diablo. They look promising. Can't find any vids on them, were they just released? Thinking about putting four of them together. Heres a link, would you guys mind helping me understand the power consumption of these? Looking at the data sheets confuses the fuck outta me lol. Thanks you guys

https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/all/products/qb648-diablo-slate-2-single-combo

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Just came out April 2nd

leighsean said:

were they just released?

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yeah new product. I suspect fully constructed lights using them will come out soon as well.

They had a list of drivers on the page but must have edited it due to errors. I would probably call them up and see what driver / wattage to use for the number of boards you need.

Get the Aussie high light. It has UV and far red and higher than 90 CRI. It will produce some amazing bud in your space. I don't have it personally, I like to make my lights. They have a thread with bud pics so you can do proper research before you throw down cash.

EDIT:
The HLG is overrated IMO. You can do much better for less money if you DIY some EB strips.

4ftRoots said:

Get the Aussie high light. It has UV and far red and higher than 90 CRI. It will produce some amazing bud in your space. I don't have it personally, I like to make my lights. They have a thread with bud pics so you can do proper research before you throw down cash.

EDIT:
The HLG is overrated IMO. You can do much better for less money if you DIY some EB strips.

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Yeah I agree, cut the price in half and get a better product, although its a lot more work.

4ftRoots said:

EDIT:
The HLG is overrated IMO. You can do much better for less money if you DIY some EB strips.

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I’m building my own but I don’t think they are overrated. I think they do a nice job with their boards and lights. There are a lot of products that you could DIY for half the price.

So if I went with the diablos I guesstimate that ill be into the whole light around $600-$700. You guys are saying that I could diy some strips and get better quality light and for less money? Im down with that however the problem is lack of knowledge. (What are "good" strips and not a clue where to buy any of this stuff) I wouldn't even know where to start. Does anyone have a build similar to my grow space with link?

leighsean said:

So if I went with the diablos I guesstimate that ill be into the whole light around $600-$700. You guys are saying that I could diy some strips and get better quality light and for less money? Im down with that however the problem is lack of knowledge. (What are "good" strips and not a clue where to buy any of this stuff) I wouldn't even know where to start. Does anyone have a build similar to my grow space with link?

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Go over to ledgardener website, he's got build templates to go off of not only for lights but sizes of space, where to get stuff, what you need, how to size etc.

You could use my template if you wanted, I've got a few builds on there.

Bignutes said:

Go over to ledgardener website, he's got build templates to go off of not only for lights but sizes of space, where to get stuff, what you need, how to size etc.

You could use my template if you wanted, I've got a few builds on there.

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Direct Link to the build page for ya.

Consider buying a used led. It keeps the budget open. I've picked up some cracking leds for pittance over the years on ebay from non believers. Even then I now have decent leds in all my tents, but still have some of the other leds to mix nicely into the spectrum. Which is better? White leds or blurple leds? I like both together. The decent white led at the top in the middle and a blurple led firing in at an angle.

Plus you can always use a cheap led for cloning or mother plants. Clones love the blurple leds.