The Chinese Quantum Board Knock Off Builds

I have experience with both meijiu and kingbrite,,, but surely kingbrite are trustworthy. I have bad boards in hand, kingbrite send me a new board at once, and pay the shipping, but meijiu ask me to refund from alibaba, they don't want to pay the shipping.
I tried to contact King Brite about making a custom order for roughly 30 480 watt lights. Using 301 b 90 CRI 3000K diodes. They weren't interested and definitely were not willing to come close to meijiu pricing. They simply turned me down and said there is a global diode shortage
Hi. Are strips the same strips that hlg uses. If so you know what’s the difference?
 
You should be fine with cooling, im talking about the extraction: you need extraction that is regulating your temps in order to haave +81F, under that temps youll have probs with transpiration and just poor performance with leds. This means you need something that auto regulates and will dial down extraction with low temps. The ac infinity cloudline is a good all in one solution if you get the version with controller.
On far reds and any color supplement, if you can get it separately for control its much better but if not a big extra cost go for it.
Hi. I was going to build a light but I’m thinking about buying from this company that was at a lighting event here in the USA like 2 years ago. I wanted to know if there’s any difference in qb that these companies sell also including Meiji, kb ,etc to the the ones American sell. Are the leds the same or cheaper and what does cheaper mean. Thanks
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Hi. I was going to build a light but I’m thinking about buying from this company that was at a lighting event here in the USA like 2 years ago. I wanted to know if there’s any difference in qb that these companies sell also including Meiji, kb ,etc to the the ones American sell. Are the leds the same or cheaper and what does cheaper mean. Thanks
Thats a very good question without a definite answer. Generally speaking no its not the same, at least not the same as HLG (many american companies will have their boards/leds built in china). They have first dibs on the best diodes, highest flux bin with lowest voltage bin for best crank for your watt. But does it matter not having the best? Not so much in my opinion. You can improve the performance of these leds by running more of them softer rather than running less of the best diodes harder.

However lately there seems to be an uptick of problems with alibubba buys: more and more i hear about people getting the wrong diode/spectrum due to "misstakes" and also about samsung diodes getting more expensive in china. My guess is that the diodes that goes in havent passed the QC totally: they might have some small unrelated fail in qc and dont go on international market but im only guessing.

As for buyers advice: yes you can safely buy from alibaba but stick to the legacy dealers: meijiu, KB and i trust r2t-HK as well. Personally i only buy boards, never led drivers due to warranty purpose. I try not to pay more than 30$ per board so boards just seem like an expendable. If it fails: just buy another extra board when you do your purchase and exchange it.
Try to run a standard qb copy between 60-80w. Running it softer will increase efficiency and more importantly increase life time and minimize fault chances. I dont buy heatsinks from china, prefer just slapping them on a 3mm alu sheet, which is plenty of sinking if you run soft.
Running the boards ofter but more of them also means better spread and lower hanging height which improves the amount of light hitting your cannopy. Best of luck
 

newbplantgrower420

Well-Known Member
Do you know if the lm301 b that they use are the good ones that past quality control test to Samsung standard ?
i have no idea but ive had them in my veg for a year and they grow great veg plants. ive had no issues whatsoever so far. i finally started dialed things in last run for my veg room with LEDs and they came out monsters.

got both kingbrite and meijiu boards in veg... theyre both pretty much the same. i like meijius dimmer knob better but Kingbrite pulls a true 480w as they claim while meijius board pulls over ~510w while claiming 480w.
 
Thats a very good question without a definite answer. Generally speaking no its not the same, at least not the same as HLG (many american companies will have their boards/leds built in china). They have first dibs on the best diodes, highest flux bin with lowest voltage bin for best crank for your watt. But does it matter not having the best? Not so much in my opinion. You can improve the performance of these leds by running more of them softer rather than running less of the best diodes harder.

However lately there seems to be an uptick of problems with alibubba buys: more and more i hear about people getting the wrong diode/spectrum due to "misstakes" and also about samsung diodes getting more expensive in china. My guess is that the diodes that goes in havent passed the QC totally: they might have some small unrelated fail in qc and dont go on international market but im only guessing.

As for buyers advice: yes you can safely buy from alibaba but stick to the legacy dealers: meijiu, KB and i trust r2t-HK as well. Personally i only buy boards, never led drivers due to warranty purpose. I try not to pay more than 30$ per board so boards just seem like an expendable. If it fails: just buy another extra board when you do your purchase and exchange it.
Try to run a standard qb copy between 60-80w. Running it softer will increase efficiency and more importantly increase life time and minimize fault chances. I dont buy heatsinks from china, prefer just slapping them on a 3mm alu sheet, which is plenty of sinking if you run soft.
Running the boards ofter but more of them also means better spread and lower hanging height which improves the amount of light hitting your cannopy. Best of luck
Could you tell me how many qb i should get for a 4x4x10 space? Ive seen you talk about light drop at the edges of strip dont know how bad is it with qb. If i do buy from china how many qb i should have for back up just in case some stop working. I hear that plants love around 1000ppfd so thats my goal if possible over a 4x4. Thank you
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Could you tell me how many qb i should get for a 4x4x10 space? Ive seen you talk about light drop at the edges of strip dont know how bad is it with qb. If i do buy from china how many qb i should have for back up just in case some stop working. I hear that plants love around 1000ppfd so thats my goal if possible over a 4x4. Thank you
Its a matter of form factor, if you build something with large size and homogeneous diode density then you will allways have a hotspot in the middle and light dropping off at the sides. This will increase with the higher you hang it as there is more crosslighting from the fixture. The other strategy is centring your boards over the corners, this will make sure they are properly covered. The middle gets covered by the cross light or even get a few extra boards.
Again, another strategy would be multiple drivers and building q light with 2 distinct sections: perimeter and centre. Ill see if i can find the pics of the strip loght i built for a friend on this principle. You put 4 x 4' strips around the edges on one driver, and then fill in centre with boards/strips on a separate driver and dial in intensity. But you need a meter, either lux of par.

1000ppfd is quite high intensity with leds: if youre not a seasoned grower with a good hydro setup its probably too much and would bleach your plants. Typical noob led misstakes: way too much intensity and incorrect environment (too cold). If you wanna be in the 1000ppfd range you really need to spend some time on how are you going to raise/lower temps and humidity independently of eachother and with good control. Otherwise your grow is going to loads of deficiencies and bleaching.

For a nice 4x4 build have a look @bigmikey86 for inspiration.
If you want to make absolutely sure that you have enough boards and power go for 10 boards and a 600w driver, should be around 450 plus shipping. Buy your driver in your country not in china. But get used to using your driver at around 450w, more is not better.
 

k0a

Active Member
Hey all,

Been lurking a couple of weeks, absorbing as much info as I can... Thanks to all who have contributed to these threads, both information and plant pics :-)

I'm trying to spec out a first time build with the intention to setup a small 2in1 "perpetual" tent (3x3/3x1). Bombardment of questions, incoming!

1. Can I get any opinions on this light (YXO Yuxinou 500mm QB), especially from any current owners on it's ability to flower a 3x3?
1a. I need advice on the best pick of spectrum for a flower room, should I be looking at the 35K395450660730FS or can someone recommend one of the other spectrum combos, what did you guys go with? A little reasoning would be greatly appreciated, I'm still trying to get my head around it all.

3. For initial outlay I can't find anything else that can touch the price/w of these YXO lights, at least while they are on special. Given the cost of a replacement board from YXO, if it all goes to shit I'll use what I can salvage to build a Bridgelux EB strip setup. I presume I can just jumper out a few failed chips before I have to consider replacing the chips/board?

4. I was looking at the Viparspectra VA (dimmable) series for maintaining the veg/mother/clone side of the tent. Can anyone see a reason a pair of "600w" (130 actual) lights wouldn't get me by, or suggest a better option around the same cost?

Thanks in advance!

Admin/all - If I've posted in the wrong place, please steer me to where this line of questioning is better suited.
 

mr4tune

Well-Known Member
I got another email about the latest Meijiu panels... The folding 8-bars with the UV. I love my Meijiu's regardless of the bullshit i went through with them early on but they gotta get with the times and start lowering their prices.

When I first got my Meijiu's the cost of the HLG's were too high. I couldn't justify paying $1600+ for a panel plus shipping when i could get a Chinese one for $900 to my door. Now that the scorpions are out, the 600 Rspec's are down to $980. Hell a Scorpion Rspec is only $1280... My buddy talked to that Wolverinegrown guy and they are even cheaper than that if you order through him or one of the other sponsored growers. And that's with free shipping too from what I heard. There is no way I'll be buying anymore knockoffs when I can get a premium panel for the same price.
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
I got another email about the latest Meijiu panels... The folding 8-bars with the UV. I love my Meijiu's regardless of the bullshit i went through with them early on but they gotta get with the times and start lowering their prices.

When I first got my Meijiu's the cost of the HLG's were too high. I couldn't justify paying $1600+ for a panel plus shipping when i could get a Chinese one for $900 to my door. Now that the scorpions are out, the 600 Rspec's are down to $980. Hell a Scorpion Rspec is only $1280... My buddy talked to that Wolverinegrown guy and they are even cheaper than that if you order through him or one of the other sponsored growers. And that's with free shipping too from what I heard. There is no way I'll be buying anymore knockoffs when I can get a premium panel for the same price.
I agree, especially when you factor in after sales service. But then on the other hand you could also pickup say 648 clones, mount them to some alu sheet add a 600w driver and your back below hlg prices. The alibubbers makes sense when you diy, with easily shipped components. Strip based finished growlight is allways going to have a lot of shipping added to it.
I still.think that one of the best deals around are the qb96, especially if you can get it with shipping free, which wont really happen ever here in euro
 

UpstateRecGrower

Well-Known Member
I agree, especially when you factor in after sales service. But then on the other hand you could also pickup say 648 clones, mount them to some alu sheet add a 600w driver and your back below hlg prices. The alibubbers makes sense when you diy, with easily shipped components. Strip based finished growlight is allways going to have a lot of shipping added to it.
I still.think that one of the best deals around are the qb96, especially if you can get it with shipping free, which wont really happen ever here in euro
Who’s got the QB96?
 

shiva71

Well-Known Member
Ive been very happy with my Meuiji basic 135w QB288, 1.5g/w so far.
Im looking at the most recent boards, i might upgrade:
Samsung LM301H: 248pcs
Epistar 660nm deep red: 32pcs
Epistar 730nm far led: 4pcs
Epistar 395nm UV: 4pcs
Would that be a slight or significant improvement over what i have? I grow a single autoflower in a 2x2 tent.
Cheers!
 

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
Ive been very happy with my Meuiji basic 135w QB288, 1.5g/w so far.
Im looking at the most recent boards, i might upgrade:
Samsung LM301H: 248pcs
Epistar 660nm deep red: 32pcs
Epistar 730nm far led: 4pcs
Epistar 395nm UV: 4pcs
Would that be a slight or significant improvement over what i have? I grow a single autoflower in a 2x2 tent.
Cheers!
Which diodes are on your current board?
There should be about a 5-8% improvement in efficacy over the lm561c(if that's what it has).
 
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