ANC
Well-Known Member
Not necessarily. My one genuine Samsung strip has a dead LED, it was dead right from the start... been running as part of a 3 strip array for more than a year now.
Did I receive a "fake" Samsung board? Do they always damage this easy
- Thread starter TurboTokes
- Start date
Prawn Connery
Well-Known Member
Colo MMJ
Well-Known Member
I looked at some of those types of boards on AliBaba or some other site They emailed fast from China. After paying shipping and duties from China - I was not saving that much versus buying from the QB's boards boys (HLG) or one of their retailers like Growers Lights in the USA.
If you want DIY then buy the strips from one of the better known electronic supply companies or COBS and others from vendors posting on these boards.
The guys/girls vendors posting on here will make it right. You may pay a little more but it is worth it.
PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
Bummer, you're playing the lottery going through non authorized distributors........ some win, some lose. You need to do your research on the better "cloners", lol, still not guaranteed shit in the end...
I would even question the authenticity of the driver(s)?, the printing touching the left border under the MW logo looks suspect? ... Also See if serial # matches throughout the parts..
Return and look elsewhere imo
Good luck
I would even question the authenticity of the driver(s)?, the printing touching the left border under the MW logo looks suspect? ... Also See if serial # matches throughout the parts..
Return and look elsewhere imo
Good luck
Rocket Soul
Well-Known Member
Agree, get your money and run if you can. Theres plenty of better options even on the cheap. Try the chinese knock off board thread for downlow on peoples alibubbahs experiences, there are good sellers out there.
TurboTokes
Well-Known Member
Ya but I was really just looking for plug and play here, without breaking the bank, and the seller gave me a free light for initially waiting, since I made this thread I have contacted the seller and they have already shipped me 2 more lights to replace the damage I showed in the pictures, they also declined to provide a return shipping label and said not to send the old lights back to them so I get to keep them.
Anyways I soldered the 2 connectors back on the 2 damaged lights that I got and both lights work just perfect, blindingly bright, cant believe how much brighter they are compared to my 600 hps, the one board has 4 leds that do not turn on, and the other board has 2, Im glad the boards still work with the diodes being "wiped" off like that.
To be honest even if they are not genuine boards or top shelf bins or whatever I think I still made out like a bandit on this deal, I will have 5 X 150 watt led setups for a measly $156, I only wanted a new light for veg to feed the 600 hps tent for flower, but I think I may try something entirely different now
Anyways I soldered the 2 connectors back on the 2 damaged lights that I got and both lights work just perfect, blindingly bright, cant believe how much brighter they are compared to my 600 hps, the one board has 4 leds that do not turn on, and the other board has 2, Im glad the boards still work with the diodes being "wiped" off like that.
To be honest even if they are not genuine boards or top shelf bins or whatever I think I still made out like a bandit on this deal, I will have 5 X 150 watt led setups for a measly $156, I only wanted a new light for veg to feed the 600 hps tent for flower, but I think I may try something entirely different now
TurboTokes
Well-Known Member
I suppose I could always replace the board with genuine boards aswell and simply re-use this heatsink and driver. Seems like a great idea actually since the heatsink and driver are obviously a big part of the cost, all of my lights are 3500k labelled so maybe I could try a 4000k or something more geared towards veg
TurboTokes
Well-Known Member
I measured the wattage pull at the wall and the fixture is pulling 100 watts exactly, added a reflective wall and am real happy with the covrlerage just one light is giving three 2 gallon pots
InTheValley
Well-Known Member
id be soooooooo pissed,
whytewidow
Well-Known Member
I think they are knockoff drivers too.... I'd be getting my money back.
greenmeanie91
New Member
I bought a 550 clone from CannaLight and to me they seem like genuine parts, if they aren't they are close enough that it doesn't even matter when you factor in that it's half the price of the name brand.
DesertPlants
Well-Known Member
I personally have a problem with giving money to someone ripping off another person's design. We speak with our purchases and I like my statements to support companies and people doing original work and making money off their own efforts. To each his own. That's just how I do things.
Stephenj37826
Well-Known Member
NeWcS
Well-Known Member
I think I got the same light. Super happy with it. And the price I paid I could have got 3 of them fopr the price of one 'real' one. Not everyone can afford that big of a price.
I find it hard to believe there are complete factories turning out fake boards and drivers. But what do I know. All I know is what I can afford.
I'm not falling into the shaming that goes along with buying anything from Asia. I've been doing this long enough to know that the MAJORITY (not all) of things out there are the exact same, w/o the name of a big branded company. And this in no way a shot at HLG. I love HLG for bringing this type of tech to the mainstream market. But most home growers can't afford their prices.
It seems the more and more cannabis is excepted the more and more people can charge. I get capitalize and business. But I hate the 'you gotta pay to play' attitude. I feel like these days we as consumers can go to the manufacturer and cut out the middle man. Something that in the past wasn't happening.
Thats my 2 cents. A penny for your thoughts?
DesertPlants
Well-Known Member
Manufacturers don’t build entire factories “for forgeries.” They build factories to build products. Pick and place machines, PCB reflow ovens, etc. are generic machines that can be tooled to build anything within a specific size and material range. One of the big problems for a lot of manufacturers is “gray market goods.” They come off the same supply line as the official product, but they change the branding silk screens, tend to use thinner PCB materials, or lower bin diodes . That allows them to produce things that LOOK real, but don’t necessarily comply with specs.
It’s directly profiting off someone else’s designs, production costs, and IP. It’s tantamount to theft by the production companies.
Like I said, to each his own, but people seriously misuse the words “can’t” and “need.” Most growers CAN afford to build a light with legit parts. They CHOOSE not to because they know they can get a similar part for less money and they would rather spend that money elsewhere than pay full price.
A V1 QB costs $45 from HLG directly. With a driver and heat sink, your talking less than $1/watt still. Sure, it won’t be four boards for one heatsink and have single dimmer control, but you don’t NEED those things for it to work... you want them.
This isn’t specific to HLG or lighting in general even... in China they have knock-off vehicles. Like, literally counterfeit cars...
NanoGadget
Well-Known Member
Exacatly! Nobody wants to admit they are cheap, and nobody wants to think about how they are financially supporting a bunch of ripoff artists that don't care about the people they steal from or the customers they are selling substandard product to. They just want the shiny new toys without paying for it. I try to spend my money with people/businesses that deserve it. I've been an outspoken supporter of HLG from the moment i got my hands on my first 288 v1. They don't pay me, never offered me free lights, nothing of the sort. They get my support (and my money) because they build great products and they back them up with outstanding customer service. Fuck sending more money than i have to people who profit from the theft of other peoples hard work. I also don't like being lied to about what I'm purchasing.
