New to LED, all help appreciated.

[tman42]

So I am new to LED and looking to switch over from 1000w HPS/MH after many years. I do not want to switch over and then find out I should have went with more power in the beginning (like I did so long ago with HID). I am working with a 5'x5' tent and am currently looking at a couple of quantum board DIY kits. I am thinking of sticking with these quantum board kits since they are so simple to put together and have everything that I would need. I have been looking at the HLG-600 or possibly 2x HLG-320's for coverage in this area. Will these be enough light or will I need to go more? What do you all think of these two setups for my 5'x5' tent? My plan, if I like them, is to also switch over my 5'x10' tent with double the setup I go with in this one. I am just worried about switching over and not getting at least the same quality that I am getting now. I believe this worry is just my inexperience with LED's and what they can produce. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

 

[Ryante55]

So I am new to LED and looking to switch over from 1000w HPS/MH after many years. I do not want to switch over and then find out I should have went with more power in the beginning (like I did so long ago with HID). I am working with a 5'x5' tent and am currently looking at a couple of quantum board DIY kits. I am thinking of sticking with these quantum board kits since they are so simple to put together and have everything that I would need. I have been looking at the HLG-600 or possibly 2x HLG-320's for coverage in this area. Will these be enough light or will I need to go more? What do you all think of these two setups for my 5'x5' tent? My plan, if I like them, is to also switch over my 5'x10' tent with double the setup I go with in this one. I am just worried about switching over and not getting at least the same quality that I am getting now. I believe this worry is just my inexperience with LED's and what they can produce. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

I would say go with 2 320 kits or 3 of the 240 kits or even 3 320 kits and dim them. Basically 700-800w. You could get away with less but I would say it's best to start with a little extra light and take a little away if you feel the need. If your set up for 1000w now and you switch to 600w your temps might be a little low you want to be at like 80-85f.

 

[Airwalker16]

Very good point on the temps. I highly agree using 7-800 watts or so in a 5X5.

I would say go with 2 320 kits or 3 of the 240 kits or even 3 320 kits and dim them. Basically 700-800w. You could get away with less but I would say it's best to start with a little extra light and take a little away if you feel the need. If your set up for 1000w now and you switch to 600w your temps might be a little low you want to be at like 80-85f.

 

[tman42]

I would say go with 2 320 kits or 3 of the 240 kits or even 3 320 kits and dim them. Basically 700-800w. You could get away with less but I would say it's best to start with a little extra light and take a little away if you feel the need. If your set up for 1000w now and you switch to 600w your temps might be a little low you want to be at like 80-85f.

So 2 of the 320 kits or 3 of the 260's is what you are saying. I am not too worried about the temps being too low as I am worried more of the summertime heat where I am at and these LED's are hopefully going to let me run year round and still get the quality I have come to expect. Do you think it would be easier to custom build something for this size? Sorry for all of the questions but like I said I am new to LED (reading up like crazy for a few days now so hopefully soon I will understand it better) and trying to do this right the first time and thanks for the help.

 

[tman42]

Very good point on the temps. I highly agree using 7-800 watts or so in a 5X5.

I was wondering about the watts as from what I have been reading you don't need as much w/ft2 as you do with traditional HID lighting. So 700-800w in this space is the optimal range that I am looking for. Thanks for the help.

 

[Ryante55]

So 2 of the 320 kits or 3 of the 260's is what you are saying. I am not too worried about the temps being too low as I am worried more of the summertime heat where I am at and these LED's are hopefully going to let me run year round and still get the quality I have come to expect. Do you think it would be easier to custom build something for this size? Sorry for all of the questions but like I said I am new to LED (reading up like crazy for a few days now so hopefully soon I will understand it better) and trying to do this right the first time and thanks for the help.

I don't think you need to custom build unless you enjoy doing that kind of stuff. 2 320 kits will get you 680w maxed out that should do. the 3 260 kits would give you a little more power so I would go with that if you can afford it. The hlg600 won't have enough spread imo so I wouldn't even consider that one

 

[tman42]

I don't think you need to custom build unless you enjoy doing that kind of stuff. 2 320 kits will get you 680w maxed out that should do. the 3 260 kits would give you a little more power so I would go with that if you can afford it. The hlg600 won't have enough spread imo so I wouldn't even consider that one

Thank you so much! I will have to figure out if I can afford to go with the three or just stick with the two units. Would love to have both tents switched over before summer so will have to think about the cost of the other one also. Once again thank you for the help.

 

[tman42]

I don't think you need to custom build unless you enjoy doing that kind of stuff. 2 320 kits will get you 680w maxed out that should do. the 3 260 kits would give you a little more power so I would go with that if you can afford it. The hlg600 won't have enough spread imo so I wouldn't even consider that one

One more thing, I see three 260w V2 kits. Would I want the 260w, the 260w XW or the 260w XL? I believe the difference is just the spread of the quantum boards on the heatsinks...?

Same question on the 320, the XL, XW or the 320XL?

Looks like I should go with the XL if I am going with the 320's

 

[WeedSexWeightsShakes]

What’s your funds?
I had 3 260 kits in my 5x5

 

[Ryante55]

One more thing, I see three 260w V2 kits. Would I want the 260w, the 260w XW or the 260w XL? I believe the difference is just the spread of the quantum boards on the heatsinks...?

Same question on the 320, the XL, XW or the 320XL?

Looks like I should go with the XL if I am going with the 320's

Maybe 2 xl 1 xw or just all 3 xl

 

[tman42]

What’s your funds?
I had 3 260 kits in my 5x5

I have not really set any limits on funds, I can wait until I have saved up to switch over. How did your 3-260 kits work out in your situation and can you compare it to HID at all? Do you still have that setup running? It's only about $100 more for the three 260's but they don't include dimmers so I would have to use the phillips screwdriver to manually change. Would that be such a big deal? If I went with the 2-320's I could always add another one later if I felt I needed more power but that seems like it would be a lot and I wouldn't be running them. Thanks for the help.

 

[Airwalker16]

I have not really set any limits on funds, I can wait until I have saved up to switch over. How did your 3-260 kits work out in your situation and can you compare it to HID at all? Do you still have that setup running? It's only about $100 more for the three 260's but they don't include dimmers so I would have to use the phillips screwdriver to manually change. Would that be such a big deal? If I went with the 2-320's I could always add another one later if I felt I needed more power but that seems like it would be a lot and I wouldn't be running them. Thanks for the help.

You'll be surprised how little you use the dimmer. Only really at transition to flowering tent and a week in maybe dim. I usually go full throttle after one week of flower dimmed to like 60-75%.
Sometimes in the last week I'll do it too.

 

[jnos45]

Hey I too switched from 1000w hid to 2000w led. Does anyone know the hanging height for these lights? I tried going by the recommended height with the light but I'm having problems. Plants look wilty but the roots look good. My hydro setup hasn't changed except for the lights. I've been growing for years but always HID. Any info would be of help.

 

[WeedSexWeightsShakes]

I have not really set any limits on funds, I can wait until I have saved up to switch over. How did your 3-260 kits work out in your situation and can you compare it to HID at all? Do you still have that setup running? It's only about $100 more for the three 260's but they don't include dimmers so I would have to use the phillips screwdriver to manually change. Would that be such a big deal? If I went with the 2-320's I could always add another one later if I felt I needed more power but that seems like it would be a lot and I wouldn't be running them. Thanks for the help.

3 260 kits did well but the spread isn’t amazing. I really wish they were the XL kits, weren’t out when I got mine.
I would go with the XL kits or those 96s.
Depends if you’re into DIY or want a simple kit.
I think a bunch of 132 QBs would be awesome.
I feel the spread with the 304s aren’t that great.
I just ordered myself some of those big alibaba boards that are like 1ftx3ft. Plan to run them 150 watts or so each with no heatsink and just use some aluminum angle to hang them.

 

[Ryante55]

Hey I too switched from 1000w hid to 2000w led. Does anyone know the hanging height for these lights? I tried going by the recommended height with the light but I'm having problems. Plants look wilty but the roots look good. My hydro setup hasn't changed except for the lights. I've been growing for years but always HID. Any info would be of help.

Well doubling your power usage is pretty stupid.

 

[tman42]

You'll be surprised how little you use the dimmer. Only really at transition to flowering tent and a week in maybe dim. I usually go full throttle after one week of flower dimmed to like 60-75%.
Sometimes in the last week I'll do it too.

Thanks for that information, I was thinking it would be used more then that.

 

[tman42]

Maybe 2 xl 1 xw or just all 3 xl

Thank you for all the help man, I really do appreciate it!

 

[tman42]

Now I need to decide if I want true HLG or if I want to go the Alibaba Meijiu way. I am looking at the true HLG's but is there any reason that I should trust the Chinese knockoffs and go with them? I see some pretty good results from the Alibaba kits so maybe someone could chime in on that subject. Thanks again all!

 

[Budzbuddha]

Hey I too switched from 1000w hid to 2000w led. Does anyone know the hanging height for these lights? I tried going by the recommended height with the light but I'm having problems. Plants look wilty but the roots look good. My hydro setup hasn't changed except for the lights. I've been growing for years but always HID. Any info would be of help.

What led is supposedly 2000w ?

 

[Budzbuddha]

Now I need to decide if I want true HLG or if I want to go the Alibaba Meijiu way. I am looking at the true HLG's but is there any reason that I should trust the Chinese knockoffs and go with them? I see some pretty good results from the Alibaba kits so maybe someone could chime in on that subject. Thanks again all!

Shaving pennies from an unknown brand comes with risk .... many have pulled the trigger on mainland China boards with various feedback on them .... but there is a big cloud over if the leds purchased are exactly what they appear to be. Many have stated lower bin and blatant substitution.


HLG gives you what you pay for.
Look at Atreum Lighting also ......
Strips is another option .