Looking for a quick answer on LED light

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
I use x4 @ 636w over a 4x4 & that's plenty.
The Covers over the diodes come factory stocked on prebuilt units & are important to me. Although a defective one may slide by & fade.
I would not run them harder then 160w each. That keeps you around 2.0+ umol/j. Anything higher then that & your getting into lower efficiency then 2020 has to offer.
Personally, i like the 96's over the 288's.
Added IR strips would be a nice touch.
If your leds lack ir & your room is cold in the winter then an hps bulb wouldn't hurt.
I'm about 75% completed on putting together my 4x QB96 setup, and have been trying to decide what to do as far as IR. I've thought about adding 150w hps to the 4x 96's, OR adding 4 of the small HLG IR strips. My space is somewhat cold in winter, but pretty perfect in the summer. Maybe I need both options for different seasons.
 

2com

Well-Known Member
Tons of documented results & never any complaints.
Yours only? If not, where else? Yea, I wish there was a little more info on the website and *around*.
I would Not use IR diodes for the sake of warming the plant but fir photosynthesis, morphology & Emerson Effect.
I see, ok. Cool.

There should be no need to heat your plants beyond what you're Controlled environment is. Led is just as hot as vented HPS. Even more when your hps Ballasts are outside the room & the led drivers are mounted to a hot led. So, all that heating the plant stuff is a fallacy to me.
...
True, leaf temp will be 1-2•F below ambient vs 5-7• above. We make other adjustments for that. Its a learning curve for many.
...
This is just a matter of Radiant vs Ambient.
...Right...partly, for sure...
If your leds lack ir & your room is cold in the winter then an hps bulb wouldn't hurt.
...

I think some if not all these statements are kinda general, contradicting, and they don't jive with reality.
EDIT: Removed some, don't have time for the "discourse" anyway, hah.
I see though what you're saying - re: morphology and other factors, other than "heating".
Peace.
 
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hybridway2

Amare Shill
Yours only? If not, where else? Yea, I wish there was a little more info on the website and *around*.

I see, ok. Cool.


...

...

...Right...partly, for sure...

...

I think some if not all these statements are kinda general, contradicting, and they don't jive with reality.
Not interested in a theoretical astrophysics debate, though. Haha. There's a guy on another thread being given info like "leds will heat you plant to 8* above ambient" and "a watt is a watt is a watt" etc. I know, I know, I've heard it.
Appreciate your input.
Only speak from experience. If i was unclear or contradictory, pls explain so i can clarify. Thnx! For sure hps is hotter to not be over technical.
Man, it would take me to long to post the links. But there are many. Just not on RIU, the primarily DIY led site.
 
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JSB99

Well-Known Member
I’m also considering getting the SF4000
I've seen a couple good reviews, and they probably work great, but I didn't think it had enough history behind it. I'm still fumbling with ideas, but I think I'm going to be doing something like this...

With the individual QB heat sinks:
3 x QB96 Elite V2 -$217
HLG-320H-C1750 - $81
Angle iron + hardware - $20
Total - $318 x 2 (one for each side in my 4x4) = $636

With triple Slate heatsink bars:
Heatsink - $69
3 x QB96 V2 (no heatsinks) - $162
HLG-320H-C1750 - $81
Total - $312 x 2 = $624

I'm probably going to go with the triple heat sinks. Leaves a little more headroom, and it's actually around the same price.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
I've seen a couple good reviews, and they probably work great, but I didn't think it had enough history behind it. I'm still fumbling with ideas, but I think I'm going to be doing something like this...

With the individual QB heat sinks:
3 x QB96 Elite V2 -$217
HLG-320H-C1750 - $81
Angle iron + hardware - $20
Total - $318 x 2 (one for each side in my 4x4) = $636

With triple Slate heatsink bars:
Heatsink - $69
3 x QB96 V2 (no heatsinks) - $162
HLG-320H-C1750 - $81
Total - $312 x 2 = $624

I'm probably going to go with the triple heat sinks. Leaves a little more headroom, and it's actually around the same price.
As others have said, I wouldn't put QB96's on the triple heatsink, those are made for 288's not the 96's. Also you really don't need any angle aluminum to mount the 96's with the pin heatsink. You can just screw the wire hanger right in the side of the sink, you just need one hanger for each 96.
 

smokebros

Well-Known Member
Excuse my ignorance (since I didn't read each post of this thread, so I'm not sure if this has been mentioned), but have you looked at Kingbrite LED's from Alibaba? A friend turned me onto them and I couldn't be happier. I purchased the 250 watt model (that uses two QB288's 301B boards w/ cree XPE2 far & deep reds + UV & IR) for $190 to my door, and I received it in 6 days from China.

Now, with that being said I also just built a DIY 250 watt fixture today. I used flat and angled aluminum and six Samsung LM561C sunboards from Ebay. My total cost all in for this DIY project was $240. In comparing the DIY vs the Kingbrite - the Kingbrite is a superior light in every way (including cost), but I've been wanting to get my hands dirty and build my own from scratch.

I just looked up one of the many Kingbrite 600 watt fixtures, essentially a clone of the HLG 550. This model uses the Samsung LM301H white diodes, and Cree XPE2's for the red's, UV, and IR. Price is $573 shipped to your door and it comes assembled. You just need to connect the Wago's...


Here's the light I built today:
R8pNW3E.jpgQynagBd.jpg0nvZs76.jpg

Edit: Here's an even less expensive model that uses (6) 288 boards w/ the LM301B diodes and epistar reds. A step down from the 301H's and Cree XPE2's, but not by much... This one is $460 to your door...


Edit #2: Here's another style worth looking at - a clone of the Fluence Spyder. LM301H's and Cree xpe2's. $596 to your door.
 
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Barristan Whitebeard

Well-Known Member
I'm about 75% completed on putting together my 4x QB96 setup, and have been trying to decide what to do as far as IR. I've thought about adding 150w hps to the 4x 96's, OR adding 4 of the small HLG IR strips. My space is somewhat cold in winter, but pretty perfect in the summer. Maybe I need both options for different seasons.
It would be cool if HLG started selling infrared strips. I believe the highest wavelength they sell is the QB3 far red strip with a peak wavelength of 730nm. AFAIK Rapid Led sells SemiLed IR diodes on starboards(840-870nm). Solder connections or solderless depending on your preference.

Steves LEDs has a much better price on the solderable IR diodes.
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Excuse my ignorance (since I didn't read each post of this thread, so I'm not sure if this has been mentioned), but have you looked at Kingbrite LED's from Alibaba? A friend turned me onto them and I couldn't be happier. I purchased the 250 watt model (that uses two QB288's 301B boards w/ cree XPE2 far & deep reds + UV & IR) for $190 to my door, and I received it in 6 days from China.

Now, with that being said I also just built a DIY 250 watt fixture today. I used flat and angled aluminum and six Samsung LM561C sunboards from Ebay. My total cost all in for this DIY project was $240. In comparing the DIY vs the Kingbrite - the Kingbrite is a superior light in every way (including cost), but I've been wanting to get my hands dirty and build my own from scratch.

I just looked up one of the many Kingbrite 600 watt fixtures, essentially a clone of the HLG 550. This model uses the Samsung LM301H white diodes, and Cree XPE2's for the red's, UV, and IR. Price is $573 shipped to your door and it comes assembled. You just need to connect the Wago's...


Here's the light I built today:
View attachment 4463928View attachment 4463929View attachment 4463930

Edit: Here's an even less expensive model that uses (6) 288 boards w/ the LM301B diodes and epistar reds. A step down from the 301H's and Cree XPE2's, but not by much... This one is $460 to your door...


Edit #2: Here's another style worth looking at - a clone of the Fluence Spyder. LM301H's and Cree xpe2's. $596 to your door.
I'll definitely have to take a look, and keep that in mind.
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Excuse my ignorance (since I didn't read each post of this thread, so I'm not sure if this has been mentioned), but have you looked at Kingbrite LED's from Alibaba? A friend turned me onto them and I couldn't be happier. I purchased the 250 watt model (that uses two QB288's 301B boards w/ cree XPE2 far & deep reds + UV & IR) for $190 to my door, and I received it in 6 days from China.

Now, with that being said I also just built a DIY 250 watt fixture today. I used flat and angled aluminum and six Samsung LM561C sunboards from Ebay. My total cost all in for this DIY project was $240. In comparing the DIY vs the Kingbrite - the Kingbrite is a superior light in every way (including cost), but I've been wanting to get my hands dirty and build my own from scratch.

I just looked up one of the many Kingbrite 600 watt fixtures, essentially a clone of the HLG 550. This model uses the Samsung LM301H white diodes, and Cree XPE2's for the red's, UV, and IR. Price is $573 shipped to your door and it comes assembled. You just need to connect the Wago's...


Here's the light I built today:
View attachment 4463928View attachment 4463929View attachment 4463930

Edit: Here's an even less expensive model that uses (6) 288 boards w/ the LM301B diodes and epistar reds. A step down from the 301H's and Cree XPE2's, but not by much... This one is $460 to your door...


Edit #2: Here's another style worth looking at - a clone of the Fluence Spyder. LM301H's and Cree xpe2's. $596 to your door.
That's a great price on this one, which I'd get two, for my 4x4 tent...
 

smokebros

Well-Known Member
That's a great price on this one, which I'd get two, for my 4x4 tent...
Agreed, and you'll get better coverage using two light fixtures, good call

Just a tip when ordering (if you pull the trigger)... I submitted my order through Alibaba, but then sent Vicki an e-mail asking her to quote me with Paypal. Alibaba can be hit or miss with processing credit cards (since it's an international transaction), at least with Visa.

Their response is super fast and I received an invoice through Paypal a couple hours later. Pretty damn legit.
 

smokebros

Well-Known Member
FYI I'm referring to Kingbrite specifically, made at the Shenzhen factoey. I'm not familiar with other vendors on Alibaba. I know Meijiu is another reputable vendor. But I can't speak to the quality of other distributors. The reason I got turned onto Kingbrite is because my buddy did a ton of research on China QB's and he's a very thorough and smart guy. Once he got his and I saw it first hand and compared it to my HLG QB's, I pulled the trigger
 

smokebros

Well-Known Member
Maybe...maybe not
HLG gets their boards from China, they're not made in the USA. HLG buys them in bulk and brands them. I own authentic HLG's and Kingbrite, and I can vouch that they use real Samsung diodes and show certificates on their page.

I know I'm coming off as a shill, but the quality is the same at a better price. HLG introduced us to Quantum Boards and I love them for it, but if I can get the same or better quality product at 1/2 or 2/3 the price, I'm doing that every time.
 

smokebros

Well-Known Member
Don't get me wrong, I own a QB knock-off that I run in my pheno hunt tent.
I'm basing my opinion on comments made by Stephen that make me go...hmmmmmmm
Oh I'm sure there's a ton of knock offs out there using lower quality / mislabeled diodes. By any chance is that what he said?

That's mostly why I had trepidations for the longest time buying a Chinese QB. I was nervous about getting some piece of crap, so I stuck with HLG when I got my second fixture. But we all have that friend that nerds out on stuff and does an extensive amount of research. Had my buddy not gotten one first, I wouldn't have ever purchased one. But glad I did.

Also, that's why I was saying to only get Kingbrite or Meijiu, those are the only two brands that I know have been vetted by a ton of people who know way more than I do. My buddy was very specific about which vendor I ordered from to avoid getting faux diodes.
 
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