Looking for a quick answer on LED light

hillbill

Well-Known Member
I appreciate HLG for changing the world but I also am cheap as hell. I am also well acquainted with knock offs as well as many private name brand products that all come off the same line somewhere in Asia. (Or here).

HLG though has a track record of extremely good reliability and customer service as well as innovative lights. I bought the last Photon 180 with Citizen 1818s from Robin which is the centerpiece of lights here.

At the moment I am leaning towards a 135 or 260 v1 which are deeply discounted and only a few % off the 301 boards. Fun looking around. Seems more copies hit the market everyday.
 

ilovereggae

Well-Known Member
that all come off the same line somewhere in Asia.
The main concern I have with knockoffs, especially with electronics knockoffs, is that even if its literally the same production line, someone somewhere is taking a short cut. It could be literally the same bin chips, but who knows what else they went cheapo on to save a few bucks. The connectors? Cheaper solder? cheaper glues? Im going to assume that these companies who have no problem stealing someones brand name for marketing are not exactly having the kind of integrity that I would bet my life on. A wise elder once told me "short cuts draw blood".

Considering this stuff is in my house, with my family (literally my grow space is in my bedroom) its worth it for me to buy something from a company that I can hold accountable if there is a problem.

I will buy used cheap stuff off Craigslist all day, but the expensive items that I spend my hard earned money on, I want the best of the best.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
The main concern I have with knockoffs, especially with electronics knockoffs, is that even if its literally the same production line, someone somewhere is taking a short cut. It could be literally the same bin chips, but who knows what else they went cheapo on to save a few bucks. The connectors? Cheaper solder? cheaper glues? Im going to assume that these companies who have no problem stealing someones brand name for marketing are not exactly having the kind of integrity that I would bet my life on. A wise elder once told me "short cuts draw blood".

Considering this stuff is in my house, with my family (literally my grow space is in my bedroom) its worth it for me to buy something from a company that I can hold accountable if there is a problem.

I will buy used cheap stuff off Craigslist all day, but the expensive items that I spend my hard earned money on, I want the best of the best.
The labor in China is definitely cheaper. Seems that many American consumers just want the rock bottom lowest price, and don't give a rats ass about supporting domestic labor. Amazon culture.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Walmart has been a huge driver of driving vendors out of business or offshore
Again, that's because the consumers seem to only care about cheap cheap. While WalMart may be a domestic business they aren't known for treating their customers well, but they are indeed cheap. Consumers need to start caring about company ethics just as much as they care about cost.
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Again, that's because the consumers seem to only care about cheap cheap. While WalMart may be a domestic business they aren't known for treating their customers well, but they are indeed cheap. Consumers need to start caring about company ethics just as much as they care about cost.
Once middle and lower class wages catch up to the inflation from the past 30 years, and people aren't a hospital visit away from losing their house, then maybe they'll have a few more options.

Jus' sayin'
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Once middle and lower class wages catch up to the inflation from the past 30 years, and people aren't a hospital visit away from losing their house, then maybe they'll have a few more options.

Jus' sayin'
How's that supposed to happen if everyone just buys stuff as cheaply as possible from china? Send your money to Alibaba, and you can guarantee those dollars are gone from US circulation.
 

smokebros

Well-Known Member
Anyways, I didn't mean to turn this into a whole Chinese LED things vs HLG. All I'm saying is I own both, and I'm a price conscience shopper. I buy lots of store-brand products in lieu of name brands. What I'm getting at is OP was asking about LED lights, and I delivered my two cents. I have no skin in the game - just sharing experiences and hoping to save someone a buck or two.
 

smokebros

Well-Known Member
How's that supposed to happen if everyone just buys stuff as cheaply as possible from china? Send your money to Alibaba, and you can guarantee those dollars are gone from US circulation.
One thing the Asians do a lot better than Americans is produce electronics. For years they've been known to be ahead of the curve in that regard. Just like your cell phones, TV's, computers and chip boards. That cell phone in your pocket right now... probably not made in America.
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
How's that supposed to happen if everyone just buys stuff as cheaply as possible from china? Send your money to Alibaba, and you can guarantee those dollars are gone from US circulation.
I'm actually going to be buying from HLG, but I know what you mean. Catch 22 lol
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
One thing the Asians do a lot better than Americans is produce electronics. For years they've been known to be ahead of the curve in that regard. Just like your cell phones, TV's, computers and chip boards. That cell phone in your pocket right now... probably not made in America.
Right, but the big difference between companies like Samsung and Sony who produce stuff in China vs the China based Alibaba sellers, is that Samsung and Sony have quite a bit of investment and employees in the US, and have good customer service, whereas these Chinese Alibaba sellers have really zero commitment to US buyers or US labor. These Alibaba sellers can make whatever promises they like to US buyers but in the end can just lie to their customers and tell tell them to fuck off without any recourse. If Sony or Samsung lie about their products you can sue them in the US and get money, how would that work out with these Alibaba companies who seemingly lie all the time?
 

hillbill

Well-Known Member
Wages have not shared in phenomenal growth in productivity. That increase was shared by a very few at the top, coinciding particularly well with the drop in union representation. So called “Right to Work” laws give employees the right to work for dirt.
 

JSB99

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.
So 2, 2xQB96 Elite V2s each on an HLG-320H-54C and each with a dimmer, and an IR strip on each light (or should I use 4, one of each plant?). Does that sound right?

What IR strips, and driver should I be looking at? What about UV strips? Are they useful, or do the 96s have those diodes.

Thanks for the help
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
So 2, 2xQB96 Elite V2s each on an HLG-320H-54C and each with a dimmer, and an IR strip on each light (or should I use 4, one of each plant?). Does that sound right?

What IR strips, and driver should I be looking at? What about UV strips? Are they useful, or do the 96s have those diodes.

Thanks for the help
In case I wasn't clear enough, I'm talking about an HLG-320H-54C for 2 QB96s. I'll have two of these in my 4x4 tent.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Wages have not shared in phenomenal growth in productivity. That increase was shared by a very few at the top, coinciding particularly well with the drop in union representation. So called “Right to Work” laws give employees the right to work for dirt.
It's true. Right to work is such bullshit. It's like calling a getting punch in the face "right to turn the other cheek". Good news is that although union representation is down across the US as a whole, it's up in California.
 

hybridway2

Amare Shill
So 2, 2xQB96 Elite V2s each on an HLG-320H-54C and each with a dimmer, and an IR strip on each light (or should I use 4, one of each plant?). Does that sound right?

What IR strips, and driver should I be looking at? What about UV strips? Are they useful, or do the 96s have those diodes.

Thanks for the help
I personally am trying to go
X2 , QB 18's (470,630,660nm) & x2 of those small ir strips (x3 diodes each on HLG site) per each set (x2) 96's @ 140w each. The supplementals can use up what,20w or so? If that. Then you'll have equal light output (even more once IR is measured in par) using an enhanced spectrum with a more efficient lamp running the 96's @ 140w each instead of 160.
Tests show that you can decrease a lights wattage & get the same yeilds when IR is added. Not to mention the increase of a more natural morphological effect.
The x2, 96's w/ a small ir strip on each side would be fine though. Even better would be having those same ir strips not only run all day but also 6-10min. After lights off.
It's on the HLG website how to align your drivers needed.
Yeah man, x1 of the UV strips in the middle would be real nice too. I believe its UVA & not B so you can most likely run it full cycle or in bursts, whatever floats your boat.
X2 may be better (1 on inside of each set of 96's) or moving the x1 everyday.
 
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JSB99

Well-Known Member
I personally am trying to go
X2 , QB 18's (470,630,660nm) & x2 of those small ir strips (x4 diodes each on HLG site) per each set (x2) 96's @ 140w each. The supplementals can use up what,20w or so? If that. Then you'll have equal light output (even more once IR is measured in par) using an enhanced spectrum with a more efficient lamp running the 96's @ 140w each instead of 160.
Tests show that you can decrease a lights wattage & get the same yeilds when IR is added. Not to mention the increase of a more natural morphological effect.
The x2, 96's w/ a small ir strip on each side would be fine though. Even better would be having those same ir strips not only run all day but also 6-10min. After lights off.
Stephen @ HLG or its on the website how to align your drivers needed.
Yeah man, x1 of the UV strips in the middle would be real nice too. I believe its UVA & not B so you can most likely run it full cycle or in bursts, whatever floats your boat.
X2 would be better (1 on inside of each set of 96's) or moving the x1 everyday.
Cool! I'll start off with 1xUVA supplement light, and probably get another down the road...

I'm not seeing the small IR strips though. Do you have a link?

Thanks!
 
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