Light help 2 4x4 tents veg/flower

[barnowl]

So i just got a house and trying to setup a grow in my garage. Its been many years since i last grew and that was hps. Looking to go led this time. Im going to build a 4x4 veg tent and a 4x4 flower tent. Kinda confused on these leds and after several nights of reading i really need to just pull the trigger and order.

These where the lights i was thinking about, 3000k is ok for flower and veg correct?
One of these for each grow space
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/480W-KingBrite-samsung-lm301b-uv-ir_62573476910.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.61684.7.6a112369o8Pzde
or two of these per grow space
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Pre-assembled-kingbrite-240w-QB-board_62571710849.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.61684.9.6a112369o8Pzde

Any other suggestions or better deals im missing? Moneys kinda tight but definitely dont want to skimp on lights,
Thanks so much for any help

 

[chomchom]

It looks like you’re paying attention to the details that matter. The product you selected is made with industry standard MW drivers, and Samsung chips and overall decent materials it appears. There is some risk in going Alibaba over one of the companies like Spider with inventory stateside, and a reputation to curate in grow light markets. Hard say the risk is meaningful. I hope you get tens of thousands of hours out of your lights.

Thats a practical setup, with a dimming option. Usually in a situation like that I’ll opt for separate pieces, thinking I’ll have some additional flexibility. It may just be simpler to go with the 1 unit for 4x4. One 4x4 and two 2x4 setup may be a good middle road, with some added versatility.

3000K is fine. I use it with both 315 LEC’s and my COB rig. The dimming function will be really useful for veg, and transition to flower. Can keep it close to canopy but throttle it back. And I didn’t look closely but most of these have some IR thrown in for good measure.


My quick math shows $380 for the 480w vs $318 for 2x 240w shipped from PRC. I know what I would do.....but you’d better check my math.

$636 for true 4x4 coverage x2 is a good value. I can’t point to anything that competes with that.

cheers

 

[piratebug]

If it was me I would get 2 x 320 3K lm301H with epistar reds from kingbrite, $118 each, and then get 2 x 320 4K lm301H without red from kingbrite, $118 each, then buy 4 x HLG 320H A-B drivers from dejays, $62:00 each. The A-B drivers are better than the A or B drivers, plus their top end throws out 45W(s) more than the A or B drivers (A, B drivers = 345w max), (A-B driver = 385-390W max). Then buy 2 packs of the (6 pack of Missicee waterproof junction boxes from amazon, $18 each, you need [3] for each driver), then buy 4 x 25ft 16awg green globe extension cords at $11 each, and cut them in half, that will give you a 12ft driver power cord, and a 12ft LED lead-out for each driver for each 320 board allowing you to run the driver outside the grow space, and don't forget the waterproof bullet connectors from amazon too, they are $4 for 30 of them. And won't need any solid wire because kingbrite will send lots to wire up the boards! And for the veg room, run each 320 4K board at 120w(s), the lowest on-board driver setting, and really that is all you need for a 4 x 4 or a 5 x 5 space to optimally veg beautiful plants. Oh' yeah, and use 8 inch of spacing across the boards (out from wall 8 inches-board-8 inches between the boards-board-8 inches out from wall), and for the flowering room, run the 320 3K with red boards at 240w max each, really running them higher than @ 240W is a complete waste of energy! And the optimal spacing for the flowering room would be (7-board-10-board-7). And as a side note... I own all kinds of boards, rapidled, hlg qb, clw, mars, meijiu, kingbrite, etc, etc... and for me, kingbrite beats them all as they are the cheapest option but don't let the cheap pricing worry you because they grow plants just as well or even better than some of those other brands I have personally bought and used but ultimately resold because I have found that I can do the same thing with kingbrite for usually 1/2 the price or less than the others, and I can buy individual components instead of just generic kits they won't ever let you build your lights the way you really want!

 

[chomchom]

So, $472 for QB’s (I don’t think this includes shipping, I know they get $70 for (2) 240W
$246 for drivers
$84 for accessories
$832 total, but probably closer to $1000 once it is all said and done, w shipping.

So the 240’s don’t actually cover 2 x 4, and 480’s don’t cover a 4x4 for flower? The above configuration is at least $300 more than the boards @barnowl spec’d for tent-ready lights, plus a bunch more work sourcing accessories and readying lights.

For driver sourcing, what is dejays? I cant find that driver for $62

 

[Barristan Whitebeard]

So, $472 for QB’s (I don’t think this includes shipping, I know they get $70 for (2) 240W
$246 for drivers
$84 for accessories
$832 total, but probably closer to $1000 once it is all said and done, w shipping.

So the 240’s don’t actually cover 2 x 4, and 480’s don’t cover a 4x4 for flower? The above configuration is at least $300 more than the boards @barnowl spec’d for tent-ready lights, plus a bunch more work sourcing accessories and readying lights.

For driver sourcing, what is dejays? I cant find that driver for $62

I have two HLG-320H-C2100AB drivers. About $80 each was as inexpensive as I could find at the time (plus shipping, although certain distributors do offer free shipping).

 

[nc208]

So, $472 for QB’s (I don’t think this includes shipping, I know they get $70 for (2) 240W
$246 for drivers
$84 for accessories
$832 total, but probably closer to $1000 once it is all said and done, w shipping.

So the 240’s don’t actually cover 2 x 4, and 480’s don’t cover a 4x4 for flower? The above configuration is at least $300 more than the boards @barnowl spec’d for tent-ready lights, plus a bunch more work sourcing accessories and readying lights.

For driver sourcing, what is dejays? I cant find that driver for $62

The 480w works in a 4x4 but its bare minimum at that point. Your averaging 30w a sq foot and it'll get the job done but 2 320w kits would be ideal for a 4x4 for better coverage.

 

[chomchom]

Ok that makes sense, @nc208, thx. We might be from the same neck of the woods if your handle is a hwy . @barnowl , you said you didn’t want to skimp on light, and sounds like they’re spec’d liberally. The dimming option makes the 320more versatile, you can throttle back like with the other, but in this vase you can dial it up.

I see people reaching for more horsepower with lighting sometimes when really it’s not necessary. I don’t grow wQB so I dunno....But I don’t drive my COBs as hard as some either. I do have (2) 315 LEC and a 48” LED in a 4.5 x 4.5’ tent, so I def cheat to the side of more light. Adequate coverage at least.

 

[nc208]

Ok that makes sense, @nc208, thx. We might be from the same neck of the woods if your handle is a hwy . @barnowlI see people reaching for more horsepower with lighting sometimes when really it’s not necessary. I don’t grow wQB so I dunno....But I don’t drive my COBs as hard as some either. I do have (2) 315 LEC and a 48” LED in a 4.5 x 4.5’ tent, so I def cheat to the side of more light. Adequate coverage at least.

Sorry but my handle is just random. As per your Horsepower reference, if you can handle the heat and have the space then crank them up. With all of the lighting we use nothing compares to the sun. Take a lux meter out on a sunny day and look at the numbers right on the ground. I was getting over 100,000 lux so I figure these plants can handle a ton of photons.