Comparing 2 Quantum boards, which way should I go?

Looking to get my first set of quantum boards, actually first LEDs for a longtime traditional HPS grower. Gonna go Chinese (kingbrite) for budget purposes and trying to decide between these 2 boards. Both are 3000K, :

QB288 LM301B with Epistar 660nm - So 36 of the 288 (12.5%) LEDs on each panel are the Epistar 660nm red leds and the rest are the samsung lm301b

QB288 LM301B - All 288 of the LEDs on each panel are the samsung lm301b

I would post links to them but as a new user dont have the ability yet.

Am going to buy 2 sets of these 300W boards to cover my 3/5ish area. Also hoping to mount both drivers outside my room to help with heat if anyone has done this and has any suggestions or tips.

Plan to use these from Veg through Flower...really appreciate any advice!

dipaqua said:

Looking to get my first set of quantum boards, actually first LEDs for a longtime traditional HPS grower. Gonna go Chinese (kingbrite) for budget purposes and trying to decide between these 2 boards. Both are 3000K, :

QB288 LM301B with Epistar 660nm - So 36 of the 288 (12.5%) LEDs on each panel are the Epistar 660nm red leds and the rest are the samsung lm301b

QB288 LM301B - All 288 of the LEDs on each panel are the samsung lm301b

I would post links to them but as a new user dont have the ability yet.

Am going to buy 2 sets of these 300W boards to cover my 3/5ish area. Also hoping to mount both drivers outside my room to help with heat if anyone has done this and has any suggestions or tips.

Plan to use these from Veg through Flower...really appreciate any advice!

Click to expand...

I literally just set up the first one you mentioned; they are my first boards ever and don’t even know how high to hang them

dipaqua said:

Looking to get my first set of quantum boards, actually first LEDs for a longtime traditional HPS grower. Gonna go Chinese (kingbrite) for budget purposes and trying to decide between these 2 boards. Both are 3000K, :

QB288 LM301B with Epistar 660nm - So 36 of the 288 (12.5%) LEDs on each panel are the Epistar 660nm red leds and the rest are the samsung lm301b

QB288 LM301B - All 288 of the LEDs on each panel are the samsung lm301b

I would post links to them but as a new user dont have the ability yet.

Am going to buy 2 sets of these 300W boards to cover my 3/5ish area. Also hoping to mount both drivers outside my room to help with heat if anyone has done this and has any suggestions or tips.

Plan to use these from Veg through Flower...really appreciate any advice!

Click to expand...

“People” say epistar leds are trash, I think it comes more down to price and if you want to build more for those added reds with just buying supplemental red strips. If you want want to keep your first led simple just setup plug and play then I say go ahead with the reds if price isn’t a factor for you.

The epis will be around 2/3 or so as efficient at creating light, but the red boost is good for flower/horti.

Also the lm301b from china boards will not be as good as HLG Qbs.

But theyre cheap enough usually that you can buy 2 boards (not kits) of china boards for 1 HLG.

If youre US based id just get the HLG board for props and great warranty. If youre going to pay import tax anyway the china options are more attractive. Of the 2 mentioned: i dont dont an opinion either way nor has there been any conclusive tests. With the china boards is very hard to evaluate as we wont know what bin, or even if its really the right chip. It boils down to the eternal discussion over spectrum versus intensity. Check out greengenes recent youtube vids on redsupplementation for a lowdown on the discussion.

Thanks guys, appreciate the input. May get a mix of both and give it a shot. I know I wont be getting HLG, but for my own personal stash I imagine they will be sufficient.

Sounds great, if you get the 2 different it would be neat to see a comparison. Side by sides is favorite addiction ...

I'd go the red boards.

dipaqua said:

Looking to get my first set of quantum boards, actually first LEDs for a longtime traditional HPS grower. Gonna go Chinese (kingbrite) for budget purposes and trying to decide between these 2 boards. Both are 3000K, :

QB288 LM301B with Epistar 660nm - So 36 of the 288 (12.5%) LEDs on each panel are the Epistar 660nm red leds and the rest are the samsung lm301b

QB288 LM301B - All 288 of the LEDs on each panel are the samsung lm301b

I would post links to them but as a new user dont have the ability yet.

Am going to buy 2 sets of these 300W boards to cover my 3/5ish area. Also hoping to mount both drivers outside my room to help with heat if anyone has done this and has any suggestions or tips.

Plan to use these from Veg through Flower...really appreciate any advice!

Click to expand...

Hey dude ive got 2 of the second option you have there. They work good for me im 3 week into flower now at 15 inch from canopy seem to be going well. They get good penetration and dont create alot of heat.

Newbieindogrower said:

Hey dude ive got 2 of the second option you have there. They work good for me im 3 week into flower now at 15 inch from canopy seem to be going well. They get good penetration and dont create alot of heat. View attachment 4352569

Click to expand...

The consensus seems to be added red means more tops but slightly less sturdy branches. This might be a good example all though i cant see any branches. The way i figure it: the plants adopts a "greedy" morphology, more buds, more tops, faster growth, it just tries to get where it wants to go (make buds and seeds) as fast and much as it can sacrificing strength and resilience. Just an allegory really....