Help a newbrother out: First DIY Cob Build vs Quantum Board

[erfb0und]

Hey all. First time posting for help on here. I'm looking to get into DIY LED for a small personal grow system I'm planning. I've grown once about two years ago with a 300w(True 130w) MARS led light a few supplemental CFLs and had great results for my own personal expectations. Originally, I grew a single scrog plant of DNA Genetics Chocolope in a 2x2x5ft tent with a 10 week veg and ended up with just under 160g of very dense frosty buds. I've decided to get back into it as a small side hobby while I'm in grad school and have started to research again to catch up with all the latest trends.

My setup this time will be in a 2.5x1.5x3ft tent (non-negotiable) and I'm looking to stick with a single scrog plant again. After a bunch of research looking into the newest cheap lights, I initially settled on the Meizhi 450w which I can get for $90 bucks. I figured the increased size should cover the rectangular dimension of the tent, and it seems to have the greatest efficiency out of all the cheap brand lights. I want to keep this setup as simple as possible, so I'm looking for a single light this time without having to supplement any others. Then I started to read about COBs and Quantum Boards...

I've spent the last two weeks trying to narrow down a COB or Quantum board build, but I feel like I keep going down the rabbit hole and get more confused the more I search and read. My budget is limited so I want to spend no more than $150 on a light setup, only because I'm also content with what I got last time with a cheap light. My reading points me towards 3000k-3500k so I can just stick with that for the entire grow. I'm thinking two Citizen 1818's would do the trick but I might be misunderstanding things; I read a bit through the Quantum board thread and that 90w DIY setup for $150 from Northerngrow lights sounds like an option if a single board is enough to cover the area. Ideally, I'd like to DIY with without soldering if possible.

Do you guys think you could help me out with this one? Explain like I'm 5: what build I can use under my budget, how many watts I need to drive them at (dimmable an option?), etc. Thanks a bunch!

TL;DR: Second time grower looking to jump into a DIY COB or Quantum Board; Budget $150 max; Tent Size 2.5x1.5x3ft; Single plant scrog in soil; Looking for a complete build design with prices and sources

 

[CobKits]

for a tent that size id buy 2 quantum boards and the heatsinks and be done with it

 

[sixstring2112]

buy this when its back in stock
https://northerngrowlights.com/collections/all/products/90w-board-kit?variant=28170852744

 

[erfb0und]

Thanks for the responses guys. I've read a lot of good things about those Quantum boards but I know the grow journals are still in progress and wasn't sure if I could get away with 1 board. Two would be great CobKits but its just too far out of my budget right now.

 

[Stephenj37826]

Thanks for the responses guys. I've read a lot of good things about those Quantum boards but I know the grow journals are still in progress and wasn't sure if I could get away with 1 board. Two would be great CobKits but its just too far out of my budget right now.

One will cover that area. As recommended the 90 watt kit will do an excellent job in that space. You may want to do the driver remote if possible in the small space to give you a little less heat and a little better head room.

 

[erfb0und]

One will cover that area. As recommended the 90 watt kit will do an excellent job in that space. You may want to do the driver remote if possible in the small space to give you a little less heat and a little better head room.

Great thanks for that clarification! I'll go ahead and pick one up then when he gets them back in stock on the 15th.

 

[Mellodrama]

90W of QB covering almost 4 sq. ft.? Isn't that a little thin?

 

[frica]

90W of QB covering almost 4 sq. ft.? Isn't that a little thin?

It should work.

It's a very efficient light after all.

 

[robincnn]

90W of QB covering almost 4 sq. ft.? Isn't that a little thin?

426PPFD at 17 inches from 95w single board kit in 2X2. Tested with 4000K board and lighting passport sensor

 

[erfb0und]

Hey robincnn, I shot an email to your website yesterday but since you're on here, are there any other drivers I could use on a single QB that would allow me to drive it at higher wattage if I wanted to have future flexibility but just dim down for now? Or is the Meanwell HLG-80H-700A included in the DIY kit the only driver with the proper specs to work for one board?

 

[Mellodrama]

426PPFD at 17 inches from 95w single board kit in 2X2. Tested with 4000K board and lighting passport sensor

Great, I finally accrue enuf COBs to light the closet and you guys come up with something more efficient.

 

[robincnn]

Hey robincnn, I shot an email to your website yesterday but since you're on here, are there any other drivers I could use on a single QB that would allow me to drive it at higher wattage if I wanted to have future flexibility but just dim down for now? Or is the Meanwell HLG-80H-700A included in the DIY kit the only driver with the proper specs to work for one board?

You can use HLG-120H-C1050 for 120 watts or HLG-185H-C1400 for 150 watts for single board.
drivers starts to lose efficiency when driven under 50%

 

[Stephenj37826]

Hey robincnn, I shot an email to your website yesterday but since you're on here, are there any other drivers I could use on a single QB that would allow me to drive it at higher wattage if I wanted to have future flexibility but just dim down for now? Or is the Meanwell HLG-80H-700A included in the DIY kit the only driver with the proper specs to work for one board?

HLG 120H-C1050A will give you more wattage.

 

[robincnn]

Great, I finally accrue enuf COBs to light the closet and you guys come up with something more efficient.

Thanks. its our job to make something more efficient every few months.
Chasing efficiency is expensive and there will. always be something new right after you buy yours.
If you already have a cob setup then its fine too. try boards for next build

 

[erfb0und]

Thanks robincnn and Stephenj37826. I'll go ahead and pair it with the HLG 120H-C1050A then and dim as needed. Last question for now: Would you recommend a 3000k or 4000k board for a complete grow solution? I've read most people would recommend 3000k since it would be better during the flowering phase, but 4000k may be beneficial for tighter nodes during veg which seems to be a plus in my height restricted space. Then again, I'm planning to scrog so I'm not sure this would change things.

 

[Stephenj37826]

Thanks robincnn and Stephenj37826. I'll go ahead and pair it with the HLG 120H-C1050A then and dim as needed. Last question for now: Would you recommend a 3000k or 4000k board for a complete grow solution? I've read most people would recommend 3000k since it would be better during the flowering phase, but 4000k may be beneficial for tighter nodes during veg which seems to be a plus in my height restricted space. Then again, I'm planning to scrog so I'm not sure this would change things.

3000k imho

 

[sixstring2112]

Thanks robincnn and Stephenj37826. I'll go ahead and pair it with the HLG 120H-C1050A then and dim as needed. Last question for now: Would you recommend a 3000k or 4000k board for a complete grow solution? I've read most people would recommend 3000k since it would be better during the flowering phase, but 4000k may be beneficial for tighter nodes during veg which seems to be a plus in my height restricted space. Then again, I'm planning to scrog so I'm not sure this would change things.

3000k will have very little stretch compared to hps anyhow. the dif between 3000k and 4000k led is almost not even detectable. keep your lights closer for those first few weeks of flower and you can control alot of this most times with any type of lighting.

 

[Stephenj37826]

3000k will have very little stretch compared to hps anyhow. the dif between 3000k and 4000k led is almost not even detectable. keep your lights closer for those first few weeks of flower and you can control alot of this most times with any type of lighting.

Yep most under stated fact. Intensity plays just a big a role in internodal spacing as spectrum.

 

[erfb0und]

I really appreciate the input. I was thinking along the same lines that intensity could overcome internodal spacing issues but just wasn't sure if spectrum was a definitive factor or not. Looking forward to getting this setup going. I'll be sure to start a grow log when I start in a few weeks to share how well QBs work out.

 

[nogod_]

I use 3000k seed to chop with indica dom hybrids and it works great.

I really appreciate the input. I was thinking along the same lines that intensity could overcome internodal spacing issues but just wasn't sure if spectrum was a definitive factor or not. Looking forward to getting this setup going. I'll be sure to start a grow log when I start in a few weeks to share how well QBs work out.