LED lights in Canada?

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Hello all, just curious what people think regarding LED choices in Canada? One issue I am finding is all the DIY stuff people talk about don't originate here so there is large cash conversion rates, huge shipping charges and duty/tax/brokerage fees to get the stuff. When you add it all up it get's a little ridiculous. HLG kits are priced very high for a kit you have to put together yourself and come from USA creating all the issues I previously mentioned. I am looking to optimally light a 5x5 tent for a reasonable amount of money. I currently have an MH/HPS 1000watt Vivosun dimmable system which works well but produces killer amounts of heat and uses a fair bit of hydro. I would like to be able to do less battling with heat and lower the hydro bills. There is also a 4 plant limit here. Just looking for options and opinions. Any input would be great.
 

NukaKola

Well-Known Member
Hello all, just curious what people think regarding LED choices in Canada? One issue I am finding is all the DIY stuff people talk about don't originate here so there is large cash conversion rates, huge shipping charges and duty/tax/brokerage fees to get the stuff. When you add it all up it get's a little ridiculous. HLG kits are priced very high for a kit you have to put together yourself and come from USA creating all the issues I previously mentioned. I am looking to optimally light a 5x5 tent for a reasonable amount of money. I currently have an MH/HPS 1000watt Vivosun dimmable system which works well but produces killer amounts of heat and uses a fair bit of hydro. I would like to be able to do less battling with heat and lower the hydro bills. There is also a 4 plant limit here. Just looking for options and opinions. Any input would be great.
I think your best bet is a Kingbrite or Meijiu from Alibaba. Shipping is a bit high but prices are significantly lower. Duties don’t seem to be that high for Canada from what I’ve read. You can have them put a lower cost to lower the duties further.
 

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
I think your best bet is a Kingbrite or Meijiu from Alibaba. Shipping is a bit high but prices are significantly lower. Duties don’t seem to be that high for Canada from what I’ve read. You can have them put a lower cost to lower the duties further.
Thanks for the input. What about warranty if one of those breaks down? I know Spiderfarmer has Canadian facilities for warranty so curious how you deal with warranty of products ordered from China with no North American company in the middle to handle service?
 

NukaKola

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the input. What about warranty if one of those breaks down? I know Spiderfarmer has Canadian facilities for warranty so curious how you deal with warranty of products ordered from China with no North American company in the middle to handle service?
I’ve seen people report good customer service from Kingbrite. Drivers replaced no questions asked, partial refund for some diodes going out and full panel replacements for strips going out, without having to send original panel back.

Shipping only took 6 days to me in the US.

A 240w Kingbrite is literally half the cost of a Spider farmer 200w.
 

Trippyness

Well-Known Member
HLG like hot box or go Kingbrite he is the go to guy for many years for importing leds such as quantum boards to our beautiful country.
 

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
HLG like hot box or go Kingbrite he is the go to guy for many years for importing leds such as quantum boards to our beautiful country.
Awesome, thanks. I checked out the HLG site, I still think they are way to proud of their stuff. Looked at the HLG-550 v2 Rspec and the cost would end up being CAD $1,373.77 with the cheapest shipping option. Comparing to say a SF4000 which seems pretty on par with the HLG the total is only $818 delivered by Tuesday. That means the SF4000 is 59.54% the cost of the HLG and with all the reading I am doing does not seem to be a big performance difference between the 2. When checking the Kingbrite site it looks like the equivalent would be the Kingbrite 480W HLG550 V4 Samsung Lm301H with Cree xpe2 660nm switch Quantum grow light which comes in at $590 delivered. That one is 72% the cost of the SF4000. That would save a couple hundred dollars so it might be a good way to go. I worry about having to deal with China over warranty thought. I have some pondering to do. If I go with an SF4000 at least they have a local repair site.

In the end one of the reasons I grow myself is to save some money. Spending so much on a light would really just give me pot that cost me a fortune to produce and would be a ton of work. I don't mind the work nor spending reasonable amounts on decent equipment but with such a high price it would take a ton of time before I was actually seeing a financial benefit from it. Well more research and debate in my mind before I do anything. Right now my MH/HPS system is working fine. I really do want to move to LED, just going to take my time so I don't end up kicking myself. There is no arguing that HLG makes great lights, I also find Spider Farmer make a good light as well. Just feel when you look at what actually goes into these things that some of these manufacturers should be changing their logo to a guy in a ski mask.
 

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member

Is a decent site this side.
Not all brands but it's an option.
Thanks man, that is awesome. They are only 45 min from my work so I can actually see the products. This looks like a good light, the only concern would be it only lists a 1 year warranty. I may have to drive down and check it out. Many thanks. https://www.growlights.ca/600-watt-fb288-lm301h-3000k-660nm-uv-ir-led-fusion-board-light.html
 

Mak'er Grow

Well-Known Member
I've run into the same 'problem(s)'...just doesn't seem right to spend so much when your trying to save in the first place...lol
The best I've come up with at this time is making my own light panels...still trying a few things and with grows being 3-4 months to test its been a long road, but they seem to work and about 8 cents a watt I can't complain...lol
 
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