Looking for spider farmer

loldongs9 said:
I am also in the process of setting up a 5x5 tent. Would a single SF-4000 work for the veg stage at least until the kingbrite 320w board arrives in time for flowering? Or do I need maximum coverage from start to finish?
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That's a ton of light for vegging.Youll need to dim it or hang it high.
Id say 24" for flowering, 450 watts, more suited for a 4 x 4 in flower as it's weak at the edges.
You only need around 300 - 400 umols/m2/s for vegging and around 800 for flowering.
SF4000 par map
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24" par map - with a few mistakes
20200619_131724.jpg
 
Rocket Soul said:
SF and mars hydro are crappy lights at that price, there are much better options: HLG 550 clones from alibaba are allright for the price but shipping might be killer.
How big is your space, OP?
You can easily make a better light for less if your prepared to make very basic connections/easy diy and thus stay away from china lights. Or use a china light a less wattage to avoid stressing diodes.
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They arent crappy at all - at least not my Spider-Farmer SF-2000. Its well made and uses quality parts all around. The latest model has the switches and dimmers on a different housing so no more messing with screws. Tests show this light puts out solid numbers for what you pay. The data doesnt lie. HLG makes a nice light too but you pay a lot more and for what really? Not everyone wants to make their own lights. There is something nice about a ready to go light that ships to you in two days.

No doubt that some chinese lights are bad but there are some that are perfectly good. Spider-Farmer and Mars Hydro are both solid choices. Aain, the data doesnt lie.
 
Check out UCANDEWIT on ebay....he builds the same boards as HLG and Spider....alot cheaper too since " no brand name " but they all have samsung diodes and meanwells etc.
 
s2mikey said:
They arent crappy at all - at least not my Spider-Farmer SF-2000. Its well made and uses quality parts all around. The latest model has the switches and dimmers on a different housing so no more messing with screws. Tests show this light puts out solid numbers for what you pay. The data doesnt lie. HLG makes a nice light too but you pay a lot more and for what really? Not everyone wants to make their own lights. There is something nice about a ready to go light that ships to you in two days.

No doubt that some chinese lights are bad but there are some that are perfectly good. Spider-Farmer and Mars Hydro are both solid choices. Aain, the data doesnt lie.
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This related to the latest pricing ive seen, and what i hear about their efficiency in sphere tests. Not having a go at you and your choices just think there are better options. I started diying by necessity and cant get over how easy it is, each one to their own and lets keep in mind SF/Mars have made great strides in their latest offerings, leaving the blurple behind.
But from what i see re heatsinking they are not building lights to last. Mars might be honest w their numbers (2.3ppf/w) but SF arent (2.7, which would put them on footing with the hlg diablo, diode count just dont back that up in no way).
But they are still an option. I hope you get loads of joy from your SF and that youll soon get a chance to compare it with something else; the latest greatest light you own is allways going to be the best until you see something grow your garden better.
 
Saysayno said:
My cousin has the sf4000. I picked it out for him when I set up his grow. It’s a great light. Strong as all hell. I’d go with SF.
make sure you have headroom. The dimming option sucks bc you have to remove the ballast to dim it.
look at number of LED’s per watts used when looking for Lm301b grow lights.
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I just got the new spider farm 4000 and it now had a dial that you can manually adjust a lot easier. Very happy with the purchase
 
s2mikey said:
They arent crappy at all - at least not my Spider-Farmer SF-2000. Its well made and uses quality parts all around. The latest model has the switches and dimmers on a different housing so no more messing with screws. Tests show this light puts out solid numbers for what you pay. The data doesnt lie. HLG makes a nice light too but you pay a lot more and for what really? Not everyone wants to make their own lights. There is something nice about a ready to go light that ships to you in two days.

No doubt that some chinese lights are bad but there are some that are perfectly good. Spider-Farmer and Mars Hydro are both solid choices. Aain, the data doesnt lie.
Click to expand...
When it comes to HLG im both pro and con:
Con: theyre prices has almost never aligned with my needs, especially taking into account im a Euro buyer. The great aftersales they provide would only work if i sent stuff back over the sea which wont work for me. So if id buy a fullpriced light id leave some money for services i would havve to do myself if something happened, like changing out boards etc. Also they have only had my favorite spectrum once.
Pro: this is the business who broke the hps monopoly really and drives advances in growlights in general. They take good care oof the forum, listen to us and you can actually hold them accountable for what they do here. Ive seen people coming on to riu with problems and theyve been addressed properly to full satisfaction. They have the absolute best samsung diodes, with a guaranteed best bin, not only flux but voltage. And they show the tests for it, not onlyy list a number and leave it at that.
Also steves a nice guy whos never been afraid of laying up lights for side by sides, giveaaways on the gml show etc. This the main point, theyre our own guys
Recently HLG has had some great deals (V1 booards, qb96) so good ive felt the need to mention and rec them on the chinaboard thread were everyone just try to get the best bang for buck cause i feel its been worth it.

SF has its place in the market i just feel you can replace it with cheaper stuff with the same spec or better if you go full china.
 
Moflow said:
That's a ton of light for vegging.Youll need to dim it or hang it high.
Id say 24" for flowering, 450 watts, more suited for a 4 x 4 in flower as it's weak at the edges.
You only need around 300 - 400 umols/m2/s for vegging and around 800 for flowering.
SF4000 par map
View attachment 4599393
24" par map - with a few mistakes
View attachment 4599394
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So according to the chart, the SF-4000 is only good enough for flowering in the 3x3-4x4 range? Does this mean the 320w kingbrite won’t be able to deliver the desired umols for flowering in certain areas?
Should I get 2x or 4x QB96 to offset the umols loss?
 
Saysayno said:
My cousin has the sf4000. I picked it out for him when I set up his grow. It’s a great light. Strong as all hell. I’d go with SF.
make sure you have headroom. The dimming option sucks bc you have to remove the ballast to dim it.
look at number of LED’s per watts used when looking for Lm301b grow lights.
Click to expand...
The updated ones that are now out have the dimmable knob on the outside. Though you gotta actually find those models cause i just bought the 1000 and it didnt come with the dimmer. Looked a few days after i got it and bam..same model with the dimmer same price.. fuuuck
 
Just use coupon code: SF
It won't let you down,and we just upgraded with dimmer box, can control the wattage and the lightness easily. Multi-connect function, fell free to control several light.:)
 
Spiderfarmerled said:
Just use coupon code: SF
It won't let you down,and we just upgraded with dimmer box, can control the wattage and the lightness easily. Multi-connect function, fell free to control several light.:)
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That’s exactly what I did, and as usual a quick, polite and exact answer. Will purchase again, what a great light and client support. Fantastic job
 
Saysayno said:
My cousin has the sf4000. I picked it out for him when I set up his grow. It’s a great light. Strong as all hell. I’d go with SF.
make sure you have headroom. The dimming option sucks bc you have to remove the ballast to dim it.
look at number of LED’s per watts used when looking for Lm301b grow lights.
Click to expand...
I ordered an sf1000 on June 24 from amazon.ca and it arrived at my house in rural nova scotia yesterday WITH the new dimmer/daisy-chain box.
 

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My buddy has the older SF light. I was wondering if it would be OK to get longer bolts and mount the driver upside-down to be able to access the dim screw easier @Spiderfarmerled ? If it is upside down will the driver not cool proper? Thanks!
 
The mars was 20 less but I went for the sf because lm301b & meanwell. I wanted the HLG 135W 288 qb but it was $135 more.

And I would LOVE to have built a DIY LED but I'm in Canada and I couldn't find affordable shipping, exchange to USD is shit and then customs/duty is a wild card charge that we can also get and someone at the border gets to choose what the duty will be when it arrives. It all sucks. Our government wants to discourage cross border shopping and they're good at it.
 
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